System for providing an interface for interacting with an animal

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 grams or 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 PROJECT NARRATIVE We will develop a new system that will provide capabilities to measure biopotentials and infuse test substances in mice that are not possible in current tethered or wireless systems