Roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research

Abstract

The invention belongs to the related technical field of neuroscience research and animal behavior experiment equipment, and discloses a roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research, which comprises rollers, a support structure, a central shaft, a flange coupling, a rotary encoder, a bearing and an elastic coupling. The roller side plates are provided with through holes to reduce rotational inertia, the supporting structure adopts three height-adjustable stand columns and a latticed bottom plate, and flexibility is enhanced. The rotary encoder records the rotation speed and direction of the roller, and the data precision is high. The surface of the roller is made of polycarbonate, so that the roughness is moderate, and the running safety of the mouse is ensured. Transverse supports in the support structure enhance the stability of the central shaft. The device is optimized in structure, natural in rotation, high in adaptability, accurate in data recording and suitable for behavioral experiments and neuroscience research.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field related to neuroscience research and animal behavior experimental equipment, and more specifically, relates to a roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research. Background Art

[0002] The mouse wheel experiment is a commonly used tool in neuroscience research and behavioral experiments to study mouse motor behavior, learning ability, and behavioral patterns related to neural activity. By having mice run on a wheel, researchers can record data such as their movement trajectory, speed, and direction, thereby analyzing the mouse's behavioral characteristics and their relationship to the nervous system.

[0003] Existing rotarod experimental devices for mice typically have a simple structure and present the following problems: First, the wheel's large moment of inertia affects the natural running of the mouse; second, the wheel's support structure lacks flexibility, making it difficult to adapt to different experimental needs; and third, existing devices lack accuracy when recording mouse running data, making it difficult to meet the high demands of neuroscience research. Therefore, a rotarod experimental device for mice with an optimized structure, accurate data recording, and strong adaptability is urgently needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In response to the above-mentioned defects or improvement needs of the existing technology, the present invention provides a roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research, which aims to solve the technical problems of large rotational inertia, insufficient flexibility and low data recording accuracy of the existing device by optimizing the roller structure, adding data recording function and improving the adaptability of the device.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to one aspect of the present invention, a roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research is provided, comprising: a roller 1, a support structure 2, a central shaft 3, a flange coupling 4, a rotary encoder 5, a bearing 6, and an elastic coupling 8; the support structure 2 comprises three columns 2-1 arranged side by side, a base plate 2-2, two oppositely arranged transverse supports 2-3 and a rotary encoder support device 2-4, and the column 2-1 is vertically mounted on the base plate 2-2; the two transverse supports 2-3 are mounted on the columns 2-1 at the leftmost and middle ends, and the bearings 6 are embedded in the transverse supports 2-3 for fixing the central shaft 3; the central shaft 3 passes through the flange coupling 4; the right end of the central shaft 3 is connected to the rotary encoder 5 through the elastic coupling 8; the rotary encoder 5 is fixed to the column 2-1 at the rightmost end through the rotary encoder support device 2-4.

[0006] Preferably, the roller 1 includes two symmetrically arranged circular side panels 1-2, and a cylindrical surface 1-1 located between the two circular side panels 1-2. The circular side panels 1-2 and the cylindrical surface 1-1 are connected by bolts. The circular side panels 1-2 are made of acrylic material and are processed by laser cutting. The circular side panels 1-2 are provided with multiple through holes evenly distributed along the circumference, and a center hole is provided in the center of the circular side panels 1-2; the cylindrical surface 1-1 is made of polycarbonate material, and its surface is provided with a micron-level texture.

[0007] Preferably, the height of the column 2-1 of the supporting structure 2 is adjustable. The column 2-1 includes an upper and lower section, and adopts a sliding sleeve structure to achieve height adjustment. The inner wall of the sleeve is provided with scale marks; the top of the column 2-1 is provided with a threaded hole for installing the horizontal support member 2-3; the base plate 2-3 is provided with a plurality of grid-shaped mounting threaded holes.

[0008] Preferably, the central shaft 3 is made of stainless steel; two keyways are machined on the central shaft 3, which are used to connect with the rotary encoder 5 and the elastic coupling 8 respectively.

[0009] Preferably, the flange coupling 4 is installed on the middle section of the central shaft 3 and is fixedly connected to the two circular side plates 1 - 2 of the roller 1 by bolts.

[0010] Preferably, the rotary encoder 5 is mounted on the right end of the central shaft 3 and is connected to the flange coupling 4 via a keyway.

[0011] Preferably, the bearing 6 includes two ball bearings, which are respectively mounted on the central shaft 3 and embedded in the column 2 - 2 of the support structure 2 and fixed by a bearing seat to support the free rotation of the roller 1 .

