Bio Amp Owner's Guide

Bio Amp
Owners Guide
This document was, as far as possible, accurate at the time of release. However, changes
may have been made to the software and hardware it describes since then.
ADInstruments Pty Ltd reserves the right to alter specifications as required. Latebreaking information may be supplied separately.
Trademarks of ADInstruments
PowerLab, LabChart, LabTutor, LabAuthor and MacLab are registered trademarks of
ADInstruments Pty Ltd. The names of specific recording units, such as PowerLab 8/30, are
trademarks of ADInstruments Pty Ltd. LabTutor Server, Chart and Scope (application
programs) and LabTutor Online are trademarks of ADInstruments Pty Ltd.
Other Trademarks
Apple, Mac and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
Windows, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Product: ML132 Bio Amp; ML135 Dual Bio Amp; ML138 Octal Bio Amp
Document Number: U-ML132-OG-004C
Part Number: 4377
Copyright December 2009 ADInstruments Pty Ltd.
Unit 13, 22 Lexington Drive, Bella Vista, NSW 2153, Australia
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced by any means without
the prior written permission of ADInstruments Pty Ltd.
Web: www.adinstruments.com
Technical Support: [email protected]
Documentation: [email protected]
ADInstruments Pty Ltd. ISO 9001:2000 Certified Quality Management System
Reg. No. 1053
ii
Bio Amp Owners Guide
Contents
Safety Notes
1 Overview
How to Use This Guide . . . . . . . .
Checking the Front-end . . . . .
Front-end Fundamentals . . . . .
The Front-end . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Front Panel . . . . . . . . . .
The Input Socket . . . . . . .
The Status Indicator . . . . .
Audio Out Socket . . . . . . .
The Back Panel . . . . . . . . . .
I2C Input and Output Sockets
Analog Output Sockets . . . .
Audio Out Socket . . . . . . .
The Bio Amp Cable . . . . . . . . . .
Types of Measurement . . . . . . . .
Recording Technique . . . . . . . . .
11
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2 Setting Up
Connecting to the PowerLab . . . . . . .
Using More Than One Bio Amp
Using ADInstruments Programs . . . . .
The Front-end Driver . . . . . . .
The Bio Amp Self-test . . . . . .
Software Behavior . . . . . . . . .
The Bio Amp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Signal Display . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Range . . . . . . . . .
Filtering . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
EEG Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inverting the Signal . . . . . . . .
Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DC Restore . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contents
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12
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22
23
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28
28
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28
iii
A Technical Aspects
29
Bio Amp Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Technical Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
The Bio Amp Cable Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
B Troubleshooting
35
Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
C Specifications
Single Bio Amp . . . . . . . . .
Input . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Filtering . . . . . . . . . . .
Output . . . . . . . . . . . .
Control Port . . . . . . . .
Physical Configuration . .
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dual Bio Amp . . . . . . . . .
Input . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Filtering . . . . . . . . . . .
Output . . . . . . . . . . . .
Control Port . . . . . . . .
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . .
Octal Bio Amp . . . . . . . . .
Input . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Filtering . . . . . . . . . . .
Output . . . . . . . . . . . .
Control Port . . . . . . . .
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electromagnetic Compatibility
Emmisions . . . . . . . . .
Immunity . . . . . . . . . .
Separation Distances . . . .
Index
iv
39
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. 39
. 39
. 40
. 40
. 40
. 40
. 41
. 41
. 41
. 42
. 43
. 43
. 43
. 43
. 43
. 43
. 45
. 45
. 45
. 45
. 45
. 47
. 47
. 47
. 47
49
Safety Notes
Statement of Intended Use

All products manufactured by ADInstruments are intended for use in
teaching and research applications and environments only. ADInstruments
products are NOT intended to be used as medical devices or in medical
environments. That is, no product supplied by ADInstruments is intended to
be used to diagnose, treat or monitor a subject. Furthermore no product is
intended for the prevention, curing or alleviation of disease, injury or
handicap.
Where a product meets IEC 60601-1 it is under the principle that:
it is a more rigorous standard than other standards that could be chosen,
and
it provides a high safety level for subjects and operators.
The choice to meet IEC 60601-1 is in no way to be interpreted to mean that a
product:
is a medical device,
may be interpreted as a medical device, or
is safe to be used as a medical device.
Safety Symbols
Devices manufactured by ADInstruments that are designed for direct
connection to humans are tested to IEC 601-1:1998 (including amendments 1
and 2) and 60601-1-2, and carry one or more of the safety symbols below.
These symbols appear next to those inputs and output connectors that can be
directly connected to human subjects.
Safety Notes
!
BF symbol: Bodyprotected equipment
CF symbol: Cardiacprotected equipment
Warning symbol: see

documentation
The three symbols are:
BF (body protected) symbol. This means that the input connectors are
suitable for connection to humans provided there is no direct electrical
connection to the heart.
CF (cardiac protected) symbol. This means that the input connectors are
suitable for connection to human subjects even when there is direct
electrical connection to the heart.
Warning symbol. The exclamation mark inside a triangle means that the
supplied documentation must be consulted for operating, cautionary or
safety information before using the device.
Further information is available on request.
Bio Amp Safety Instructions

The Bio Amp inputs displaying any of the safety symbols are electrically
isolated from the mains supply in order to prevent current flow that may
otherwise result in injury to the subject. Several points must be observed for
safe operation of the Bio Amp:
All Bio Amp front-ends (except for the ML138 Octal Bio Amp) and
PowerLab units with a built-in Bio Amp are supplied with a 3-lead or 5lead Bio Amp subject cable and lead wire system. The ML138 Octal Bio
Amp is supplied with unshielded lead wires (1.8 m). Bio Amps are only
safe for human connection if used with the supplied subject cable and lead
wires.
All Bio Amp front-ends and PowerLab units with a built-in Bio Amp are
not defibrillator-protected. Using the Bio Amp to record signals during
defibrillator discharges may damage the input stages of the amplifiers.
This may result in a safety hazard.
Never use damaged Bio Amp cables or leads. Damaged cables and leads
must always be replaced before any connection to humans is made.
Isolated Stimulator Safety

Instructions
The Isolated Stimulator outputs of a front-end signal conditioner or PowerLab
with a built-in isolated stimulator are electrically isolated. However, they can
produce pulses of up to 100 V at up to 20 mA. Injury can still occur from
careless use of these devices. Several points must be observed for safe
operation of the Isolated Stimulator:
The Isolated Stimulator output must only be used with the supplied bar
stimulus electrode.
The Isolated Stimulator output must not be used with individual
(physically separate) stimulating electrodes.
Stimulation must not be applied across the chest or head.
Do not hold one electrode in each hand.
Always use a suitable electrode cream or gel and proper skin preparation
to ensure a low-impedance electrode contact. Using electrodes without
electrode cream can result in burns to the skin or discomfort for the
subject.
Subjects with implantable or external cardiac pacemakers, a cardiac
condition, or a history of epileptic episodes must not be subject to
electrical stimulation.
Always commence stimulation at the lowest current setting and slowly
increase the current.
Stop stimulation if the subject experiences pain or discomfort.
Do not use faulty cables, or those that have exhibited intermittent faults.
Do not attempt to measure or record the Isolated Stimulator waveform
while connected to a subject using a PowerLab input or any other piece of
equipment that does not carry the appropriate safety symbol (see Safety
Symbols above).
Always check the status indicator on the front panel. It will always flash green
each time the stimulator delivers a current pulse. A yellow flash indicates an
out-of-compliance (OOC) condition that may be due to the electrode contact
drying up. Always ensure that there is good electrode contact at all times.
Electrodes that are left on a subject for some time need to be checked for dry
contacts. An electrode impedance meter can be used for this task.
Safety Notes
Always be alert for any adverse physiological effects in the subject. At the
first sign of a problem, stimulation must be stopped, either from the
software or by flicking down the safety switch on the front panel of any
built-in Isolated Stimulator or the ML180 Stimulus Isolator.
The ML180 Stimulus Isolator is supplied with a special transformer plug

pack. The plug pack complies with medical safety requirements.
Therefore, under no circumstances should any other transformer be used
with the Stimulus Isolator. For a replacement transformer plug pack please
contact your nearest ADInstruments representative.
General Safety Instructions

