Perfusion Valve Controllers

Engineering Creativity for Neuroscience

Perfusion Valve Controllers

Applying of different drug solutions to the experimental object under control of any computer and software. Valve Controllers are modular equipments. We will manufacture your equipment exactly that number of channels, what your experiment requires. The number of the channels (number of the valves under control) can be specified in the range of 1 to 255. The equipment contains the same number of the power stages as the desired number of the valves (one end-stage for every valve).

Every valve can be controlled from three different sources:

• External TTL input

• Manual push-button

• Microprocessor-based Timer and Sequence Controller

The Microprocessor-based Timer and Sequence Controller is an optional part of the Valve Controller equipments. It is used to generate precise time durations to activate the valves. The Microprocessor-based Timer and Sequence Controller (as a built-in module in the Valve Controller) should be ordered in that case, if the user does not want to use an external computer to generate the time periods to activate the valves. The Microprocessor-based Timer and Sequence Controller requires only the Start signals from the PC-based data acquisition system.

Valve Controllers have TTL inputs, one input for each valves. The digital output port bits of ANY kind of data acquisition boards can be used to control the valves. In nearly every laboratories a universal data acquisition hardware and software system is used. They are manufactured by different firms, but their common feature is that they provide a universal, time-synchronized software package for analog to digital conversion of the measured data and control of the external equipments (for example a Valve Controller).

In the pictures you can see two examples. They are simple, 5-channel and 10-channel Valve Controllers without Timer and Sequence Microprocessor.

Click on the picture to get it in full size

The valves are not parts of the Valve Controllers. Their price is not included in the price of the Valve Controllers. The valves are usually chosen by our customers based on many different professional aspects. This is the reason, why we do not offer valves in our choice. Our Valve Controller equipments can drive ANY kind of valves.

A tip: there is a good, general purpose valve: Model 003-0121-900 manufactured by Parker Hannifin Corp. General Valve Division. It is a 12V DC, normally open valve with biologically inert Teflon internal structure (compatible with any biological solutions).

In the Prices section you can find an algorithm to calculate the price of any configuration of a modular Valve Controller.

Specifications / Technical Data

Choice of the Power Stages:

• Output voltage: DC 12V by default.

• Output current: maximum 1 A for each valve by default.

• Other special voltage and/or current requirements is possible. It should be specified in the order.

Programmable time range in the Microprocessor-based Timer and Sequence Controller: 10 ms - 60000 ms, with 10 ms of resolution.

Microprocessor-based Timer and Sequence Controller has got a 2 x 16 character LCD with backlight on the front plate and nonvolatile memory to store the setup parameters.

Prices

You can find the general warranty and shipping conditions in the beginning of the Services page.

Power Stage PWRV-1, for one valve: 84 EUR

Equipment case CAS-PS-8, including the power supply (to supply 8 valves as maximum): 444 EUR

Microprocessor-based Timer and Sequence Controller VLV-CON-1, with 2 x 16 character LCD on the front plate: 312 EUR

An example: the price of a dual-channel valve controller, with a built-in microprocessor timer is: 2 x 84 + 444 + 312 = 924 EUR

The valves should be ordered independently. Their price is not included in the price of the Valve Controller.