Tlyon MMS Portable Animal Metabolism Measurement System
| Brand | Tlyon |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Model | MMS |
| Instrument Type | Research-grade Small Animal (Mouse/Rat) Respirometry System |
| Sample Volume Capacity | 1 mL |
| Temperature Operating Range | 5–40 °C |
| Measured Parameters | O₂ concentration, CO₂ concentration, water vapor pressure, barometric pressure, relative humidity |
| Flow Rate Range | 1–1000 mL/min (adjustable) |
| Temperature Accuracy | ±0.1 °C |
| Relative Humidity Accuracy | ±1 %RH |
| Barometric Pressure Accuracy | ±0.075 % of full scale |
| Battery | Rechargeable 24 V / 10 Ah Li-ion, ≥8 h field operation |
| Data Storage | Onboard SD card + USB export |
| Compliance | Designed for GLP-compliant respirometry workflows |
| supports ASTM E2913-22 (Standard Guide for Respirometric Measurements in Small Animal Studies) and ISO 8573-1 (Compressed Air Purity — Part 1 | Contaminants and Classifications) for gas stream integrity |
Overview
The Tlyon MMS Portable Animal Metabolism Measurement System is a closed-circuit, flow-through respirometry platform engineered for high-fidelity, real-time quantification of whole-animal metabolic rates in controlled or field-based experimental settings. Based on the principle of differential gas analysis—measuring inlet and outlet concentrations of O₂ and CO₂ across a known airflow—this system calculates oxygen consumption (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), respiratory quotient (RQ), and derived metabolic rate (MR) using stoichiometric equations grounded in Weir’s equation and standard physiological assumptions. Its modular architecture integrates precision electrochemical O₂ sensors, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) CO₂ detectors, capacitive humidity sensors, and absolute pressure transducers—all calibrated traceably to NIST standards. The MMS is specifically validated for use with small mammals (e.g., mice, rats), avian models, reptiles, and invertebrates, supporting both steady-state and dynamic metabolic profiling under thermoneutral or stress-challenge conditions.
Key Features
- Integrated touchscreen GUI control unit with real-time visualization of five simultaneous parameters: O₂ (%), CO₂ (ppm), water vapor pressure (kPa), barometric pressure (kPa), and relative humidity (%RH)
- Adjustable mass flow controller (1–1000 mL/min) with built-in thermal mass flow sensor and laminar flow conditioning for reproducible gas delivery
- Onboard lithium-ion battery (24 V / 10 Ah) enabling ≥8 hours of continuous operation without external power—ideal for field deployments, transportable labs, or cage-side monitoring
- Operating temperature range of 5–40 °C and storage range of −20–60 °C, with condensation-resistant internal plumbing and heated sample lines to prevent water vapor artifact
- High-resolution environmental sensing: ±0.1 °C temperature stability, ±1 %RH humidity accuracy, and ±0.075 %FS barometric pressure resolution
- Modular compatibility with third-party hardware including metabolic cages (e.g., Sable Systems Oxymax-compatible enclosures), treadmill modules, and behavioral tracking systems
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The MMS accommodates subjects ranging from Drosophila melanogaster and zebrafish larvae to adult Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, Gallus gallus, and medium-sized wildlife (e.g., Mustela spp., Sciurus spp.). Its 1 mL internal sample chamber volume is optimized for low-flow, high-sensitivity measurements in restrained or freely moving configurations. All gas-path components comply with USP and ISO 10993-5 biocompatibility standards. The system meets requirements for GLP-compliant data acquisition per OECD Series on Testing and Assessment No. 150 and supports audit-ready metadata logging—including operator ID, protocol timestamping, sensor calibration history, and environmental drift compensation—aligned with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic record integrity guidelines.
Software & Data Management
The MMS ships with Tlyon RespiroSuite™ v3.x—a Windows-based desktop application supporting both live protocol execution and offline batch analysis. The software enables protocol scripting (e.g., stepwise temperature ramping, intermittent flow interruption for reference baseline correction), automated RER/RQ calculation, VO₂ normalization to lean body mass or surface area, and time-series spectral decomposition (e.g., fast Fourier transform for circadian rhythm analysis). Raw sensor outputs are stored in HDF5 format with embedded metadata tags (CF-1.8 compliant), ensuring interoperability with MATLAB, Python (via h5py), and R. Export options include CSV, Excel (.xlsx), and standardized respirometry XML schema (RESPIRO-XML v1.2). USB flash drive integration allows secure, encrypted transfer of multi-gigabyte datasets directly from the instrument’s embedded SD card.
Applications
- Preclinical metabolic phenotyping: longitudinal assessment of energy expenditure in genetically modified mouse models of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular dysfunction, and aging-related sarcopenia
- Ecophysiology studies: quantifying thermal neutral zone (TNZ), lower critical temperature (LCT), and nonshivering thermogenesis in wild-caught or captive-bred species under simulated climate gradients
- Agricultural research: measuring methane and CO₂ emissions from poultry, swine, and ruminant models to evaluate feed efficiency, dietary interventions, and enteric fermentation dynamics
- Toxicology and pharmacokinetics: evaluating mitochondrial uncoupling, hypometabolism, or hypermetabolism following compound administration or environmental toxin exposure
- Behavioral-metabolic coupling: synchronized integration with EthoVision XT, ANY-maze, or BehaviorCloud video tracking to correlate locomotor activity, feeding bouts, and sleep-wake cycles with minute-by-minute VO₂/VCO₂ flux
FAQ
What animal models is the MMS validated for?
The system is factory-validated for mice (C57BL/6, BALB/c), rats (Sprague-Dawley, Wistar), and zebrafish larvae. Validation reports for avian, reptilian, and insect models are available upon request.
Can the MMS operate in a standard animal housing room?
Yes—the unit is designed for ambient laboratory environments with 0–95 %RH non-condensing humidity and stable barometric conditions; optional external pressure compensation module available for high-altitude or ventilated vivarium use.
Does the software support automated calibration routines?
Yes—RespiroSuite™ includes guided zero/span calibration workflows using certified gas standards (e.g., 20.95 % O₂ in N₂, 1 % CO₂ in air), with automatic drift correction applied during long-duration experiments.
Is remote monitoring supported?
The MMS does not feature native Wi-Fi or Ethernet; however, it can be connected via USB to a networked PC running RespiroSuite™, enabling remote desktop access for real-time supervision and intervention.
How is data integrity ensured during power interruption?
All measurements are buffered to non-volatile onboard memory; upon recovery, the system resumes logging from the last confirmed timestamp without data loss.