To achieve the optimal degree of subject and operator safety, consideration
should be given to the following guidelines when setting up a PowerLab
system either as stand-alone equipment or when using PowerLab equipment
in conjunction with other equipment. Failure to do so may compromise the
inherent safety measures designed into PowerLab equipment. The following
guidelines are based on principles outlined in the international safety
standard IEC60601-1-1: General requirements for safety - Collateral standard:
Safety requirements for medical systems. Reference to this standard is required
when setting up a system for human connection.
PowerLab systems (and many other devices) require the connection of a
personal computer for operation. This personal computer should be certified
as complying with IEC60950 and should be located outside a 1.8 m radius
from the subject (so that the subject cannot touch it while connected to the
system). Within this 1.8 m radius, only equipment complying with IEC606011 should be present. Connecting a system in this way obviates the provision of
additional safety measures and the measurement of leakage currents.
Accompanying documents for each piece of equipment in the system should
be thoroughly examined prior to connection of the system.
While it is not possible to cover all arrangements of equipment in a system,
some general guidelines for safe use of the equipment are presented below:
Any electrical equipment which is located within the SUBJECT AREA

should be approved to IEC60601-1.
Only connect those parts of equipment that are marked as an APPLIED
PART to the subject. APPLIED PARTS may be recognized by the BF or CF
symbols which appear in the Safety Symbols section of these Safety Notes.
Only CF-rated APPLIED PARTS must be used for direct cardiac
connection.
Never connect parts which are marked as an APPLIED PART to those
which are not marked as APPLIED PARTS.
Do not touch the subject to which the PowerLab (or its peripherals) is
connected at the same time as making contact with parts of the PowerLab
(or its peripherals) that are not intended for contact to the subject.
Cleaning and sterilization of equipment should be performed in
accordance with manufacturers instructions. The isolation barrier may be
compromised if manufacturers cleaning instructions are not followed.
The ambient environment (such as the temperature and relative humidity)
of the system should be kept within the manufacturers specified range or
the isolation barrier may be compromised.
The entry of liquids into equipment may also compromise the isolation
barrier. If spillage occurs, the manufacturer of the affected equipment
should be contacted before using the equipment.
Many electrical systems (particularly those in metal enclosures) depend
upon the presence of a protective earth for electrical safety. This is
generally provided from the power outlet through a power cord, but may
also be supplied as a dedicated safety earth conductor. Power cords should
never be modified so as to remove the earth connection. The integrity of
the protective earth connection between each piece of equipment and the
protective earth should be verified regularly by qualified personnel.
Avoid using multiple portable socket-outlets (such as power boards)
where possible as they provide an inherently less safe environment with
respect to electrical hazards. Individual connection of each piece of
equipment to fixed mains socket-outlets is the preferred means of
connection.
If multiple portable socket outlets are used, they are subject to the following
constraints:
They shall not be placed on the floor.

Additional multiple portable socket outlets or extension cords shall not be
connected to the system.
They shall only be used for supplying power to equipment which is
intended to form part of the system.
Cleaning and Sterilization

ADInstruments products may be wiped down with a lint free cloth moistened
with industrial methylated spirit. Refer to the manufacturers guidelines or the
Data Card supplied with transducers and accessories for specific cleaning and
sterilizing instructions.
Safety Notes
Preventative Inspection and

Maintenance
PowerLab systems and ADInstruments front-ends are all maintenance-free
and do not require periodic calibration or adjustment to ensure safe
operation. Internal diagnostic software performs system checks during power
up and will report errors if a significant problem is found. There is no need to
open the instrument for inspection or maintenance, and doing so within the
warranty period will void the warranty.
Your PowerLab system can be periodically checked for basic safety by using
an appropriate safety testing device. Tests such as earth leakage, earth bond,
insulation resistance, subject leakage and auxiliary currents and power cable
integrity can all be performed on the PowerLab system without having to
remove the covers. Follow the instructions for the testing device if performing
such tests.
If the PowerLab system is found not to comply with such testing you should
contact your PowerLab representative to arrange for the equipment to be
checked and serviced. Do not attempt to service the device yourself.
Environment
Electronic components are susceptible to corrosive substances and
atmospheres, and must be kept away from laboratory chemicals.
Storage Conditions
Temperature in the range 040 C

Non-condensing humidity in the range 095%.
Operating Conditions
Temperature in the range 535 C

Non-condensing humidity in the range 090%.
Disposal
10
Forward to recycling center or return to manufacturer.
Overview
The Bio Amp is a modular device, in a family called front-ends, designed to

extend the capabilities of the PowerLab system. The Bio Amp allows the
PowerLab system to record biological signals, such as ECGs (EKGs), EMGs,
and EEGs, from humans or animals, with full electrical isolation. This chapter
provides an overview of the Bio Amp, Dual Bio Amp and Octal Bio Amp,
describing their basic features and the measurement of signals.
Chapter 1 Overview
11
How to Use This Guide

This owners guide describes how to set up and begin using your Bio Amp.
The chapters give an overview of front-ends in general and the Bio Amp in
particular, and discuss how to connect the hardware, perform a simple powerup test, and use the Bio Amp with some ADInstruments programs. The
appendices provide technical information about the Bio Amp, and take a look
at some potential problems and their solutions.
There is an index at the end of this guide. Technical terms that are not defined
in the glossary of terms included with the owners guide for your PowerLab, or
in the guide that came with your computer, are defined as they appear.
Checking the Front-end

Before connecting the Bio Amp to anything, check it carefully for signs of
physical damage.
1. Check that there are no obvious signs of damage to the outside of the
front-end casing.
2. Check that there is no obvious sign of internal damage, such as rattling.
Pick up the front-end, tilt it gently from side to side, and listen for
anything that appears to be loose.
If you have found a problem, contact your authorized ADInstruments
representative immediately, and describe the problem.
Front-end Fundamentals
The PowerLab system consists of a recording unit and application programs
that run on the computer to which the unit is connected. It is an integrated
system of hardware and software designed to record, display, and analyze
experimental data. The Bio Amp is one of a family of front-ends meant for use
with your PowerLab system.
Front-ends are ancillary devices connected to the PowerLab recording unit to
extend the systems capabilities. They provide additional signal conditioning
and other features, and extend the types of experiments that you can conduct
and the data you can record.
All ADInstruments front-ends are designed to be operated under full software
control. No knobs, dials, or switches are needed, although some may be
provided for reasons of convenience or safety.
12
The PowerLab controls front-ends through an expansion connector called the

