System for providing an interface for interacting with an animal

摘要 大量的研究需要采集生物信号，刺激大脑，或输液测试 自由活动的老鼠体内的物质。尽管目前有几种形式的系绳可用于此目的， 这些设备在一定程度上抑制了老鼠的活动。这种动物的活动能力通常会降低得更多 当需要与小鼠进行多个连接时(即，脑电(EEG)/肌电 (EMG)电线、光纤和输液线)。遥测设备和微型水泵避免了系绳，但 它们仍然限制动物的移动，因为它们对老鼠来说非常重(即最小的遥测 EEG/EMG发射器重约4克或小鼠体重的20%)。预计，克制 鼠标的移动将对研究结果产生负面影响，因为它会造成压力和 改变小鼠的各项生理参数。我们最近开发了一种系统，具有光学、 可用于小鼠或任何其他不需要的小动物的电气和液体连接 使用换向器、旋转器或光纤旋转接头。此应用程序的特定目标是修改我们的 用于研究输液管道与自由活动的小鼠连接的系统。是这样的 连接通常用于大量研究(药物输注、微透析、 监测血压等)。因此，新的改装将显著提高性能 以及该系统的商业潜力。此外，我们将调整我们的系统以用于SmartCageTM， 从而为药物发现研究创造了一个强大的平台。它将允许完成研究项目 速度更快，成本更低。

ABSTRACT A large number of studies require sampling biological signals, stimulating the brain, or infusing test substances in freely moving mice. Although several forms of tethers are currently available for this purpose, these devices restrain the mice’s activity to some degree. The animal’s mobility is usually reduced even more when several connections are needed with the mouse (i.e., electroencephalogram (EEG)/electromyogram (EMG) wires, fiber optics, and infusion lines). Telemetric devices and miniature pumps avoid the tethers, but they still restrict the animal’s movement because they are very heavy for a mouse (i.e., smallest telemetry EEG/EMG transmitter weighs ~4 grams or ~20% of the mouse’s body weight). It is expected that restraining the mouse’s movement will negatively influence the results of the study because it would cause stress and change various physiological parameters in the mouse. We recently developed a system with optical, electrical, and fluid connections that can be used for mice or any other small animal that does not require the use of a commutator, swivel, or fiber optic rotary joint. The specific aim of this application is to modify our system for the use in studies involving connections of infusion lines with freely moving mice. Such connections are commonly used in a large number of research studies (drug infusion, microdialysis, monitoring of blood pressure, etc.). Therefore, the new modification will significantly increase the capability and commercial potential of this system. Additionally, we will adapt our system for the use in SmartCageTM, thus creating a powerful platform for drug discovery studies. It will allow for completing the research projects faster and with a lower cost.