frequently asked questions

• how many ecg leads can be measured?
• which species are your systems suitable for?
• can I perform hrv analysis?
• do I need experience of other ecg analysis software to know how to use ecgAUTO ?
• do you provide training for ecgauto?
• tell me more about the ecgAUTO user group meeting
• is ecgAUTO GLP compliant?
• what is an ecgAUTO library?
• is ecgAUTO as effective as you say?
• which QTc formula is used in ecgAUTO?
• how much continuous ecg data can be acquired with telemetry?
• do I need one library per subject, or one per species?
• how long does it take to build a library?
• can ecgAUTO analyze data acquired in third-party software
• how does ecgAUTO compare to other ecg analysis software? how is it different?
• can I verify the effectiveness ecgAUTO myself?
• can you provide "ready-to-use" software, with prebuilt libraries?
• how long does it take to validate ecgAUTO?
• how can I share my results with colleagues around the world?
• why do you consider that post-processing is not a disadvantage compared to real-time processing?
• how can emka TECHNOLOGIES help us validate ecgAUTO?

how many ecg leads can be measured?

The number of ecg leads that can be measured depends on the method of acquisition:

• wired setups - 12 ecg lead (6 limb leads + 6 chest leads)
• noninvasive telemetry - 7 ecg leads (6 limb leads + 1 chest lead)
• implantable telemetry - 2 ecg leads
• ecgTUNNEL restraining device - 6 ecg leads (6 limb leads)

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which species are your systems suitable for?

wired setups and noninvasive telemetry - both techniques using ecg electrodes attached to the skin - are suitable for large animals such as dogs, primates, pigs etc.

Implantable telemetry is suitable for animals from 200g and upwards, such as rats.

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can I perform hrv analysis?

Yes!

An hrv module is available as an add-on option with ecgAUTO software.

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do I need experience of other ecg analysis software to know how to use ecgAUTO?

No. ecgAUTO is suited to all user levels.

It can be used in different ways by different types of users. emka TECHNOLOGIES provides training and user documentation to allow new users to get up and running very rapidly and to show experienced users advanced functions and differerent ways of using ecgAUTO.

Furthermore, when used in combination with user management software, different access levels can be provided for different users. So, "experts" have access to all functionalities and settings, "users" or "mini-users' have fewer possibilities and a very simple system. "Mini-users" can only load a file, view it, analyze data, view results and save. They cannot see or modify settings, nor edit beats. They are not slowed down by the full range of options and they are not able to mishandle the system.

And don't forget - if there is a function that you require or that you would like to see in ecgAUTO, contact us! emka TECHNOLOGIES is proud of its reputation for being reactive to the research community.

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do you provide training for ecgAUTO?

Yes! We provides training at installation and at other times you require it, e.g. a refresher course or training for a new feature.

Please contact us if you want to arrange onsite training by one of our experienced and knowledgeable salespeople.

You may be interested in attending the ecgAUTO user group meeting.

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tell me more about the ecgAUTO user group meeting

The ecgAUTO user group meeting is a meeting for users who already have some experience of using ecgAUTO. There are two meetings per year, one in September in Europe, the other in October in the US.

Attendees can learn about new and advanced features of ecgAUTO during presentations and hands-on workshops. The two-day event is also a good opportunity to meet one's peers to find out how they are using ecgAUTO and to exchange ideas and experiences.

Please contact us if you would like to receive details about ecgAUTO user group meeting to be held this year.

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is ecgAUTO GLP compliant?

Like all of our products, ecgAUTO has been developed with high-quality assurance standards and has built-in features which allow it to be successfully validated.

emka TECHNOLOGIES knows that introducing a new software application into an organization working in a regulated environment involves many complex business processes. One major process involves validating the application in the client’s environment. The process can be tedious and time-consuming. Many companies do not have the time or resources to dedicate to a validation project.

For this reason, we offer an array of support services to facilitate our customer’s "on-site" system validation. In order to establish the system’s accuracy, stability, and reliability, we can help you test your system as a whole for a specific system configuration, under specific operating procedures, and within a specific operating environment.