I2C (pronounced eye-squared-sea) bus. Each front-end added to the system
connects to the back of the previous front-end, in a simple daisy-chain
structure. This makes it easy to add front-ends to the system or to transfer
them between PowerLabs. In general, each front-end requires at least one
analog input channel of the PowerLab.
Front-ends are automatically recognized by the PowerLab system. Any frontend feature such as gain or filtering is combined with the appropriate features
of the program and presented as a single set of software controls.
The Front-end
The Bio Amp is designed to allow the PowerLab system to perform isolated
measurements of biological signals such as ECGs (EKGs), EMGs, and
EEGs from humans or animals. All Bio Amps consist of electrically isolated
differential input AC amplifiers with common isolated ground connections.
The number of amplifiers corresponds to the number of Bio Amp channels.
For example, the Dual Bio Amp has two amplifiers with a shared ground
connector and input socket, and the Octal Bio Amp has eight differential
amplifiers with a shared ground connector and separate inputs. The Bio Amp
is not isolated by itself. For multiple biological recordings (more than two)
from a single subject it is recommended that you use a multi-channel Bio
Amp rather than daisy-chaining multiple Bio Amps.
The Front Panel

The front panel of a Bio Amp has a single input and an indicator light.
The front panel of a Dual Bio Amp has a single input, two indicator lights and
an audio output connector.
The front panel of the Octal Bio Amp has seventeen single-ended 1.5 mm
sockets consisting of eight red connectors, eight black connectors and a single
green connector. A stereo audio connector is shared between adjacent Bio
Amp inputs.
The Input Socket
Connections are made to the Bio Amp and Dual Bio Amp using the six-pin
socket on the front panel. The socket is physically and electrically isolated
from the low-voltage mains-supply circuitry of the PowerLab, and the input
connections are isolated internally, by isolation circuitry. The socket is of a
sort commonly used with ECG-type cables and leads, such as the Bio Amp
Chapter 1 Overview
13
Figure 11
The front panels of the Bio
Amp, Dual Bio Amp and
Octal Bio Amp
Input socket
Status indicator
cable and leads with which your Bio Amp is supplied (Tronomed D-1340 or
Tronomed D-1540). The single Bio Amp and Dual Bio Amp have different
pin arrangements, so their Bio Amp cables are not interchangeable. The
socket and connections to it are discussed in more detail later on.
Connections are made to the Octal Bio Amp using individual lead wires
(supplied with every unit) and a common ground, rather than using a single
multi-pin socket. Each of the eight Bio Amp inputs has one red and one black
connector and an indicator light. The green connector is a shared ground
connection across all eight inputs.
The Status Indicator
The status indicator light of a single Bio Amp is located at the bottom right of
the front panel. The status indicator lights of a Dual Bio Amp are located
beneath the input connector on the front panel. The status indicator lights of
an Octal Bio Amp are located beneath the pair of red and black connectors of
each input on the front panel.
When an ADInstruments application such as LabChart starts, the status
indicators should flash briefly and then remain green, indicating that the
program has found the front-end, checked and selected it, and is ready to use
14
it. If a status indicator does not turn on and stay on when the application
starts, it is most likely that the front-end is not connected properly.
Audio Out Socket
The Dual Bio Amp and Octal Bio Amp have audio monitor outputs on the
front panel that can be used with a wide range of headphones or externally
powered speakers. The 3.5 mm stereo socket provides two channels of sound,
one for each data channel. The audio output may be of use when monitoring
nerve firings to control the placement of electrodes, for instance.
The Back Panel

The back panel of the Bio Amp provides all the sockets required to connect
the front-end to the PowerLab and to other front-ends.
I2C Input and Output Sockets
Two nine-pin sockets are used to communicate with the PowerLab (they are
marked I2C Bus: a bus is simply information-transmission circuitry such as
cables and connectors). These sockets allow multiple front-ends to be used
independently with one PowerLab. Power and control signals to connected
front-ends come from the PowerLab. ADInstruments front-ends are
connected to each other in series, output to input (this is discussed in more
detail in the next chapter).
Analog Output Sockets
The BNC sockets on the back panel of the Bio Amps provide the signal
outputs to connected analog input sockets of the PowerLab.
The sockets are labeled Signal Output on a single Bio Amp and Output 1 to
Output n on a multi-channel Bio Amp. A BNC-to-BNC cable is supplied for
each connection. It is recommended that, to avoid confusion, you match the
Bio Amp output number with the corresponding PowerLab input connector.
If you are connecting to an earlier model PowerLab with differential inputs,
only connect the Bio Amp output to the positive analog input of the
PowerLab. ADInstruments applications do not find a front-end on start-up if
the negative input is used.
Audio Out Socket
The single Bio Amp has an audio monitor output on the back panel that can
be used with a wide range of headphones or externally powered speakers. The
3.5 mm stereo socket provides mono sound. The audio output may be of use
when monitoring nerve firings to control the placement of electrodes, for
instance.
Chapter 1 Overview
15
Figure 12
The back panels of the Bio
Amp, Dual Bio Amp and
Octal Bio Amp
Signal output to the

PowerLab
I2C connection to a
further front-end
I2C connection from the PowerLab or previous front-end
The Bio Amp Cable

Connections are made to the Bio Amp and Dual Bio Amp inputs using the
supplied Bio Amp cable and leads. The cable plugs into the six-pin input
socket on the front panel: a notch in the plug ensures that polarity is correct.
Only the supplied Bio Amp cable and leads should be used. Other cables may
not meet safety requirements. Note that the single Bio Amp and Dual Bio
Amp have different pin arrangements, so their Bio Amp cables are not
interchangeable.
The single Bio Amp is supplied with a 3-lead Bio Amp cable and lead wires.
The Dual Bio Amp is supplied with a 5-lead Bio Amp cable and lead wires; it
uses a shared ground signal for its Bio Amp inputs. The supplied cables are of
the type used for ECG or EMG studies: Tronomed D-1340 or Tronomed D1540 cables respectively. The cable has a yoke with three or five sockets for the
lead wires. Note that the active pins of a shielded cable are those closest to the
label.
16
Figure 13
Bio Amp cable yokes, with
leads attached: 3 leads for
the Bio Amp, and 5 leads
for the Dual Bio Amp
To electrodes
To Bio Amp
To electrodes
To Dual Bio Amp
The lead wires supplied are of the type used for ECG studies. They click into
place in the cable yoke, and have snap connectors at the other end to connect
to typical ECG electrodes. The leads are color-coded for identification. The
labels on the Bio Amp cable also have color spots to help sort out which cables
connect where and what they are measuring. (The colors are arbitrary, since
the PowerLab system is for general-purpose recording.)
Connections to the Octal Bio Amp inputs can be made with the supplied lead
wires. The input sockets are for unshielded, single-ended lead wires with a 2
mm inside diameter with 1.5 mm pins.
ADInstruments supplies other types of lead wires that connect to the Bio
Amp cable yoke, such as EEG Flat Electrodes and dry earth straps. Also
available are disposable and reusable electrodes, electrode cream (for reusable
electrodes), and abrasive gel, for lightly abrading the skin before the electrodes
are attached.
Types of Measurement
Standard electrophysiology texts describe various standard signals and how to
measure them. ADInstruments also produces materials describing specific
uses of Bio Amps, such as Application Notes, that can be downloaded from
the ADInstruments website or obtained from your ADInstruments
representative.
The Bio Amp can measure a wide variety of biological signal sources. Some of
these measurements include:
ECG. Electrocardiogram (also referred to as EKG); a recording of surface
potentials due to electrical currents associated with the heartbeat.
EEG. Electroencephalogram; a recording of the electrical activity of the brain.
Scalp electrodes record potential waves (10100 V) representing the
summed activity of cortical neurons.
Chapter 1 Overview
17
EMG. Electromyography; a recording of the electrical activity of a muscle,

using surface electrodes. The recorded activity may be a voluntary
contraction, or evoked by motor nerve stimulation.
EOG. Electro-oculogram; a recording of the potential difference between the
front and back of the eyeball, as projected on to the face. Bilateral
measurements require a Dual Bio Amp, or two Bio Amps.
ERG. Electroretinogram; a recording of the electrical signals produced in the
retina by a light stimulus. Bilateral measurements require a Dual Bio Amp, or
two Bio Amps.
Cortical Evoked Potentials. Averaged recordings of the electrical activity of
the brain when subject to stimulation: visual evoked response, auditory
evoked response, and somatosensory response. These should be done with
signal averaging, using Scope.
SNAP. Sensory nerve action potential; a recording of evoked responses in
stimulated nerves. This is usually done with signal averaging, using Scope.
Bio Amps are unsuitable for:
work requiring high-impedance electrodes or a high bandwidth. Such

tasks include intracellular micropipette recordings, which are made from a
very fine, electrolyte-filled tube inserted into a nerve or muscle cell, and
require an electrometer amplifier, and
needle electromyography; the intramuscular recording of the electrical
activity of a muscle, which requires low input capacitance and a driven
guard.
For these a headstage is required. The bandwidth is limited to approximately

