A Wireless Small Animal Monitor

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的第二阶段研究计划的重点是开发无线小动物生理监测器（SAM）。SAM系统将提供同时监测多达16只实验室动物（最初是大鼠和小鼠）的能力，并连续记录、同步和显示生理数据，包括心率、呼吸率、运动活动、皮肤温度和环境温度。将通过佩戴在动物背部表面的微型、轻便的“背包”从每只动物收集数据，传感器集成到适当大小的耐咀嚼设计中。可选的无线摄像头可以安装在实验室或动物饲养区，并集成到SAM系统中，用于对动物进行真实的实时远程视觉监控。 SAM系统数据（生理和视频数据）将无线上传到与PC（可以是本地或通过互联网）接口的共享接收器单元。PC将整合传入的数据流，将所有数据存档在硬盘上，并提供实时数据显示，从而实现对所有仪器动物的远程同步监测。 拟议的第二阶段研究遵循成功的第一阶段工作，证明了SAM系统在麻醉（仰卧）和清醒（俯卧）大鼠和小鼠中的概念和可行性。第二阶段的研究将涉及创建一个功能齐全，商业上可行的SAM系统，该系统将在各种大鼠和小鼠上进行实验室实验，包括在一周内同时对几只动物进行评估。SAM系统将通过消除对外科手术植入传感器的需要并提供对关键生理变量的无线监测能力来显著改善许多研究实验的动物福利。 公共卫生相关性：SAM系统将提供改进的仪器，这将促进基本上所有NIH研究所的生物医学和行为科学研究，因为大鼠和小鼠是研究中最常用的脊椎动物。此外，SAM系统将使目前因缺乏适当监测设备而受到限制的领域的研究成为可能。例如，许多关于啮齿动物的饲养和饲养方法以及环境条件和/或外部事件对这些动物的影响的问题仍然没有答案。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed Phase II research program focuses on the development of a wireless Small Animal Physiological Monitor (SAM). The SAM system will provide the capability to monitor up to 16 laboratory animals (initially rats and mice) simultaneously, with continuous recording, synchronization, and display of physiological data, including heart rate, respiratory rate, motion activity, skin temperature, and ambient temperature. Data will be collected from each animal via a miniature, lightweight "backpack" that is worn on the dorsal surface of the animal, with sensors integrated into an appropriately-sized, chew-resistant design. Optional wireless cameras can be mounted in laboratories or animal housing areas and integrated into the SAM system for remote visual monitoring of animals in real time. SAM system data (both physiological and video data) will be uploaded wirelessly to a shared receiver unit that interfaces to a PC (which can be local or over the Internet). The PC will consolidate the incoming data stream(s), archive all data on a hard disk, and provide real-time data display, enabling remote, simultaneous monitoring of all instrumented animals. The proposed Phase II research follows a successful Phase I effort that demonstrated proof of concept and feasibility for the SAM system in both anesthetized (supine) and conscious (prone) rats and mice. The Phase II research will involve creation of a fully-functional, commercially-viable SAM system that will be evaluated in laboratory experiments conducted on a variety of rats and mice, including several animals simultaneously over a one-week period. The SAM system will significantly refine animal welfare for many research experiments by eliminating the need for surgical implantation of sensors and providing the capability for wireless monitoring of key physiological variables. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The SAM system will provide improved instrumentation that will facilitate biomedical and behavioral science investigations across essentially all NIH institutes, as rats and mice are the most commonly used vertebrates in research. Additionally, the SAM system will enable research in areas that are presently constrained by the absence of suitable monitoring devices. For example, many questions regarding housing and husbandry practices of rodents and the impact of environmental conditions and/or external events on these animals remain unanswered.