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O2k-Open Support

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O2k-Open Support

O2k-Open Support


- we provide service and support based on open innovation
OROBOROS support


MitoPedia

MitoPedia

Find information quickly with MitoPedia, the Bioblast glossary with lists of key words and links to relevant pages, specifically and the O2k and high-resolution respirometry:



» MitoPedia: O2k hardware
» MitoPedia: DatLab


O2k-Protocols

O2k-Protocols

O2k-Protocols explain various applications of the O2k with O2k-Demo experiments, SOPs beyond the O2k-Manual, and more: » O2k-Protocols
  • Implement your quality control management with the MitoFit QCS, to diagnose technical problems fast and cost-effectively with instrumental quality control tests.
» O2k-standard operating procedures: » O2k-SOP
» Polarographic oxygen sensors: calibration, accuracy and quality control SOP. » MiPNet06.03 POS-Calibration-SOP
» Instrumental background correction, accuracy of oxygen flux and SOP. » MiPNet14.06 InstrumentalO2Background


O2k-Manual

O2k-Manual

The O2k-Manual helps beginners and experienced users. Find technical information and instructions in the main sections (Bioblast pdf files), complemented by details on specific webpages: » O2k-Manual


O2k-Videosupport

O2k-Videosupport

» O2k-Videosupport


O2k-Catalogue


O2k-Catalogue

The O2k-Catalogue is a guided tour through the O2k technology, with links to specific sections of the O2k-Manual, and more: » OROBOROS O2k-Catalogue


Questions.jpg

Frequently Asked Questions

» OROBOROS FAQ


OROBOROS support system

Open innovation

  • Open innovation extends the support given to individual users to the scientific community and provides feedback to improve the scope and documentation of the O2k-technology - in the spirit of Gentle Science.
  • We welcome and value feedback. Technical and scientific questions, which are not yet addressed in the available guidelines or are difficult to trace on our website, will be relevant to both specialists and beginners in the field.
  • Expansion of O2k-SOPs is particularly relevant for novel approaches in O2k-Fluorometry and O2k-Spectrophotometry, which are combined in the development of the NextGen-O2k.
Extended O2k-technical support
  • O2k-technical support is defined as extended if support is requested on O2k-technology and high-resolution respirometry without prior consulting the O2k-Manual and relevant chapters on O2k-Protocols.
  • Regular consultancy fees apply for extended O2k-technical support requested without open innovation agreement.
  • Acceptance of extended O2k-technical support with an open innovation agreement implies that OROBOROS INSTRUMENTS may publish the relevant correspondence or a summary of the correspondence addressing technical and scientific questions on our website, including names, institutional and Email addresses.


OROBOROS support

O2k-technical support

Application problems
An application problem can be diagnosed on the basis of the O2 sensor and O2k-chamber tests. If proper instrumental performance is obtained, software and hardware problems are excluded.
Software problems
Communication between the O2k and DatLab running on a computer.
Hardware problems
  1. Hardware problems may be solved by user-service: In particular, the OroboPOS (polarographic oxygen sensor) requires user-service at intervals (these may be more than 1 year), and SOPs are available to determine if a sensor service is required at an earlier or later date.
  2. Hardware problems may require replacement of a defective sparepart.
  3. Some electronic or mechanical defects may be solved only by service of the O2k in the workshop of OROBOROS INSTRUMENTS, e.g. a defective Peltier unit.
O2k-QCS

O2k Quality Control

The fundamental O2k tests

The O2 sensor and O2k chamber tests are important to eliminate instrumental artefacts (Instrumental quality control: O2k-QC), distinguished from Assay QC addressing problems of solution protocols (perparation of chemicals), sample preparation protocols, and SUIT protocols.
  1. Biological experiments are not suitable for trouble shooting.
  2. Clean O2k-Chambers and contamination-free incubation medium are required.
  3. Analysis of DatLab files recorded in such instrumental tests is essential.
The sequence of Instrumental QC tests is strictly
  1. O2 sensor test,
  2. O2 chamber test.

The 2-chamber design of the O2k

The two chamber design of the O2k has many benefits, including advantages in trouble shooting. By switching components between sides A and B of the O2k, it is usually possible to locate an instrumental problem, finding selectively a specific defective component of the O2k. This component can then be serviced by the end user or replaced by OROBOROS without the need to ship the entire O2k.
O2 sensor test

O2 sensor test

Standard operating procedure

Many technical problems of O2k-Core applications can be analyzed and solved with the O2 sensor test, described in detail as an O2k-SOP:
» O2 sensor test: MiPNet06.03 POS-Calibration-SOP
The O2 sensor test does not only serve to evaluate the function of the OroboPOS, but many other components of the O2k have to function according to specifications for a high-resolution oxygen signal to be obtained:
  1. USB-Cable 2.0\Type A-B not properly connected to the O2k and PC or Laptop.
  2. O2k-Chamber not properly positioned, such that O2 sensors are not connected to the medium.
  3. OroboPOS-Membranes defective or not properly applied.
  4. OroboPOS-Connector contaminated gold contacts; plugs not properly connected to the sockets of the O2k-Main Unit.
  5. Pen-Contact Oil OroboPOS contacts not cleaned.
  6. OroboPOS-Electrolyte Powder contaminated, inappropriate water used for dissolving the powder.
  7. O2-Zero Powder not properly handled; confused with OroboPOS-Polishing Powder.
  8. OroboPOS not properly serviced; not properly mounted to the OroboPOS-Connector; or defective POS head.
  9. Room temperature not sufficiently stable.
  10. Stirrer-Bar\white PVDF\15x6 mm not added to the chamber, or stuck and not rotating.
  11. O2k-Barometric Pressure Transducer not properly calibrated.
  12. O2k-Peltier Temperature Control defective electronics.
  13. O2k-Electromagnetic Stirrer Twin-Control defective electronics.
  14. O2k-Main Basic not properly connected; other defective hardware.