5 kHz.
Recording Technique
Several problems can arise when using the Bio Amp to record signals. These
are basic problems of technique, and should be addressed before setting up. It
is important to understand the types of problems that can occur, how they
manifest, and what can be done to remove them or to minimize their effect.
Potential problem areas include aliasing, frequency distortion, saturation,
ground loops, electrode contact, motion artifacts, electromagnetic fields, and
data display.
18
There is a good introduction to data acquisition provided in the

documentation for LabChart and Scope. More information can be obtained
from your ADInstruments representative. It is highly recommended reading
for anyone recording biological signals using the front-end. Apart from the
general areas covered in that material, two things particularly affect the kind
of measurements made with the Bio Amp, and can cause artifacts (spurious
readings) in the recorded waveform: electrode contact and motion effects.
Electrode Contact. Occasionally during measurement of a biological signal,
one of the lead wires connecting the source to the front-end may become
disconnected, or an electrode contact may become poor. If this should
happen, relatively high voltages (potentials) can be induced in the open wire,
due to electric fields caused by the power line or other sources close to the
front-end or to the subject. This induced potential results in a constant
amplitude disturbance of the recorded waveform at the power line frequency,
and loss of the desired signal. If the problem is a recurring one, one of the
leads may be faulty. Check connections and replace faulty leads, if necessary.
Make sure that skin is cleaned and lightly abraded before attaching electrodes
to it. Ensure that there is sufficient electrode cream to maintain a good
contact: if it dries out, the contact will be poor, and the recorded signal may
be degraded or lost.
Motion Effects. A common source of artifacts when recording biological
signals is motion of the subject or equipment. For example, muscular activity
generates its own electrical signals, which may be recorded along with an
ECG, depending on the location of the electrodes. If an electrode is not firmly
attached, impedance (and hence the recorded signal) may vary as the contact
area changes shape owing to movement. Movement of Bio Amp cables and
leads, particularly bending or rubbing together (triboelectric effects) may also
generate artifacts in a signal.
Subject respiration can also generate a signal: breathing can result in a slowly
changing baseline corresponding to inspiration and expiration. If the subject
is going to move during recording, then special care needs to be taken when
attaching the electrodes and securing the leads.
Chapter 1 Overview
19
20
Setting Up
This chapter describes connecting the Bio Amp to your PowerLab and
performing a quick test to make sure that it is working properly. The best way
to configure your system for one or more front-ends is discussed, along with
how to use the front-end with ADInstruments application programs.
Chapter 2 Setting Up
21
Connecting to the PowerLab

To connect a front-end to the PowerLab, first ensure that the PowerLab is
turned off. Failure to do this may damage the PowerLab, the front-end, or
both.
Connect each signal output on the rear panel of the Bio Amp, Dual Bio Amp
or Octal Bio Amp, to an analog input on the front panel of the PowerLab
using a BNC cable. If the PowerLab has differential (rather than single-ended)
inputs the BNC cable must connect to a positive analog input of the
PowerLab. ADInstruments applications will not find the front-end on starting
up if a negative input is used.
Connect the I2C output of the PowerLab to the I2C input of the front-end
using the I2C cable provided. Figure 21 shows how to connect up a single
front-end to your recording unit.
Figure 21
Connecting a front-end to
the PowerLab: a PowerLab
has only one I2C output,
and each front-end has one
I2C output and one I2C input
Front-end I2C input
I2C connector
cable
Front-end Signal Output
BNC connector cable
PowerLab I2C output
Check that the plugs for the I2C bus are screwed in firmly. Check the BNC
cable for firm connections as well. Loose connectors can cause erratic frontend behavior, or may cause the front-end to fail to work at all. The BNC cable
can be tucked under the front-end to keep it out of the way if desired.
Multiple separate front-ends can be connected to a PowerLab. The number of
front-ends that can be connected depends on the number of input channels
on the PowerLab, since each signal output from the front-ends connects to
one of the analog inputs of the PowerLab.
Only one front-end such as a Stimulus Isolator can be connected to the
(positive) output of the PowerLab. The initial front-end should be connected
22
with the I2C cable as shown in Figure 21. The remainder are daisy-chained
via I2C cables, connecting the I2C output of the last connected front-end to
the I2C input of the front-end to be added, as shown in Figure 22. Note that
signal degradation may occur if multiple Bio Amps share a common ground,
such as by being connected to a single subject.
Front-end I2C input
Figure 22
Connecting a front-end to
the PowerLab: a PowerLab
has only one I2C output,
and each front-end has one
I2C output and one I2C input
PowerLab I2C output
Front-end I2C
output
Using More Than One Bio Amp
If you intend to record with more than one channel using a common ground,
such as recording from a single subject, it is recommended that you use a
Dual Bio Amp rather than two Bio Amps, and that you use an Octal Bio Amp
rather than two or more Dual Bio Amps. Some interaction can take place
between individual Bio Amps, causing up to 10 V of induced low-frequency
signal, through slight differences in frequency between the isolated power
supplies. For multiple channel recordings, using the Dual Bio Amp instead of
two Bio Amps or the Octal Bio Amp instead of two Dual Bio Amps avoids the
problem. Using multiple Dual Bio Amps (usually three or more) causes
similar problems on the second channel of each. This should not affect most
biopotential measurements, especially if you use filters or signal averaging. It
is of little or no consequence, for instance, when recording electroretinograms
or electro-oculograms.
Using ADInstruments Programs

Front-ends are used with PowerLabs and ADInstruments applications such as
LabChart and Scope. The amplification and filtering of the Bio Amp is
combined with that of the PowerLab and the application and presented as a
23
single set of software controls, replacing the Input Amplifier dialog with the
Bio Amp dialog. The LabChart Help Center and Scope Users Guide describe
the Input Amplifier dialog, and explain relevant terms and concepts.
The Front-end Driver
A driver is a piece of software the computer uses to drive a peripheral device.

