PowerLab
Encyclopedia
PowerLab is a data acquisition
system developed by ADInstruments
comprising hardware and software and designed for use in life science research and teaching applications. It is commonly used in physiology, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, sports/exercise studies and psychophysiology laboratories to record and analyse physiological signals from human or animal subjects or from isolated organs. The system consists of an input device connected to a Microsoft Windows
or Mac OS
computer using a USB cable and LabChart software which is supplied with the PowerLab and provides the recording, display and analysis functions. The use of PowerLab and supplementary ADInstruments
products have been demonstrated on the Journal of Visualised Experiments.
The original MacLab unit was developed in the late 1980s to run with only Macintosh
computers to perform computer-based data acquisition
and analysis. The MacLab product range was renamed "PowerLab" in 1997 to reflect the cross-platform nature of the system.
The PowerLab system is essentially a peripheral device designed to perform various functions needed for data acquisition
, signal conditioning
and pre-processing . Versatile display options and analysis functions are complemented by the ability to export data to other software (such as Microsoft Excel).
, XY plotter, polygraph
and digital voltmeter
. It is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. The software has hardware settings control, performs analysis in real-time and offline without the loss of raw data, procedure automation via editable macros, and multiple block samplings for the recording and settings of different signals within one file . Large specialised add-ons called Modules provide data acquisition and analysis features for specific applications such as ECG, blood pressure, cardiac output, HRV and etc. Smaller software plugins provides additional and specialized functionality to LabChart. Extensions perform functions such as file translations into other formats (including PVAN and Igor Pro
) and specialist analysis functions (for specific research areas such as spirometry and ventricular pressure). The last version of LabChart6 (version 6.1.3) was released on January 2009.
In April 2009, LabChart 7 was released and incorporates the features of a multi-channel digital oscilloscope that allows recording and averaging of up to sixteen signals in real time. Latest version of LabChart7 is version 7.0.
and XY plotter
Data acquisition
Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems typically convert analog waveforms into digital values for processing...
system developed by ADInstruments
ADInstruments
ADInstruments is an international company that produces data acquisition and analysis systems for the life science industry. It is headquartered in Sydney, Australia and has more than 160 staff worldwide. Voted a finalist in JRA's Top 10 Best Place to work in 2009 and 2010...
comprising hardware and software and designed for use in life science research and teaching applications. It is commonly used in physiology, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, sports/exercise studies and psychophysiology laboratories to record and analyse physiological signals from human or animal subjects or from isolated organs. The system consists of an input device connected to a Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
or Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
computer using a USB cable and LabChart software which is supplied with the PowerLab and provides the recording, display and analysis functions. The use of PowerLab and supplementary ADInstruments
ADInstruments
ADInstruments is an international company that produces data acquisition and analysis systems for the life science industry. It is headquartered in Sydney, Australia and has more than 160 staff worldwide. Voted a finalist in JRA's Top 10 Best Place to work in 2009 and 2010...
products have been demonstrated on the Journal of Visualised Experiments.
The original MacLab unit was developed in the late 1980s to run with only Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
computers to perform computer-based data acquisition
Data acquisition
Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems typically convert analog waveforms into digital values for processing...
and analysis. The MacLab product range was renamed "PowerLab" in 1997 to reflect the cross-platform nature of the system.
The PowerLab system is essentially a peripheral device designed to perform various functions needed for data acquisition
Data acquisition
Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems typically convert analog waveforms into digital values for processing...
, signal conditioning
Signal conditioning
In electronics, signal conditioning means manipulating an analog signal in such a way that it meets the requirements of the next stage for further processing...
and pre-processing . Versatile display options and analysis functions are complemented by the ability to export data to other software (such as Microsoft Excel).
How is data acquired?
- External signals detected are converted into analog electrical signal
- Signals are amplified to amplify signals and filtered to remove unwanted frequencies or noise
- Analog signal is multiplexed to an analog to digital converter
- The digitized signal is transmitted to the computer using USB connection
- Software receives, displays, analyses and records data in real time
Current
- /35 Series for research: Released in 2011. Includes PowerLab 4/35, PowerLab 8/35 and PowerLab 16/35.
