Services

Inhalation Exposure Facility

The objectives of the exposure core are to: expose animals or in vitro preparations to selected types and concentrations of air pollutants, accurately and in a carefully controlled manner; provide logistical and technical support in ensuring experimental regimens are implemented correctly; develop methods of inhalation exposure and atmosphere characterization; and develop methods of allergen characterization and assess allergic exposure response. (Pictured above: house dust mites).

Users are not limited to only those services that are listed below. If you do not see your desired service, please contact the Inhalation Exposure Facility directly and inquire about custom fabrication of exposure apparatus/systems.

  • Gasses: ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide
  • Aerosols: dust-mite allergen, endotoxin, ethylene combustion products including ultrafine particles (both low and high PAH modes), ovalbumin allergen, immunostimulatory sequence DNA, budesonide (inhaled steroid), respiratory syncytial virus, mouse influenza virus, CF genes in adenoviral vectors or liposomes, simulated “particulate matter” as ammonium nitrate and carbon, diluted cigarette smoke, fluorescent microspheres, ammonium nitrate, ammonium persulfate, ammonium sulfate, bacterial aerosols, concanavalin A, ferrous sulfate, fly ash, iron oxide, nitric acid, penicillamine, sodium chromate, sodium sulfite, sulfuric acid, wood smoke, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, zinc sulfite

  • 0.44, 0.55, 3.5, 4.2, 5.2 m3 stainless steel inhalation chambers
  • Cigarette smoke room
  • Clean air room with chemical, bacteriological and radiological (CBR) air filtration
  • Concurrent flow spirometry aerosol inhalation system
  • Oxygen and ozone inhalation system
  • Inhalated steroid delivery system
  • PennCentury MicroSprayer
  • In vitro exposure system
  • Isolated-perfused lung exposure system
  • Nose-only rodent exposure system
  • Cigarette smoke generator
  • Electronic cigarette vapor generator

  • Ultraviolet ozone analyzers
  • Nitrogen analyzer
  • Dynamic dilution calibrator
  • Sulfur analyzers
  • Carbon monoxide analyzers
  • Proportional controller systems
  • Multiple chamber gas samplers
  • Data acquisition system

  • Total filter
  • Inertial impaction
  • Ion chromatograph
  • Photometer
  • Optical particle counter
  • Mass monitor
  • Electrostatic precipitator
  • Condensation particle counter
  • Diffusion battery

Please contact the IEC to inquire about custom services.

Pulmonary Function Testing Laboratory

Under the expert guidance of Inhalation Exposure Core Manager Dr. Chris Royer, pulmonary function testing is available for measuring static mechanics of the respiratory system to allergen and other air pollutant inhalation. Also, dynamic mechanics measurements utilizing transfer impedance is available for non-invasive measuring of airway reactivity and other physiological responses of the respiratory system. Together, respiratory mechanical variables provide a translational structure-function map of the internal workings of the lung under the disease process being studied. These measures can be further integrated with other scientific areas expertise via collaboration with CNPRC Core and Affiliate Scientists.

  • Function: Determine static lung mechanics in sedated, spontaneously breathing infant, juvenile and adult monkeys
  • Equipment: Small and Large whole body plethysmograph with semi-automated software data collection system (Buxco)
  • Specific Measures: Standard lung volumes/capacities and flows, quasi-static lung compliance, and functional residual capacity

and

  • Function: Determine static lung mechanics in sedated, spontaneously breathing juvenile and adult monkeys
  • Equipment: Rapid Thoracolumbar Compression Testing
  • Specific Measures: Forced expiratory flow parameters, lung compliance

  • Function: Determine respiratory transfer impedance in sedated, spontaneously breathing infant, junvenile and adult monkeys. Airway reactivity.
  • Equipment: Small and Large head-out transfer impedance plethysmograph with semi-automated software data collection system (Pulmetrics)
  • Specific Measures: Respiratory transfer impedance: central airway resistance, tissue resistance, and tissue compliance. Dose response relationships.

  • Function: Breathing frequency, tidal volume, ventilatory rate, pulmonary flow, blood pressure, heart rate, esophageal pressure, Pulmonary Vascular Impedance as resistance, and compliance.
  • Equipment: Physiology platform for measurement of cardio-pulmonary parameters (PoNeMah)
  • Specific Measures: Measure and collect cardio-pulmonary data during aerosol challenges or treatments

  • Function: Positive pressure mechanical ventilators used to deliver aerosols for challenge or treatment
  • Equipment: Positive-pressure ventilators (2) (Bird)
  • Specific Measures: Positive press lung mechanics

  • Function: Collect and process physiological data from implantable sensors in free roaming monkeys. Remote sensing of breathing pattern and mechanics
  • Equipment: 16-channel bio-telemetry system (Data Sciences Int.)
  • Specific Measures: EKG, EMG, blood pressure, pleural pressure, core body temperature

  • Function: Analyze inspired and expired breath samples from rebreathing apparatus
  • Equipment: 4 gas infrared analyzer
  • Specific Measures: Lung diffusing capacity, cardiac output and pulmonary capillary volume

Rates

The University has established hourly recharge rates for trained Inhalation Exposure Core personnel.
Costs will vary based on the services, equipment, and experimental protocol used.

Access our rates (PDF)

If you have any questions please contact us  

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