Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
1/228
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
2/228
Tis document was, as ar as possible, accurate at the time o
release. However, changes may have been made to the sofware and
hardware it describes since then. ADInstruments Pty Ltd reserves
the right to alter
specifications as required. Late-breaking inormation may be
supplied separately.
Trademarks of ADInstruments
PowerLab®, LabChart®, Labutor®, LabAuthor® and MacLab® are
registered trademarks o ADInstruments Pty Ltd. Te names o specific
recording units, such as PowerLab 8/35, are trademarks o
ADInstruments Pty Ltd. Labutor Server, Chart and Scope (application
programs) and Labutor Online are trademarks o ADInstruments Pty
Ltd.
Other Trademarks
Apple, Mac and Macintosh are registered trademarks o Apple
Computer, Inc. Windows, Windows 7 and Windows Vista are either
registered trademarks or trademarks o Microsof Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property o their respective
owners.
Document Number: U-FE/OG-35C
Part Number: 5820-E
Copyright © ADInstruments Pty Ltd, 2000 - 2014. All rights
reserved. PowerLab, MacLab, LabChart, Labutor and LabAuthor are
registered trademarks o ADInstruments Pty Ltd. Chart and Scope
(application programs), Labutor Server and Labutor Online are
trademarks o ADInstruments Pty Ltd. Te names o specific recording
units, such as PowerLab 16/35, are trademarks o ADInstruments Pty
Ltd. Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and .NE Framework are
trademarks o Microsof Corporation. Apple, the Apple logo, MacOS,
and Macintosh are trademarks o Apple Computer Inc. registered in
the U.S. and other countries. Acrobat and Adobe are registered
trademarks o Adobe Systems Incorporated. Igor is a trademark o
Wavemetrics Inc. MALAB is a registered trademark o Te MathWorks
Inc. Grass is a trademark o Astro- Med Inc. All other trademarks
are the property o their respective owners.
Web: www.adinstruments.com
Reg. No. 1053 ii Front-ends Owner’s Guide
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
3/228
iii Front-ends Owner’s Guide
1 Safety Notes 1 Statement o Intended Use . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .1 Saety and Quality Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
General Saety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Bio Amp Saety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Stimulus
Isolator Saety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Earthing and Ground Loop
Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .5
Cleaning and Sterilization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Inspection and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.6
Storage Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Operating Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Disposal .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
2 Overview 8 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .9 Checking the Front-end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .9 Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Single Front-ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Multiple Front-ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Special
Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Connecting Stimulator Front-Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Maximum Number o Front-Ends
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .12
Using ADInstruments Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Front-end Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Te
Front-end Sel-test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Sofware
Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Preventing Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Aliasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Frequency Distortion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Saturation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Ground Loops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Mains filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Notch
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Contents
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
4/228
Electrode Contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Motion
Artiacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
3 Animal Bio Amp 18 Te Animal Bio Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .19
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Te
Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Using
LabChart and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Te Bio Amp dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Using the
Animal Bio Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Some Suitable Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Some
Unsuitable Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Te Animal Bio Amp
Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
echnical Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.29
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.32
4 Bio Amp 34 Bio Amp Saety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Te Bio Amp ront-ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Te
Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Using More
Tan One Bio Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Te Bio Amp Cable . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .39
Using LabChart and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Te Bio
Amp dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Using the Bio Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Some
Suitable Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Some
Unsuitable Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Recording
echnique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
echnical Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.53
Single Bio Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Electromagnetic Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Equipment
and echnique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
5/228
Te Disposable BP ransducer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Using LabChart and
Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Te BP Amp dialog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 echnical
Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.73
6 Bridge Amp 75 Te Bridge Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .76
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Te
Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Setting Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.79 Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Using
LabChart and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Te Bridge Amp dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 Using
ransducers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Suitable ransducers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Unsuitable
ransducers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 How ransducers Work . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .86 Checking the ransducer . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .87
Using Grass ransducers with Bridge Amps . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 Adapting ransducers . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .88
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
ransducer Adaptations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Setting the
Excitation Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Wiring Up the ransducer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90echnical Aspects .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92 roubleshooting . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Specifications . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
7 Dual Bio Amp/Stimulator 98 Te Dual Bio Amp/Stimulator . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .99
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Te
Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Using LabChart and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Te Bio Amp
dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Te Stimulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
Using the Dual Bio Amp/Stimulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Some Suitable Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Some
Unsuitable Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Recording echnique
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
echnical Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.120
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
6/228
8 GSR Amp 123 Te GSR Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .124
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124 Te
Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 Using
LabChart and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Te GSR Amp dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 Equipment and
echnique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129 echnical Aspects . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131 roubleshooting . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .132 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
9 Neuro Amp EX 136 Te Neuro Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .137
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
Te Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.138Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 Single
Front-end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139 Multiple
Front-ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Using More Tan One Neuro Amp EX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 Sofware Requirements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .140
Using LabChart and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141 Neuro Amp
EX dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
ypes o Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 Te Neuro
Amp EX Headstage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 Recording echnique . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .145
Setting up to Record From a Subject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145 Motion Effects . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .147 Electrode Contact . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .147
echnical Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148 Te
Neuro Amp EX Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150
roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .151
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.153
Neuro Amp EX Front-end [FE185] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 Neuro Amp EX Headstage
[ML185] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .154 Electromagnetic Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.155
10 pH Amp 156 Te pH Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .157
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157 Te Back
Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158 Single
Front-end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159 Multiple
Front-ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
Using LabChart and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160 Te pH Amp
dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
7/228
vii Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Calibrating the pH Amp Electrode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163 Setting Up the
emperature Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Te emperature Probe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165 echnical Aspects . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166 roubleshooting . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167 Specifications . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168
11 Spirometer 170 Te Spirometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .171
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171 Te Back
Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172 Using
LabChart and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Te Spirometer dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174 Using the
Spirometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
Fitting the Flow Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177
Calibrating the Flow Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 Using an
approximate conversion actor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .178 Injecting a known volume and integrating
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 Using
the Spirometry Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179 Reducing Drif . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .180
echnical Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.184
12 Stimulator HC 186
Te Saety Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188 Te Back Panel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189 Te
Stimulator HC dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Choosing How Stimulation Should Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193 Creating a Custom Stimulus
Waveorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .193 Te Stimulator Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
PowerLabs with Independent versus Differential Analog Outputs . . .
. . . . . . . . .195
echnical Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.199
13 Stimulus Isolator 201 Te Stimulus Isolator . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 202
Te Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 Te
Saety Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203
Te Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
8/228
viii Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Te Stimulus Isolator dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Choosing How
Stimulation Should Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 208 Choosing a Stimulus ype . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 208 Setting Stimulus Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Te
Stimulator Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
echnical Aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.210
roubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.211Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.213
14 Warranty 215
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
9/228
1 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Statement of Intended Use All products manuactured by ADInstruments
are intended or use in teaching and research applications and
environments only. ADInstruments products are NO intended to be
used as medical devices or in medical environments. Tat is, no
product supplied by
ADInstruments is intended to be used to diagnose, treat or monitor
a subject. Furthermore no product is intended or the prevention,
curing or alleviation o disease, injury or handicap.
