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Designed by scientists for scientists
Warning! Animals chew through cables. Make sure your cables are not within 'eating distance' of your test subjects!
Quicklinks
A: Yes, it works with Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 7/32 bit and Windows 7/64bit.
A: Yes we do for those test systems which require computers. The computer is delivered with your system completely configured and tested with the product you ordered.
A: That depends on the system…and the age of the system:
A: Yes you can. Please send an e-mail to SDI at support@sandiegoinstruments.com and the information required to use our FTP site will be sent to you.
A: Go to the Freeze Monitor ‘ini’ file and change “numchambers =” to the correct number of chambers attached to your freeze monitor system.
A: The mouse start box makes your test more consistent because it reduces the size of the start chamber. This more readily orients the mouse toward the shock (dark) chamber, and reduces the time to shock (dark) chamber entry.
A: The selector switch on the front of the Gemini unit may not be set to ‘manual mode’.
A: Yes. Gemini and SR-LAB offer different components depending upon whether you are testing rats or mice. Grid floors and animal enclosures must be swapped to accommodate the animal type.
A: The standard warranty is one year on most SDI system hardware from the time it is delivered to you. Please see our Warranty Policy.
A: Use the Shocker Validation Unit from SDI to check shock levels on the SR-LAB, Gemini and Freeze Monitor systems.
A: Yes, please refer to our product data sheets for more information.
A: Yes – the following SDI systems can be purchased with the FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance option: SR-LAB, Gemini, PAS software for Flex-Field and Cage Rack, and EMG-SR.
A: Go to the Windows Device Manager Screen and check to see if the Acces I/O card is listed there. If not, reboot or reinstall the Acces drivers.
A: 7 days/24 hours per day
A: Cage Rack Photobeam is a general activity system that measures activity on only one axis. The Cage Rack Flex-Field is for more detailed activity testing. The system measures activity in two axes and provides data that can be used to create a track of the activity and provide time and distance data. Zone maps can be applied to the data for varying analysis.
A: Yes, with additional capabilities to support other types of experimental paradigms.
A: It depends on the frame type used but at least 32. Please refer to product data sheets for specific details.
A: The PAS version must be correct for the version of the Windows Operating System. There is an upgraded charge if you need to replace PAS.exe with PAS764.exe. Contact sales@sandiegoinstruments.com to request a quotation.
PAS.exe will work up through Windows XP.
PAS2011.exe will work on Windows XP and Windows 7/32 bit(this was an interim release and it has been replaced by PAS764.exe)
PAS764.exe will work on Windows XP, Windows 7/32 bit or Windows 7/64 bit.
Windows NT and 2000 are no longer supported.
A: Because, as with any system, there is small amount of electrical and mechanical noise in the system. Empty chamber values should be small (<10). This noise is accounted for in the system calibration so the net test results aren’t affected by the ambient noise in the chamber. Contact SDI if these values are large. ALSO SEE NEXT FAQ.
A: If the variability is among the chambers when you calibrate, make sure that your chambers are on a stable, flat surface - seismic isolation of chambers is important. If a rigid counter cannot be used, consider mounting chambers on concrete blocks. If the variability is low in calibration, but is seen in animal data, ask SDI for materials dealing with “Minimizing Variability in Startle Testing”.
A: The ‘device number’ may not be set properly in the “Configuration” menu. It should be set to “2” in the Windows-based system. Check that the power supply is connected to the rear of the Control Box. Verify other connections. Check for a bad fuse. Disconnect the power supply, remove the top of the shocker unit. Check glass fuse - right rear on the shocker board. Replace with same rate fuse.
A: The BNC cables may be reversed at the IN/OUT connection. Change them on the control box. Verify that the units have power (check that light and fan goes on). Check all connections per the manual.
A: Your mouse may be of a strain that loses hearing as they age. Check to make sure they can hear. Many researchers find that mice show a better startle response to tactile rather than acoustic startle stimuli.
A: Sixteen stations.
A: Request materials and scientific literature on the SR-LAB offered by SDI.
A: Refer to Geyer, M.A. and Swerdlow, N. R Measurement of Startle Response, Prepulse Inhibition, and Habituation in Current Protocols in Neuroscience (1998) 8.7.1-8.7.15 .
A: The Standardization Unit provides a constant input to the SR-LAB software. This allows each chamber to be adjusted to remove any sensitivity variances. The Standardization unit establishes the reliability of the test stations (similar sensitivity among stations and over time), but reports relative values in millivolts.
The Absolute Value Calibrator provides a known force in Newtons to the animal enclosure sensor. “Newton” is a standard unit of force in the “International System of Units”. The SR-LAB Absolute Value Calibration (AVC) software reads the standardized force produced by the AV calibrator and builds a small file recording an adjustment factor for each test chamber in a “Calibration Log” file. The Log file provides a historical record of system stability and verifies that calibrations are performed. The adjustment factor is then applied to the animal test results, automatically adjusting for any variances in the test chambers. While recalibration with the AV calibrator could be done every so often, adjustments for variations in sensitivity are automatic. When using the SR-LAB AVC software, all results are reported in absolute Newton units rather than millivolts.
A: No. They are two different methods of calibrating the SR-LAB system.
A: First, construct your Trials using the commands from the software menu. Then, construct a Session Definition to control the Background level, the Recording granularity, the Inter-Trial Intervals and the number of repetitions. Within the Session Definition, insert the Trial names you want to run. We strongly recommend you refer to Geyer, M.A. and Swerdlow, N. R Measurement of Startle Response, Prepulse Inhibition, and Habituation in Current Protocols in Neuroscience (1998) 8.7.1-8.7.15.
A: No, except in unusual circumstances.
A: Any commands that terminate after the "Record Window" are ignored. Extend the "Record Window" or move the "Record Window" in the Trial.
Example Trial Definition (assume a 200msec recording window):
DO NOT USE THIS TRIAL
0msec Background
0msec Wait 50
50msec Analog 600
50msec Record
50msec Wait 300
350msec Background
end of Trial
In the example provided above, the Analog signal will stay on because the Background command at 350msec won’t be processed due to the fact that the Record Window went from 50msec to 250msec. To correct this problem, in the Trial Definition, you would change the Wait 300 Command to Wait 200.
