heliOS Software

Download 2023.4

With heliOS 2023.4, we are thrilled to introduce substantial upgrades to our Real-Time Interaction Cytometry (RT-IC) and Conformational change analyses, alongside new export options for both switchSENSE as well as RT-IC users, all aimed at elevating the quality and utility of data analysis, interpretation, and export.

heliOS

version 2023.4.1
(123 MB)

heliOS Methods
for switch
SENSE®

version 2023.4 (11 MB)

heliOS Methods
for RT-IC

version 2023.4 (1.8 MB)

heliX Firmware

version 7.352.5.2190
(1.1 GB)

heliX Quick Start
Guide

version 7.1 (2.5 MB)

Note: The new heliOS version does not require a separate heliX firmware update if your heliX firmware is already compatible with heliOS 2023.2.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Supported Operating System I Windows 10 and higher

heliOS requires the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime. 
heliOS requires access to a postgreSQL database.

→ see install instructions

We are thrilled to introduce substantial upgrades to our Real-Time Interaction Cytometry (RT-IC) and Conformational change analyses, alongside new export options for both switchSENSE as well as RT-IC users, all aimed at elevating the quality and utility of data analysis, interpretation, and export.


New Sidebar in Manual Analyses

In our ongoing commitment to refining the Manual Analysis processes, we proudly introduce a new sidebar located to the right of the scratchpad. This sidebar offers a sneak preview of the data encapsulated within selected analysis elements.

Within this sidebar, scientists gain access to an interactive data plot alongside a display of metadata associated with the chosen dataset. Noteworthy is the plot’s flexibility, supporting features such as zooming and panning, empowering researchers with more control over their datasets.

Furthermore, the usability of Manual Analyses is significantly improved by the sidebar’s ability to seamlessly reopen previously generated custom plots directly from the analysis element. The days of searching through a single list are now a thing of the past; a discreet indicator now signals the presence of custom plots, preventing inadvertent duplications and fostering a more streamlined analytical workflow.

The introduction of the sidebar marks a pivotal advancement in navigating complex analysis pipelines. By providing an expedited and comprehensive visualization of data at each pipeline step, scientists can effortlessly traverse intricate analyses, elevating the efficiency and intuitiveness of their analyses.

The Evolving Relationship Between Automated and Manual Analyses

In heliOS, all Automated Analyses are supported by a Manual Analysis that conducts the necessary calculations to transform raw data into analysis-specific results.

The Automated Analysis serves as a template for structuring a Manual Analysis and accesses specific sections of the created plots and results. This design choice prioritizes transparency and allows for necessary modifications to adapt to unique datasets.

Previously, any modifications could be applied to the underlying Manual Analysis of an Automated Analysis, creating conflicts between the configuration of the Automated Analysis and the Manual Analysis. After extensive discussions, we have streamlined the relationship between Automated and Manual Analyses.

Beginning with this release, access to the underlying Manual Analysis of an Automated Analysis is no longer possible. This ensures that Automated Analyses can serve as ready-built solutions for well-defined assays.

To provide the desired transparency and flexibility, Automated Analyses now offer a new feature: the ability to generate a Manual Analysis. This feature is available within any Automated Analysis and will generate a new Manual Analysis with all the results and plots used by the Automated Analysis.

The generated Manual Analysis can then be used just like any other Manual Analysis, allowing you to extract further details by modifying the data pipeline or creating optimized visualizations of your data.


Enhanced Export Options from Plots

We have enhanced the options for exporting data from plots, introducing three new export options.

Firstly, you can now export plots directly with a specified visible range. The range can be selected within the export dialog, and the system will remember your last chosen range, making it easy to export multiple plots with consistent axis ranges.

Additionally, metadata displayed in plots can now be easily copied to the clipboard, allowing you to seamlessly incorporate it into presentations or store it for documentation purposes.

Lastly, we have introduced the option to export the data presented in a plot directly as a CSV or Excel-File. This eliminates the need to locate the corresponding Analysis Element in the data pipeline; simply right-click on a plot and select `Export > Export Data`.


Real-Time Interaction Cytometry (RT-IC) Analyses

In this release, we have undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of our RT-IC Kinetics analysis and RT-IC Dissociation analysis.

To provide a comprehensive view of all recorded data and its processing, we have introduced the new Data Tab. This tab displays the raw fluorescence data exactly as it was recorded, the normalized fluorescence corrected for differences in detector sensitivity, and the referenced fluorescence, which contains the essential Kinetics data.

To enhance the ease of RT-IC data analysis, we have also incorporated the relevant images recorded during each run alongside the fluorescence traces.

For those interested in understanding each curve within the raw, normalized, and referenced data plots, you can effortlessly toggle their legends by hovering over any of the three plots and clicking on the Show Legend button.