Where a product meets IEC 60601-1 it is under the principle
that:
• this is a more rigorous standard than other standards
that could be chosen. • it provides a high saety
level or subjects and operators.
Te choice to meet IEC 60601-1 is in no way to be interpreted to
mean that a product:
• is a medical device,
•
may be interpreted as a medical device, or • is
sae to be used as a medical device.
Safety and Quality Standards When used with ADInstruments isolated
ront-ends, PowerLab systems are sae or connection to subjects. Te
FE132 Bio Amp, FE135 Dual Bio Amp, FE136 Animal Bio Amp, FE185
Neuro Amp EX, ML408 Dual Bio Amp/Stimulator, FE116 GSR Amp, FE117
BP Amp and FE180 Stimulus Isolator ront-ends conorm to
international saety
requirements. Specifically these are IEC60601-1 and its addenda
(Saety Standards, page 2) and various harmonized standards
worldwide (CSA601.1 in Canada and AS/NZS 3200.1 in Australia and
New Zealand).
In accordance with European standards they also comply with the
electromagnetic compatibility requirements under EN61326-1, which
encompasses the EMC directive.
Quality Management System ISO 9001:2008
ADInstruments manuactures products under a quality system certified
as complying with ISO 9001:2008 by an accredited certification
body.
Safety Notes
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
10/228
2 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Safety Symbols Devices manuactured by ADInstruments that are
designed or direct connection to humans and animals are tested to
IEC60601-1:1998 (including amendments 1 and 2) and EN61326-1:2006,
and carry one or more o the saety symbols below. Tese symbols
appear next to those inputs and output connectors that can be
directly connected to human
subjects.
!
BF (body protected) symbol. Tis means that the input
connectors are suitable or connection to humans provided there is
no direct electrical connection to the heart.
Warning symbol. Te exclamation mark inside a triangle means
that the supplied documentation must be consulted or operating,
cautionary or saety inormation beore using the device.
CE Mark. All ront-end amplifiers and PowerLab systems carry the
CEmark and meet the appropriate EU directives.
UL Mark. ADInstruments isolated preamplifiers and 35 series
PowerLab data acquisition units meet standards set by Underwriters
Laboratories. ISOLAED SIGNAL AMPLIFIERS FE116, 117, 132, 135, 136,
185 AND ISOLAED SIMULAOR FE180 WIH RESPEC O ELECRICAL SHOCK, FIRE
AND MECHANICAL HAZARDS ONLY, IN ACCORDANCE WIH UL 606011 AND
CAN/CSAC22.2 NO. 601.1.
Further inormation is available on request.
Safety Standards
IEC 60601-1:1998 General requirements for safety
IEC 60601-1-1:1992 Safety requirements for medical electrical
systems
EN61326-1:2006 Electrical equipment for measurement, control and
laboratory use – EMC requirements
IEC 61010-1ed2.0 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for
measurement, control and laboratory use.
UL Standard - Medical Electrical Equipment
UL 60601-1 Medical Electrical Equipment, Part 1: General
Requirements for Safety - Edition 1.
CSA C22.2 NO. 601.1 Medical Electrical Equipment, Part 1: General
Requirements for Safety - Edition 1.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
11/228
3 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
General Safety Instructions o achieve the optimal degree o subject
and operator saety, consideration should be given to the ollowing
guidelines when setting up a PowerLab system either as stand-alone
equipment or when using PowerLab equipment in conjunction with
other equipment. Failure to do so may compromise the inherent saety
measures designed into PowerLab
equipment. ADInstruments ront-ends are only suitable or operation
with ADInstruments PowerLabs. Front-ends are suitable or use with
any S/, SP/, /20, /25, /30 and /35 series and 15 PowerLabs. Note
that compliance with IEC60601-1 can only be achieved when ront-
ends are used with a /35 series Powerlab.
Te ollowing guidelines are based on principles outlined in the
international saety standard IEC 60601-1: General requirements for
safety – Collateral standard: Safety requirements for medical
systems. Reerence to this standard is required when setting up a
system or human connection. Te user is responsible or ensuring any
particular configuration o equipment complies with
IEC60601-1-1.
PowerLab systems (and many other devices) require the connection o
a personal computeror operation. Tis personal computer should be
certified as complying with IEC 60950 and should be located outside
a 1.8 m radius rom the subject (so that the subject cannot touch it
while connected to the system). Within this 1.8 m radius, only
equipment complying with IEC 60601-1 should be present. Connecting
a system in this way obviates the provision o additional saety
measures and the measurement o leakage currents.
Accompanying documents or each piece o equipment in the system
should be thoroughly examined prior to connection o the
system.
While it is not possible to cover all arrangements o equipment in a
system, some general guidelines or sae use o the equipment are
presented below:
• Any electrical equipment which is located within the
SUBJEC AREA should be approved to IEC 60601-1.
• Only connect those parts o equipment that are
marked as an APPLIED PAR to the subject. APPLIED PARS may be
recognized by the BF symbol which appears in the Saety Symbols
section o these Saety Notes.
• Never connect parts which are marked as an
APPLIED PAR to those which are not marked as APPLIED PARS.
• Do not touch the subject to which the PowerLab (or
its peripherals) is connected at the same time as making contact
with parts o the PowerLab (or its peripherals) that are not
intended or contact to the subject.
• Cleaning and sterilization o equipment should
be perormed in accordance with manuacturer’s instructions. Te
isolation barrier may be compromised i manuacturer’s cleaning
instructions are not ollowed.
• Te ambient environment (such as the temperature
and relative humidity) o the system should be kept within the
manuacturer’s specified range or the isolation barrier may be
compromised.
• Te entry o liquids into equipment may also
compromise the isolation barrier. I spillage occurs, the
manuacturer o the affected equipment should be contacted beore
using the equipment.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
12/228
4 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
• Many electrical systems (particularly those in metal
enclosures) depend upon the presence o a protective earth or
electrical saety. Tis is generally provided rom the power outlet
through a power cord, but may also be supplied as a dedicated saety
earth conductor. Power cords should never be modified so as to
remove the earth connection. Te integrity o the protective earth
connection between each piece o equipment and the protective earth
should be verified regularly by qualified
personnel. • Avoid using multiple portable
socket-outlets (such as power boards) where possible
as they provide an inherently less sae environment with respect to
electrical hazards. Individual connection o each piece o equipment
to fixed mains socket- outlets is the preerred means o
connection.
I multiple portable socket outlets are used, they are subject to
the ollowing constraints:
• Tey shall not be placed on the floor.
• Additional multiple portable socket outlets or
extension cords shall not be connected
to the system. • Tey shall only be used or
supplying power to equipment which is intended to orm
part o the system.
Bio Amp Safety Instructions
Te Bio Amp inputs displaying any o the saety symbols are
electrically isolated rom the mains supply in order to prevent
current flow that may otherwise result in injury to the subject.
