Museum of equipments

 

There were many equipments developed, and manufactured during the long history of SUPERTECH. Most of them are out of date, and they have been simply removed from this website as their newer versions have been introduced. They are not worth to mention any more. But there were a few really interesting, special and/or difficult equipments developed by SUPERTECH. The list below is a short memorial of the obsolete, but most valuable development projects, and products of our factory.

 

 

Increasing-Temperature Hot-Plate test equipment

 

Our newly developed hot-plate was designed for determining the pain threshold in rats or mice. The temperature is slowly increasing with variable heating rates from non-noxious levels until a response is observed or a cut-off temperature is reached. The response is the licking of the hindpaw, and the corresponding plate temperature represents the recorded nociceptive end-point. The advantage of Increasing-Temperature Hot-Plate test over the standard constant-temperature hot-plate test is the higher sensitivity (better in studying the analgesic effects of mild analgesics), and the lack of influences of pre-exposure to the hot-plate before testing.

 

The equipment is controlled by an IBM-compatible industrial standard PC through its standard Centronics (parallel) port. All the parameters are controlled by the program running on the computer. Moreover the cut-off temperature for safety's sake is controlled by the built-in microcontroller located in the Increasing-Temperature Hot-Plate equipment, too. A plexiglass box is placed on the top of the plate for possible clear observation of the animal.

 

                Click on the picture to get it in full size

 

Technical data:

 

Heating elements: a delicate heater surface structure was developed especially to use in this equipment

 

Maximal temperature difference between the centre and the edge of the plate: 0.5 Centigrade

 

Heating rates: can be set from 1 Centigrade/min to 6 Centigrade/min, controlled by the PC software. The equipment can be used with higher heating rates (up to 12 Centigrade/min), but the temperature difference on the plate will be increased over the specified value in such cases

 

Cooling: contact heat dissipation

 

The size of the working surface: 200 mm x 150 mm

 

The height and the volume of the plexiglass box: 250 mm, 3 liters

 

Computer program: requires an IBM-compatible PC running under MS Windows 98 (or higher) operating system

 

Starting temperature of the measurements: room temperature

 

Cut-off temperature (hardware, and firmware controlled): can be set from 30 Centigrade to 54 Centigrade

 

Cut-off temperature (controlled by the PC software): can be set from 30 Centigrade to 54 Centigrade

 

Supply specification: 200 - 240 V AC, or 100 -120 V AC (it should be specified in the order), 50 - 60 Hz

 

Power requirement: 100 W

 

Dimensions without the plexiglass box: 330 x 260 x 130 mm

 

Weight: 6 kg

 

References:

 

Hunskaar, S., Berge, O.G., Hole, K.: A modified hot-plate test sensitive to mild analgesics. Behav. Brain Res. 2: 101-108, 1986.

 

Tjolsen, A., Rosland, J.H., Berge, O.G., Hole, K.: The increasing-temperature hot-plate test: an improved test of nociception in mice and rats. J. Pharmacol. Methods 3: 241-250, 1991.

 

Almasi, R., Petho, G., Bolcskei, K., Szolcsanyi, J.: Effect of resiniferatoxin on the noxious heat threshold temperature in the rat: a novel heat allodynia model sensitive to analgesics. British Journal of Pharmacology, 139(1): 49-58, 2003.

 

The Downloadable specification of the Increasing-Temperature Hot-Plate test equipment is available.

 

 

Juxtacell BioAmp

 

This equipment was a further development of our universal biological BioAmp amplifier. This equipment was optimized for juxtacellular recording (extracellular single cell recording with simultaneous electrophoretic application of tracer solution onto the examined cell).

 

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Analog Commander

 

Analog Commander is a very special, single-processor version on the BioStim Pulse Pattern Generator. It is designed to work as an analog command generator for Axopatch patch-clamp amplifiers, manufactured by Axon Instruments. Analog Commander has got microprocessor-based bipolar pulse pattern generator, and calibrated analog voltage output controls (helipots).

 

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Laser Heat Exchangers

 

This was a special product line of SUPERTECH Ltd. The Laser Heat Exchangers are microprocessor-controlled cooling regulators for huge-power industrial lasers. They provide a volume-controlled, cold water flow to cool the lasers.

 

We have developed different Laser Heat Exchangers up to 50 kW. In the pictures you can see an example.

 

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Lick detector (spout) for monkey

 

This dual-channel spout equipment is used to provide two solution flows for a monkey to drink. The two spouts, and their connection tubes are independent from each other. The geometry of the mouthpiece is optimized for monkeys. There is an optical detector in front of the spouts. The optical axle of the infrared beam is located below the spouts with 5 mm. The electronic box (not shown in the pictures) generates a standard TTL level of output pulse for every touches of the tongue.

 

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