In order for a front-end to be recognized by ADInstruments applications, the
appropriate front-end driver must be present. The Bio Amp front-end driver
is used with the Bio Amp. Front-end drivers are automatically installed when
ADInstruments applications are installed on the computer.
On both Windows and Macintosh, LabChart and Scope front-end drivers are
kept in an Essential Files folder in the LabChart and Scope folders
respectively. To replace the drivers, reinstall the ADInstruments application.
The Bio Amp Self-test
Once the Bio Amp is properly connected to the PowerLab, and when the
proper software is installed on the computer, a quick check can be performed
on the Bio Amp. To perform the self-test:
1. Turn on the PowerLab and check that it is working properly, as described
in the owners guide that was supplied with it.
2. Once the PowerLab is ready, open either LabChart or Scope. While the
software is starting, watch the Bio Amps Status indicator. During
initialization the indicator or indicators will flash briefly and then remain
lit.
If the indicator or indicators light correctly, the Bio Amp has been found by
the PowerLab and is working. If the indicator or indicators dont light, check
the cable connections and repeat the procedure.
Software Behavior
When a Bio Amp is properly connected to the PowerLab, the

Input Amplifier menu command is replaced by Bio Amp for the input
channel to which it is connected. If the application fails to find a front-end
connected, the normal text remains. If you were expecting a connected frontend and see the normal text instead, you should quit the application, turn the
PowerLab off and check the connections. Then restart the PowerLab and the
application.
The documentation for LabChart and Scope does not cover front-end-specific
features. These features are described in detail here for LabChart. In general,
Scope dialogs are similar to those of LabChart. The Bio Amp dialog for
LabChart for Macintosh and LabChart for Windows are very similar and are
described here together.
24
The Bio Amp

The Bio Amp dialog (Figure 21 and Figure 23) allows software control of
the combined input amplifiers and filters in the PowerLab and Bio Amp. The
signal present at a channels input is displayed in the preview area so that you
can see the effects of changes in settings. Change settings in the dialog, then
click the OK button to apply them.
The Bio Amp dialog appears when you choose Bio Amp from a Channel
Function pop-up menu (or click Bio Amp in the Input Settings column in
the Channel Settings dialog). To set up many channels quickly, click the
arrows by the dialog title, or press the left or right arrow keys on the
keyboard, to move to the equivalent dialogs for adjacent channels. This skips
channels that are turned off. The channel number is shown next to the arrows.
Signal Display
The input signal is displayed so you can see the effect of changing the settings
no data are recorded while setting things up. Slowly changing waveforms
are represented quite accurately, whereas quickly changing signals are
displayed as a solid dark area showing only the envelope (shape) of the signal
formed by the minimum and maximum recorded values. The average signal
value is shown above the display area.
You can stop the signal scrolling by clicking the Pause button at the bottom
left (Macintosh) or top right (Windows) of the data display area. This changes
to the Scroll button on the Macintosh. Click the Scroll button to start scrolling
again.
Signal amplitude
Pause and Scroll buttons
Figure 23
The Bio Amp dialog,
Windows (for the Dual
and Octal Bio Amps)
Range pop-up
menu
Filtering
options
Click this buttons to open the Units Conversion dialog
Amplitude
axis
25
Amplitude axis
Signal amplitude
Figure 21
The Bio Amp dialog,
Macintosh (for the Dual and
Octal Bio Amps)
Range pop-up
menu
Filtering
options
Pause/Scroll button
Compression
buttons
Click this buttons to open the Units Conversion dialog
On a Macintosh, Show Range Axis in the Scale pop-up menu displays the
range axis on the right of the display area. The Compression buttons adjust
the horizontal axis of the data display area.
Shift and stretch the vertical Amplitude axis, by clicking and dragging it in
various ways, to make the best use of the available display area.
It functions the same as the Amplitude axis of the Chart Window, controls are
identical and any change is applied to the Chart Window.
Setting the Range
The Range pop-up menu lets you select the input range or sensitivity of the
channel (combined range of the PowerLab and Bio Amp). Changing the range
in the Bio Amp dialog is equivalent to changing it in the Chart window. The
default setting (if you have not loaded a settings file) is 100 mV and the ranges
go down to 5 V in 14 steps.
Filtering
The Bio Amp has low-pass, high-pass, and notch-filter circuitry that can be
adjusted to suit the application. The notch filter removes excessive mainsfrequency interference. The high-pass and low-pass filters provide bandwidth
limiting of low-frequency and high-frequency signals respectively. Note that
the settings for one filter type may restrict the possible settings for the other.
The Dual Bio Amp has an extra low-pass and an extra high-pass filter.
26
High-Pass Filtering. The High Pass pop-up menu gives the choice of 0.1, 0.3,
1, 3, and 10 Hz high-pass filters. Dual and Octal Bio Amps have a 0.02 Hz
filter as well. The high-pass filter removes frequencies below the chosen
frequency and allows high frequencies in the signal. These filters are useful for
removing slowly moving baselines, such as motion or respiration artifacts,
particularly in ECG (EKG) recordings.
Low-Pass Filtering. The Low Pass pop-up menu gives the choice of 50, 100,
200, and 500 Hz, and 1 and 5 kHz low-pass filters. Dual and Octal Bio Amps
have a 2 kHz filter as well. The low-pass filter removes frequencies above the
chosen frequency and allows low frequencies in the signal. These filters are
useful for removing high-frequency signals, such as noise, and to prevent
aliasing in the recorded signal.
Notch Filter. Select or deselect the Notch checkbox to turn the notch filter on
and off. The notch filter is automatically set to either 50 or 60 Hz, depending
on the power line voltage frequency being used by the PowerLab (the mains
frequency). It provides approximately 32 dB of attenuation, thus reducing the
effect of the 50 or 60 Hz signals that can easily be picked up by long leads.
Mains Filter. Select or deselect the Mains filter checkbox to turn the mains
filter on and off. The mains filter allows you to remove interference related to
the mains frequency (both fundamental and harmonic frequencies). This is
an adaptive filter. It adjusts to filter the interference by tracking the input
signal for a second. Because of this, in general, using the mains filter is better
than using the notch filter but the mains filter does have some limitations.
More details on the mains filter can be found in the LabChart Help Center.
Anti-alias. Click the Anti-alias checkbox to turn anti-aliasing on and off.
Aliasing is distortion caused by frequencies of the incoming biological
waveform that are more than half the sampling frequency.
If you monitor physiological signals with a low-pass filter setting of 100 Hz,
but you are only sampling at 100 Hz, aliasing may cause the recorded
waveform to be quite different from the actual signal. An analogy to aliasing
can be seen in older Western films: spoked wagon wheels may appear to stop
or even go backwards when their rate of rotation matches the film frame
speed obviously not showing an accurate record of the wheels motion.
To prevent aliasing, the sampling rate must be at least twice the rate of the
highest expected frequency of the incoming waveform. For example, if
monitoring an ECG with maximum frequency components of 100 Hz, the
sampling rate needs to be at least 200 Hz to provide an accurate signal. The
sampling rate could be increased further if fast spikes or peaks (such as in the
QRS complex of an ECG) must be accurately recorded. A high sampling rate,
however, will use more computer memory and may limit recording time.
27
EEG Mode
The EEG Mode checkbox changes the available filters of the Bio Amp to suit
EEG applications. When this checkbox is selected, the High Pass pop-up
menu gives filter settings of 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1 seconds, and the Low Pass
pop-up menu gives filter settings of 3, 10, 30, 60, and 120 Hz. It is a
convention in EEG to deal with high-pass filter settings in terms of seconds
(giving the time constant of the first-order filter).
Inverting the Signal
The Invert checkbox provides a simple way to change the polarity of the
recorded signal without having to swap the connections to the recording
electrodes.
Units
Click Units to display the Units Conversion dialog, with which you can set
the units for the channel and, using waveform measurements, calibrate the
channel. The waveform in the data display area of the
Bio Amp dialog is transferred to the data display area of the Units Conversion
dialog. (Use the Pause button to capture a specific signal.) The units
conversion only applies to subsequently recorded signals, so it is more limited
than choosing Units Conversion from the Channel Function pop-up menu,
as it does not allow conversion of individual blocks of data.
DC Restore
The DC Restore button is available for the Dual and Octal Bio Amps. It
provides a quick way to bring the recording trace back to zero. It is for use
with the 0.02 Hz high-pass filter, since the trace can take a long time to zero
automatically at that setting. In later versions of LabChart the DC Restore All
command from the Setup menu performs this operation on all Bio Amp
channels.
28
A P P E N D I X
Technical
Aspects
This appendix describes some of the important technical aspects of the Bio
Amp to give some insight into how it works. You do not need to know the
material here to use the Bio Amp. It is likely to be of especial interest to the
technically minded, indicating what the front-end can and cannot do, and its
suitability for particular purposes. (There are no user-serviceable parts inside
the Bio Amp; you should not use this appendix as a service manual. User
modification of the equipment voids the warranty.)
Appendix A Technical Aspects
29
Si gnal
Input
30
-
Auto
Re store
Ci rcutiry
-10V
+10V
Low
Noise
Modulator
Re ct
&
Filter
Re store_Sense
x1,x10
Synch
Demod
Power
Oscillator
HPF
LP F
x1,x10,
x100
Mi croprocessor Control
Notch
x1,x2,
x5
Power
Supply
LP F
x1.66
x1
I2 C
Interface
Signal
Output
Audio
Output
Figure A1
Block diagram of the Bio
Amp
Signal
Input
Audio
Output
Lo w Noise
Modulator
10V
+10V
Vr ef
Vr ef
Au to R estore circuitry
Au to R estore circuitry
Lo w Noise
Modulator
x1,x10
x1,x10
Rect &
Filter
G1
G1

