Hard real-time closed-loop electrophysiology with the Real-Time eXperiment Interface (RTXI)

The ability to experimentally perturb biological systems has traditionally been limited to static pre-programmed or operator-controlled protocols. In contrast, real-time control allows dynamic probing of biological systems with perturbations that are computed on-the-fly during experimentation. Real-time control applications for biological research are available; however, these systems are costly and often restrict the flexibility and customization of experimental protocols. The Real-Time eXperiment Interface (RTXI) is an open source software platform for achieving hard real-time data acquisition and closed-loop control in biological experiments while retaining the flexibility needed for experimental settings. RTXI has enabled users to implement complex custom closed-loop protocols in single cell, cell network, animal, and human electrophysiology studies. RTXI is also used as a free and open source, customizable electrophysiology platform in open-loop studies requiring online data acquisition, processing, and visualization. RTXI is easy to install, can be used with an extensive range of external experimentation and data acquisition hardware, and includes standard modules for implementing common electrophysiology protocols.

传统上，对生物系统开展实验性扰动的能力仅局限于静态预编程或操作人员管控的实验方案。与之相对，实时控制技术可在实验过程中动态计算扰动参数，实现对生物系统的动态探测。目前已有面向生物研究的实时控制应用系统，但这类方案往往成本高昂，且常限制实验方案的灵活性与定制化空间。实时实验界面（Real-Time eXperiment Interface, RTXI）是一款开源软件平台，可在生物实验中实现硬实时数据采集与闭环控制，同时兼顾实验场景所需的灵活性。RTXI已帮助用户在单细胞、细胞网络、动物及人类电生理研究中落地复杂的定制化闭环实验方案。该平台还可作为免费开源、可定制的电生理平台，应用于需要在线数据采集、处理与可视化的开环研究场景。RTXI安装简便，可兼容广泛的外部实验与数据采集硬件，并内置用于实现常见电生理实验方案的标准模块。