Automated scratch detection system and signal processing algorithm for the study of pruritus in animals
First Claim
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1. A method for automated assessment of pruritus, comprising:
- (a) detecting movement and movement frequency of a nonferrous metal band located on a limb of a subject animal so as to obtain a signal and plurality of signals associated with the detection movement, wherein the signal and plurality of signals are obtained by detecting perturbations within an electromagnetic field from the movement and movement frequency of the metal band in the electromagnetic field;
(b) processing the signal and plurality of signals associated with the detected movement through a first algorithm configured to distinguish a scratch movement from an ambulatory movement, thereby establishing a scratch movement trigger;
(c) translating the processed scratch movement trigger signal into scratch counts by using a second algorithm that registers a scratch count as being 1 or 2 scratch movement triggers in a time period from 0.5 to 1.5 seconds; and
(d) processing the scratch counts using a third algorithm that determines scratch count clusters over a time course.
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Abstract
The invention provides a method for automated assessment of pruritus comprising detecting movement of a band located on a limb of a subject animal so as to obtain a signal associated with the detection movement, processing the signal associated with the detected movement through an algorithm configured to establish a scratch movement trigger, and translating the processed signal into scratch counts.
6 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automated assessment of pruritus, comprising:
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(a) detecting movement and movement frequency of a nonferrous metal band located on a limb of a subject animal so as to obtain a signal and plurality of signals associated with the detection movement, wherein the signal and plurality of signals are obtained by detecting perturbations within an electromagnetic field from the movement and movement frequency of the metal band in the electromagnetic field; (b) processing the signal and plurality of signals associated with the detected movement through a first algorithm configured to distinguish a scratch movement from an ambulatory movement, thereby establishing a scratch movement trigger; (c) translating the processed scratch movement trigger signal into scratch counts by using a second algorithm that registers a scratch count as being 1 or 2 scratch movement triggers in a time period from 0.5 to 1.5 seconds; and (d) processing the scratch counts using a third algorithm that determines scratch count clusters over a time course. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. A method for determining whether an agent induces pruritus in a subject comprising:
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(a) applying the agent suspected of inducing pruritis to the subject at a predetermined area; (b) detecting movement and movement frequency of a nonferrous metal band located on a limb of a subject animal so as to obtain a signal and plurality of signals associated with the detection movement, wherein the movement is a scratch movement to the predetermined area on the subject, wherein the signal and plurality of signals are obtained by detecting perturbations within an electromagnetic field from the movement and movement frequency of the metal band in the electromagnetic field; (c) processing the signal and plurality of signals associated with the detected movement through an algorithm configured to distinguish a scratch movement from an ambulatory movement, thereby establish a scratch movement trigger; (d) translating the processed scratch movement trigger signal into scratch counts by using a second algorithm that registers a scratch count as being 1 or 2 scratch movement triggers in a time period from 0.5 to 1.5 seconds; and (e) comparing the generated scratch counts to those generated from a nonpruritic agent, an increase indicating that the agent induces pruritus.
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16. A method for determining whether an agent induces pruritus in a subject comprising:
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(a) attaching a band to a limb of said subject; (b) attaching a signal detection and processing device to the subject, the device being operatively connected to a memory device capable of storing retrieved signals, the device being able to detect motion of the band on the subject; (c) detecting movement of the band on the subject that has been administered with the agent so as to obtain a signal or plurality of signals associated with the detection movement, wherein the movement is a scratch movement to a predetermined area to which the agent has been administered on the subject; (d) processing the signal and plurality of signals associated with the detected movement through a first algorithm configured to distinguish a scratch movement from an ambulatory movement, thereby establishing a scratch movement trigger; (e) translating the processed scratch movement trigger signal into scratch counts by using a second algorithm that registers a scratch count as being 1 or 2 scratch movement triggers in a time period from 0.5 to 1.5 seconds; and (f) processing the scratch counts using a third algorithm that determines scratch count clusters over a time course; and (g) comparing the generated scratch counts to those generated from a nonpruritic agent, an increase indicating that the agent induces pruritus; wherein the signal detection and processing device comprises a processor configured to perform the steps (d)-(f).
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Specification