- /30 Series for research: Released in 2004. Includes PowerLab 4/30, PowerLab 8/30 and PowerLab 16/30.
- /26 Series for teaching: Released in 2007. Includes PowerLab 2/26, PowerLab 4/26, PowerLab26T
- /T Series for teaching: Released in 2007. Includes PowerLab 15T
Previous
- Original MacLab: First released November 1988. Includes MacLab/4 and MacLab/8.
- E series: First released October 1992. Includes MacLab /2e, MacLab /4e, MacLab /8e, MacLab /200, PowerLab /200, MacLab /400, PowerLab /400, PowerLab /410, PowerLab /415, and PowerLab /800
- S series: First released August 1994. For SCSI connection only and includes MacLab /4S, PowerLab /4S, PowerLab /8S and PowerLab /16S.
- SP series: First released May 1999. For SCSI and USB connections and includes PowerLab /4SP, PowerLab /8SP, PowerLab /16SP, and PowerLab 4ST.
- /20 series: First released July 2000. USB connections only and includes PowerLab 2/20, PowerLab 4/20, and PowerLab 4/20T.
- /T series: First released September 2002. PowerLab 10T for teaching.
- /25 series: First released September 2003. Requires high speed USB 2.0 connections and includes PowerLab 2/25, PowerLab 4/25, and PowerLab 4/25T.
LabChart
Formerly known as Chart. The software functions like a traditional multi-channel chart recorderChart recorder
A chart recorder is an electromechanical device that records an electrical or mechanical input trend onto a piece of paper . Chart recorders may record several inputs using different color pens and may record onto strip charts or circular charts...
, XY plotter, polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
and digital voltmeter
Voltmeter
A voltmeter is an instrument used for measuring electrical potential difference between two points in an electric circuit. Analog voltmeters move a pointer across a scale in proportion to the voltage of the circuit; digital voltmeters give a numerical display of voltage by use of an analog to...
. It is compatible with both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. The software has hardware settings control, performs analysis in real-time and offline without the loss of raw data, procedure automation via editable macros, and multiple block samplings for the recording and settings of different signals within one file . Large specialised add-ons called Modules provide data acquisition and analysis features for specific applications such as ECG, blood pressure, cardiac output, HRV and etc. Smaller software plugins provides additional and specialized functionality to LabChart. Extensions perform functions such as file translations into other formats (including PVAN and Igor Pro
IGOR Pro
IGOR Pro is a scientific data analysis software, numerical computing environment and programming language that runs on Windows or Mac operating systems. It is developed by WaveMetrics Inc., and was originally aimed at time series analysis, but has since then evolved and covers other applications...
) and specialist analysis functions (for specific research areas such as spirometry and ventricular pressure). The last version of LabChart6 (version 6.1.3) was released on January 2009.
In April 2009, LabChart 7 was released and incorporates the features of a multi-channel digital oscilloscope that allows recording and averaging of up to sixteen signals in real time. Latest version of LabChart7 is version 7.0.
LabTutor
Software provides a range of hands-on laboratory background for students that includes experimental background & protocols, data acquisition & analysis, and report generation within one interface . The software and accompanying PowerLab hardware is configured for immediate use with step by step instructions designed to maximize student productivity by applying independent learning techniques to a suite of human and animal physiological experiments. Recently, LabAuthor software was released to provide educators the ability to design or edit existing LabTutor experiments and tailor the experiments to suit their practical classes without the need of programming or html skills.Scope
Records and analyzes high frequency signals that are time-locked to a stimulus. The display allows computer screen to act as a oscilloscopeOscilloscope
An oscilloscope is a type of electronic test instrument that allows observation of constantly varying signal voltages, usually as a two-dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences using the vertical or 'Y' axis, plotted as a function of time,...
and XY plotter