A Rodent Physiologic Analysis and Recording System

Project Summary Abstract The proposed research program focuses on the development and validation of the Rodent Physiologic Analysis and RecordingRODARSystemThe RODAR system embodies a wirelessnoninvasive data collectionvisualizationand storage solution for monitoring animalsandaposphysiological statusbehaviorand environmentThe RODAR system o ers continuous or intermittent recordingsynchronizationand real time display of physiologic data includingheart raterespiratory rateactivityand skin temperatureand environmental data includingambient temperaturehumidityammoniacarbon dioxideand other gasesThe system also includes wireless \bridgeandquotmodules that will allow third party or custom made sensors to be integrated seamlessly into the wireless RODAR frameworkPhysiologic data are collected via miniaturelightweight Remote Physiologic ModulesRPMsthat are worn on the dorsal surface of the animalwith sensors integrated into an adjustablechew resistant jacket with a minimal form factorThe jacket is easily placed on the animal and features a rechargeable battery that can be replaced without removing the jacketBoth washable and disposable varieties of jacket will be availableEnvironmental data are collected using wirelesschew proof Remote Environment ModulesREMsthat can be placed in living quarters or experimental environmentsRemote Bridge ModulesRBMswill be available that can accept arbitrary analog inputse gfrom third party or custom sensorsand seamlessly integrate such data with native RODAR sensorsThis capability allows a wide range of sensing modalities to operate as \nodesandquotwirelessly within the RODAR frameworkAll data collected by the RPMsREMsand RBMs are automatically time synchronized by the systemThe RODAR system will enable simultaneous monitoring of up toremote sensor modulesany combination of RPMsREMsand or RBMsWireless videographic cameras can also be used with the RODAR system to enable visual monitoring and recording of the animals in real timeAll RODAR remote unit data are transmitted wirelessly to a common receiver unit called the HubThe Hub synchronizes the incoming data streams and relays the consolidated data to a PC using a standard network communications protocolThe PC can be local or remoteallowing experimental data to be viewed in real time from anywhere with an Internet connectionSoftware designed from the ground up to be highly usable by researcherstechniciansand veterinarians provides both real time and retrospective display of dataperforms any additional processing that is desiredarchives received data in a standard database formatand allows data collection protocols to be selected for the remote unitsThe RODAR system is a powerfulscalableand extensible wireless architecture for noninvasive monitoring of animalsandaposphysiological statusbehaviorand environmental conditionsit is also designed to facilitate the integration of additional sensor modalities as such technologies become available Project Narrative The RODAR system exempli es a cutting edge paradigm for low costnoninvasive monitoring of animals as small as miceThere are no systems on the market today that o er the capability to monitor multiple anesthetised or conscious untethered unrestrained animalsand their environmentswithout the requirement of highly invasive surgical implantations or other limitationsThe RODAR system will provide improved instrumentation to facilitate biomedical and behavioral studiesas rodents are the most commonly used vertebrates in researchthe RODAR system will enable research in areas that are presently constrained by the absence of suitablecost e ective monitoring devices