Transparent Floor Rodent Behavior Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing rodent behavior are limited in their ability to effectively monitor locomotion, gait, touch, pressure contact, nerve injury, pain-like behavior, and social interaction in freely behaving rodents, especially in lit or dark environments, without disturbing the animals or providing accurate physiological data.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a transparent base surface sensitive to animal footprints and an image capturing system to record full and toe prints, allowing for the analysis of spatial extent, intensity, and timing of contact areas, while providing stimuli such as light, thermal, or social interactions to observe behavioral responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods are used to monitor rodent behavior, then the ability to observe behavior is limited, but the animal disturbance is minimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional overhead or side-view monitoring to bottom-up imaging through the transparent floor, adding a new observational dimension. This enables capture of footpad contact, gait, and locomotion patterns that were previously inaccessible, directly improving behavior analysis accuracy without adding complex overhead equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent floor acts as an intermediary medium that simultaneously supports the animal's weight and transmits light for imaging. This single component serves dual functions (structural support and optical transmission), improving measurement capability while avoiding the complexity of separate sensing and support systems
2Illumination intensity
If the corral is illuminated to observe behavior, then visibility is improved, but the animal's natural behavior may be altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies illumination locally at the bottom of the corral rather than overhead, creating localized lighting zones that illuminate the transparent floor and animal paws without broadly illuminating the entire environment. This selective local illumination improves image capture quality while minimizing disruption to the animal's natural behavior patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional overhead mechanical lighting systems with a light transmission system through the transparent floor. Light sources positioned below the floor transmit illumination upward, substituting the mechanical overhead lighting arrangement with an optical transmission approach that reduces animal disturbance while maintaining visibility
3Measurement precision
If detailed footprint imaging is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates specific behavioral parameters (footpad contact area, pressure distribution, gait patterns) from the complete image data. By focusing the imaging system and analysis on these specific extracted features rather than processing entire body images, measurement precision is improved while managing data processing complexity through selective feature extraction
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 detailed analysis of rodent behavior, including locomotion and social interactions, in lit or dark conditions, providing valuable data on physiological and psychological states, such as pain and anxiety, with minimal disturbance to the animals.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent base surface being sensitive to a footprint of the animal and an image capturing device beneath the base surface
Data Source
AI summary
A device for detecting and recording animal behavior may include at least one corral that defines a contained field, the base surface of the at least one corral being sensitive to the animal's footprint. The device also includes an image capturing device that cooperates with the base surface to capture both a profile of the animal's full footprint and a profile of the animal's toe print when the animal is standing on its toes. In some embodiments, the device is capable of providing a stimulus to the animal and observing the resulting behavior of the animal via the image capturing device.