ios4 is a fully automated 8-channel tissue-bath system. It is especially designed to increase productivity and rapidly complete series of drug screening tests. ios4 also has the flexibility required for innovative research work.

ios4 is the latest incarnation of an established laboratory tool successfully used by major research facilities in industry and academia for more than 10 years. Designed and built for maximum reliability and accuracy, it offers multiple benefits including simplicity of operation, reduced running costs and improved productivity.

The simplicity and effectiveness of ios4 make it the leading automated tissue-bath system in the world.

features

8-channel strain-gauge amplifiers

8 baths with force transducers
each bath assembly fitted with PMMA or glass baths of 20, 10 or 5 ml volume.

automated drug handling
from initial drug dilution to drug injection in the baths during the experiment.

integrated heating system
for baths and physiological liquids.

strong aluminium and stainless steel frame
preventing system vibrations, and thereby ensuring high-quality signals.

more reliable liquid detection
while draining and refilling the baths.

easier access to the hydraulic system
for simplified cleaning and maintenance.

feedback on hardware status
for complete Audit-Trail and fast troubleshooting.

optional automatic tissue tensioning
for tissue stabilization under controlled stress.

optional electrical stimulation
synchronous or asynchronous on 1 to 8 baths.

software

complete software control
ios4 achieves full automation through software control of all built-in hardware modules (amplifiers, transducers…). ios4 only needs to be connected to CO2/O2 and vacuum sources.

When driven by iox2 software, ios4 works unattended night and day, conducting the whole experimen and automatically storing and printing data. The built-in dilutor ensures that the concentration of the drug in the baths is that required by the protocol, by diluting drugs to an appropriate concentration then injecting an appropriate volume.

iox2 is a comprehensive software package dedicated to pharmacology and physiology studies. Specific modules are designed to drive ios4 and perform isolated tissue bath experiments. iox2 allows the user to record and review data, and also to insert and view event markers (e.g. drug injection). iox2 drives external devices (tissue tensioners, electrical stimulator,...), and maintains a logbook of all events and tasks performed manually or automatically during the experiment.

Signal-specific analysis modules are available for a wide range of data:

• fast rhythmic tissue contraction (e.g. papillary muscle)
• slow rhythmic tissue contraction (e.g. uterine...)
• non-rhythmic tissue contraction (e.g. ring of aortic tissue…)
• temperature, pH…

datanalyst is a dedicated software program for pharmacology studies. It can determine maximum response for each dose, build dose-response curves, compute EC₅₀ values with a few mouse clicks etc. Reports are customized and saved in a text format compatible with most database applications.

21 cfr part 11 compliance and glp

iox2 and datanalyst software are 100% compatible with GLP requirements for strict toxicology, safety pharmacology, and general pharmacology applications.

Advanced features such as online data validation, audit trail, and a secure user access management provide an easy and reliable solution for a 21 cfr part 11 compliant environment.

software features include:

• user management software to define users access right levels, login & passwords, validity, etc.
• auditSERVER to create a trace in an encrypted file of all actions oF the setup
• auditVIEWER to quickly review audit-trail lines
• Microsoft Excel® macros to export, filter and check the audit-trail files
• direct link to transfer data to laboratory data base or LIMS

safety and security

new ! emergency stop push button

new ! hydraulic keyboard lock to suppress manual bath drain/refill operations during experiments

user level definition prevents unauthorized changes to configurations and protocols

automated functions

drug dilution
down to required injection concentrations prior to experiment. Up to 500 drugs can be prepared and injected. Standard 96-well plates are used with volumes from 200 µl to 3 ml.

drug injection
to reach required concentration in baths and performed at preset times or when a specific condition is fulfilled. The robot can inject from 10 µl to 400 µl with a resolution of 0.5 µl.

tissue pre- or re-tensioning
performed by a precision step-motor with a 2 µm resolution. Can be set to reach a specific tension or length.

liquid handling
to drain, refill or overflow-rinse the baths and to fill one of two physiological fluids.

temperature control
achieved by thermostatic regulation of the liquid circulating in bath jacket.

electrical stimulation

operator tasks

• load a protocol into the software
• follow software instructions to fill the wells with mother drug solutions
• prepare physiological liquid needed to fill and rinse the baths
• prepare and install the tissue
• let the robot work!

advantages

increased productivity
Produces more results, faster. Works unattended day or night.

glp and 21 cfr part 11 compliance
Data integrity and accountability.
Electronic signatures.
Audit trail.

precise
Unrivalled screening precision and accuracy.
Lower inter-measurement variability.

ease of use
Technician operated.
User-friendly control from within software .
Easy maintenance.
Comprehensive error handling.

flexibility
ios4 may be run automated or manually operated.

proven

For more than 10 years, ios systems have been used to run automated tissue bath experiments.

ACTELION
CEREP
HELSINKI University
HOFFMAN LAROCHE
KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE
MERCK LIPHA
NOVARTIS
PFIZER
PHARMAGENE
ROUEN University
SANOFI SYNTHELABO
SERVIER
STRASBOURG University
THERAMEX
UCB
UCL Bruxelles