As the system provider, we are knowledgeable on how the systems operate, thus, we can provide effective validation assistance through our validation support service packages:

• support to customer and/or third-party package
• sample plan and test script models package
• tailored models package
• full validation process package

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what is an ecgAUTO library?

ecgAUTO uses pioneering shape recognition techniques for ecg analysis.

A library is a group of waveforms used as reference waveforms. During analysis, each candidate waveform in the signal is compared to library waveforms. If a sufficiently similar library waveform exists, the candidate waveform "passes" and marks (start of P wave, peak of R wave etc) can be plotted. Otherwise, the candidate waveform is rejected.

Typically, a library contains 10 to 30 waveforms. It is common practice to use one library per species. However, in some cases, there are good reasons to create one library per subject.

emka TECHNOLOGIES can supply pre-built libraries for beginners.

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is ecgAUTO as effective as you say?

ecgAUTO offers the best available ecg analysis on the market. Many current users switched to ecgAUTO from their previous analysis software after seeing for themselves its powerful analysis capabilities.

If you are finding it difficult to analyze your ecg data with your current tools, put us to the test!

Send us a sample of your data files and we will perform smart analysis and show you the results swiftly!

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which QTc formula is used in ecgAUTO?

ecgAUTO offers 6 predefined models for calculating corrected QT: Bazett, Fridericia, Vandewater, Matsunaga, Nuyens, Hayes.

Tools are provided to create a custom model.

If these tools are not sufficient or if you consider that a different model should be available to all users, contact emka TECHNOLOGIES.

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how much continuous ecg data can be acquired with telemetry?

The maximum length of a continuous ecg acquisition depends on the method of acquisition.

• wired setups - no limit
• noninvasive telemetry - 3 days
• implantable telemetry - 2 ecg leads (unlimited for small animals; 7 days between recharging period for large animals)
• ecgTUNNEL restraining device - unlimited if used as in a wired setup, 3 days if used with a wireless system

> visit the telemetry minisite containing information about telemetry systems from emka TECHNOLOGIES

> find out more about implantable telemetry

> find out more about restraining device

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do I need one library per subject, or one per species?

If we consider, as an example, users who use the software for analyzing rat ecg data and dog ecg data, we recommend they they build a library for each animal species. Having all waveforms from all animal species in the same library is feasible and would produce correct analysis but would unnecessarily slow down analysis.

Some users go as far as building a specific library for each subject. We feel that this is justified when a relatively small number of animals will be studied for many months or even for a few years. But, as a general recommendation, the best approach is one library per species.

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how long does it take to build a library?

Let us assume, as an example, that we have a set of ecg recordings from 40 beagle dogs. Each one is a file produced in, or converted to, the iox format.

It would take from 2 to 3 hours for a member of the emka TECHNOLOGIES team to build the library able to analyze this set of files. The library would typically contain from 20 to 40 waveforms.

Now suppose that a new study on different beagle dogs needs to be processed. The number of extra waveforms to be added will be limited, probably around 5 to 15, and would require an extra hour or so.

After the library has been set to analyze around 100 subjects, only very occasional additions to the library will be required.

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can ecgAUTO analyze data acquired in third-party software

Yes!

Most of our customers use ecgAUTO to process data files recorded using iox2, our data acquisition software.

We can also provide a data conversion tool which converts Data Science International (DSI™) Dataquest files into iox2 files.

For customers running a DSI™ telemetry system with DSI™ OpenArt™ software v2.3 or higher, emka TECHNOLOGIES has developed a direct data link: a single PC runs OpenArt™ and iox2 simultaneously so that data flow seamlessly in real time from the implants to iox.

We have developed several modules for customers who use other data acquisition systems. One module converts any data exported as a text file into iox2 files. Other modules convert raw data produced by non-emka data acquisition software into iox2 files. Please contact us for further information about the right module for you – simply tell us which system you are currently using, including version number.

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how does ecgAUTO compare to other ecg analysis software? how is it different?

We strongly believe that using shape recognition is the best way to analyze highly dynamic shapes such as those found in ecg data.

