External Electrode Cage Monitoring via Electromagnetic Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for monitoring and controlling the environment of laboratory animal cages are inefficient and costly, particularly in large-scale deployments, and fail to adapt to varying environmental requirements across different study protocols, with issues in cleanliness and reliability of monitoring equipment, and a lack of effective flooding detection and bedding condition monitoring.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with sensors and a processing unit that detects cage conditions and presence without modifying the cage, using electrodes to generate an electromagnetic field and measure dielectric properties, allowing for remote monitoring and control of the cage environment, including flooding detection and bedding condition assessment, while being resistant to harsh cleaning agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If monitoring equipment is deployed inside cages to detect cage conditions and presence, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cleaning difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary electromagnetic field generated by electrodes positioned outside the cage to detect cage conditions. The electrodes radiate an electromagnetic field that penetrates the cage structure, allowing detection of dielectric changes inside the cage without placing sensors inside. This mediator approach enables accurate measurement while keeping the monitoring system simple and easy to clean.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sensors that would physically contact cage contents with an electromagnetic field-based detection system. Instead of using mechanical probes or contact sensors inside the cage, the system uses capacitive coupling through the cage walls to detect changes in dielectric properties, thereby avoiding contamination risks and simplifying cleaning procedures.
2Measurement precision
If monitoring equipment is placed inside cages to monitor microenvironment, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation and cleaning become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic field acts as an intermediary that allows the monitoring system to sense conditions inside the cage through the cage walls. The electrodes outside the cage generate a field that interacts with the cage contents, enabling measurement of microenvironment parameters without physical penetration into the cage, thus maintaining ease of cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sensing function from the interior of the cage and places it outside. By positioning electrodes external to the cage and using electromagnetic field penetration, the system removes the monitoring equipment from the contaminated environment while retaining the ability to measure internal conditions, thereby simplifying cleaning operations.
3Measurement precision
If sophisticated monitoring equipment is deployed to detect cage conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability under harsh cleaning conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic field serves as a non-contact intermediary that transmits detection signals through the cage structure. This allows the monitoring system to remain outside the cage in a clean environment while still accurately detecting conditions inside, thereby maintaining high reliability under harsh cleaning conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces contact-based mechanical sensing with electromagnetic field-based sensing. This substitution eliminates the need for sophisticated equipment to physically contact or penetrate the cage, reducing vulnerability to cleaning agents and improving reliability in harsh cleaning environments.
4Productivity
If active monitoring is deployed on large scale to monitor research animals, then productivity is improved, but cost and reliability deteriorate due to cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal monitoring system that can be applied to multiple cages simultaneously using the same external electrode architecture. Each cage has electrodes positioned outside its walls, allowing standardized deployment across large facilities. This multi-functional approach enables scalable productivity while maintaining simplicity and reliability through consistent design.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic field-based intermediary detection method enables reliable large-scale monitoring by allowing all sensors to be positioned outside cages in clean areas. This uniform approach across multiple cages simplifies maintenance and cleaning protocols, thereby maintaining high reliability while achieving productivity gains through scalable deployment.
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
Enables efficient, reliable, and adaptable monitoring and control of laboratory animal cages, reducing cross-contamination risks, minimizing resource waste, and providing objective metrics for maintaining optimal cage conditions, thus protecting valuable research assets.
Implementation Method 1
at least a radiating element (200) suitable to radiate an electro-magnetic field into a dielectric
Implementation Method 2
at least a detecting sensor, not explicitly shown in the drawings, connected to said at least a radiating element (200) and suitable to detect the variations of said electro-magnetic field
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention concerns an electronic device, particularly for detecting and control the environment of an animal housing, such as a cage, thus being able to automatically detect and control animal's immediate environment. Furthermore, the present invention also concerns a system comprising such device or a plurality of devices, and a method for automatic detection of cage condition and presence. The device, the system and the method according to the present invention allow to detect the presence and several parameters of the cage environment without interfering with the inside of the cage.