Frequently Asked Questions

From within an experimentation session, a dose response experiment may be implemented using our default SCIREQ provided Dose Response scripts. These scripts allow for an automated reproducible protocol for all subject. Please refer to the AppNote Assessing Airway Hyperresponsiveness Using The fleixVent for more details from a scientific standpoint. This document, as well as other helpful AppNotes are available on our SCIREQ website (http://www.scireq.com/knowledge-center/downloads).

Please note, the default SCIREQ provided Dose Response script allows the collection of respiratory mechanics measurements at baseline, as well as following administration of incrementally increasing concentration of bronchoprovocative agents. Please contact SCIREQ technical support for more information.

For flexiWare software version 7.6 and above.
The default size limit of a flexiWare database is 1.5 GB. We recommend this particular size limit to optimize the time taken to load the data in Review & Reporting. Further, keeping the size of the database to below 1.5 GB makes the file easier to transfer to another computer if needed. Please refer to the document Best Practices For File Management Using flexiWare which provides information on managing the size of flexiWare databases. This TechNote is available on our SCIREQ website (http://www.scireq.com/knowledge-center/downloads).

The maximum size recommended for databases is found by clicking on the System Settings button in the
Welcome screen:

Select Workspace (System Settings>Workspace) to find the ìDisk spaceî option. Once the size reaches 1.5 GB, users are notified by the software. Users have the option of modifying the size at which to receive the notification by using the drop-down menu. However, it is recommended to create a new database when prompted.

For flexiWare 7.6 and higher:

1. Launch the flexiWare software.
2. At the Welcome Dialog, click on the hyperlinked path of the database file, as shown below:
3. When prompted, disconnect from the current database file, and click Yes.
4. Click on the Browse button to find the desired database file (.FDB or .FDB8), as shown below. Typically database files may be found in the directory C:\ProgramData\SCIREQ\Database.
5. After selecting the database file, tick the checkbox ìAlways connect to this EDBî to connect to the new database file automatically when flexiWare is opened and click OK.

For flexiWare software version 7 and above.
The flexiWare software is able to export data in Excel format (.xls) or ASCII.

Please refer to section 3.3 of the document A Guide To Exporting flexiWare Data, which provides information on how to edit export scenarios. This document is available in the TechNotes section of our SCIREQ website (http://www.scireq.com/knowledge-center/downloads).

For flexiWare software version 7 and above.
Please refer to the document A Guide to Writing Scripts for flexiWare Software for a step-by-step guide through the process. This document is available in the TechNotes section of our SCIREQ website (http://www.scireq.com/knowledge-center/downloads).

For flexiWare software version 7 and above.
Please refer to the document A Guide to flexiVent Data Validation with flexiWare for information on possible causes of rejected datasets along with documented solutions. This document is available in the TechNotes section of our SCIREQ website (http://www.scireq.com/knowledge-center/downloads).
If the issue remains, please contact SCIREQ technical support for assistance.

For flexiWare software version 7 and above.
The frequency of the SnapShot manoeuvre is not a user-modifiable setting. SCIREQ is able to create custom manoeuvres upon request; however please note that our SCIREQ default manoeuvre are well documented in literature and have been well validated. If you are interested, please contact SCIREQ technical support and please provide your software version, along with frequency information for your custom manoeuvre.†
The Quick Prime-3 manoeuvre would be the manoeuvre to use to look at the respiratory system response over a range of frequencies.

††For your information, the Quick Prime-3 contains 13 different frequencies ranging from approximately 0.5-20 Hz.† This provides structure-function related information where the contribution coming from the lung compartment will dominate at the lower frequency range and the contribution from the airways will dominate at the higher frequency range.
The following blog post and articles will be of interest in addressing this topic:†
ª http://blog.scireq.com/2015/10/lets-talk-about-impedance.html
ª http://www.comprehensivephysiology.com/WileyCDA/CompPhysArticle/refId-c100058.html
ª http://www.jove.com/pdf/50172/jove-protocol-50172-evaluation-respiratory-system-mechanics-mice-using-forced-oscillation

For flexiWare software version 7 and above.
To modify the ventilation pattern Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) in a template, please follow these instructions:

1. Enter a typical Experimentation Session.
2. From within the Experimentation Session interface, please right-click on the desired ventilation pattern (example: Mouse Default CMV) and select Task Properties from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Ventilation Pattern Properties panel, adjust the criteria PEEP Level, as indicated below:

Please note: Onset pressure of each of the flexiVent manoeuvres must also be modified to match the PEEP of the modified ventilation pattern. To modify the onset pressure of all manoeuvres, please follow the instructions below:

1. For each manoeuvre, right-click on the Task (for example, Deep Inflation) and select Task Properties.
2. In the Task properties panel, under the Waveform Properties node, please specify the Onset pressure (equivalent to PEEP), as indicated below:

In order to save the modifications made, please select File>Save as Template and choose the Save as ìNew Templateî option. When prompted to name the template, it is recommended to use a name which will allow easy identification, considering the equipment required and the changes made, for example flexiVent-AN-PEEP (AN=Nebulizer).