A Modular Architecture of a Computer-Operated Olfactometer for Universal Use

Abstract

Olfactometers are widely used in the study of the chemical senses from a neurophysiological point of view. Although there is a plethora of olfactometer designs, all of them lack of flexibility in modification. In more details they are not able to dynamically increase the number of odors that can be provided simultaneously or they are not capable to use other form of odorous material than the one they’ve been designed for. In addition to all these the concentration of the stimulus is estimated indirectly through the ratio of the odorized and the odorless air that is delivered to the subject. Taking into account all these, it is understandable that there is an urgent need for an effective olfactometer which will be able to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the existing olfactometers. In this scope, the current study comes to introduce a new computer – operated olfactometer. Its novelty lies on the fact that it has a modular architecture with microcontroller units in every module, which can undoubtfully simplify the system’s modification. On the other hand it can also estimate directly the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) with one sensor for every odor, and one sensor for the overall stimulus.

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