Self-contained biological data recorder for small animals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for recording biological data in small animals, such as mice, face challenges due to the small size of the animal's head, which limits mechanical attachment of data loggers, and high power consumption of radio telemetry systems, making prolonged experiments difficult and increasing the complexity of experimental setups.
Innovation Solution
An integrated self-contained recorder with an electrical connector for mechanical fixation to the animal's head and a power-efficient infrared receiver for synchronization with external events, allowing for reliable and long-lasting data logging without the need for bulky power sources or complex telemetric transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If radio telemetry systems are used for recording biological data, then data transmission capability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by storing biological data locally in memory before transmission. The recorder accumulates data during the experiment and only transmits when physically connected to a computer, eliminating the need for continuous power-intensive wireless transmission while ensuring complete data capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the transmission function from the recording function. Data is recorded and stored independently without requiring simultaneous transmission, separating the data acquisition phase (low power) from the data transfer phase (high power), thus minimizing overall power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If data loggers are attached to the animal's head, then recording capability is improved, but the device size becomes too large for small animals
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two functional parts: a minimal head-mounted sensor module for data acquisition and a separate storage/computation unit. This segmentation allows the head-mounted portion to be extremely small while maintaining full recording capability through the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies nesting by placing the data logger entirely within the animal's head space. The compact design fits the complete recording system inside the limited cranial volume, with sensors, memory, and processing integrated in a nested configuration that maximizes space utilization.
3Reliability
If wired connections are used for signal transmission, then data transmission reliability is improved, but animal mobility and experimental flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by completing all data acquisition and storage during the experiment without requiring connections. The wired connection is established only after the experiment concludes for data transfer, allowing full animal mobility during the experimental phase while ensuring reliable data retrieval afterward.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables reliable, long-term recording of biological data with reduced power consumption and minimal size, overcoming spatial limitations and power constraints, thus facilitating more extensive and accurate research on small animals.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor capable of receiving a signal from an external source for synchronization of the digital data with an external event
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for the recording of physiological variables in small animals are described. The apparatus is an integrated self-contained recorder including a converter of biological signals into a digital form, a data storage unit, a data output for transporting the stored data from the recorder after the end of recording session, a power source and an electrical connector arranged for connection of the recorder with at least one sensor of biological signal and mechanical fixation of the recorder at the head of an animal. The recorder may contain a sensor, which receives signals from an external source for synchronization of the stored data with external equipment or observed/registered animal behavior.