|
Home Page
Research
Emphasis Areas
Research Affiliates
Core Services
Behavioral
Science Core
Brain Imaging Core
Cellular Morphology
Core
Genetics Core
Infant Primate
Research
Laboratory
Instrument
Development
Laboratory
|
Overview
The Instrument Development Laboratory
Core (IDL) meets the research instrumentation and engineering
needs of CHDD Research Affiliates and other IDDRC Core units
involved in behavioral and biomedical research in acquiring,
constructing, installing, and maintaining research instrumentation
systems. In general, Research Affiliates require engineering
instrumentation consultation when planning, prototyping, piloting,
running, and completing and summarizing projects. In addition,
they require maintenance engineering support and support on
an urgent basis to recover from experimental system failure
in ongoing experiments.
The overall objectives of the IDL core are
as follows:
- Design and construct research instrumentation
- Provide hardware and software systems
- Provide maintenance and repair services
- Install and test commercial instrumentation
- Advise on instrumentation, experiment design, data acquisition,
and data reduction
- Advise investigators about and test commercially available
instruments
- Inform and advise on security and safety issues
- Evaluate environments in laboratory facilities
- Assist in the development of research grant and contract
applications
- Support the dissemination and publication of research methods
and results
The types of instrumentation that have been
provided by IDL include:
- physiologic stimulating and monitoring equipment
- audio, video, and medical imaging recording and analysis
systems
- props (modified toys) for learning and behavioral research
with children
- electrical, chemical, and environmental control systems
- monitoring and measuring equipment
- computer, electronic, and electromechanical devices for
managing experiments and systems for gathering, managing,
analyzing, and archiving research data
Return
to top
Location
Return
to top
Faculty & Staff
|
Thomas Lewis,
Ph.D.
Director |
Frederick Reitz, Ph.D.
Research
Engineer |
Kelvin Wu, B.S.BioE.,
B.S.E.E.
Developmental Engineer |
Kirk Beach, M.D., Ph.D.
Research
Consultant
|
Return
to top
To Use Our Services
Investigators who are interested in
discussing their research with the Instrument Development Laboratory
are invited to:
Consultation and labor are free of charge to
all CHDD Affiliates.
Return
to top
Services
Key Services
- Design and build hardware and software systems for experiment
control, data acquisition, and analysis
- Modify and adapt existing systems for changes in research
protocol
- Conduct scientific literature reviews to identify current
appropriate research technologies
- Consult with Affiliates regarding technologies and technical
literature
- Research and advise CHDD Affiliates on commercially available
instruments
- Test experimental systems for functionality and safety
- Develop new technologies anticipating the needs of Affiliates
- Evaluate environmental factors in laboratory facilities
that may have impact on research
- Assist in preparing technical documentation for grant proposals
and research publications
Return
to top
Facilities
Computer
System Development | Electronics/Optical
Shop |Machine
Shop
Computer System
Development
IDL is experienced in the development of
software for:
- timed/monitored stimulus presentation with data collection
directly into an Access database or custom-format data file
- presentation of stimuli with precise timing and/or visual
specifications
- demanding data acquisition tasks
- remote monitoring/control of experimental systems over the
internet
- child-friendly task-assessment software
- video monitoring, recording, and coding
Key software in the IDL includes the LabVIEW
Professional Development System for the rapid creation of
sophisticated and user-friendly PC-based systems.
Some applications require ready portability
and more modest computing power. Such cases suggest the use
of a microcontroller, a single chip comprising many of the basic
functions of a computer. We are facile with the Basic Stamp
microcontroller development system. Like LabVIEW, this is a
"high-level" programming environment allowing software to be
developed quickly and changed easily.
Return
to top
Electronics/Optics Space
This space is equipped with digital
oscilloscopes, test computers, an electrical safety test system, a
portable sound/vibration test system, a high-resolution photometer
system, video system components, and an electronic EEG/EKG
simulator. Portable test equipment and other tools are also
available for field-testing and repair of video, computer, and other
electro-mechanical systems. The IDL maintains an inventory of
commonly used electronic and mechanical parts, devices, and
materials for use in repair of existing systems and for future
projects and has access to stores in other nearby departments at the
University of Washington.
|
The IDL Electronics
Shop: Electronics benches (left) equipped for
breadboard testing and construction of electronic instruments,
parts storage (middle) for electronic and mechanical
components, and the server and test computer area
(right). |
Return
to top
Machine Shop
This shop includes a metal cutting lathe,
mill, large and precision drill presses, band saw, metal shear,
sander, grinder, router, cordless drills, and an array of hand
tools. Nearby are shared equipment comprising a table saw, carpentry
tools, and gas and arc welding systems. We maintain a close
relationship with other instrumentation facilities on the University
of Washington campus including the Scientific Instruments Division
located across the street in the UW Health Sciences building. The
IDL also has collaborative relationships with research shop
facilities in the Departments of Bioengineering, Chemical
Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Ocean and Fisheries
Sciences. Often these facilities collaborate in the creation and
application of electrical, mechanical, and optical instruments. The
IDL staff is skilled in system design and fabrication of parts and
systems. IDL can design and construct PC boards and microcircuits,
as well as metal panels and enclosures to make complete electronic
devices. IDL staff members are skilled in welding, sheet metal
fabrication, cabinetry, plumbing, plastic forming and casting, and
glass blowing. IDL staff members are also experienced in the
development of robotic and electromechanical systems,
electrochemical systems, membrane transport models, ultrasound and
acoustical systems, optical imaging, and optical data communication
systems. Considerable experience in computer programming including
computational simulations, experimental control, data analysis,
image handling and processing, output synthesis, database
development, and statistical analysis further facilitates support
for affiliates.
|
The IDL Machine Shop:
Cutting, grinding, and sanding tools (left) and the
combination lathe and mill tool
(right). |
Return
to top
Project Examples
| Mock MRI
Scanner |
 |
The mock MRI Scanner gives
subjects the sensory experience of the real MRI scanner
without the associated cost. (details) |
| fMRI Data
Acquisition |
 |
This system was developed to give
researchers an easy way of recording physiological data during
functional MRI. (details) |
| Light
Box |
 |
A device was designed and built to study
the causal learning mechanisms of young children. (details) |
| Reaction
Time |
 |
A flexible system that measures reaction
time was made. (details) |
| Digital
Video Recording |
 |
Several projects involve digital video
recording from multiple sources. (details) |
| Microscope Heater |
 |
Heater system was constructed to maintain
constant temperature inside a microscope booth. (details) |
| Recording
EEG During fMRI |
 |
We developed a multi-channel data
acquisition system to record EEG during fMRI. (details) |
| For
further projects and detailed information, see the IDL web
page. |
|
