Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Why should you and your team join us for the flexiVent User Group Meeting in San Diego on 26th April 2018:

         » This is a free User Group Meeting.
         » It is open to everyone interested in respiratory research with the flexiVent.
         » It is beneficial for current flexiVent users and newcomers to 
            SCIREQ’s research equipment.
         » It will refresh your knowledge of key aspects of flexiVent experimentation 
            and learn how others use the flexiVent.
         » You will have the chance to ask flexiVent experts your questions.
         » It is a networking opportunity for respiratory researchers.
         » You will connect with potential future collaborators.



Please complete your REGISTRATION HERE and be part of this event.

WHEN:          Thursday April 26, 2018
WHERE:       San Diego, California (Hilton San Diego Bayfront)

AGENDA: 9:00    Registration
        9:30    Welcome & Introduction
        9:45    Presentations:
                                   » SCIREQ flexiVent to Measure Respiratory Mechanics
                                   » Troubleshooting flexiVent Data
                                   » Aspects of Preclinical Lung Function Measurement
                                   » Product-Related Considerations
                                   » Full-Range PV curves and Lung Volumes
                                   » Current flexiVent User Presentations
        16:00  Closing Remarks

If you are interested in presenting your pulmonary research with the flexiVent during this user group, do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible, to include your presentation in the agenda.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or toll-free at 1-877-572-4737.

We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!

Your SCIREQ Team

Monday, March 19, 2018

A step in moving towards the low frequency range

In clinical medicine, spirometry continues to dominate as the pulmonary function test of choice. This is despite the issues which limit its utility, largely patient compliance and the limited inferences which can be made regarding the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. Alternatively, the forced oscillation technique (FOT), utilized by the flexiVent preclinically, is well-known for its rich description of the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. However, despite becoming the gold-standard in preclinical research, the approach has yet to make significant in-roads into the clinical domain, especially in the low frequency range (0-2 Hz) that gives access to the peripheral lung, the area most sensitive to pathological changes.

In ventilated patients FOT solutions do exist, however free-breathing patients present obstacles as accurate measurements of the respiratory system rely on precise measurements of pressure and flow. Potential solutions to this problem have been trialed, for instance training patients to perform voluntary apnea1 or by triggering an apneic event in infants using the Hering-Breuer reflex2.

A recent doctoral thesis by Dr. Hannes Maes, under the supervision of Prof. Gerd Vandersteen at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), titled, Low Frequency Forced Oscillation Technique in Clinical Practice, proposes an innovative solution to overcome confounding breathing frequencies, as well as a comprehensive review of the field3.

Dr. Maes presents a novel fan-based setup specifically designed for FOT measurements between 0-5 Hz in free-breathing subjects1 Pressure signals (multi-sine wave) are superimposed on the patients normal tidal breathing by controlling two fans (one pushing and one pulling air). Compensatory signals are also applied to the fans to ensure a predefined power spectrum and to suppress the nonlinear influences of the equipment or the subject’s breathing, along with post-measurement modeling techniques.

Schematic of fan-based FOT measurement device for free-breathing subjects


Results from a clinical trial on 60 subjects, that included healthy individuals as well as asthmatic and COPD patients, are also presented and, in the end, Dr. Maes offers a new framework for the time-varying behavior of the respiratory system during spontaneous breathing.

We congratulate Dr. Maes on this achievement and very interesting approach. This elegant work contributes towards the advances required to ultimately enable routine provision of the low-frequency FOT in patient populations and for clinicians to benefit from its diagnostic capacity.

For more information on the work of Dr. Maes and access to the full manuscript, please click here.


1. Hantos, Z., Daróczy, B., Suki, B., Galgóczy, G. & Csendes, T. Forced oscillatory impedance of the respiratory system at low frequencies. J. Appl. Physiol. 60, 123–32 (1986).
2. Hall, G. L., Hantos, Z., Wildhaber, J. H. & Sly, P. D. Contribution of nasal pathways to low frequency respiratory impedance in infants. Thorax 57, 396–9 (2002).
3. Maes, H. Low Frequency Forced Oscillation Technique in Clinical Practice. (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, 2017).











Monday, March 5, 2018

SCIREQ INTRODUCES DRY POWDER DELIVERY AT SOT / TOXEXPO 2018

Many novel inhaled compounds and drugs require dry powder delivery and preclinical testing to assess efficacy and safety. The inExpose is an inhalation exposure system that provides a small-scale, configurable exposure for mice and rats studies.

Our recent addition of dry powder delivery expands the range of exposure environments beyond cigarette smoke, electronic cigarette vape, aerosols and gases.


The dry powder integration with the inExpose features:
          »   Up to 4 towers or chamber to be exposed simultaneously
          »   Identical or varying levels of exposure per tower or chamber
          »   Existing automation and control
          »   Small- scale exposure, minimizing compound use


Will you be attending the Society of Toxicology meeting in San Antonio next week? If so, I would like to invite you to come by booth #1545 to see our solutions for your preclinical respiratory research. We will be presenting a range of precise preclinical physiology solutions for safety pharmacology and toxicology studies, including:

          »   Automated, small-scale inhalation exposure studies featuring
               cigarettes, e-cigarettes, dry powders and aerosols
          »   Non-invasive tracking of ventilatory patterns and controlled gas exposure 
               with whole body plethysmography
          »   Continuous monitoring of physiological parameters with implantable and
               jacketed telemetry

Exhibit hours - Booth 1545
          Monday March 12 9:15am to 4:30pm
          Tuesday March 13 9:15am to 4:30pm
          Wednesday March 14         9:15am to 4:30pm

Click here to set-up a meeting to learn more about our solutions for your safety pharmacology and toxicology studies. 

If you are not planning to attend the conference but would like to receive additional information about our respiratory equipment, please contact our team of application specialists.

Looking forward to seeing you in San Antonio!