Several points must be observed or sae operation o the Bio
Amp:
• All Bio Amp ront-ends (except or the ML138
Octal Bio Amp) and all PowerLab units with a built-in Bio Amp are
supplied with a 3-lead or 5-lead Bio Amp subject
cable and lead wire system. Te ML138 Octal Bio Amp is supplied with
unshieldedlead wires (1.8 m). Bio Amps are only sae or human
connection i used with the supplied subject cable and lead
wires.
• All Bio Amp ront-ends and PowerLab units with a
built-in Bio Amp are not defibrillator-protected. Using the Bio Amp
to record signals during defibrillator discharges may damage the
input stages o the amplifiers. Tis may result in a saety
hazard.
• Never use damaged Bio Amp cables or leads.
Damaged cables and leads must always be replaced beore any
connection to humans is made.
Stimulus Isolator Safety Instructions Te Stimulator outputs rom the
Stimulus Isolator ront-end (or any PowerLab with a built- in
isolated stimulator) are electrically isolated and sae or human
connection. However, they can produce pulses o up to 100 V at up to
20 mA. Injury can still occur rom careless use o these devices.
Several points must be observed or sae operation o the Stimulus
Isolator ront-end:
• Te FE180 Stimulus Isolator ront-end must only
be used with the supplied power pack (product code: SP0108), which
complies with medical saety standards.
• Te Stimulus Isolator must only be used with the
supplied bar stimulus electrode.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
13/228
5 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
• Te Isolated Stimulator output must not be used with
individual (physically separate) stimulating electrodes.
• Stimulation must not be applied across the chest or
head. • Do not hold one electrode in each hand.
• Always use a suitable electrode cream or gel
and proper skin preparation to ensure
a low-impedance electrode contact. Using electrodes without
electrode cream can
result in burns to the skin or discomort or the
subject. • Subjects with implantable or external
cardiac pacemakers, a cardiac condition, or a history o epileptic
episodes must not be subject to electrical stimulation.
• Always commence stimulation at the lowest
current setting and slowly increase the current.
• Stop stimulation i the subject experiences pain
or discomort. • Do not use aulty cables, or those
that have exhibited intermittent aults.
Do not attempt to measure or record the Isolated Stimulator output
while connected to a subject using a PowerLab input or any other
piece o equipment that does not carry the appropriate saety symbol
(see Saety Symbols above).
Always check the status indicator on the ront panel. It will always
flash green each time the stimulator delivers a current pulse. A
yellow flash indicates an ‘out-o-compliance’ (OOC) condition that
may be due to poor electrode contact or electrode cream drying up.
Always ensure that there is good electrode contact at all times.
Electrodes that are lef on a subject or some time need to be
checked or dry contacts. An electrode impedance meter can be used
or this task.
• Always be alert or any adverse physiological
effects in the subject. At the first sign o a problem, stimulation
must be stopped, either rom the sofware or by flicking down the
saety switch on the ront panel o any built-in Isolated Stimulator
or the FE180 Stimulus Isolator.
• Te FE180 Stimulus Isolator is supplied with a
special transormer power pack, which complies with medical saety
requirements. Tereore, under no circumstances should any other
transormer be used with the Stimulus Isolator. For a replacement
transormer power pack please contact your nearest ADInstruments
representative.
• Te FE155 Stimulator HC is not sae or human
connection and should never be used or human stimulation.
Earthing and Ground Loop Noise
Te prime unction o earthing is saety, that is, protection against
atal electrocution.
Saety concerns should always override concerns about signal
quality. Secondary unctions o earthing are to provide a reerence
potential or the electrical equipment and to mitigate against
intererence.
Te earthing (grounding) stud provided on the back panel o the
PowerLab is a potential equalization post and is compatible with
the DIN 42801 standard. It is directly connected to the earth pin o
the power socket and the PowerLab chassis. Te earthing stud can be
used where other electronic equipment is connected to the PowerLab,
and where conductive shields are used to reduce radiative
electrical pick-up. Connection to the stud provides a common earth
or all linked devices and shields, to reduce ground-loops.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
14/228
6 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Te earthing stud can also be used where a suitable ground
connection is not provided with the mains supply by connecting the
stud to an earthed metal inrastructure, such as a metal stake
driven into the ground, or metal water piping. Tis may also be
required in laboratories where saety standards require additional
grounding protection when equipment is connected to human subjects.
Always observe the relevant saety standards and instructions.
Note that electromagnetically-induced intererence in the recorded
signal can be reduced by minimizing the loop area o signal cables,
or example by twisting them together, or by moving power supplies
away rom sensitive equipment to reduce the inductive pick-up o
mains requency fields. Please consult a good text or urther
discussion o noise reduction.
Cleaning and Sterilization ADInstruments products may be wiped down
with a lint ree cloth moistened with industrial methylated spirit.
Reer to the manuacturer’s guidelines or the Data Card
supplied with transducers and accessories or specific cleaning and
sterilizing instructions.
Inspection and Maintenance PowerLab systems and ADInstruments
ront-ends are all maintenance-ree and do not require periodic
calibration or adjustment to ensure sae operation. Internal
diagnostic sofware perorms system checks during power up and will
report errors i a significant problem is ound. Tere is no need to
open the instrument or inspection or maintenance, and doing so
within the warranty period will void the warranty.
Your PowerLab system can be periodically checked or basic saety by
using an appropriate
saety testing device. ests such as earth leakage, earth bond,
insulation resistance, subject leakage and auxiliary currents and
power cable integrity can all be perormed on the PowerLab system
without having to remove the covers. Follow the instructions or the
testing device i perorming such tests. I the PowerLab system is
ound not to comply with such testing you should contact your
PowerLab representative to arrange or the equipment to be checked
and serviced.
Environment Electronic components are susceptible to corrosive
substances and atmospheres, and must be kept away rom laboratory
chemicals.
Storage Conditions
• emperature in the range 0–40 °C •
Non-condensing humidity in the range 0–95%.
Operating Conditions
• emperature in the range 5–35 °C
• Non-condensing humidity in the range
0–90%.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
15/228
Disposal
• Forward to recycling center or return to
manuacturer.
• Unwanted equipment bearing the Waste Electrical
and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive symbol requires separate
waste collection. For a product labeled with this symbol, either
orward to a recycling center or contact your nearest
ADInstruments representative or methods o disposal at the end o its
working lie.WEEE Directive
symbol
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
16/228
8 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Te PowerLab system consists o a recording unit and application
programs that run on the computer to which the unit is connected.
It provides an integrated system o hardware and sofware designed to
record, display, and analyze experimental data.
Front-ends are ancillary devices that connect to the PowerLab
recording unit to extend the system’s capabilities. Tey provide
additional signal conditioning, and other eatures, and extend the
types o experiments that you can conduct and the data you can
record.
Te ront-ends are compatible with PowerLab and MacLab hardware and
require the ollowing ADInstruments sofware versions unless
otherwise specified: Chart v4 or Chart
v5, LabChart v6 or later, or Scope v3.6 or later.
All ADInstruments ront-ends are designed to be operated under ull
sofware control. No knobs, dials, or switches are needed, although
some may be provided or reasons o convenience or saety.
