PowerLab in Use - Application Stories
PowerLab data acquisition systems are used in an extensive range of life science applications in academic research, higher education, pharmaceutical and contract research sectors.
PowerLab systems combine software-controlled input of parameters, extensive signal conditioning options, variable sampling speeds and powerful real-time computations with the advantages of computer-based data display and analysis. They offer the functionality of a chart recorder, XYT plotter, digital voltmeter and storage oscilloscope in one compact unit.
LabChart software, supplied with all PowerLab systems, is suitable for use with any species - from humans to mice to flies. It provides continuous recording and display of up to 16 channels of data, online or offline calculations and automatic extraction of data. Quick and easy set up of experimental parameters, powerful computation and analysis features are just the beginning.
Search our online Citations Database that contains thousands of published research projects that feature use of PowerLab systems.
Below is a selection of interesting PowerLab application stories featured in our newsletters.
16 September 2011
Laboratory Testing Inc. (LTI) is an accredited, independent testing service and calibration company located in Pennsylvania, USA. LTI provides accurate, affordable materials testing and nondestructive testing services to a large cross section of industrial components manufacturers internationally. Their range of testing equipment includes 5 PowerLab data acquisition systems, used for testing and certifying materials to specific industry quality standards.
28 July 2011
Dr. Stefan Pulver's success in neurophysiology, combined with his passion for mentoring life science students, may seem a little strange considering he was once a poorly-performing student with an aversion to genetics. Read more about his path to a brilliant career in neurophysiology research and education, and how he leads undergraduate students to academic success.
19 June 2011
Educators from Goethe University Frankfurt have reported how they used LabTutor software with PowerLab systems to help improve their students’ learning experiences and exam outcomes in Advances in Physiology Education. The full text article, detailing the effects of integrating active teaching strategies into a physiology course for fourth semester pharmacy students, is available to read on the journal website.
08 June 2011
Building on our respected data acquisition solutions for life science research, ADInstruments is proud to announce the release of the new generation PowerLab 35 series. With a new look, new hardware filters and a reduced footprint, the PowerLab 35 series offers cleaner signals, cleaner lab bench and a cleaner environment. And let's not forget the new 5-year warranty.
10 March 2011
A Parisian research group are using PowerLab systems to help understand why we mimic the emotional facial expressions we perceive in others during social interactions. As part of their studies, the group has configured their PowerLab’s digital inputs to automatically annotate LabChart’s physiological recordings with events generated by their choice of experiment design and presentation software, E-Prime.
28 February 2011
Quacquarelli Symonds has announced the Top 100 Life Science and Biomedical universities in the world for 2010. ADInstruments is proud to announce that PowerLab systems are used in 100% of these universities. Some prominent top-100 institutions that use PowerLab Systems are profiled in this story, demonstrating the widespread use of PowerLab for diverse research and teaching applications.
25 October 2010
The work of the psychophysiology group at the University of NSW highlights the many facets of psychophysiological research and reiterates the inherent relationship between psychological processes and physiological systems of the human body. Leading the group is Associate Professor Ute Vollmer-Conna, a brilliant researcher and colourful character whose early-career milestones included shepherding and carpentry.
21 June 2010
PhD student Sam Clayman, with Assoc. Prof. Frank Seebacher from the Integrated Physiology Group at University of Sydney (Australia), have been using PowerLab systems to investigate the physiological differences in muscle characteristics between two populations of marine snails.
20 April 2010
An international team of scientists are using PowerLab systems to help develop and assess Synchrotron Radiation Computed Tomography (SRCT) techniques for studying lung ventilation distribution. Their techniques may enhance understanding of asthma disease mechanisms, and improve drug treatments and delivery.
29 March 2010
Using PowerLab systems, Dr. Maureen McDonald, from McMaster University in Canada is researching more realistic (but equally effective) methods for healthy individuals to adhere to a new exercise recommendation of 60-90 minutes per day. Dr. McDonald’s PhD student is investigating the effects of different exercise bursts with different durations for the treatment of individuals with cardiovascular disease.
27 November 2009
How can a strongman physically hold back a top end sports car at full throttle? What physiological changes occur in a fire walker? Why does a person suspended in air by her skin tissue feel no pain? Find out by watching this fascinating series.
26 November 2009
Dr Mark Roth from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington is researching a theory that death is caused not by lack of oxygen but by chemical reactions to dropping levels of oxygen. See the full story as it appeared on CNN.
23 September 2009
Veterinary students at the University of Copenhagen are learning how to better understand, diagnose and treat digestive problems in their future cattle patients by using PowerLab with LabChart software to observe the rumen motility of Jersey cows.
11 May 2009
Watch how PowerLab is used in a study of human evolution. Video extracted from the Evolve: Skin documentary series on the History Channel featured Professor Daniel Lieberman from Harvard University and his research on human evolution.
