Cardiac Module

The Cardiac Module integrates with Maestro Pro, Maestro Edge, and Maestro Volt to facilitate the recording and analysis of four essential cardiac function metrics: action potential, field potential, propagation, and contractility. This is achieved without labels and in real time for each well.

The software offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies the design, execution, and analysis of cardiomyocyte experiments, making powerful data more accessible. With the inclusion of the AxIS Navigator software, researchers gain control over experimental settings, view immediate cardiac activity, and generate clear analytical metrics.

Key Features

• Assay Setup: Pre-configured settings streamline the acquisition and analysis processes, while offering quick access to advanced options as needed. Color-coded plate maps provide real-time experiment details and can be imported or exported through Microsoft Excel®. The Stimulation Studio in AxIS Navigator allows easy design of stimulation protocols with a drag-and-drop interface.
• Real-time Data Visualization: Visualize cardiac data for each electrode or across a plate for a comprehensive view. The Cardiac Dashboard displays cardiac waveforms, propagation maps, beat period stability, Poincaré plots, and contractility maps.
• Data Analysis Tools: Advanced analysis and figure generation are supported by a suite of specialized software tools. The Cardiac Analysis Tool offers precise assessment of field potentials and LEAP, with automated arrhythmia detection. Additionally, a PDF report of results is automatically generated. The AxIS Metric Plotting Tool allows rapid data visualisation, aiding the comparison and organization of treatment endpoints.

The innovative Local Extracellular Action Potential (LEAP) assay supports detailed waveform recording, enabling quantification of action potential morphology and detection of repolarization irregularities like early afterdepolarizations. Field potential signals arise from the propagation of cardiac action potentials, much like a clinical ECG, offering depolarization and repolarization markers vital for quantifying heartbeat parameters.

For cardiac excitation-contraction coupling, which traces the path from electrical impulse to myocardial contraction, the module measures impedance-based cardiomyocyte contractility to evaluate mechanical properties of cardiac models. This allows the assessment of conduction changes during pharmacological studies and cardiomyocyte differentiation.

Related Applications: The module aids in in vitro cardiomyocyte function characterization, accelerating cardiovascular research, drug development, and safety testing. It predicts cardiomyocyte subtypes in the LEAP assay, observes cardiac differentiation over time, and evaluates compound effects on cardiomyocyte inotropy and excitation-contraction coupling. Additionally, it can control cardiomyocyte beat rates through optical or electrical stimulation to enhance physiological assay relevance and determine proarrhythmic risks in compounds during studies.