Overview
22
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
17/228
9 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Introduction Te PowerLab controls ront-ends through an expansion
connector called the I2C (eye- squared-sea) bus. Tis makes it very
easy to add ront-ends to the system or to transer them between
PowerLabs. Many ront-ends can be added to the system by connecting
the I2C sockets in a simple daisy-chain structure. Te PowerLab
provides control and low-
voltage power to ront-ends through the I2C bus so, in
general, no separate power supply is required.
In addition, each ront-end requires a separate connection to one or
more analog input channel(s) o the PowerLab. External signals are
acquired through the PowerLab analog inputs and amplified beore
being digitized by the PowerLab. Te digitized signal is transmitted
to the computer using a ast USB connection. ADInstruments sofware
applications LabChart, Labutor and Scope, receive, display, and
record the data and your analysis to the computer’s hard
disk.
Front-ends are automatically recognized by the PowerLab system.
Once connected, the
eatures o the ront-end are combined with the appropriate eatures o
the PowerLab (orexample, range and filtering options) and are
presented as a single set o sofware controls.
Note: Te Stimulator ront-ends differ rom other ront-ends in
two respects:
1. Since they need to produce a reasonably high voltage and
current, the Stimulator ront-ends require a power supply in
addition to the power provided by the I2C bus.
2. As they produce voltage output or stimulation, they are
connected to a positive analog output socket o the PowerLab as a
source or timing and producing pulses.
A variety o accessory products are available with ADInstruments
Front-ends, such as transducers, signal cables and recording
electrodes. Some o these are listed in the Getting Started with
Front-end Signal Conditioners booklet, supplied with your
Front-end. For more details see:
http://www.adinstruments.com/ or contact your local
ADInstruments representative.
Checking the Front-end Beore connecting the ront-end to anything,
check it careully or signs o physical damage.
1. Check that there are no obvious signs o damage to the outside o
the ront-end casing.
2. Check that there is no obvious sign o internal damage, such as
rattling. Pick up the
ront-end, tilt it gently rom side to side, and listen or anything
that appears to be loose.
I you have ound a problem, contact your authorized ADInstruments
representative immediately and describe the problem. Arrangements
can be made to replace or repair the ront-end.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
18/228
10 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Connecting to the PowerLab o connect a ront-end to the PowerLab,
first ensure that the PowerLab is turned off. Failure to do this
may damage the PowerLab, the ront-end, or both.
Te BNC cable rom the ront-end signal output must connect to an
analog input on the
PowerLab. I you have an older PowerLab that has differential
(rather than single-ended)inputs, the ront-end must connect to
a positive input.
Single Front-ends
Connect the I2C output o the PowerLab to the I2C input o the
ront-end using the I2C cable provided. Figure 2–1 shows how to
connect up a single ront-end to your recording unit.
I2C connector cable
PowerLab I2C output
Front-end Signal output
Front-end I2C input
Check that the connectors or the I2C bus are screwed in firmly.
Check the BNC cable or firm connections as well. Loose connectors
can cause erratic ront-end behavior, or may cause the ront-end to
ail to work at all.
The Signal Output Socket
Te BNC socket labelled Signal Output on the back panel o the
ront-end provides the signal output to connect to an analog input
socket on the ront o the PowerLab. A BNC- to-BNC cable is supplied
or this connection. I necessary, use a BNC to DIN smart adapter
[MLAC22] to connect the BNC cable to your PowerLab’s input.
Note: I you have an older PowerLab with differential (rather than
single-ended) inputs, the BNC cable must connect to a positive
analog input on the PowerLab.
Figure 2–1
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
19/228
Multiple Front-ends
Multiple separate ront-ends can be connected up to a PowerLab. Te
initial ront-end should be connected with the I2C cable as in
Figure 2–1. Te remainder are daisy-chained
via I2C cables, connecting the I2C output o the last
connected ront-end to the I2C input o the ront-end to be added
(Figure 2–2).
Second I2C cable connected to
Front-end I2C output
First I2C cable connected
to PowerLab I2C output
Te number o normal ront-ends that can be connected to a PowerLab
depends on the number o analog input channels on the PowerLab. Each
BNC cable rom a ront-end should be connected to one analog input
channel on the PowerLab, or example, Input 1 on a /30 or /35 series
PowerLab.
Note: Only one Stimulator ront-end such as a Stimulus Isolator
can be connected to thepositive output o the PowerLab.
Special Cases
Some ront-ends have their own specific connection requirements.
Please reer to the individual chapter or each ront-end in this
guide.
Connecting Stimulator Front-Ends
Te PowerLab analog outputs provide a variable, computer-controlled
voltage output that
can be used with LabChart, Labutor or Scope to connect a Stimulator
ront-end, or to stimulate directly, or to control a peripheral
device. A voltage output is generated by the PowerLab and delivered
via the BNC output sockets, giving positive, negative,
differential, or independent stimuli, depending on the PowerLab
used and the sofware settings.
Te /20, /25, and /26 series PowerLabs have analog outputs labeled +
and –. In contrast, the SP, S, /30 and /35 series PowerLabs have
the outputs labeled Output 1 and Output 2.
Figure 2–2
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
20/228
For the /20, /25 and /26 series PowerLabs:
Te negative (–) output is the complement o the positive (+) output,
so the stimuli rom the two outputs are mirror images. I one output
gives a positive voltage, the other gives a negative one, and the
two together give a differential voltage. One Stimulator ront-end
such as a Stimulus Isolator or Stimulator HC can be connected to
the positive output o
these PowerLabs. Note: I you connect the Stimulator HC to a
PowerLab that has an in-built Isolated Stimulator, such as a
PowerLab 26, only the external, connected stimulator is used.
For /SP, /ST, /30 and /35 series PowerLabs:
Output 1 and Output 2 can unction independently. However, only one
Stimulator ront- end such as a Stimulus Isolator or Stimulator HC
can be connected to the positive output (Output 1) o these
PowerLabs. With a Stimulator ront-end connected, the second output
(Output 2) can unction independently, and a second tab appears in
the Stimulator dialog in LabChart 7 or Windows. Tereore Output 2
remains available or other uses, such as
creating analog waveorms and triggering other systems.
Maximum Number of Front-Ends
Te I2C bus can control a maximum o sixteen ront-ends. Tereore, i
you are using a PowerLab 16/30, which has sixteen input channels,
you can record rom sixteen single channel ront-ends. However,
please note that the Dual Bio Amp/Stimulator is an exception
because it counts as our ront-ends, not three as one would expect.
Tereore, you cannot use all the analog inputs or normal ront-ends
while using the Dual Bio Amp/Stimulator.
For example, i you are using the Dual Bio Amp/Stimulator with a
PowerLab 16/30, you can
only use an additional twelve single channel ront-ends or, or
example, one Octal Bridge Amp plus one Quad Bridge Amp.
Using ADInstruments Programs Front-ends are designed or use with
PowerLabs and ADInstruments programs such as LabChart, Labutor and
Scope. Te unctions o the ront-end are combined with those o the
PowerLab, and are presented as a single set o sofware controls in
the ADInstruments program. Depending on the ront-end(s) connected,
ront-end-specific dialogs replace the Input Amplifier dialogs or
the Stimulator dialog.