Trouble shooting

If the signal remains off scale (9.99 V) or very low (< 1 V) at air saturation (25 to 37 °C; lower signals at lower temperatures): Many components may be responsible, and an electronic defect of the O2k-Main Unit must be carefully excluded.
  1. Check settings for Gain (use Gain 1) and Polarization voltage (use 800 mV). If these settings were incorrect, the off-scale problem may be solved simply by using the standard settings.
  2. Empty the chamber with the O2k running and connected to DatLab. Switch the stirrer off. Remove the OroboPOS-Connector with the attached OroboPOS. Leave the sensor attached to the POS connector, and the POS connector plugged into the O2k-Main Unit. Record the signal for some minutes. The raw signal should normalize to a value >1 V and <3 V (Gain 1). If so, the O2k-Chamber assembly was problematic (application problem), and re-assembly will solve the problem. » O2k-Videosupport: Insert O2k-Chamber.
  3. Remove the sensor head from the sensor connector, which remains plugged into the O2k-Main Unit. If the raw signal is not stable at 0 V, a defect of the OroboPOS-Connector is indicated.
  4. Remove the plug of the OroboPOS-Connector from the O2k-Main Unit. A signal of 0.4 V, which remains stable when changing the gain, is a strong indication of an electronic problem in the O2k-Main Unit.
    1. For O2k-Series D and higher: The signal should be 0 V, otherwise an electronic problem of the O2k-Main Unit is indicated.
    2. For O2k-Series A to C: The signal should be off-scale (+/- 9.99 V), otherwise an electronic problem of the O2k-Main Unit is indicated.
If specifications given in the POS-SOP are not obtained: switch components for locating the problem.
  1. Switch the OroboPOS between O2k-Chambers A and B. This is a good opportunity to clean the gold contacts and apply Contact oil to the gold pin and thread connecting the POS connectors and sensors. It is not necessary to remove the seal tip and the mounted membrane from the OroboPOS. When disconnecting a sensor from the POS connector, prevent damage by electrostatic discharge by following the guidelines: MiPNet14.01 ESD Damage.
  2. Repeat the O2 sensor test. If the problem moved together with the sensor from one side to the other, the problem is located in the OroboPOS sensor.
  3. If the problem remained on the same side, switch the POS connector together with the attached sensors between right and left side (A and B).
  4. Repeat the O2 sensor test. If the problem moved together with the POS connector, it is located at the OroboPOS-Connector.


Instrumental background experiment, measuring oxygen flux without biological sample at four oxygen levels (left), and linear relation between instrumental background oxygen flux and oxygen concentration (right). Modified after: Gnaiger E (2001).

O2k-chamber test

Standard operating procedure

If all quality control criteria of the O2 sensor test are met, the operator can be assured that the quality of the sensor signal is acceptable. Next, the quality of the O2k-Chamber assembly has to be tested, described in detail as an O2k-SOP:
» O2k chamber test: Instrumental O2 background
The O2k-chamber test provides quality control at an instrumental level beyond the O2 sensor test:
  1. O2k-Chamber not properly assembled or broken.
    1. OroboPOS-Holder not properly positioned.
    2. O2k-Chamber Holder not properly positioned; V- and O-rings not properly mounted (V-ring\30-35-4.5 mm, O-ring\Viton\18x2 mm).
  2. Volume-Calibration Ring not properly positioned by chamber volume calibration.
  3. O-ring\Viton\12x1 mm injured and must be replaced on the stopper.
  4. Stopper\black PEEK\conical Shaft\central Port broken conical edge or O-ring not properly applied.
  5. OroboPOS-Seal Tip leaky.
  6. Experimental medium consumes oxygen due to microbial contamination.

Trouble shooting

If specifications given in the Instrumental O2 background are not obtained: check components for locating the problem.
  1. Check the stirring bars for any contamination.
  2. Check the stoppers for the quality of the O-rings and the conical edges.
  3. If no indications of a defect are observed, disassemble the O2k-Chamber.
  4. Check the glass chamber for contamination or for broken edges.
  5. Clean the copper block of the O2k and reassemble the O2k-Chamber.
  6. Reassemble and clean the chambers: MiPNet19.03 O2k-cleaning and ISS.
  7. Perform an O2 sensor test and - if successful - an O2k-chamber test, using fresh incubation medium.
  8. If the problem with the instrumental O2 background remains in one chamber, switch stoppers between chambers A and B.
  9. Perform an O2k-chamber test (the sensor test is not necessary).
  10. If the problem with the instrumental O2 background remains in the same chamber, switch glass chambers between the left and right side of the O2k.
  11. Perform an O2 sensor test and - if successful - proceed with the O2k-chamber test.
  12. If the problem with the instrumental O2 background remains in the same chamber, switch sensors between the left and right chamber.


Cost estimation for repair

A cost estimation for repair of the O2k-Main Unit due to an electronic or mechanical defect can only be given after inspection of the O2k by our workshop in Austria. Once a cost estimation has been provided, the repair is carried out after the customer’s consent. For shipment of the O2k, follow the detailed instructions.


O2k-Network

The O2k-Network

The OROBOROS O2k-Network serves to connect and support: Contact for advice on applications of the O2k and high-resolution respirometry - the global network in mitochondrial physiology.
» The O2k-Network Labs: » O2k-Network
» O2k-Network discussion forum


MitoFit-QCS

Contact

» In case you need further technical support and for your valuable feedback, please contact support@oroboros.at
» OROBOROS MitoFit Laboratory - open for innovation and cooperation.
» OROROBOS Science Scholarships - are offered for focused research projects on mitochondrial physiology and high-resolution respirometry