This belief is confirmed over and over again, every time that ecgAUTO is able to analyze "difficult" ecg data files provided to us by customers as examples of what other ecg software could not analyze.

We summarize below what we consider to be the strongest assets for users of this software:

• ecgAUTO does not produce "false-positives", i.e. analyzing ecg waveforms which do not exist (artifacts) or which correspond to shapes unknown to the library,
• ecgAUTO users take every ecg waveform in their stride! If a special ecg morphology appears in their dataset, they have the ability to complement the waveform library to be able to process the new morphology correctly,
• post-analysis data checks and any editing are very easy and are fully traced,
• emka TECHNOLOGIES is very fast at providing added functionalities as suggested or required by its customers.

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can I verify the effectiveness ecgAUTO myself?

Our team of salespeople, based in Europe and North America, routinely visit potential customers to organize on-site demonstrations, preferably using data produced in that customer's laboratory. Do not hesitate to contact them to arrange a visit!

When required, we also arrange test loans of our software, in which a potential buyer can test-run the software for a few weeks, after receiving initial training from emka TECHNOLOGIES.

Challenge us! Perhaps you have ecg data that you are finding particularly difficult to analyze with your current software. Send us the file along with a brief description of which parameters are of interest to you. We will be delighted to analyze your data with ecgAUTO and return the results within days.

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can you provide "ready-to-use" software, with prebuilt ibraries?

Yes !

emka TECHNOLOGIES can provide waveform libraries adapted to the animal species you will use in your studies. This way, you can immediately start using the software for your research, and of course you still have the ability to add or edit waveforms as required.

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how long does it take to validate ecgAUTO?

ecgAUTO has already been validated by a dozen different industry users. The same number of new users are currently doing validation.

The validation involves the collection of a several ecg data files. Then, these files are analyzed, in ecgAUTO and manually by ecg experts (using print-outs of the same data). This is what has been done during past validations, where it was shown that both methods produced comparable results, with the software allowing much faster and efficient performance.

We have seen users setting up the whole system, doing an in-house validation and going into production in less than one month.

Other users have chosen to allocate significantly more time, but the aim was to obtain very extensive libraries which guarantees that any newly produced data can be analyzed by the software with no more need for any waveform additions or post-analysis checks.

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how can I share my results with colleagues around the world

There are a number of ways to share your results with fellow researchers and experts, including those who do not use emka TECHNOLOGIES software:

• create bitmap (.bmp) images of annotated graphs,
• export raw data in text format,
• export analysis of results in text format,
• export raw data, fiduciary point markers and produced parameter values as a single file in XML format, which can immediately be opened by anyone without the need of any specific software.

For the most advanced needs, you may suggest that your colleague purchase their own full version of ecgAUTO or the review-and-edit-only version at a lower price.

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why do you consider that post-processing is not a disadvantage compared to real-time processing?

The ability to perform powerful, accurate and reliable analysis requires a large amount of computer processing power. Being able to perform this, in real-time, simultaneously on many animals, might at times exceed what a PC can deliver. This is the basic reason why ecgAUTO runs as a post-processing tool.

We have often discussed this issue with our customers. They almost unanimously declare that they will not accept as valid an ecg analysis without some post-processing checks. Those who were using third-party systems in the past told us about the long hours spent checking and editing the data afterwards. In such conditions, a reliable and powerful post-processing tool is seen as a significant advantage.

Having said this, it is sometimes useful, during the experiment, to obtain real-time estimates of how some key parameters are changing; emka TECHNOLOGIES's iox2 data acquisition and real-time analysis package contains a simple ecg analysis module, producing such parameters as heart rate, QRS duration, S-wave Area, which are immediately displayed in data tables and trend graphs for efficient experimental control.

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how can emka TECHNOLOGIES help us validate ecgAUTO?

emka TECHNOLOGIES offers a range of validation services.

We can provide written generic test scripts to be used as templates for customers to build their own specific validation documents. Or, at the other end of the scale, we can provide full on-site validation, in which we write all the documents specifically adapted to the client's requirements.

> find out more about validation services from emka TECHNOLOGIES

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