EMMS works to offer all forms of respiratory assessment, in vivo and in vitro. In diaphragm analysis the diaphragm is harvested from an animal (typically a guinea pig), and suspended in a tissue bath.  The tissue is tied at the bottom end.  A stimulator probe is attached to the diaphragm’s phrenic nerve, and a tension transducer is connected to the top of the tissue sample.  The tissue is electrically stimulated via the probe, and its contractions (effect of the stimulation) are measured by the tension transducer.  The transducer signals are amplified, and the amplified signals are fed into eDacq. 

eDacq during Diaphragm analysis

eDacq during diaphragm analysis

Parameters Measured

• Baseline tension, 200 ms average before pulse
• First peak tension
• Maximum tension
• Minimum tension
• Area under curve of tetanus 
• Duration of twitch/tetanus 
• Maximum rate of rise of initial upstroke
• More parameters and explanation