The MicroCapStar End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Analyzer provides
accurate end-tidal or continuous measurement of expired
CO2 in animals as small as mice. It features very low sample
flow requirements, rapid response time, and long-term stability.
Respiratory rate (RR) is computed using the excursions of
the CO2 waveform. The CO2 and RR measurements, as well as
a trend plot of the end-tidal values, are displayed on the
graphics LCD screen.
CO2 monitoring is widely recognized
as an important measure of the respiratory status of experimental
animals. It is useful in setting ventilator parameters,
and serves to gauge depth of anesthesia in unassisted, spontaneously
breathing animals as well. The MicroCapStar extends this
important technique to the realm of small experimental animals.
The heart of the MicroCapStar
is a new temperature controlled infrared CO2 sensor with
digital output. Low sample flow and rapid response is achieved
with a carrier gas system employing digitally-controlled
active flow management. This technique precisely and automatically
maintains the ratio of carrier flow to sample flow, which
is essential for accurate measurements. The heated measurement
cell prevents water condensation, even during long-term
measurement sessions. The standard sample tubing set is
1m long, but lengths of up to 2.5m are possible.
The front-panel display (see above) shows CO2 concentration (either instantaneous or ETCO2) in either percent or mmHg, and a 5-minute trend plot of ETCO2.. Calibration is performed with a single calibration gas and room air. An adjustable ETCO2 alarm provides a warning when end-tidal values fall out of a user-adjustable preset range. All adjustments are performed digitally using a single knob. Built-in diagnostics monitoring warn of plugged sample tubing or other fault conditions.
The advanced features, reliability, and
ease of operation of the microCapStar make it the perfect
companion to our SAR-830 series Small Animal Ventilators
for monitoring respiratory status. With the AVS-1 Advanced
Ventilator System, it can be used to control end-tidal CO2.
An accessory pack containing spare low-volume
sample tubing and a variety of connectors and fittings is
included with the instrument. A range of accessories is
available to ensure easy setup and convenient operation.
Windows-based monitoring software is included, which allows
display of the measurements, and saving the data to a disk
file.