[0012] Preferably, the elastic coupling 8 is mounted on the central shaft 3 and connected to the rotary encoder 5 to compensate for the axial deviation between the central shaft 3 and the rotary encoder 5 for smooth transmission of the rotary motion.

[0013] Preferably, the diameter of the roller 1 ranges from 190 mm to 300 mm, and the width of the cylindrical surface 1 - 1 ranges from 80 mm to 120 mm.

[0014] Preferably, the diameter of the circular side plate 1-2 is 190 mm and the thickness is 3 mm; the diameter of the center hole of the circular side plate 1-2 is 6 mm, the width of the cylindrical surface 1-1 is 75 mm, and the surface roughness Ra value is 1.6 μm to 3.2 μm.

[0015] In general, compared with the prior art, the above technical solution conceived by the present invention provides a roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research that has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. The device features an optimized structure, precise data recording, and strong adaptability. Its support structure utilizes adjustable-height columns and a grid-like base, enhancing its flexibility and adapting to diverse experimental needs.

[0017] 2. The device reduces the moment of inertia of the roller by setting small holes on the edge of the roller side plate, making the mice run more naturally and improving the accuracy of the experimental data.

[0018] 3. The roller surface of the device is made of polycarbonate with optimized roughness, which not only ensures the grip of mice when running, but also avoids injuries to the mice's paws, thereby improving the safety of the experiment.

[0019] 4. The spacing between the roller side panels of the device can be adjusted according to experimental requirements, ensuring experimental flexibility. The device also has a reserved interface for a rotary encoder, which facilitates recording the roller speed information at any time during the experiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is an exploded schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the circular side plate of the roller of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the flange coupling of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the support structure of the present invention;

[0025] Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements or structures, wherein:

[0026] 1 roller, 1-1 cylindrical surface, 1-2 circular side plate, 2 supporting structure, 2-1 column, 2-2 bottom plate, 2-3 transverse support, 2-4 rotary encoder support device, 3 center shaft, 4 flange coupling, 5 rotary encoder, 6 bearing, 7 fixing component, 7-1 connecting screw, 7-2 fastening screw, 7-3 connecting stud, 8 elastic coupling. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely for the purpose of explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of the present invention described below may be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0028] The present embodiment provides a roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research, which is used for mouse behavior experiments and neuroscience research, including: a roller 1, a support structure 2, a central shaft 3, a flange coupling 4, a rotary encoder 5, a bearing 6, and an elastic coupling 8; the support structure 2 includes three columns 2-1 arranged side by side, a base plate 2-2, two oppositely arranged transverse supports 2-3 and a rotary encoder support device 2-4, and the column 2-1 is vertically installed on the base plate 2-2; the two transverse supports 2-3 are installed on the columns 2-1 at the leftmost end and the middle end, and the bearings 6 are embedded in the transverse supports 2-3 to fix the central shaft 3; the central shaft 3 passes through the flange coupling 4; the right end of the central shaft 3 is connected to the rotary encoder 5 through the elastic coupling 8; the rotary encoder 5 is fixed to the column 2-1 at the rightmost end through the rotary encoder support device 2-4, and the rotary encoder can be fixed by the fastening screws at the top.

[0029] Production and assembly of roller 1: Roller 1 includes two symmetrically arranged circular side panels 1-2, and a cylindrical surface 1-1 located on the two circular side panels 1-2. The circular side panels 1-2 are made of acrylic material and are processed by a laser cutting machine. The diameter of the circular side panels 1-2 is 190 mm and the thickness is 3 mm. The edge area of the circular side panels 1-2 is provided with 60 circular small holes with a hole diameter of 3 mm, which are evenly distributed around the circumference and are completed using a laser cutting process. The spacing between the holes is approximately 9.5 mm (calculated based on the circumference: 190 mm × π ÷ 60). The diameter of the roller 1 ranges from 190 mm to 300 mm. A central hole with a diameter of 6 mm is provided in the central area of the circular side panels 1-2 for mounting the central shaft 3. Cylindrical surface 1-1 is made of a polycarbonate sheet with a thickness of 0.5 mm and a width of 75 mm. After being cut into an arc shape, it is bonded to the two circular side panels 1-2 using nano-adhesive or bolted to the two circular side panels 1-2. The surface roughness of cylindrical surface 1-1 is 2.0 microns Ra. Sandpapering creates a micron-scale texture with a depth of 0.8 mm, ensuring sufficient grip for mice while running and preventing paw injuries.

