Head-Out plethysmographs are used to study restrained, conscious subjects. It is the most cost-effective solution for measuring basic respiratory endpoints. It is a very reliable and simple method due to the direct measurement of air being displaced by the test subject’s expanding and contracting thorax. When using a head-out chamber, no other peripheral equipment is required such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors or bias air flow which significantly reduces the system cost.
The Head-Out plethysmography system is ideal for researchers interested longitudinal studies without the use of anesthesia. Chambers are also compatible with other data acquisition systems including DSI Ponemah, which allows for the addition of telemetry endpoints to be collected simultaneously. The rat chamber has been designed specifically for the demanding Safety Assessment environment.
See Why the AllayTM is Better
Key Features:
- Supported Species: Mouse Pup, Mouse, Rat (3 sizes), Rabbit, NHP
- Continuously measures respiratory flow signals in conscious animal
- Chambers utilize easy to operate restraint systems and integrated pneumotach
- Up to 8 chambers can be measure simultaneously with one Buxco amplifier
- Multiple amplifiers can be simultaneously interfaced with one software license
- Low noise, 24 bit A/D amplifier design with USB interface to computer
Key Benefits:
- Patented Allay™ Restraint - secures the animal without compressing the thorax (Mouse & Rat)
- Patented Halcyon® pneumotach noise suppression design improves signal morphology*
- Species flexibility – software, amplifier and transducers support all Head-Out chamber designs
- FinePointe Software – integrated study design and subsequent automated reporting
- Solid State Flow Transducer – small, rugged, low drift, high fidelity transducer mounts directly to chamber
* Not included on all chamber designs
Buxco Head-Out Chamber Details (Custom designs available upon request)
HO Derived Parameters
-
Parameter
|
Description
|
Units
|
F
|
Frequency - The instantaneous, breath-by-breath rate of breathing
|
BPM
|
TV
|
Tidal Volume - The inspired volume of air per breath. The integral of the negative section of the flow curve
|
mL or L
|
MV
|
Minute Volume - The product of the tidal volume and the respiratory rate, calculated on a breath-by-breath basis
|
mL/min
or L/min
|
AV
|
Accumulated Volume - Total volume breathed over a specific period of time. Calculated by adding the TV for each breath to the previous Accumulated Volume. Used in Dosimetry experiments, AV provides a good measure of the actual dose an animal receives.
|
mL or L
|
PIF
|
Peak Inspiratory Flow - The maximum inspiratory flow that occurs in one breath
|
mL/sec
or L/sec
|
PEF
|
Peak Expiratory Flow - The maximum expiratory flow that occurs in one breath
|
mL/sec
or L/sec
|
Ti
|
Inspiratory Time - The time spent inhaling during each breath, from the start of inspiration to the end of inspiration (determined by interpolation of start of expiration). The time flow is negative
|
Sec
|
Te
|
Expiratory Time - The time spent exhaling during each breath, from start of expiration to end of expiration (determined by interpolation back to zero). The time flow is positive
|
Sec
|
dV
|
Delta Volume - The difference between inspiratory and expiratory volume
|
mL or L
|
EF50
|
The flow at the point 50% of TV is expired - An indicator of bronchoconstriction
|
mL/sec or L/min
|
Tr
|
Relaxation Time - The time it takes for the animal to expire a certain amount of volume (percent TV expired)
|
Sec
|
Rinx
|
Rejection Index - Calculates the percentage of breaths rejected
|
%
|
Photo Gallery of Head-Out Chamber Accessories
Applications & References
Sibley L, Dennis M, Sarfas C, White A, Clark S, Gleeson F, McIntyre A, Rayner E, Pearson G, Williams A, Marsh P, Sharpe S. “Route of delivery to the airway influences the distribution of pulmonary disease but not the outcome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in rhesus macaques. Tuberculosis. 2016;96:141-149.