Te LabChart Help and Scope User’s Guide detail the Input
Amplifier and Stimulator dialogs, and explain relevant terms and
concepts, but they do not cover ront-end-specific eatures. Tese
eatures are described in detail in the ollowing chapters or each
ront-end.
Front-end Drivers
A device driver is a piece o sofware that allows the computer’s
operating system and other sofware to interact with a hardware
device. ADInstruments applications like LabChart communicate with a
ront-end via an appropriate ront-end driver. Tese drivers are
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
21/228
automatically set up on the computer when ADInstruments
applications are installed, and their operation is usually
invisible to the user.
However, under certain circumstances you may receive an error
message during the startup o LabChart or Scope indicating that
there is a problem with the ront-end driver. Subsequently, the
ront-end will not unction. Tis is invariably caused by the absence
or incompatibility o a driver required or communication with the
ront-end due to an old
version o the sofware being run. Te problem can be remedied
simply by reinstalling and rerunning a current version o the
sofware, which will include the latest ront-end drivers.
The Front-end Self-test
Once the ront-end is properly connected to the PowerLab, and the
proper sofware is installed on the computer, a quick check can be
perormed on the ront-end. o perorm the sel-test:
• urn on the PowerLab and check that it is working
properly, as described in the owner’s guide that was supplied with
it.
• Once the PowerLab is ready, start LabChart, Labutor
or Scope. • While the program is starting, watch the
Status indicator on the ront-end’s ront
panel. During initialization, you should see the indicator flash
briefly and then remain lit.
I the indicator lights correctly, the ront-end has been ound by the
PowerLab and is working properly. I the indicator doesn’t light,
check your cable connections and repeat the start-up
procedure.
Software Behavior
When a ront-end is connected to a PowerLab and the ADInstruments
sofware is successully installed, the Input Amplifier… menu
command rom the Channel Function pop-up menu in LabChart should be
replaced by the <Front-end>... menu command.
For example, with a Bio Amp ront-end connected, Bio Amp… should
appear in the Channel unction pop-up menu. In Scope the Input
Amplifier… button in the Input A panel (or Input B panel) is
replaced by the Bio Amplifier… button.
Figure 2–3
Bio Amp front-end
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
22/228
14 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
I the application ails to find a ront-end attached to a channel,
the normal Input Amplifier… command or button remains. I you
were expecting a connected ront-end, you should close the program,
turn everything off, check the connections, restart the PowerLab
and then relaunch LabChart, Labutor or Scope.
Preventing Problems Several problems can arise when using the
PowerLab system or recording biological signals. It is important to
understand the types o problems that can occur, how they maniest
themselves, and what can be done to remove them or to minimize
their effect. Tese are usually problems o technique, and should be
addressed beore you set up your equipment.
Aliasing
Recordings o periodic waveorms that have been undersampled may have
misleading
shapes and may also have artiacts introduced by aliasing. Aliasing
occurs when a regular signal is digitized at too low a sampling
rate, causing the alse appearance o lower requency signals. An
analogy to aliasing can be seen in old films: spoked wagon wheels
may appear to stop, rotate too slowly or even go backwards when
their rate o rotation matches the film rame speed – this is
obviously not an accurate record.
Te Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem states that the minimum
sampling rate ( s ) to
accurately describe an analog signal must be at least twice the
highest requency in the original signal. Tereore, the signal must
not contain components greater or equal to s/2. Te term
s/2 is known as the Nyquist requency ( n) or the ‘olding
requency’ because requencies greater than or equal to
n old down to lower requencies about the axis o
n.
When aliasing o noise or signals is seen, or even suspected, the
first action you should take is to increase the sampling rate. Te
highest available sampling rates are 100k /s or 200k /s, depending
on your PowerLab. o view the requencies present in your recorded
signal open the Spectrum window in LabChart. For more inormation
about Spectrum, see the LabChart Help Center.
I unwanted high-requency components are present in the sampled
signal, you will achieve better results by using a low-pass filter
to remove them. Te best kind o filter or this purpose is the
Anti-alias filter option available in the ront-end-specific Input
Amplifier... dialog. Tis is a special low-pass filter that is
configured to automatically remove all signals
that could alias; i.e., those whose requency is greater or equal to
hal the sampling rate. For certain PowerLabs, the Anti-alias filter
option is not available. Tereore you should select an appropriate
low-pass filter to remove any unwanted signals (or noise) occurring
at requencies greater or equal to hal the sampling rate.
Frequency Distortion
Frequency distortion will occur i the bandwidth o your recording is
made smaller than the bandwidth o the incoming signal. For example,
i an ECG was measured with a sampling rate o 100 samples per second
(100 Hz) and the Bio Amp had a low-pass filter applied at 50
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
23/228
15 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Hz, the ast-changing sections o the waveorm (the QRS complex) may
appear smaller and ‘blunted’, while the slower -wave sections
remain relatively unchanged. Tis overall effect is called requency
distortion.
It can be eliminated by increasing the requency cut-off o the
low-pass filter in the ront- end-specific Input
Amplifier... dialog to obtain an undistorted waveorm.
Similarly, i the high-pass filter was set too high, the amplitude o
the -wave sections maybe reduced. Te Input Amplifier... dialog
allows you to examine ECGs and similar slowly changing waveorms to
fine-tune filter settings beore recording.
Saturation
Saturation occurs when the range is set too low or the signal being
measured (the amplification, or gain, is too high). As the signal
amplitude exceeds the allocated range, the recorded waveorm appears
as i part o the waveorm had been cut off, an effect reerred to as
clipping.
Clipping can also be caused by excessive baseline offset: the
offset effectively moves thewhole waveorm positively or negatively
to an extent that causes all or part o it to be clipped. Tis
problem is overcome by selecting a higher range rom the Range menu
in the ront-end-specific Input Amplifier... dialog. In the
case o excessive baseline offset, you may wish to apply a high-pass
filter with a higher requency cut-off.
Ground Loops
Ground loops occur when multiple connected pieces o recording
equipment are connected to mains power grounds. For saety reasons,
all electrical equipment should have a proper connection
to the mains power grounds, or to a primary earth connection in
situations where a mains ground connection is not available.
Connecting linked electrical equipment to a common earth connection
(equipotential connection point) – such as the earthing (grounding)
stud provided on the rear o all PowerLabs – can prevent ground
loops.
Te electric fields generated by power lines can introduce
intererence at the line requency into the recorded signal.
Electromagnetic fields rom other sources can also cause
intererence: fluorescent tubes, apparatus with large transormers,
computers, laptop batteries, network cables, x-ray machines,
microwave ovens, electron microscopes, even cyclic air
conditioning.
Reasonable care in the arrangement o equipment to minimize the
ground loop area,
together with proper shielding, can reduce electrical requency
intererence. For example,use shielded cables, keep recording leads
as short as possible, and try twisting recording leads together.
For sensitive measurements, it may be necessary to place the
subject (the biological source) in a Faraday cage.