[0030] Fabrication and Installation of Support Structure 2: Support Structure 2 consists of three parallel columns 2-1, a base plate 2-2, two opposing transverse supports 2-3, and a rotary encoder support 2-4. Base plate 2-2 is rectangular and made of aluminum alloy, measuring 300 mm × 200 mm × 15 mm. It is machined using a CNC milling machine and features a grid of M5 threaded holes spaced 25 mm apart. These holes are used to secure columns 2-1 or other equipment. Columns 2-1 are cylindrical and made of 304 stainless steel, with a diameter of 12.7 mm. Each column is 200 mm long and consists of two sections, connected by a sliding sleeve. The inner wall of the sleeve is engraved with 5 mm graduations, allowing for an adjustment range of 50 mm to 100 mm. After adjustment, they are secured with M4 locknuts. Columns 2-1 have M5 threaded holes at their base, which are secured to the base plate with M5 × 20 mm bolts, ensuring the stability of the support structure. The transverse support member 2-3 is a cylindrical structure made of aluminum alloy with a diameter of 15 mm and a height of 35 mm. A circular through hole with a diameter of 12.7 mm is provided on the side of the transverse support member 2-3 for accommodating the central shaft 3 and the bearing 6;

[0031] Installation of the center shaft 3 and bearing 6: The center shaft 3 is made of 304 stainless steel, with a diameter of 6 mm and a length of 195 mm. The surface is polished to a roughness Ra of 0.6 microns to reduce friction. Two keyways are machined on the center shaft 3, used for connection to the rotary encoder 5 and the elastic coupling 8, respectively. The keyway width is 2 mm and the depth is 1 mm. The bearings 6 are two ball bearings with an inner diameter of 6 mm and an outer diameter of 12 mm. They are made of steel and have a rated speed of 5000 rpm. The bearings 6 are embedded in the column 2-1 using M2 fixing bolts. The center shaft 3 passes through the center hole of the roller 1 and is inserted into the bearing 6 to ensure that the roller 1 can rotate freely.

[0032] Installation of flange coupling 4, rotary encoder 5, and elastic coupling 8: Flange coupling 4 is installed in the middle of center shaft 3 and secures roller 1 to center shaft 3. The flange has a diameter of 22 mm and a thickness of 2 mm, and is made of aluminum alloy. Flange coupling 4 is securely connected to the two circular side plates 1-2 of roller 1 via four M3 x 10 mm bolts, ensuring the transmission of rotational motion. Rotary encoder 5 is an incremental optical encoder with a resolution of 1500 pulses / revolution. It is installed at the right end of center shaft 3 and connected to center shaft 3 via elastic coupling 8. Elastic coupling 8 is a plum blossom-shaped elastic coupling made of aluminum alloy and polyurethane. It is installed at the end of center shaft 3 closest to rotary encoder 5 and is connected to rotary encoder 5. Elastic elements compensate for axial deviation and ensure smooth transmission of rotational motion. Rotary encoder 5 is connected to the data acquisition system via a 1.5-meter cable with a USB interface.

[0033] Installation of Rotary Encoder 5 and Fixing Assembly 7: Rotary encoder 5 is an incremental optical encoder with a resolution of 1500 pulses / revolution and a sampling frequency of 500 Hz. It is housed in an aluminum alloy housing with a diameter of 40 mm and a thickness of 20 mm and is mounted on one end of central shaft 3. Rotary encoder 5 is connected to central shaft 3 via an elastic coupling 8, ensuring synchronous rotation of the two components. Rotary encoder 5 is secured to column 2-1 of support structure 2 via transverse supports 2-3. Rotary encoder 5 is supplied with a 1.5-meter cable terminated in a USB port for connection to an external data acquisition system. The fixing assembly 7 is installed at both ends of the central shaft 3. The fixing assembly 7 includes: a connecting screw 7-1, a fastening screw 7-2 and a connecting stud 7-3; the connecting nut 7-1, with a specification of M6, a quantity of 4, a screw length of 20 mm, is arranged at both ends of the central shaft 3, and is used to fix the bearing 6, the flange coupling 4 and the roller 1; the fastening screw 7-2 has a specification of M2 and a length of 8 mm; the connecting stud 7-3 has a specification of M4 and a length of 20 mm; after the fastening screw 7-2 is tightened, the position of the bearing 6, the flange coupling 4 and the roller 1 is ensured to be stable.

[0034] Assembly and debugging of the roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research in this embodiment: First, place the base plate 2-2 on the experimental table and fix it with M5 bolts. Install three columns 2-1, adjust the height to 150 mm to suit the body size of most mice, and fix the sleeve with an M6 lock nut. Install the roller 1 on the central shaft 3, insert the bearing 6, and fix it with the fixing assembly 7. Install the flange coupling 4, the rotary encoder 5, the elastic coupling 8, and connect all cables to the data acquisition system. Manually rotate the roller 1 to check for abnormal friction or jamming to ensure that the roller rotates smoothly. Start the rotary encoder 5, sample the data through the Arduino microcontroller, and transmit the data to the host computer through the serial port to test whether the recording of the rotation speed and direction is accurate, and the error should be less than 1%.