Synch
Demod
Synch
Demod
HPF
Power
Oscillator
HPF
x1,x10,
x100
x1,x10,
x100
x1,x 2,
x5,x10
Notch
x1,x 2,
x5,x10
L ogic Control
Notch
x1
x1
LP F
LP F
16MHZ
XTAL
Mi croprocessor
controller
Output 2
I2 C
Interface
Output 1
Figure A2
Block diagram for the Dual
Bio Amp and adjacent
inputs of the Octal Bio Amp
31
Bio Amp Operation

The Bio Amp and other ADInstruments front-ends have been designed to
integrate fully into the PowerLab system. The Bio Amp is essentially an
extension of the PowerLabs input amplifiers. The amplification and ranges
offered in LabChart and Scope result from the combination of both pieces of
hardware. The Dual Bio Amp is an enhanced double version of the single Bio
Amp, with a common power supply and isolated ground. There are some
modifications, but it is similar to the Bio Amp overall.
The Bio Amp provides:
full electrical isolation from power-line (mains) circuitry to guarantee

subject safety
a low-noise, high-gain differential amplifier specifically designed for
biological signal measurements
software-controlled low-pass, high-pass, and notch filters to remove
unwanted signal frequencies for particular uses
audio output for use with EMG or EEG signals.
Technical Description
The PowerLab provides control and low-voltage power to front-ends through
a special expansion connector called the I2C (eye-squared-sea) bus. Frontends are also connected to the analog inputs of the PowerLab via a BNC-toBNC cable, through which they send the amplified and filtered signals. The
overall operation of the Bio Amp and Dual Bio Amp can be better understood
by referring to Figure A1 and Figure A2.
The input amplifier of the Bio Amp starts with an electrically isolated
differential amplifier. The output of this amplifier is fed into a low-noise
demodulator and then to a programmable gain stage, before being fed across
an isolation transformer to the non-isolated circuitry. Control of the isolated
gain is provided via a high-isolation-voltage optocoupler. An auto-restore
circuit monitors the level of the input signal and restores the input before the
signal produces amplifier blocking. Isolated power comes from a second
isolation transformer driven by a power oscillator circuit running at about 38
kHz.
The signal from the isolated input amplifier is synchronously demodulated
and then fed to a programmable, switched-capacitor, high-pass filter. Any
switching clock noise is filtered by the low-pass filter following this stage.
32
The signal then passes to the first non-isolated gain stage, where it is
amplified 1, 10, or 100 times. A switched-capacitor notch filter follows (this is
automatically set to 50 or 60 Hz depending on the mains frequency of your
power supply). After this, the signal passes to the final programmable gain
stage, where it is amplified 1, 2, or 5 times (or 10 times for the Dual and Octal
Bio Amps). The last part of the signal-conditioning circuitry is the low-pass
filter.
The output of the Bio Amp is buffered with an amplifier with a fixed gain
(nominally 1.66), to compensate for gain differences through the previous
stages of the device. An audio signal output, capable of driving headphones or
powered speakers, is provided by tapping off and buffering the output stage
(the Dual and Octal Bio Amps use two outputs).
The control for the various filters and gain stages in the Bio Amp is provided
by on-board microprocessors, which also communicate with the PowerLab
over the I2C bus. The high-pass filters in the Dual Bio Amp are phasematched to within 1 phase shift at the 3 dB frequency to allow for accurate
waveform arithmetic.
The Bio Amp Cable Input

The Bio Amp cable, for the Bio Amp and Dual Bio Amp, plugs into the sixpin input socket on the front panel of the Bio Amp. A notch in the plug
ensures that polarity is correct. Only the supplied Bio Amp cable and lead
wires should be used as other cables may not meet safety requirements. Note
that the pin arrangement of the Bio Amp and the Dual Bio Amp is different;
the Bio Amp cables are not interchangeable. (The Bio Amp is supplied with a
3-lead Bio Amp cable, whereas the Dual Bio Amp is supplied with a 5-lead
Bio Amp cable.)
The Bio Amp has one connector: providing two pins for a differential input
signal, a separate pin for the reference, or common, signal and another
connected to the cables shield. The entire connector is physically and
electrically isolated to ensure subject safety.
Figure A3
The pin assignments for
the single Bio Amp input
connector
Negative input ()
Positive input (+)
Polarising key (to

fit notch in plug)
Shield
Reference/Common
33
The Dual Bio Amp has one common connector for two Bio Amp channels,
nominally channels 1 and 2. The biological amplifiers both have differential
inputs, a shared reference or common ground, and shield. The entire
connector is physically and electrically isolated to ensure subject safety.
Figure A4
The pin assignments for
the Dual Bio Amp input
connector
Polarising key (to fit

notch in plug)
Reference/Common
Shield
CH2 Negative ()
CH1 Positive (+)
CH2 Positive (+)
CH1 Negative ()
The Octal Bio Amp has a pair of connectors for each of the eight Bio Amp
inputs, and a single connector for the shared ground. The connectors are
physically and electrically isolated to ensure subject safety. The Octal Bio Amp
should be used with the supplied 1.8 m unshielded lead wires.
Figure A5
The connectors for each
input of the Octal Bio Amp
Positive input
(red)
Common
Reference/Common
(green)
34
Negative input
(black)
A P P E N D I X
Troubleshooting
This appendix describes most of the common problems that can occur when
using the Bio Amp with your PowerLab recording unit. It covers how these
problems are caused, and what you can do to alleviate them. If the solutions
here do not work, earlier chapters, the LabChart Help Center, and the guide to
your PowerLab may contain possible remedies. If none of the solutions here
or elsewhere are of help, then consult your ADInstruments representative.
Most of the problems that users encounter are connection problems, and can
usually be fixed by checking connections and starting up the hardware and
software again. Very rarely will there be an actual problem with the front-end
or the PowerLab.
Appendix B Troubleshooting
35
Problems and Solutions

The status indicator fails to light when the software is started, or the frontend commands and so on do not appear where they should
The I2C cable or one or more BNC-to-BNC cables from the front-end to the
PowerLab are not connected, have been connected incorrectly (to the wrong
input, for instance), or are loose.
Turn everything off. Check to see that all cables are firmly seated and
screwed in. BNC cables from the Bio Amp must be connected to a positive
input on the PowerLab. Make sure the input is the same channel from
which you expect to use the front-end in the software. Start up again to see
if this has fixed the problem.
You are using an early version of LabChart or Scope.
Upgrade to the latest version of the software. Contact your