Intererence should first be minimized, and then you can turn on the
Mains or notch filter in the ront-end-specific Input
Amplifier... dialog.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
24/228
Mains filter
Te Mains filter (/20, /25, /30, /35 and 26 PowerLabs) allows you to
filter out intererence at the mains requency (typically 50 or 60
Hz). Te mains filter is an adaptive filter which tracks the input
signal over approximately 1 second. A template o mains-requency
signal present in the input is computed rom the signal. Te width o
the template is the mains
power period (typically 16.6 or 20 ms) as determined rom
zero-crossings o the mainspower. Te filtered signal is obtained by
subtracting the template rom the incoming signal.
In comparison with a conventional notch filter, this method
produces little waveorm distortion. It attenuates harmonics o the
mains requency as well as the 50 or 60 Hz undamental and thereore
effectively removes non-sinusoidal intererence, such as that
commonly caused by fluorescent lights.
Te filter should not be used when:
• the intererence changes rapidly. Te filter
takes about 1 second to adapt to the present level. I intererence
is present and then is suddenly removed, intererence in the
filtered signal will temporarily worsen.
• your signal contains exact actors or harmonics o
requencies close to the mains requencies, or example, a 30 Hz
signal with 60 Hz mains requency.
• your signal is already ree rom intererence. I the
signal-to-noise ratio is greater than about 64 the mains filter
introduces more noise than it removes.
• you are recording at close to maximum sampling rates.
Te mains filter uses some o the PowerLab’s processing power and
thereore reduces the maximum rate at which you can sample.
Notch Filter
Te notch filter is automatically set to either 50 or 60 Hz,
depending on the powerline voltage requency being used by the
PowerLab (the mains requency). It provides approximately 32 dB o
attenuation, thus reducing the effect o the 50 or 60 Hz signals
that can easily be picked up by long leads. Te notch filter is only
available with older model PowerLabs, such as the /20 series.
Electrode Contact
Occasionally one o the lead wires connecting the subject to the
ront-end may become disconnected, or an electrode contact may
become poor. I this should happen, relatively high voltages
(potentials) can be induced in the open wire by electric fields
generated by power lines or other sources close to the ront-end or
the subject. Such induced potentials will result in a constant
amplitude disturbance in the recorded waveorm at the power line
requency (50 or 60 Hz), and loss o the desired signal. I the
problem is a recurring one, one o the leads may be aulty. Check
connections and replace aulty leads, i necessary.
Motion Artifacts
A common source o artiacts when recording biological signals is due
to motion o the subject or equipment. Ofen applying a high-pass
filter can help to remove slowly changing components in a recorded
signal.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
25/228
17 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
• Muscular activity generates its own electrical
signals, which may be recorded along with an ECG, say, depending on
the location o the electrodes.
• I an electrode is not firmly attached, impedance (and
hence the recorded signal) may vary as the contact area changes
shape owing to movement.
• Movement o patient cables, particularly bending or
rubbing together (triboelectric effects) may generate artiacts in a
signal.
• Subject respiration can also generate a signal;
breathing can result in a slowlychanging baseline corresponding to
inspiration and expiration.
I the subject is liable to move during recording, then special care
needs to be taken when attaching the electrodes and securing the
patient leads. Make sure the skin is cleaned and lightly abraded
beore attaching the electrodes.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
26/228
18 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Te FE136 Animal Bio Amp is a modular device, in a amily called
ront-ends, designed to extend the capabilities o the PowerLab
system. Te Animal Bio Amp is designed to allow the PowerLab system
to record bioelectrical signals, such as ECG, EOG, ERG, EMG, and
EEG, rom animals or isolated tissues, or action potentials rom
isolated nerves.
Warning! Te Animal Bio Amp is not intended or human use and
should never be
connected to a human subject.
Te Animal Bio Amp provides:
• a low-noise, high-gain differential amplifier
specifically designed or biological signal measurements;
• sofware-controlled low-pass, high-pass, and
notch filters to remove unwanted signal requencies or particular
uses;
• audio output, or use with EMG or EEG signals,
and so on.
Animal Bio Amp
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
27/228
19 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
The Animal Bio Amp Te Animal Bio Amp has been designed to integrate
ully into the PowerLab system. Te Animal Bio Amp is essentially an
extension o the PowerLab’s input amplifiers, so the amplification
(and hence the ranges) you see offered in the LabChart, Labutor and
Scope sofware will be the combination o both pieces o
hardware.
Tis chapter contains general inormation about the eatures,
connections, and uses o the Animal Bio Amp. More detailed
inormation can be ound in the echnical Aspects and Specifications
sections.
The Front Panel
Te ront panel o the Animal Bio Amp has three input connectors and
one indicator light.
Input Sockets
Status indicator
The Input Sockets
Connections are made to the Animal Bio Amp are made using the three
shrouded 1.5 mm male pin sockets on the ront panel. A separate
socket is provided or each o the positive (+), negative (–) and
Ground/Reerence (Re) cables. Tree cables are provided and each is
terminated with a miniature alligator clip suitable or use with a
wide variety o electrodes (not supplied).
The Status Indicator
Located at the bottom right o the ront panel o the Animal Bio Amp
is the status indicator light. When lit, it indicates that the
PowerLab sofware (such as LabChart or Scope) has ound the Animal
Bio Amp and that it is ready to use. I the light does not go on,
then the Animal Bio Amp is not connected properly, or there is a
sofware or hardware problem.
The Back Panel
Te back panel o the Animal Bio Amp provides all the sockets or
connection o the Animal Bio Amp to the PowerLab and to other
ront-ends.
Figure 3–1
Amp
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
28/228
20 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
I2C Input and Output Sockets
wo nine-pin sockets are used to communicate with the PowerLab (they
are marked ‘I2C Bus’: a ‘bus’ is simply an inormation transmission
connection such as connectors and cabling). Tese sockets in
conjunction with the proper cables allow multiple ront-ends to be
used independently with one PowerLab: power and control signals to
connected ront-
ends come rom the PowerLab. Multiple ront-ends can be connected to
each other inseries, ‘output to input’. Tis is discussed in detail
in Chapter 2.
Signal output to the
I2C connection from
the PowerLab or
Signal Output Socket
Te BNC socket labeled Signal Output is used to connect the Animal
Bio Amp to one o the analog input channel sockets on the ront o the
PowerLab. Te supplied BNC-to-BNC cable is used or this
purpose.
Audio Output Socket
Te Animal Bio Amp has an audio monitor output that can be used with
a wide range o headphones or externally powered speakers. Te 3.5 mm
stereo socket is wired to provide mono sound (the same signal to a
set o stereo speakers or headphones. Tis audio output is o
particular use when monitoring bursts or nerve activity.
Connecting to the PowerLab o connect a ront-end, such as your
Animal Bio Amp, to the PowerLab, first make sure that the PowerLab
is turned off. Failure to do this may damage the PowerLab, the
Animal Bio Amp, or both.