[0035] Instructions: Place the roller treadmill on a stable laboratory bench and adjust the height of the uprights so that the bottom of roller 1 is approximately 20 mm from the bench. Place a mouse weighing approximately 25 grams on roller 1. As the mouse runs, roller 1 rotates freely via central axis 3 and bearing 6. A rotary encoder 5 records the speed and direction of the roller in real time. This data is transmitted to a computer via a cable at a sampling frequency of 500 Hz. After the experiment, the running data is processed using Python data analysis software to analyze the correlation between the mouse's motor behavior and neural activity.

[0036] Implementation Results: The device of this embodiment reduces the moment of inertia of the roller 1 by approximately 20% through the small holes in the circular side panels 1-2, enabling mice to run more naturally. The height of the column 2-1 is adjustable from 50 mm to 100 mm, accommodating mice of varying sizes. The rotary encoder 5 achieves 99.5% data recording accuracy, meeting the needs of neuroscience research. The textured surface and polycarbonate material of the roller 1 ensure grip and safety for mice running, with no paw injuries observed.

[0037] It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research, characterized by: include: A roller (1), a support structure (2), a central shaft (3), a flange coupling (4), a rotary encoder (5), a bearing (6), and an elastic coupling (8); the support structure (2) comprises three columns (2-1) arranged side by side, a base plate (2-2), two oppositely arranged transverse supports (2-3), and a rotary encoder support device (2-4); the columns (2-1) are vertically mounted on the base plate (2-2); the two transverse supports (2-3) are mounted on the two columns (2-1) at the leftmost end and the middle end, and the bearings (6) are embedded in the transverse supports (2-3) for fixing the central shaft (3); the central shaft (3) passes through the flange coupling (4); the right end of the central shaft (3) is connected to the rotary encoder (5) through the elastic coupling (8); the rotary encoder (5) is fixed to the rightmost column (2-1) through the rotary encoder support device (2-4).

2. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 1, characterized in that: The roller (1) comprises two symmetrically arranged circular side plates (1-2), and a cylindrical surface (1-1) located between the two circular side plates (1-2); the circular side plates (1-2) and the cylindrical surface (1-1) are connected by bolts; the circular side plates (1-2) are made of acrylic material by laser cutting; the circular side plates (1-2) are provided with a plurality of through holes evenly distributed along the circumference; and a center hole is provided at the center of the circular side plates (1-2); the cylindrical surface (1-1) is made of polycarbonate material, and its surface is provided with micron-level textures.

3. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height of the column (2-1) of the support structure (2) is adjustable. The column (2-1) comprises an upper and lower section, and adopts a sliding sleeve structure to achieve height adjustment. The inner wall of the sleeve is provided with a scale mark. The top of the column (2-1) is provided with a threaded hole for installing the transverse support member (2-3); and the base plate (2-3) is provided with a plurality of grid-shaped threaded holes for installing.

4. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 1, characterized in that: The central shaft (3) is made of stainless steel; two keyways are machined on the central shaft (3), which are used to connect with the rotary encoder (5) and the elastic coupling (8) respectively.

5. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flange coupling (4) is mounted on the central shaft (3) and is fixedly connected to the two circular side plates (1-2) of the roller (1) via bolts.

6. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotary encoder (5) is mounted on the right end of the central shaft (3) and is connected to the flange coupling (4) via a keyway to record the rotation speed and direction of the roller (1).

7. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing (6) includes two ball bearings, which are respectively mounted on the central shaft (3) and embedded in the column (2-1) of the support structure (2). They are fixed by a bearing seat to support the free rotation of the roller (1).

8. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic coupling (8) is mounted on the central shaft (3) and connected to the rotary encoder (5) for compensating for axial deviation between the central shaft (3) and the rotary encoder (5).

9. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diameter of the roller (1) ranges from 190 mm to 300 mm, and the width of the cylindrical surface (1-1) ranges from 80 mm to 120 mm.

10. The roller treadmill device for mouse behavior research according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diameter of the circular side plate (1-2) is 190 mm and the thickness is 3 mm; the diameter of the center hole of the circular side plate (1-2) is 6 mm, the width of the cylindrical surface (1-1) is 75 mm, and the surface roughness Ra value is 1.6 μm to 3.2 μm.

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