Monitoring System Using Piezo-Electric Cable Sensing

• US 20180325083A1
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Published: 11/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signal Solutions LLC (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Signal Solutions LLC (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Lhamon, Michael E., Agarwal, Anuj
• Granted Patent: US 10,939,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0035 Transportable or mobile animal shelters
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0157 Mats; Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/03 Housing for domestic or laboratory animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/16 using properties of piezoelectric devices

Abstract

A rack system including a plurality of cages, wherein each cage comprises a respective plurality of outside surfaces, a plurality of housing areas, each housing area corresponding to a respective one cage of the plurality of cages, each housing area comprising a respective plurality of inside surfaces of the rack system and arranged to support at least a portion of one of the respective plurality of outside surfaces of its corresponding one cage, and a plurality of coaxial piezoelectric cables, each coaxial piezoelectric cable corresponding to a respective one cage of the plurality of cages and at least indirectly coupled to its corresponding one cage.

Claims

1. A rack system, comprising:

a plurality of cages, wherein each cage comprises a respective plurality of outside surfaces;

a plurality of housing areas, each housing area corresponding to a respective one cage of the plurality of cages, each housing area comprising a respective plurality of inside surfaces of the rack system and arranged to support at least a portion of one of the respective plurality of outside surfaces of its corresponding one cage; and

a plurality of coaxial piezoelectric cables, each coaxial piezoelectric cable corresponding to a respective one cage of the plurality of cages and at least indirectly coupled to its corresponding one cage.

2. The rack system of claim 1, wherein:

each of the plurality of coaxial piezoelectric cable is located between;

a) a portion of the respective plurality of the outside surface of its corresponding one cage, and

b) a portion of the respective plurality of the inside surfaces arranged to support its corresponding one cage.

3. The rack system of claim 2, wherein:

each of the respective plurality of inside surfaces of the rack system comprises a track arranged to support its corresponding one cage;

each of the respective plurality of outside surfaces comprises a support surface configured to slide along the track of its corresponding housing area; and

each of the plurality of coaxial piezoelectric cables is located between the support surface of its corresponding one cage and the track arranged to support its corresponding one cage.

4. The rack system of claim 2, wherein:

each of the respective plurality of inside surfaces of the rack system comprises a cantilever surface arranged to support its corresponding one cage, the cantilever surface comprising a fulcrum end and an opposite end;

each of the respective plurality of outside surfaces comprises a support surface configured to sit on the cantilever surface of its corresponding housing area; and

each of the plurality of coaxial piezoelectric cables is located between the support surface of its corresponding one cage and the cantilever surface on which its corresponding one cage sits.

5. The rack system of claim 4, wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable is located closer to the cantilever end than the opposite end of the cantilever surface.

6. The rack system of claim 2, wherein:

each of the respective plurality of inside surfaces of the rack system comprises a floor surface arranged to support its corresponding one cage, the floor surface comprising at least one channel extending in a first direction;

each of the respective plurality of outside surfaces comprises a support surface configured to sit on the floor surface of its corresponding housing area, each support surface comprising a plurality of tapered feet aligned with the at least one channel and extending down towards the at least one channel; and

each of the plurality of coaxial piezoelectric cables is in contact with the plurality of feet of its corresponding one cage and located within the at least one channel of the floor surface arranged to support its corresponding one cage.

7. The rack system of claim 6, wherein the at least one channel comprises two substantially parallel channels and the coaxial piezoelectric cable extends through both channels in a U-shaped arrangement.

8. The rack system of claim 6, wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

9. The rack system of claim 2, wherein:

each of the respective plurality of inside surfaces of the rack system comprises a side surface with a hook arranged to support its corresponding one cage;

each of the respective plurality of outside surfaces comprises a support surface configured to mechanically engage the hook of its corresponding housing area; and

each of the plurality of coaxial piezoelectric cables is located between a bottom surface of its corresponding one cage and the side surface with the hook arranged to support its corresponding one cage.

10. A rack system, comprising:

a coaxial piezoelectric cable configured to detect movement of a rodent; and

a retainer comprising;

a base; and

a support extending orthogonally from a surface of the base, the support configured to frictionally fit the retainer with the coaxial piezoelectric cable.

11. The rack system of claim 10, wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable is frictionally fit with the retainer.

12. The rack system of claim 11, further comprising:

a cage comprising a perimeter configured to confine the rodent,

wherein the retainer is positioned such that the coaxial piezoelectric cable is positioned to detect movement of the rodent.

13. The rack system of claim 12, wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable is in physical contact with at least a portion of the cage.

14. The rack system of claim 11, further comprising:

a cage comprising a perimeter configured to confine the rodent,

wherein the retainer is positioned within the cage.

15. The rack system of claim 14, further comprising:

a rodent in the cage; and

a protective layer configured to protect the coaxial piezoelectric cable from the rodent.

16. The rack system of claim 12, wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable is arranged to provide uniform sensing coverage over a cage floor.

17. The rack system of claim 12, further comprising:

a rack structure configured to support the cage.

18. The rack system of claim 17, wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable is positioned between a surface of the rack structure and an outside surface of the cage.

19. The rack system of claim 12, further comprising:

a receiver circuit, in electrical communication with the coaxial piezoelectric cable, to receive a signal indicative of an effect on the coaxial piezoelectric cable resulting from the rodent when the rodent is within the cage;

a computer-readable memory, in electrical communication with the receiver circuit, to store data related to the signal received by the receiver circuit and executable instructions; and

a processor, in electrical communication with the computer-readable memory, configured to derive information about a state of the rodent based on the data stored in the computer-readable memory.

20. The rack system of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to compare a score of the received signal to a threshold related to a binary classification of a physiological state of the rodent.