ADInstruments representative for information.
The BNC or I2C cable is faulty.
Replace the cable and try again. Immediately label all cables proved faulty
so that you dont use them again by accident.
The Bio Amp is faulty
This is the least likely event. If the front-end will not work properly after
the previous measures, then try using it on another PowerLab. If the same
problems recur with a second PowerLab, the front-end may be faulty.
Contact your ADInstruments representative to arrange for repairs.
On starting up the software, an alert indicates that there is a problem with

the front-end or driver
The correct Bio Amp driver is not installed on your computer (it should be in
the Essential Files folder in the LabChart or Scope folder).
Reinstall the software.
You are using an early version of LabChart or Scope.
36
Upgrade to the latest version of the software. Contact your

ADInstruments representative for information.
The BNC or I2C cable is faulty.
Replace the cable and try again. Immediately label all cables proved faulty
so that you dont use them again by accident.
The Bio Amp is faulty.
This is the least likely event. If the front-end will not work properly after
the previous measures, then try using it on another PowerLab. If the same
problems recur with a second PowerLab, the front-end may be faulty.
Contact your ADInstruments representative to arrange for repairs.
The trace will not zero properly when adjusting high-pass filtering
The Bio Amp is receiving signals at a level that has saturated the input
amplifier, resulting in a large offset. This is normally due to poor contact
between the electrodes and the subject.
Check the connections for proper contact and try again.
If you are using the Dual Bio Amp or the Octal Bio Amp, with the
0.02 Hz high-pass filter, the trace can take a long time to zero by itself.
Click the DC Restore button in the Bio Amp dialog to bring the trace back
to zero quickly.
The signal appears to display a constant amplitude oscillation

Frequency interference from power lines can become superimposed on the
biological signal being measured.
You can use the internal notch filter in the Bio Amp to remove excessive
line voltage frequency interference (use the checkbox in the Bio Amp
dialog).
If you are using cables and leads that were not supplied with your Bio Amp,
they may be unshielded or of low quality.
Check to make sure that you are using high-quality shielded cables and
high-quality leads. Only the supplied Bio Amp cable and leads should
really be used.
Appendix B Troubleshooting
37
The signal is noisy at lower ranges

This is probably the amplified noise from the electrodes, not a fault as such.
There is, in addition, noise that cannot be avoided by any amplifier (called
thermal or Johnson noise).
Set the low-pass filter to remove the noise. (But be careful, since important
components of the signal could also be attenuated.)
This could be due an electrically noisy environment, particularly if there is

some equipment that produces a radio frequency that interacts with the Bio
Amp modulator, giving a heterodyne effect.
Turn off pieces of unnecessary equipment to try and isolate the cause, then
either leave the equipment off, or, if possible, move the subject or
equipment outside the area of any interfering field.
At the lowest ranges you may have to shield, shorten, or even replace the
Bio Amp leads, since they will tend to act as radio receptors.
The signal appears to be unusual, very weak, clipped, or distorted in some

way
Refer
Recording Technique, p. 18
This may be a problem of technique: the sampling rate, range, or filter settings
may be inappropriate for the signal you are recording.
Make sure the settings are appropriate for the expected signal.
You may be using the wrong Bio Amp cable for the type of input. The single
Bio Amp and Dual Bio Amp have different pin arrangements, so their Bio
Amp cables are not interchangeable.
38
Use the correct, supplied Bio Amp cable: a 3-lead cable for the single Bio
Amp and a 5-lead cable for the Dual Bio Amp.
A P P E N D I X
Specifications
Single Bio Amp

Input
Connection type:
Six-pin DIN/MS socket to fit 3-lead Bio Amp

cable (Tronomed D-1340)
Input configuration:
1 isolated differential channel with isolated

ground reference
Input impedance:
200 M differential, 30 pF (no cable) or

500 pF (supplied Bio Amp cable and leads) to
isolated ground
Isolation:
4000 Vrms (50 Hz for 1 minute)
Amplification ranges:
5 V to 100 mV full scale in 14 steps

(combined PowerLab and Bio Amp)
100 mV
50 mV
20 mV
10 mV
5 mV
2 mV
1 mV
500 V
200 V
100 V
50 V
20 V
10 V
5 V
Gain accuracy:
Appendix C Specifications
1.5% all ranges

39
Non-linearity:
< 0.1% within range
Noise at various bandwidths:

1 Hz to 5 kHz:
< 1.3 Vrms (< 8 V p-p)
0.3 Hz to 1 kHz:
< 0.6 Vrms
0.1 Hz to 100 Hz:
< 0.35 Vrms (@ 200 samples/second)
IMRR (isolation mode):
> 130 dB (to true earth, 50100 Hz)
CMRR (common mode):
> 85 dB typical (160 Hz)
Input leakage current:
< 3 Arms @ 240V, 50 Hz

< 2 Arms @ 120V, 60 Hz
DC blocking:
1V
Baseline restoration:
Automatic
Filtering
Low-pass filtering:
Fourth-order Bessel filter, 3% accuracy.

Frequencies software-selectable. Standard: 50,
100, 200, 500, 1000, & 5000 Hz (@ 3 dB);
EEG mode: 3, 10, 30, 60, & 120 Hz
High-pass filtering:
First-order filter, 0.25% accuracy.

Frequencies software-selectable.
Standard: 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, & 10 Hz (@ 3 dB);
EEG mode: 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 & 1 seconds
Notch filter:
Second-order filter, 32 dB attenuation;

50 or 60 Hz frequency (automatic sensing)
Output
Signal:
2.0 V standard
Audio:
Stereo jack with mono output; 200 mV full

scale, current limited to 5 mA. Suitable for
headphones or powered speakers.
Control Port
I2C port:
Provides control and power. Interface

communications rate of ~50 kbits/s.
Physical Configuration
Dimensions (h w d):
40
50 mm 76 mm 260 mm
(1.97" 3.0" 10.2")
Weight:
770 g (1 lb 11 oz)
Power requirements:
~2 W
Operating conditions:
535 C, 090% humidity (non-condensing)
Safety
Safety:
Approved to IEC601-1:1988 including A1 &

A2; BF rated (body protection)
EMC:
Approved to EN60601-1-2:1993
Other approvals:
CSA/US
Equipment:
Class I
Operation:
Continuous
Unsuitable uses:
Do not use in the presence of flammable

anaesthetic - air mixtures. Avoid operating
near high voltage, RF or strong magnetic
fields that may cause interference.
Method of disposal:
Forward to recycling centre or return to

manufacturer.
Dual Bio Amp

Input
Connection type:
Six-pin DIN/MS socket to fit 5-lead Bio Amp

cable (Tronomed D-1540)
2 isolated differential channels with common

isolated ground reference
Input impedance:
200 M differential, 30 pF (no cable) or

500 pF (supplied Bio Amp cable and leads) to
isolated ground
Isolation:

100 mV
50 mV
20 mV
10 mV
41
5 mV
2 mV
1 mV
500 V
200 V
100 V
50 V
20 V
10 V
5 V
Gain accuracy:
1.5% all ranges
Non-linearity:
< 0.1% within range

1 Hz to 5 kHz:
< 1.3 Vrms (< 8 V p-p)
0.3 Hz to 1 kHz:
< 0.6 Vrms
0.1 Hz to 100 Hz:
CMRR (common mode):
< 3 Arms @ 240V, 50 Hz

< 2 Arms @ 120V, 60 Hz
DC blocking:
1V
Automatic or manual
Filtering
42
Low-pass filtering:

100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, & 5000 Hz (@ 3
dB);
EEG mode: 3, 10, 30, 60, & 120 Hz