10 February 2009
A fascinating story about the International Space Station-based research project and the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the cardiovascular health is featured in the current issue of Australian Life Scientist. The data acquisition equipment being used by the researchers is made by ADInstruments. The research findings are increasing knowledge of blood pressure dysregulation and hypertension in all earthlings.
14 December 2008
Earlier this year, bioengineers from the Imperial College London took part in the Virtuoso Stress performance at the Science Museum's Dana Centre. During the evening, musicians' physiological stress was recorded and displayed for the audience using PowerLab systems. You can now watch highlights from the event on
YouTube.
24 November 2008
TeamTermin, led by its founder Budd Termin is currently working with ADInstruments to bring the latest in performance testing for the sport of swimming by combining the late Dr Al Craig’s velocity swim meter with ADInstruments PowerLab data acquisition system and the LabChart Video Capture module.
27 October 2008
5050 m above sea level, 730 kg of experimental equipment carried by 19 porters, 7000 L of cylinder gases, 53 sleep studies, 107 ventilatory response tests, 107 arterial blood samples, 720 transcranial magnetic stimulation zaps, 200 cardiac echos, 18 hours of hyperventilation, 20 L of infused saline, 8 life-saving intramuscular Dexamethasone injections and 1042800000 sampling data points.
17 September 2008
A group of twenty talented middle school students recently explored physiological concepts using PowerLab systems with LabTutor software at a two-week residential program that is held annually at Michigan State University (MSU). The program was so successful that there are plans to include LabTutor experiments in future years.
01 August 2008
Successful company founder, Dr. Kengatharan began using PowerLab systems fifteen years ago while completing his doctorate studies at London University, UK with Nobel laureate Sir John Vane. Dr. Kengatharan has continued to use PowerLab to expedite his research as he has advanced his career within prestigious institutions in England and North America.
02 July 2008
In 1988 scientists at the University of Wollongong pioneered the use of a compact, computer-based data acquisition system developed by the newly-established company, ADInstruments. Twenty years later, PowerLab systems are proving to be very cost effective for the changing needs of the university.
12 June 2008
As the North American summer vacation begins, the educators at West Chester University in Pennsylvania are using their break from teaching 400 students with PowerLab to share curriculum and experiment ideas with life science educators from institutions across the country.
06 May 2008
In 2007, the effect of climate change on notothenioid fish prompted researchers from New Zealand and Sweden to pack up their PowerLab systems and travel to the Scott Base in Antarctica. The researchers used PowerLab to investigate how a rise in temperature in the McMurdo Sound affects the cardiovascular and respiratory physiology of the borch.
01 April 2008
As we celebrate
20 Years of Innovation, we'd like to introduce you to a selection of PowerLab users around the world. This month, read about how educators at the University of Otago and the University of Western Sydney are using
LabTutor software with PowerLab systems to enhance introductory physiology courses during the first year of health science and medicine degrees.
27 February 2008
As ADInstruments celebrates
20 years of innovation, our customers continue to find innovative applications for
PowerLab data acquisition systems and
LabChart software. This month, read about how a group of Canadian researchers are investigating how life on the International Space Station affects astronauts' cardiovascular and cerebrovascular physiology.
31 July 2006
ADInstruments’ PowerLab can acquire and analyse data from most creatures, great and small, including the wet, menacing and blood-thirsty ones. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Elasmobranch Research Laboratory – or Shark Lab – are currently using PowerLab systems to uncover a variety of shark species’ best-kept secrets.
07 September 2005
The University of Otago, School of Physical Education researchers put ten of New Zealand's top young rally car drivers through a series of high-performance tests, as part of what is believed to be the first dedicated motor sport programme of its type in the world from 28 June to 2 July, 2004.
20 April 2005
What environment were the climbers exposed to before making measurements? Did you attempt to replicate the climbing behavior usually followed on an Everest climb?
24 March 2005
In a recent study supported by ADInstruments, Inc., scientists studied the effects of high altitude on breathing and cerebral blood flow. Using a PowerLab system, the 2005 Canadian Everest Expedition obtained data at the Base Camp of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest.
24 March 2005
PowerLab and LabChart were used to demonstrate diving bradycardia to three hundred passengers aboard a Discovery cruise ship that recently visited Antarctica. Passengers observed a woman's heart rate drop from 80 to 50 b.p.m. when she plunged her head into a bowl of icy water.
24 March 2005
Researchers from the CSIRO ‘J.M Rendel Laboratory’ at Rockhampton, Australia are studying methods to reduce the production of methane emissions in the agricultural sector.
08 March 2005
PowerLab has been used to record the acoustically activated neurons of crickets and the echo-localization activity in bats.
