Due to its modular architecture, iox is suitable for a wide range of applications (e.g. study of cardiac function by recording pressure-volume loops from left ventricle). |
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| Developer(s) | EMKA TECHNOLOGIES SA |
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| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| Type | Acquisition software |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www.emka.fr |
iox is a data acquisition software developed by emka TECHNOLOGIES SA, based in Paris, France, especially adapted to safety pharmacology and toxicology studies in small and large animals including rodents, dogs, and non-human primates.
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iox stands for isolated organ experiments, because it was originally designed as software for recording from isolated tissue. In response to demand from the preclinical research community, the software was developed for other applications including cardiovascular and pulmonary research, such as plethysmography, telemetry studies, ecg, CNS and behavioural studies.
Some functionalities have given rise to fully featured spin-off software applications. The ecg analysis, data reduction and data management components of iox gave rise to ecgAUTO, datanalyst and studyDESIGNER. These applications together make up the emka TECHNOLOGIES software suite.
IOX acquires data on PCs. It also performs signal processing and real-time analysis.
Up to 64 inputs can be recorded simultaneously with independent sampling rates of 10 Hz to 100 kHz. iox acquires analog signals from any device. The standard acquisition card is the National Instruments card with a 12-bit converter and with a range of ±5 V (giving a resolution of 2.5 mV).
Inputs may be physical (signal is a physical measurement) or calculated (signal is based on physical signals).
iox's architecture allows researchers to adapt the software to particular needs. For example, researchers performing plethysmography studies in freely moving animals will use the RF analyzer that uses a single flow input.
Add-on modules, or analyzers, are specially designed to analyze a specific type of signal. Each analyzer is developed using algorithms widely accepted and validated by the life science research community.
Modules are available to comply with GLP and 21 cfr part 11 requirements: user management module, audit trail module and electronic signature module.
Furthermore, a direct link interface may be developed between iox and third-party LIMS - as was done with Instem's ProvantisTM software.
The following links show some of the many ways in which iox can be used.
Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, Athens, Greece.
One of the three laboratories of the Department of Experimental Pharmacology of the University of Athens Medical School engaged in research and teaching. iox is used to analyze signals obtained from isolated hearts in the Langendorff configuration. This setup is used to evaluate the effects of pharmacological agents and to study the mechanisms underlying pathological conditions such as ischemia.
Center for Integrated Functional Exploration, France.
The Centre is one of the technology platforms of the Institut Claude Bernard, run by a hospital-university consortium. Its particular expertise is functional exploration of small rodents and functional imaging techniques, for in vivo characterization of cardiovascular and metabolic phenotypes. Specific applications include ecg analysis and PV loops analysis, which make use of iox for acquisition and real-time analysis, ecgAUTO for post-acquisition analysis and Millar pressure-volume recording hardware.
Notox, contract research and expert consultancy for the registration of pharmaceutical products.
Use of a plethysmography set-up for respiratory safety assessment.
Réseau des Animaleries Montpelliéraines, Montpellier, France. A local network of animal research facilities.
Developing iox software has also lead to many benefits and outcomes for scientists and science.
emka TECHNOLOGIES, in common with preclinical researchers worldwide, is committed to the humane use of animals in science, as espoused by the 3R's guiding principles, which aim to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in scientific research. Several features of the iox data acquisition system can help researchers to achieve the 3R's. The modular and continually evolving nature of iox make it suitable for use with any in vitro models that can be used in place of whole animal in vivo models (e.g. study of isolated heart, vascular or other smooth muscle tissue). Moreover, iox is also capable of acquiring many different types of signals: for example, it is possible to record cardiovascular data at the same time as respiratory data (plethysmography with transmitter implants). By maximizing the amount of data recorded from any given experiment, iox potentially reduces the number of animals required. In addition, the real-time display of calculated parameters allows you to take appropriate measures immediately so that the risk of wasted experiments due to human error or faulty setup is much reduced.
Versigny A., Goubern M (2002) Suitability of canine models for revealing the ability of drug candidates to prolong QT interval - XIVth World Congress of Pharmacology, Cerep
Moyser K, Schofield J, Hunter D (2004) Benefits and limitations of an external telemetry system on canine toxicity studies. Animal Technology and Welfare 3(1):51 2
Deten A. Marx G; Briest W, Volz HC, Zimmer HG (2005) Heart function and molecular biological parameters are comparable in young adult and aged rats after chronic myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Res 66, 364-373
Robinson V (2005) Finding alternatives: an overview of the 3Rs and the use of animals in research. School Science Review, 87(319) This article describes, with the aid of several examples, how researchers are using scientific advances to replace, refine and reduce the use of animals in research.
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