Figure 3–2
The back panel
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
29/228
Single Front-end
Connect the I2C output o the PowerLab to the I2C input o the
ront-end using the I2C cable provided. Figure 3–3 shows how to
connect up a single ront-end to your PowerLab.
Check that the plugs or the I2C bus are screwed in firmly. Check
the BNC cable or firm connections as well. Loose connectors can
cause erratic ront-end behavior, or may cause
the ront-end to ail to work at all. Te BNC cable can be tucked
under the ront-end to keep it out o the way i desired. Once the
Animal Bio Amp is connected, turn the PowerLab on and launch
LabChart.
Multiple Front-ends
Multiple ront-ends can be connected up to a PowerLab; up to
sixteen, depending on the number o input channels on the PowerLab.
Te initial ront-end should be connected as shown in Figure 3–3. Te
remainder are daisy-chained via I2C cables, connecting the I2C
output o the last connected ront-end to the I2C input o the
ront-end to be added (see Figure 2–2). Te BNC cable or each
ront-end is connected to one o the analog inputs o the PowerLab.
Note that signal degradation can be expected i multiple Bio Amps
are connected to a single subject.
Using LabChart and Scope When the Animal Bio Amp is connected to a
channel and successully installed, the Input Amplifier… menu
command rom the Channel Function pop-up menu in LabChart is
replaced by the Bio Amp… menu command. In Scope, the Input
Amplifier… button in the Input A (or Input B) panel is
replaced by the Bio Amplifier… button.
I the application ails to find a ront-end attached to a channel,
the normal Input
Amplifier… command or button remains. I you were expecting a
connected ront-end,
Figure 3–3
Animal Bio Amp
BNC connector cable
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
30/228
22 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
you should close the program, turn everything off, check the
connections, then start things up again.
Note: Leaving the PowerLab on while changing connections can
damage the PowerLab, the Animal Bio Amp, or both.
Choosing the Bio Amp… menu command will bring up the Bio Amp
dialog, which
replaces the Input Amplifier dialog or the channel. Te LabChart
Help Center and ScopeUser’s Guide have urther details on the
Input Amplifier dialog, and explain some o the sofware terms used
here.
The Bio Amp dialog
Te Bio Amp dialog is similar or LabChart and Scope. It allows
sofware control o the various amplifiers and filters in the
Animal Bio Amp (and PowerLab) or a channel. Te signal present at
that channel’s input is displayed so that you can immediately see
the effects o any changes. Once you have changed the settings in
the dialog, click OK to apply the changes to the Chart or Scope
window. Te channel that the dialog applies to is shown next to the
arrows, and the channel title or axis label (i any) is shown along
the vertical Amplitude axis.
Signal Display
Te input signal is displayed so that you can see the effect o
changing the settings — no data is actually recorded when setting
up the Animal Bio Amp. Te average signal value is displayed at the
top lef o the display area. Slowly changing waveorms will be
represented quite accurately, whereas quickly changing signals will
be displayed as a solid dark area showing only the envelope (shape)
o the signal ormed by the minimum and maximum recorded
values.
Figure 3–4
The Bio Amp
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
31/228
Range
Te Range pop-up menu lets you select the input range or sensitivity
o the channel — the combined range o the Animal Bio Amp and the
PowerLab. Changing the range in the Bio Amp dialog is equivalent to
changing it in the Chart or Scope window (all dialog changes are
made in the main window afer clicking OK). For the Animal Bio Amp,
the deault
setting is 100 mV, and the ranges go down to 5 µV in 14
steps.
EEG Mode
Te EEG Mode changes the available filters o the Animal Bio Amp to
suit EEG applications. When this checkbox is on, the High Pass
pop-up menu gives filter settings o 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1 seconds,
and the Low Pass pop-up menu gives filter settings o 3, 10, 30, 60,
and 120 Hz. It is a convention in EEG to deal with high-pass filter
settings in terms o seconds (giving the time constant o the
first-order filter).
Filtering
Te Animal Bio Amp provides signal filtering options that can be
adjusted to suit your requirements. Te deault settings are
appropriate to the signals usually measured, which tend to be o
lower requency.
Te notch filter and the mains filter are used to remove excessive
mains requency intererence. Te high-pass filter limits the
bandwidth o low-requency signals and the low-pass filter limits the
bandwidth o high-requency signals.
Not all possible combinations o high-pass and low-pass filters are
available, or instance, i the 5 kHz low-pass filter is selected,
then high-pass filtering cannot be below 1 Hz.
Notch Filter. Click the Notch checkbox to turn the notch
filter on and off (it is on whenchecked). Te notch filter is set to
either 50 or 60 Hz depending on the power line voltage (mains)
requency. It provides 32 dB o attenuation to remove electrical
intererence, thus reducing the effect o 50/60 Hz signals that can
be picked up by long patient leads.
Mains Filter. Select or deselect the Mains filter checkbox to
turn the mains filter on and off. Te mains filter allows you to
remove intererence related to the mains requency (both undamental
and harmonic requencies). Tis is an adaptive filter. It adjusts to
filter the intererence by tracking the input signal or a second,
creating a template o the interering requencies and then
subtracting this template rom the input signal. Because o this, in
general, using the mains filter is better than using the notch
filter. However, the mains filter
does have some limitations, such as not being useul or very short
recordings o less thanone second. More details on the mains filter
can be ound in the LabChart Help Center.
High-Pass Filtering. Tere are normally five options in the
High Pass pop-up menu: 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 and 10 Hz. When the EEG
Mode checkbox is on, our options are provided in the High
Pass pop-up menu: 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1 seconds. (Units o
seconds give the time constant o the first-order filter.) When any
o the options is chosen, a high-pass filter removes any DC
components and attenuates those requency components below the AC
filter requency rom the signal. Tis is useul to remove slowly
changing baselines, such as motion or respiration artiacts,
commonly ound in ECG (EKG) recordings.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
32/228
24 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Low-Pass Filtering. Te Low Pass pop-up menu normally gives a
choice o six low-pass filters to remove high-requency components
rom an input signal: 50, 100, 200 and 500 Hz, and 1 and 5 kHz. When
the EEG Mode checkbox is on, five options are provided in the
Low Pass pop-up menu: 3, 10, 30, 60 and 120 Hz. Tese settings
are useul to eliminate high-requency components, such as noise, and
to prevent aliasing in the recorded signal.
Anti-alias. Click the Anti-alias checkbox to turn the
anti-aliasing filter on and off. Tis applies a low-pass filter that
attenuates requencies in the incoming signal that are greater than
or equal to hal the sampling requency. Tis filter helps to
eliminate aliasing, in which such requencies ‘old down’ to lower
requencies, and the recorded waveorm appears quite different rom
the actual signal.
Inverting the Signal
Te Invert checkbox allows you to invert the signal on the
screen. It provides a simple way to change the polarity o the
recorded signal without having to rewire a circuit or reconnect to
the signal. Select the Invert checkbox to change the signal
polarity.
Units
Click Units… to display the Units Conversion dialog, with
which you speciy the units or the channel and, using waveorm
measurements, calibrate the channel. Units conversion is not
normally required or measurements taken using the Animal Bio Amp,
but is provided
just in case.
