This sophisticated system is designed
for automatically recording and analyzing liquid and
food consumption of all laboratory animals. It allows
an unlimited number of measuring stations to be monitored
by a single computer!
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System configurations:
Different mounting devices are available depending on
the type of cage used. The sensors can also be integrated
into the wire lid of standard lab animal cages. In the
typical dual-sensor configuration one drinking and one
feeding sensor are combined for long-term studies (shown
above). For preference experiments up to 4 sensors can
be allocated per cage! |
| Sensors installed according to the preference design
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| The system can also be configured with one single drinking
or feeding sensor. |
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All sensors are adaptable to any cage type
Variable sensor capacities are provided
The system features highest resolution (down to 100µl/100mg) |
| The sensor assemblies can also be motorized in order
to move food and liquid out of reach of the animals (deprivation). |
| The measuring system for small animals, e.g. rats, uses
drinking vessels with a capacity of 100 ml. Vessels for
large animals with volumes of up to 10 liters are also
available! The food basket is constructed of stainless
steel wire suitable for standard pellets. The baskets
can hold 100g or 400g food; other sizes are provided on
request. In order to study potential drugs that could
reduce the food intake (active agent screening), Paired
Feeding experiments can be carried out for. |
Data acquisition:
Several test cages can be started simultaneously if required.
During the trial the sensor signals are monitored every
second. To compensate for vibrations the system carries
out a scatter control: if the signal variation is less
than a preset limit then data are stored; otherwise the
signals are rejected. A graphical overview of the current
status of the boxes can be called up anytime enabling
the operator to see the filling levels of all sensors
at a glance. Sensors can be refilled during the experiment
as often is required. |
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Status tables can be exported for intermediate analysis
of longer-lasting experiments!
A trial can be automatically ended when a predetermined
time period has elapsed and/or when all the liquid/food
at a sensor station has been consumed. |
Analysis:
The comprehensive evaluation includes a run table listing
each single drinking and feeding event chronologically.
In the results table the animal's actions are outputted
for user-definable intervals either cumulatively or as
individual measurements (differentially). Data can also
be displayed graphically. |
| Run graph of a 3-day trial in a home-cage equipped with
one drinking and one feeding sensor: |
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| A detailed meal analysis allows to evaluate drinking
and feeding episodes according to user-set intermeal intervals.
Drinking/feeding sequences separated from each other by
time periods larger than this interval are considered
as individual meals. This is a perfect tool for studying
the daily rhythms of feeding and drinking activity, i.e.
to show the pattern over the light-dark cycle. |
| All analytical results can be exported for further-reaching
complex statistics in the form of user-defined ASCII files. |
Options:
Drinking units can be modified with "stimulation
modules" to assess learning, memory or motivation
("Vogel" test). Each time the animal touches
the nipple an electrical shock of variable length and
intensity is then applied.
An extension of the system with sensors to record amounts
of excrement (faeces, urine) in a special metabolism cage
is also available.
Feed Time : |
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Individual feeding times and lengths are programmable
according to a user-defined time schedule
For controlling up to 128 cages. |
| The FeedTime system allows you to control the feeding
of small laboratory animals (rats, mice) at defined time
intervals. A software-controlled feeding roller is used
to enable or disable the animal's access to the food.
Individual feeding times and lengths are programmable
according to a user-defined time schedule. |