The Data Fit Tab takes the referenced data and performs fitting operations according to your selected analytical model. Below the primary plot displaying the fitted model with the fluorescence data, we present all parameters extracted from the model along with their corresponding values in an organized table. Kinetics Values are fitted globally and are presented separately from individual results, making them readily accessible for copying and pasting into your presentations.

Additionally, all other parameters recorded during the run are displayed in the Parameters panel adjacent to the primary plot. Keep an eye out for additional parameters that will be introduced in future updates.

Last but not least, the familiar Summary Tab provides a comprehensive overview of all cell-analyte combinations. It facilitates the export of all the fit plots and showcases the Kinetics Values extracted from each data set.


Introducing the New Cyto Chip Test Analysis

We are delighted to introduce a new member to the RT-IC analysis family. This analysis is tailored to swiftly assess the quality of your Cyto Chip.

The analysis includes the image(s) captured during the Cyto Chip Test, to assess the quality of your cell traps and the overall cleanliness of the chip surface. You can also export these images for external storage or documentation purposes.

Adjacent to the image(s), you will find two informative bar charts illustrating the background levels of your chip when exposed to excitation light. It is crucial to ensure that the recorded levels are below the indicated thresholds to guarantee high-quality RT-IC measurements with your chip. The recorded values are also available in a table below the plots, which can be conveniently exported to a CSV-file or copied and pasted into your preferred documentation application.


Conformational Change Analyses

The Conformational Change Analysis undergoes a significant enhancement in this latest release, providing users with a more intuitive interface. Upon accessing the Conformational Change Analysis, your initial view is now streamlined to present the Average Motion Curves for each sample prominently. This visual representation allows for a swift assessment of the quality of Average Motion Curves, offering a comprehensive understanding of the foundational elements driving the Conformational Change Analysis.

In addition to this, the Dynamic Lag Change plot has undergone a noteworthy upgrade. The representation now includes sample names on the x-axis, offering a more user-friendly experience by replacing sample numbers. This improvement enhances the interpretability of the Dynamic Lag Change, making it easier for users to correlate results with specific samples and draw insights more efficiently.

 

 

We encourage you to upgrade now to experience these remarkable enhancements. Discover the redesigned RT-IC Analysis, the new Cyto Chip Test Analysis, improved separation of Automated and Manual Analyses, and new export options from plots. These updates empower scientists and technical assistants alike to interpret and analyze results with confidence and efficiency, facilitatingvaluable scientific discoveries. As we continue to refine and enhance our heliOS software platform, we remain dedicated to providing a seamless and insightful user experience. Your feedback is instrumental in our ongoing efforts to deliver cutting-edge features and improvements. Thank you for being a valuable part of our journey to make heliOS more powerful and user-friendly.

 

FEATURES

Automated Analysis:

– Improve icon and label of button for the generation of a manual analysis from an automated analysis

– Change result layout in batch kinetics analysis to match standard kinetics

– Remove Details screen from automated analyses

– Change automated analyses to open in read-mode by default


Manual Analysis:

– Allow merging of data sharing physical quantities

– Add operation to automatically shift first y-values of a data series to zero

– Add number of custom plots info to elements in manual analysis

– Add sidebar to visualize analysis element data and metadata

– Remove bounds from dissociation offset/level parameter in discontinuous biphasic kinetics fits

– Add LED Power to analysis data metadata

– Remove button to copy experiment information from manual analyses

– Improve point modification operations to make their order in an analysis pipeline irrelevant


Plots:

– Improve label determination for plots showing data sharing physical quantities

– Improve plot opening from docked to floating

– Add ability to store plot properties in text files using the clipboard

– Remove point index from plot point tooltips

– Add ability to specify axis ranges for plot exports

– Add ability to export data from plots

– Add copy to clipboard button to metadata values displayed in plots

– Add measurement-tag-based filter operation


General:

– Add LED Power to measurement tooltips in experiment timeline

– Update number notation to scientific except for values between 1 and 1000

– Remove deprecated step to start chip temperature control from assays

– Improve document toolbars by aligning style and layout


RT-IC
Analysis:

– Add new Cyto Chip Test analysis

– Change result layout in RT-IC kinetics analysis to match standard kinetics

– Add button to show or hide plot legends in RT-IC analyses

– Remove Quality Control Button from Data Fit Tab in RT-IC analyses

– Rename and reorder tabs of RT-IC analyses

– Add relevant images to Quality Control Tab in RT-IC analyses

– Improve RT-IC analyses by merging related analysis trees into a single tree

– Conformational Change Analysis:

– Add legends showing the sample name in the plot of Dynamic Lag Analysis tab

– Improve Dynamic Lag Change plot in Conformational Change Analysis so it is displayed as a Category Plot

– Update Referenced Conformational Change Analysis to use Average Motion Curves as default view

