Equipment

The EPU laboratory houses state-of-the-art large equipment items for respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic measurements.

CLICK ON EQUIPMENT FOR LINKS TO WEBSITES AND FURTHER INFORMATION

Major Equipment Items: (CLICK HERE FOR FULL EQUIPMENT INVENTORY)

Ergometers.

The EPU possesses numerous ergometers, comprising a treadmill, electronically-braked cycle ergometer (Lode), Cybex Met 100 upright cycle ergometer, recumbent cycle ergometer, custom built air-braked cycle ergometer for “anaerobic” power testing , 3 mechanically-braked cycle ergometers (Monark), air-braked cycle ergometer, 2 rowing ergometers.

Cybex Cycle Ergometer Lode Bike Quinton Treadmill Monark Cycle

Respiratory Equipment Items.

We currently have three respiratory systems for metabolic measurements. One system was designed and built by the School's bioengineers, Ian Fairweather (IF) and the predecessor of Robert Stokes (RS) and is principally used for research. Two systems (Medical Graphics) are capable of measuring gas exchange in each breath and were funded from separate Large Equipment grants for research and teaching. We also posses a Medgraphics Gas Exchange System Validator for quantification of values obtained by the Medgraphics metabolic systems.

Gas Exchange Validator Medgraphics VU Metabolic System

Cardiovascular Equipment Items.

The EPU has three diagnostic electrocardiograms (ECG) used for analysis of ECG under rest and exercise conditions and a custom-built ECG telemetry system for research with heart failure patients as well as a Doppler ultrasound and echocardiography system.

Mortara ECG Ultrasound/Echocardiography

Muscle Strength and Body Composition.

We possess a Cybex Norm 770 isokinetic dynamometer for assessment of muscle strength, for all major muscle groups. For body composition we have an underwater weighing tank for densitometry measures. We have an anthropometer and skinfold calipers. A DEXA is available at a separate campus.

Cybex Isokinetic Dynamometer

Environmental Chamber and Core Temperature Analysis.

A dedicated research chamber capable of controlling temperature -30 to +50 degrees C and Relative Humidity 10-95% is used for research, teaching and consultancy activities. The lab also possesses a VitalSense core temperature monitoring system for use with exercise in various environmental conditions.

VitalSense Core Temperature System

Blood Biochemistry.

Blood samples taken in the EPU laboratory are analysed in the EPU Biochemistry lab. The EPU has an automated blood gas and electrolyte analyser (Bayer), an automated red and white blood cell counter (Sysmex), a refridgerated centrifuge and a reflotron for measurement of blood cholesterol and fatty acids, an automated blood lactate analyser, Lactate Pro (portable automated lacate analysis), a refridgerator and -20 C freezer. Muscle biopsy samples taken in the EPU laboratory are analysed in the Exercise Metabolism (Biochemistry) laboratory.

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Lacate Pro Portable Analyser Blood Gas Analyser Sysmex

Muscle Biochemistry.

The EPU has access to and co-own much of the equipment housed in a separate Exercise Metabolism Laboratory. Items include dual excitation/emission fluorimeter for ion analysis studies, a fluorimeter and a HPLC for metabolite analyses, Western blotting and image analysis equipment for immuno-protein analyses, spectrophotometer for lactate analyses, a cryostat for muscle fibre type analyses, beta- and gamma-counter for radioactive work, liquid nitrogen and freezer storage.

Exercise Physiology Laboratory

School of Human Movement, Recreation and Performance

Victoria University

Full Equipment Inventory

Respiratory Metabolic Analyses

	Medical Graphics breath-by-breath metabolic gas analysis systems, including spirometry and ECG modules (two - one each for teaching and research)
	Custom-built mixing chamber metabolic gas analysis systems (two) with Applied Electrochemistry (Ametek) gas analysers and KL Engineering turbine.
	Douglas bag gas collection systems
	Parkinson-Cowan dry gas meter
	Spirometer
	Modules for computerised Exercise Physiology teaching workstation (see below).
	Metabolic calibrator

Blood Sampling and Analyses

	Hand warming glove -for arterialisation of venous blood (Custom built)
	Water bath - for venous arterialisation
	Ciba Corning 865 automated integrated blood gas analyser - for measurement of pH, PCO2, PO2, electrolytes (K+, Ca2+, Na+, Cl-), metabolites (lactate, glucose) and haematology (Hb, SO2).
	Sysmex automated red and white blood cell analyser -for measurement of red and white blood cell counts, red cell parameters (Hct, MCH, MCHC) and haemoglobin
	Reflotron - for automated cholesterol, triglycerides analysis
	Acusport auto analysers - blood lactate (2)
	Automated blood lactate analysers (2)
	Lactate Pro (portable automated lacate analysis)
	General Equipment : refrigerated centrifuge, Eppendorf centrifuge, spectrophotometers, ice machine, fridge, freezer (-20 °C), deep freezer (-80 °C), liquid nitrogen storage facility.

Ergometry

	Treadmills: Quinton (2) Repco (1)
	Lode Excalibur Electronically Braked Cycle Ergometer (Power Output to 1000W)
	Anaerobic Power Testing Cycle Ergometer (see below)
	Cycle Ergometers – Repco air-braked (2),
	Cycle Ergometers – Monark mechanically braked (4)
	Rowing Ergometer
	Forearm finger flexion ergometer- custom built for forearm metabolism studies
	Cybex isokinetic cycle ergometer – for paediatric studies
	Semi recumbent cycle ergometer – for rehabilitation use

Muscle Strength and Power Assesment

	Cybex Norm 770 - isokinetic muscle function testing facility
	Anaerobic Power Testing Cycle Ergometer: custom-built, heavy duty, air-braked, pedals instrumented with strain gauges, computerised data capture and analysis
	Timing lights and radar gun for sprint timing and speed
	Handgrip Analysis - Instrumented dynamometers (1)
	Handgrip: -analogue display (3)
	Access to force platforms

Environmental

	Large Environmental Chamber with temperature control ranging from –30 °C to +50 °C and humidity from 30 to 75%.
	Instrumented environmental weather station for pressure, temperature and humidity (2)
	Temperature probes - skin thermistors and disposable rectal probes
	VitalSense Core Temperature Analysis System

Anthropometric

	Underwater Weighing Facility - for determination of body density
	Skinfold calipers
	Weighing scales (accurate to 1 g)
	Bioimpedence Scales
	Stadiometer

Cardiovascular

	Digitising 12-lead ECG – Mortara (1 for research, 1 for teaching)
	4-lead ECG
	Telemetry unit – 4 channel ECG (use with teaching workstation)
	Sport testers – heart rate monitors (3)
	Venous Occlusion Plethysmography system - for measurement of limb blood flow
	Blood Pressure kits Sphygmomanometers (7)
	Cardiac output

Muscle Biochemical Analyses

	Muscle Biopsy Needles, Autoclave
	Access to fully equipped Biochemistry laboratory (dual emission fluorimeter, fluorimeter, spectrophometer, pH meters, pH microelectrodes,
	Gel Electrophoresis (Biorad) and Image Analysis station (Kodak)
	Microbalance, Homogenisers, Liquid N2 canisters

Computing Facilities

	All equipment supported by modern PC
	Internet access for teaching PCs (3)

Development Items

	Computerised Teaching Workstations comprising cycle ergometry, 12 lead ECG, respiratory and metabolic analyses, temperature measures, muscle strength, EMG
	Cycle Ergometer Calibration Rig

Ergometers.

Last modified: February 27, 2007