When the button is clicked, the waveorm currently in the data
display area o the dialog is transerred to the data display area o
the Units Conversion dialog. (Use the Pause button to capture any
specific signal that you want to use.) Te units conversion only
applies to
subsequently recorded signals, so it is more limited than choosing
Units Conversion…rom a Channel Function pop-up menu, as it does not
allow the conversion o individual blocks or pages o data. For more
inormation about units conversion, see the LabChart
Help Center and Scope User’s Guide.
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
33/228
25 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Using the Animal Bio Amp Tis section looks at the use o the Animal
Bio Amp or measurements, describes the input connection in detail,
and looks at how to avoid some common problems when setting up. It
is recommended that you read the material in this section beore you
attempt to record biological signals with the Animal Bio Amp,
especially i you intend to use your own cables
or are unsure about how to connect to the Animal Bio Amp. Te Animal
Bio Amp amplifies the signal rom a biological signal source so it
can be used by the PowerLab, and provides appropriate filtering. Te
tasks listed below, and the basics o setting up measurement, are
covered in detail in standard electrophysiology texts. Note that
signal degradation can be expected i multiple Bio Amps are
connected to a single subject.
Some Suitable Uses
Tis version o the Animal Bio Amp [FE136] has been designed to
measure a wide variety
o biological signal sources. Some o the tasks or which it is
suitable include: ECG. Electrocardiogram (also reerred to as
EKG); a recording o the electrical currents that constitute the
cardiac action potential.
EOG. Electro-oculogram; a recording o the electrical activity
o the muscles which control movement o the eyeball. For bilateral
measurement, a Dual Bio Amp [FE135] is recommended, although two
Animal Bio Amps can be used. Te lowest possible high-pass filter
setting is recommended or EOG measurements.
ERG. Electroretinogram; a recording o the electrical currents
produced in the retina by a light stimulus. wo Animal Bio Amps are
required or bilateral measurement.
EMG. Electromyography (surace electrode electromyography); a
recording o the electrical activity o a muscle, using surace or
needle electrodes: voluntary, M-wave (nerve stimulation), and so
on.
EEG. Electroencephalogram; a recording o the electrical
activity o the brain. Te Animal Bio Amp is suitable or both
‘bioeedback’ and clinical types o EEG recording, i the environment
is electrically quiet.
Cortical Evoked Potentials. Averaged recordings o the
electrical activity o the brain when subject to stimulation: visual
evoked response, auditory evoked response, and somatosensory
response. Tis should be done with signal averaging, using
Scope.
SNAP. Sensory nerve action potentials; a recording o evoked
response in stimulated nerves. Tis is usually done with signal
averaging, using Scope.
Slow Waves. For some smooth muscle studies; recording the
long-term electrical activity involved in involuntary muscle
contractions.
Some Unsuitable Uses
Te Animal Bio Amp is not recommended or work requiring
high-impedance electrodes or using a high bandwidth. Some o the
tasks or which it is not really suitable include:
8/20/2019 Front-End Signal Conditioners OG
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
34/228
• Intracellular micropipette recordings. Recordings rom
a very fine, electrolyte-filled tube inserted into a nerve or
muscle cell. Tese require an electrometer amplifier.
• Any biopotential recordings requiring low input
capacitance and a driven guard circuit.
The Animal Bio Amp Input
Connections are made to the Animal Bio Amp using the three shrouded
1.5 mm male pin sockets on the ront panel. Te sockets are o a sort
commonly used with lie science connection leads, and their
arrangement is shown below.
Tree cables are provided and each is terminated with a miniature
alligator clip suitable or use with a wide variety o electrodes
(not supplied).
Ref + -
Ground/Reference
(green)
(black)
Te sockets provide two pins or a differential input signal (+ or
red, – or black), and an input or an isolated Ground/reerence (Re
or green). Te Ground/reerence electrode should always be attached
to the subject under investigation (or to the recording
preparation), providing a zero reerence or the differential
amplifier. Ten the active (+) and reerence (-) electrodes should be
securely attached to the subject or recording preparation, or
example, ECG recording leads on opposite sides o the chest, or
needle electrodes at different sites over a nerve.
Note: Te Animal Bio Amp should never be used on humans. For
human connection, the Bio Amp [FE132] or Dual Bio Amp [FE135]
should be used with their associated approved subject cables.
Figure 3–5
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/front-end-signal-conditioners-og
35/228
27 Front-ends Owner’s Guide
Technical Aspects Tis section describes some o the important
technical eatures o the Animal Bio Amp. It describes the
capabilities o the Animal Bio Amp, and its suitability or
particular purposes. Be advised that user modification o the
equipment voids the warranty agreement.
Technical Description
As with other ADInstruments ront-ends, all internal unctions o the
Animal Bio Amp are controlled rom the PowerLab through a special
communications connector called the I2C bus. Tis connection also
supplies power to the Animal Bio Amp. Front-ends are also connected
to the analog input channels o the PowerLab via a BNC-to-BNC cable,
through which the amplified and filtered signal is sent to the
PowerLab. Te overall operation o the Animal Bio Amp can be better
understood by reerring to Figure 3–6.
Te input amplifier o the Animal Bio Amp starts with an electrically
isolated differential amplifier. Te output o this amplifier is ed
into a low-noise demodulator and then to a
programmable gain stage, beore being ed across an isolation
transormer to the non- isolated circuitry. Control o the isolated
gain is provided via a high-isolation-voltage optocoupler. An
auto-restore circuit monitors the level o the input signal and
restores the input beore the signal produces amplifier ‘blocking’.
Isolated power comes rom a second isolation transormer driven by a
power oscillator circuit running at about 38 kHz.
Te signal rom the isolated input amplifier is synchronously
demodulated and then ed to a programmable, switched-capacitor,
high-pass filter. Any switching clock noise is filtered by the
low-pass filter ollowing this stage.
Te signal then passes to the first non-isolated gain stage, where
it is amplified 1, 10 or 100
times. A switched-capacitor notch filter ollows (this is
automatically set to 50 or 60 Hzdepending on the mains requency o
your power supply). Afer this, the signal passes to the final
programmable gain stage, where it is amplified 1, 2 or 5 times. Te
last part o the signal-conditioning circuitry is the low-pass
filter.
Te output o the Animal Bio Amp is buffered with an amplifier with a
fixed gain (nominally X 1.66), to compensate or gain differences
through the previous stages o the device. An audio signal output,
capable o driving headphones or powered speakers, is provided by
tapping off the output stage and buffering it.
Te control or the various filters and gain stages in the Animal Bio
Amp is provided by on-board microprocessors, which also communicate
with the PowerLab over the I2C bus.
Note that the Animal Bio Amp is an extremely sensitive instrument,
and it is important that under no circumstances should you try to
repair or adjust it yoursel. I you experience problems with the
Animal Bio Amp, it should be returned to your ADInstruments
representative or repair under the terms o your Warranty &
Licensing Agreement.
8/20/2019 Fron