– Add Average Motion Curves to Conformational Change automated analysis

BUG FIXES

Automated Analysis:

– Reduce Metadata result view header margin

– Fix results table in automated status analyses not updating correctly

– Fix issue where Fluidics test analysis could not be executed

– Fix Individual Results tables for Interactions in Conformational Change analysis not updating when analysis was reopened

– Prevent RT-IC analyses available for incomplete measurements

– Fix rare bug where plots would flicker in automated analyses

– Fix plots sometimes receiving incorrect trace colors when viewing results of an automated analysis

– Fix issue where table entries in summary tab of RT-IC analyses are missing

– Fix RT-IC dissociation fit plots occasionally missing after initial experiment aggregation

– Fix issue that fits disappeared when clicking into plot of automated kinetics analysis

– Prevent that plot can be modified in automated analysis

– Fix data missing when using an RT-IC analysis

– Fix changes in an automated analysis’ clone affecting the original analysis

– Fix color column being exported from automated analysis tables

– Fix disappearing of Zero Indicator in fit residuals plot upon data updates

– Fix missing update of fit residuals plot upon masking in preceding operations

– Fix missing dissociation curve in Dissociation Kinetics plot


Analysis:

– Fix initial non selection of manual analysis nodes after panning

– Fix incapability of merging data with uncertain points

– Fix issue where miniature plots deletion does not delete corresponding panes

– Fix issue where miniature plots can be opened multiple times in manual analysis

– Fix popping up white space and copy to clipboard button for non-fit analysis elements on hover

– Fix disappearing clipboard button for fit element nodes when hovering outside of formulas

– Fix crash when trying to add measurements to an analysis while a column filter is active

– Fix non-fit Excel exports containing fit-specific worksheets

– Fix analysis element data exports being unavailable in read-mode

– Fix rare crash in manual analysis plots

– Fix discontinuous kinetics fit occasionally running into dissociation amplitude bounds for slow dissociations

– Fix optional parameters not properly restoring when their value was empty

– Fix exception when adding new data to a fit operation that has already been run

– Fix missing cross-vector dependency adjustment when resetting initial values of fit operation

– Fix fit parameter bounds not being loaded correctly

– Fix loading of user-provided initial fit parameter values


Plots:

– Fix plot export allocating extra space for hidden legends in some circumstances

– Fix legend spacing when exporting a fit plot with residuals

– Fix unsupported file export extensions being available on Fit plots

– Fix plot legends occasionally scrolling up when selecting items

– Fix rare issue of ticks being disconnected from the vertical plot axis

– Fix vertical axis misalignment between fit and residuals plots while zooming

– Fix export size of residuals plot for a fit

– Fix fit plot sometimes auto zooming when residuals are hidden

– Fix category plots not rendering in certain circumstances

– Fix residuals plot adopting fit plot default vertical axis range

– Fix axis alignment for fit plots

– Fix rare crash when loading plots

– Fix crash when opening a plot that is no longer supported by its data source

– Fix crash when zooming within a category plot

– Fix rare crash when opening plots

– Fix trace colors in Experiment Live Screen

– Fix crash in Experiment Live Screen plots

– Fix crash when exporting a plot after switching between plot view modes

– Fix incorrect plot being used when plotting rate map supporting kinetics data

– Fix naming of Show Rate Map parameter

– Disable export controls if plot export settings are invalid

– Fix fit plot so user cannot interact with residuals sub plot


Assay:

– Fix rarely crash when moving vials within the autosampler

– Fix rare issue heliOS  crashing during removing method blocks

– Fix crash by validating input of the Start Run Field of the Run Value Generator in custom assays

– Fix changes to method parameter descriptions occasionally not being saved

– Fix parameter list in Script editor not being hidden when empty

– Fix rare issue where predefined assay configurations could not be loaded

– Fix crash when parameter limits defined in a script have the same value

– Fix crash while defining a function with duplicate argument names

– Fix some parameter value changes not being saved


Device:

– Fix skipped fluidics calibration during Wake-Up and Prime routine

– Fix chip tray not properly highlighting unsupported chips

– Fix rare crash when closing a device


General:

– Fix rare issue where heliOS crashes during an experiment

– Fix bad encoding for plus-minus symbols

– Fix rare issue where the analysis of an assay in an experiment has been interrupted

– Prevent buttons in slideshow for chip images to be outside of screen

– Fix rare issue heliOS crashing during live experiment view

– Fix cryptic error message when editing a document in read-mode

– Fix user not being prompted when closing unsaved documents

– Fix rare issue where deleting a snapshot would not prompt the user

– Fix typo in snapshot deletion prompt

– Fix spelling of read-mode and edit-mode labels

– Fix image gallery so it is a larger initial size

– Fix issue where documents opened in edit-mode when explicitly set to open in read-mode


PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTS

– Remove redundant recalculation of the automated analysis

– Force updates of individual results table on unit updates in RT-IC analyses

BUG FIXES

– Fix issue where upgrading a license would sometimes show incorrect settings in setting menu

– Fix rare issue where application would crash during masking operation

– Fix data not rendering in all cases during Substrate Titration analysis

– Fix not properly working masking tool

– Fix biphasic kinetics rates being set to shared in kinetics screening analyses where they should be non-shared

– Fix failure when creating multiplex kinetics screening analysis

– Fix rare issue where heliOS crashes while updating an assay

In case you need help, please do not hesitate to contact our support team at support@dynamic-biosensors.com.

INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

We recommend to always use the newest versions of heliOS and heliX firmware.
Please update first your heliX device with the latest firmware version before installing a new version of heliOS.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Supported Operating System I Windows 10 and higher

heliOS requires the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime.
heliOS requires access to a postgreSQL database.

heliX FIRMWARE UPDATE

Note: The installation of a new heliX firmware version must be performed from a computer which is connected to the heliX device.

Note: Skip this step if you are only interested in updating the heliOS version on a computer which is not used to control the heliX device.

  1. Ensure that the heliX device is switched on and connected to the control PC (directly or via network).
  2. Download the above listed version of the heliX firmware. We recommend to always use the newest version.
  3. Run the EXE installer on the control PC and follow the setup steps. You can find the IP address of your heliX in heliOS under Devices.
    After approx. 10 minutes the heliX will be restarted and ready to use.

INSTALLATION OF heliOS

Note: If heliOS is installed for the first time on a computer you need to first install the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime (see Installation of Microsoft .NET 6) and a PostgreSQL database (see Installation and setup of postgreSQL database).

 

  1. Download the above listed version of heliOS. We recommend to always use the newest version.
  2. Run the MSI installer and follow the setup steps.
  3. The first time you open heliOS on a computer you need to enter your license key (Settings → License).
    Copy and paste the license key into the intended input field and confirm.
  4. In addition to 3, the first time you are using heliOS you need to enter your database access data (Settings → Database).
  5. Now heliOS is ready to use and can, for example, be connected to your heliX device.

IMPORT OF heliOS METHODS

  1. Download the above listed heliOS methods.
  2. Unzip the downloaded file once. The unzipped folder contains a range of zipped heliOS methods. Do not unzip these files.
  3. Open heliOS and go to “Methods”.
  4. Click on “Import” in the top menu and select one or several heliOS methods (ZIP files) from the unzipped folder.
  5. Click on “Open”. Now your data base is equipped with the newest heliOS methods.

INSTALLATION OF MICROSOFT .NET 6

Note: heliOS requires the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime on your Windows operating system. If already installed you can skip this step.

 

  1. Download the .NET 6 Desktop Runtime installation file (64-bit version).
  2. Run the EXE installer and follow the setup steps.
  3. After the installation process has finished you are ready to install heliOS.

INSTALLATION AND SETUP OF A postgreSQL DATABASE

Note: heliOS requires a postgreSQL database either on a server in your local network or on your Windows operating system. The heliX control computer already comes with a set up postgreSQL database. Continue only if you want to install a second postgreSQL database on another computer.

  1. Download postgreSQL from the link below. Select version 12.X for Windows x86-64.
    https://www.enterprisedb.com/downloads/postgres-postgresql-downloads
  2. Run the EXE installer and follow the setup steps. Use the default settings and enter a password of your choice. We recommend to use the same password as on the heliX control computer (mypassword). Do not launch the Stack Builder at the end of the installation wizard.
  3. After the installation of postgreSQL open the Windows Run app (or press the Windows+R keys on the keyboard).
  4. Enter the following command line into the field and confirm: c:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\12\bin\createdb.exe -U postgres heliOS

  5. You now will be asked for a password. Enter the password you selected during the postgreSQL installation and press Enter. If you will be asked again for the password, enter it again and confirm with the Enter key.
  6. Repeat step 3 and enter the following command line into the field. Confirm afterwards: c:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\12\bin\createuser.exe -P -Upostgres heliOS

  7. Repeat step 5 (Enter the password).
  8. Now, you can start heliOS with the following database credentials (Settings → Database):
    Host: localhost | Database: heliOS | User: heliOS | Password: [your password]

  9. Enter your heliOS license key (Settings → License) if necessary.

    If you need help with setting up the postgrSQL database please ask your system administrator or contact our support team at support@dynamic-biosensors.com.

    In case you need help, please do not hesitate to contact our support team at support@dynamic-biosensors.com.

    Questions?
    Contact Us

    Our support team is happy to help. 

    support@dynamic-biosensors.com

    +49 89 89 74 544-0

    Perchtinger Str. 8/10, 81379 München, Germany

    M-F: 8am-5pm, S-S: Closed