220A: Olfactometer

The 220A Olfactometer provides reliable odor generation for demanding olfaction experiments. The 220A can be configured with 4, 8, 12 or 16 odor vials for maximum flexibility. Careful fluid design ensures repeatable odor profiles generated with minimum delay time between activation and arrival of the odor at the subject.

The 220A delivers odors of the desired concentration at the precise time required for studying behavioural response, central processing of olfactory information in the brain and for sensory physiology.

The design was originally developed by Prof. Rinberg and is licensed from HHMI Janelia Farm. The 220A Olfactometer performs multiple odor applications during an experiment without changing the odor vials.

  • modular design permits configuration with 4, 8, 12 or 16 odor vials
  • three mass flow controller design ensures repeatable odor profile
  • 25ms odor switching time due to final valve located at animal chamber
  • easily integrated with Aurora Scientific 200C Fast Response Olfaction Sensor for odor validation

  • continuous washing of odorant residue to minimize cross-contamination

Variant

220A-V Olfactometer Expansion Module:

4 channel expansion module, expanding your olfactometer to up to 16 odor vials

Stories of Success

200B – Characterizing Olfactometers

CHALLENGE

In 2011 Prof. Burton Slotnick approached us with a need to characterize an olfactometer of his design. Prof. Slotnick was a pioneer in olfactometer design for studying behavioral and neurobiological aspects of odor learning in rats and mice. The olfactometer described in his 1999 paper co-authored with Natalya Bodyak was the basis for the Knosys olfactometer which he now wanted to characterize. For this work he required a gas sensor that could respond fast enough to measure the arrival time and concentration profile of his olfactometer. He also required software that could record the gas sensor signal and correlate these signals with the timing pulses generated by the olfactometer.

SOLUTION

Aurora Scientific knew that the 200B miniPID could perform the characterization required but at the time software was not available. To solve this our R&D team wrote a LabVIEW program that collected and analysed data from a miniPID sensor. The software (210A: GasTrack) performed sensor calibration, data collection, background signal subtraction, conversion of sensor output to concentration, recording of timing signals and plotting of results.

RESULTS

A miniPID sensor and data acquisition system were provided to Prof. Slotnick and he was able to use it to measure the arrival time and concentration profile of the odor pulses produced by his olfactometer. The GasTrack software became commercially available to accompany the 200B miniPID gas sensor as a complete, easy-to-use data acquisition system.

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Related Products

200C: miniPID Fast Response Olfaction Sensor

200C: miniPID Fast Response Olfaction Sensor

The 200C miniPID photo-ionization detector combines small size, fast response, and high sensitivity in an easy-to-use, competitively priced package.

Learn More

Resources

Specifications

220A-4,-8,-12,-16 220A-V
Modules Included All Models: MFC, Mixing, Final
220A-4: 1x 4-Vial Odor
220A-8: 2x 4-Vial Odor
220A-12: 3x 4-Vial Odor
220A-16: 4x 4-Vial Odor
4-Vial Odor add-on
Mass Flow Controllers [SCCM1] Odor: 0-100
Dilution: 0-1000
Exhaust: 0-1000
NA
Total Flowrate Range [SCCM2] 100-1000 NA
Odor Vials 220A-4: 4
220A-8: 8
220A-12: 12
220A-16: 16
4
Odor Dilution Range [%] 0.1-10 NA
Odor Pulse Delay [ms] 40 NA
Odor Pulse Duration [ms] 30 – continuous NA
Communications Ethernet NA
Final Valve Sync Output BNC, TTL signal
Hi: Final Valve Flows to Animal
Lo: Final Valve Flows to Exhaust
NA
Final Valve Trigger In BNC, TTL signal triggers opening of Final Valve
Hi: Final Valve Flows to Animal
Lo: Final Valve Flows to Exhaust
NA
DIO 1 Input BNC, TTL Sequence Trigger NA
DIO 2 Output BNC, Configurable by user: Sequence Sync Out or Vial Status NA

1 = Standard Cubic Centimeters per Minute; 2 = Standard Cubic Centimeters per Minute

General Specifications 220A-4,-8,-12,-16 220A-V
Operating Temperature [°C] 0 – 40 0 – 40
Power Required In: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz. @ 1.8A 48VDC supplied by 220A
Power Consumption [W] 15 10
Weight [kg] 220A-4: 4.6
220A-8: 6.2
220A-12: 7.8
220A-16: 9.4
1.6
Dimensions [cm] MFC: 12L x 20W x 14H
4-Vial Odor: 18L x 15W x 15H
Mixing Valve: 4L x 15W x 5H
Complete Instrument:
220A-4: 31L x 20W x 15H
220A-8: 48L x 20W x 15H
220A-12: 65L x 20W x 15H
220A-16: 82L x 20W x 15H
18L x 15W x 15H
Software Specifications 220A-4,-8,-12,-16 and 220A-V
Main Window Readouts: Flowrate, Vial Flow %, Odor Delivery Duration
Status LEDs: Flow, Odor, Purge and Animal, Vial Selection
Controls: Flow Odor To Exhaust, Purge, Deliver Odor to Animal, Stop Flow Status line
System Configuration Window Vial list showing Odorant, Solvent and Concentration
Controls: Odor Flow Stabilization Delay, Total System Flow Rate Load and Save Config file
Advanced Status and Control Window Displays graphical representation of the olfactometer’s current state and allows manual control of flowrates and valves
Valve Check System check which cycles each valve sequentially
Sequencer Window Create challenge sequences, controls vial, delay time, delivery time
Allows sequence to be randomized. Load and Save sequence files
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