INTEGRATED SELF-CONTAINED RECORDER OF BIOLOGICAL DATA FOR SMALL ANIMAL RESEARCH

• US 20120179386A1
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexei L. Vyssotski, Dmitri L. Vyssotski
• Original Assignee: Alexei L. Vyssotski, Dmitri L. Vyssotski
• Inventors: Vyssotski, Alexei L., Vyssotski, Dmitri L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,492,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the recording of physiological variables in small animals are described. The apparatus is an integrated self-contained recorder including a converter of biological signals into a digital form, a data storage unit, a data output for transporting the stored data from the recorder after the end of recording session, a power source and an electrical connector arranged for connection of the recorder with at least one sensor of biological signal and mechanical fixation of the recorder at the head of an animal. The recorder may contain a sensor, which receives signals from an external source for synchronization of the stored data with external equipment or observed/registered animal behavior.

Claims

1. An integrated self-contained recorder of biological data, comprising:

a biological signal sensor to sense at least one biological signal from a small animal;

a convertor for conversion of the at least one biological signal to digital data;

a sensor to receive information from external stationary scientific equipment for synchronization with the digital data, wherein the information includes animal behavior information registered by an external stationary sensor, animal behavior information registered by an operator or an observer, or stimulation information about stimulation provided to the small animal by an external stationary stimulator;

a data storage unit for storing the digital data and the information received from the external stationary scientific equipment;

a data output for transporting the stored digital data from the recorder after a recording session; and

,

a power source.

2. The recorder of claim 1, wherein the biological signal comprises electrical brain activity.

3. The recorder of claim 1, wherein the sensor to receive information from the external stationary scientific equipment is a wireless receiver.

4. The recorder of claim 3, wherein the sensor to receive information from the external stationary scientific equipment is an acoustic sensor or an optical sensor.

5. The recorder of claim 4, wherein the optical sensor is an infrared sensor.

6. The recorder of claim 3, wherein the wireless receiver is a radio wave receiver.

7. The recorder of claim 1, wherein the recorder is separate from the scientific equipment.

8. A method of measuring physiological variables in a small animal, comprising:

providing an integrated self-contained recorder of biological data for a small animal comprising;

a biological signal sensor to sense at least one biological signal from the small animal;

a converter for conversion of the at least one biological signal to digital data;

a sensor to receive information from external stationary scientific equipment for synchronization with the digital data, wherein the information includes animal behavior information registered by an external stationary sensor, animal behavior information registered by an operator or an observer, or stimulation information about stimulation provided to the animal by an external stationary stimulator;

a data storage unit for storing the digital data and the information received from the scientific equipment;

a data output for transporting stored data from the recorder after a recording session, and a power source;

fixing the recorder to the small animal;

providing the information from the external stationary scientific equipment; and

, acquiring the at least one biological signal from the small animal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the external stationary scientific equipment is transmitted to the recorder wirelessly.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the external stationary scientific equipment is being sent to the recorder simultaneously with the stimulation provided to the animal by the external stationary stimulator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the stimulation signal is light stimulation, sound stimulation, or electric stimulation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric stimulation is supplied through a grid floor.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the external stationary scientific equipment is being sent to the recorder when the animal'"'"'s location changes.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the external stationary scientific equipment contains information about the animal'"'"'s location.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the external stationary scientific equipment contains spatial coordinates of the animal.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the external stationary scientific equipment is set going manually by the operator or the observer.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the external stationary scientific equipment is set going by an animal action.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the animal action is a pressing on a lever or is a crossing of an infrared beam.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the external stationary scientific equipment is provided by a computer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer receives information about animal location via a video camera.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer receives information about animal location via intersection of infrared beams by the animal'"'"'s body.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer analyzes animal behavior, splits the animal behavior into behavioral episodes, classifies the behavioral episodes, and sends labels of the behavioral episodes to the recorder via an emitter.

23. A system for recording biological data from a small animal, comprising:

stationary scientific equipment to monitor and record animal information of a small animal, wherein the animal information includes animal behavior information registered by a stationary sensor, animal behavior information registered by an operator or an observer, or stimulation information about stimulation provided to the animal by a stationary stimulator;

a recorder to attach to the small animal, the recorder comprising;

a biological signal sensor to sense at least one biological signal from the small animal;

a converter for conversion of the at least one biological signal to digital data;

a sensor to receive the animal information from the stationary scientific equipment for synchronization with the digital data;

a data storage unit for storing the digital data and the information received from the stationary scientific equipment;

a data output for transporting stored data from the recorder after a recording session,

a power source; and

,

an emitter to send the animal information from the stationary scientific equipment to the recorder.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the emitter is stationary.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the recorder is wireless with respect to the stationary scientific equipment.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the emitter sends animal information to the recorder simultaneously with the stimulation provided to the animal by the stationary stimulator.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the stationary stimulator provides a light stimulation, a sound stimulation, or an electric stimulation.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the electric stimulation is supplied through a grid floor.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the stationary sensor registers the animal'"'"'s location or changes in the animal'"'"'s location.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the stationary sensor registers spatial coordinates of the animal.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the operator or observer analyzes animal behavior, splits the animal behavior into behavioral episodes, classifies the behavioral episodes, and sends labels of the behavioral episodes to the recorder by the emitter, wherein the labels are stored in the recorder.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the stationary sensor registers an animal action.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the stationary sensor registers a pressing of the animal on a lever or a crossing of an infrared beam.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the system further comprises a computer for processing the animal information and sending information to the recorder through the emitter.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the stationary sensor is a video camera.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein the stationary sensor is capable of registration of animal location by an infrared beam intersection with an animal body.

37. The system of claim 23, wherein the computer analyzes animal behavior, splits the animal behavior into behavioral episodes, classifies the behavioral episodes, and sends labels of the behavioral episodes to the recorder by the emitter.