Standard: 0.02, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, & 10 Hz (@ 3
dB);
EEG mode: 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 & 1 seconds
Notch filter:

Output
Signal:
2.0 V standard
Audio output:
Stereo output supplying signals from both

data channels; 200 mV full scale, current
limited to 5 mA. Suitable for headphones or
powered speakers.
Control Port
I2C port:

Dimensions (h w d):
65 mm 200 mm 250 mm
(2.56" 7.9" 9.8")
Weight:
1.47 kg (3 lb 4oz)
Power requirements:
~3 W
Safety
Safety:

A2; CF rated (cardiac protection)
EMC:
Approved to IEC601-1-2:1993
Other Approvals:
CSA/US
Equipment:
Class I
Operation:
Continuous
Unsuitable uses:

Method of Disposal:

manufacturer.
Octal Bio Amp

Input
Connection type:
17 x 1.5 mm pin shrouded male socket to suit

single pin 1.5 mm
43
8 isolated differential channels with common

isolated ground reference
Input impedance:
200 M differential, 30 pF (no cable) to

isolated ground
Isolation:

100 mV
50 mV
20 mV
10 mV
5 mV
2 mV
1 mV
500 V
200 V
100 V
50 V
20 V
10 V
5 V
Gain accuracy:
1.5% all ranges
Non-linearity:
< 0.1% within range
44
1 Hz to 5 kHz:
< 1.3 Vrms (< 8 V p-p)
0.3 Hz to 1 kHz:
< 0.7 Vrms
0.1 Hz to 100 Hz:
CMRR (common mode):
< 3 Arms @ 240V, 50 Hz

< 2 Arms @ 120V, 60 Hz
DC blocking:
1V
Automatic or manual
Filtering
Low-pass filtering:

100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, & 5000 Hz (@ 3
dB);
EEG mode: 3, 10, 30, 60, & 120 Hz

Standard: 0.02, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, & 10 Hz (@ 3
dB);
EEG mode: 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 & 1 seconds
Notch filter:

Output
Signal:
2.0 V standard
Audio output:
Stereo output supplying signals from both

data channels; 200 mV full scale, current
limited to 5 mA. Suitable for headphones or
powered speakers.
Control Port
I2C port:

Dimensions (h w d):
60 mm 300 mm 300 mm
(2.36" 11.8" 11.8")
Weight:
4.0 kg (9 lb)
Power requirements:
~10 W
Safety
Safety:

A2 (pending); BF rated (body protection)
EMC:
Approved to IEC60601-1-2:2001 (pending)
Equipment:
Class I
Operation:
Continuous
45
Unsuitable uses:

Method of Disposal:

manufacturer.
ADInstruments reserves the right to alter these specifications at any time.
46
Electromagnetic Compatibility
The ML138 Octal Bio Amp (the device) has been tested to comply with the
requirements of IEC 60601-1-2, IEC 61000-3-2, IEC 61000-3-3, IEC 61000-42, IEC 61000-4-3, IEC 61000-4-4, IEC 61000-4-5, IEC 61000-4-6, IEC 610004-8, IEC 61000-4-11 and CISPR 11.
Emmisions
The device uses RF energy for its internal function only. RF emissions are very low
and are not likely to cause any interference in nearby electronic equipment.
The device is suitable for use in all establishments, including domestic
establishments and those directly connected to the public low-voltage power
supply network that supplies buildings used for domestic purposes.
Immunity
Mains power quality should be that of a typical commercial or hospital

environment. If the user of the device requires continued operation during power
mains interruptions, it is recommended that the device be powered from an
uninterruptible power supply or a battery.
Power frequency magnetic fields should be at levels characteristic of a typical
location in a typical commercial or hospital environment.
Floors should be wood, concrete or ceramic tile. If floors are covered with
synthetic material, the relative humidity should be at least 30%.
Separation Distances
The device is intended for use in an electromagnetic environment in which

radiated RF disturbances are controlled.
Portable and mobile RF communications equipment should be used no closer to
any part of the device, including cables, than the recommended separation
distance in the table below.
Field strengths from fixed RF transmitters, as determined by an electromagnetic
site survey, should be less than the compliance level in each frequency range.
Separation distance
Rated maximum output
power of transmitter, P
150 kHz to 800 MHz
800 Mhz to 2.5 GHz
d = 1.17P
d = 2.33P
0.01 W
0.1 m
0.2 m
0.1 W
0.4 m
0.7 m
1W
1.2 m
2.3 m
10 W
3.7 m
7.4 m
100 W
11.7 m
23.4 m
47
48
Index
ADInstruments programs 2328

aliasing 27
analog output 15
Application Notes 17
artifacts 19
audio output 15
input socket 33
I2C bus 13, 15, 32
maintenance 10
measurements 1718
Cortical Evoked Potentials 18
ECG (EKG) 17
EEG 17
EMG 18
EOG 18
ERG 18
SNAP 18
motion effects 19
back panel 15
Bio Amp
cable 1617
software 2528
block diagram 30, 31
C
checking the front-end 12
cleaning 9
connections
multiple front-ends 22
single front-end 22
to the PowerLab 2223
L
LabChart 23, 27
O
open lead wires 19
differential inputs 15, 22
PowerLab system 12
problems and solutions 3638
electromagnetic compatibility 47
recording technique 1819
filtering 2627
front panel 1315
front-end driver 24, 36
front-ends, general 1213
Safety Notes 510

Scope 23
self-test 24
single-ended inputs 22
software 2528
Index
49
status indicator 14
storage 10
T
technical specifications 3946
triboelectric effects 19
U
user modification voids warranty 29
using ADInstruments programs 2328
using this guide 12
50

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Bio Amp

Reg. No. 1053

Bio Amp Owners Guide

Bio Amp Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Bio Amp Owners Guide

Statement of Intended Use

CF symbol: Cardiacprotected equipment

Warning symbol: see

The three symbols are:

Further information is available on request.

Bio Amp Safety Instructions

Bio Amp Owners Guide

Isolated Stimulator Safety

The ML180 Stimulus Isolator is supplied with a special transformer plug

General Safety Instructions

Any electrical equipment which is located within the SUBJECT AREA

Bio Amp Owners Guide

They shall not be placed on the floor.

Cleaning and Sterilization

Preventative Inspection and

Temperature in the range 040 C

Temperature in the range 535 C

Forward to recycling center or return to manufacturer.

Bio Amp Owners Guide

The Bio Amp is a modular device, in a family called front-ends, designed to

How to Use This Guide

Checking the Front-end

Bio Amp Owners Guide

The PowerLab controls front-ends through an expansion connector called the

The Front Panel

Bio Amp Owners Guide

The Back Panel

Signal output to the

I2C connection from the PowerLab or previous front-end

The Bio Amp Cable

Bio Amp Owners Guide

To Dual Bio Amp

EMG. Electromyography; a recording of the electrical activity of a muscle,

work requiring high-impedance electrodes or a high bandwidth. Such

For these a headstage is required. The bandwidth is limited to approximately

Bio Amp Owners Guide

There is a good introduction to data acquisition provided in the

Bio Amp Owners Guide

Connecting to the PowerLab

Front-end I2C input

Front-end Signal Output

BNC connector cable

PowerLab I2C output

Bio Amp Owners Guide

PowerLab I2C output

Using More Than One Bio Amp

Using ADInstruments Programs

A driver is a piece of software the computer uses to drive a peripheral device.

When a Bio Amp is properly connected to the PowerLab, the

Bio Amp Owners Guide

The Bio Amp

Pause and Scroll buttons

Click this buttons to open the Units Conversion dialog