The body reversal corridor is used for assessing muscle control and movement coordination in rats.

The apparatus consist of a narrow black Perspex corridor with a closed end. The corridor is provided with two supporting paws for ensuring its stability during the test.

The rat is placed in the corridor facing the closed end. The researcher evaluates the time spent by the animal to turn over (body reversal) and reach the opposite opened end of the corridor.

The Small Animal Physiological Monitoring System is an instrument integrating multiple physiology parameters on one single small platform. The objective behind this instrument is to provide superior monitoring results, while making surgery and other manipulations on small animals easier.

The platform integrates monitoring of the rectal temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), respiration, oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood pressure and exhaled CO2. It also includes a controlled heating surface to maintain the animal’s body temperature at the desired level.

Features & Benefits

• Demands less installation time at the beginning of procedures.
• Reduces the required space and the number of wires around the animal: (i) A single data/power cable connects to a small wireless communication moduleand (ii)All data is transferred to an Android tablet by Bluetooth for display and saving.
• Real-time display provides numeric values as well as waveforms that can be customized by the user: Multiple signals can be displayed on each of the three graphs.
• Available with a stereotaxic adaptor option, which includes ear bars, a tooth bar and either a nose bar or an anesthesia mask: Stereotaxic device is fixed to the platform, but can easily be removed depending upon the application.
• Recorded data can easily be transferred to any computer for analysis: Scripts and utilities provided to convert data in LabChart or CSV format and to display signals in Excel and Matlab

Components Included

• Heated platform (for rats or mice)
• Android tablet with case and stand
• Bluetooth communication module
• Rectal probe
• Electrode gel

 Physiological Parameters

• ECG - Integrated electrodes under the paws & external electrodes
• Respiration - Waveform acquired with a sensor under the animal
• Heart & Breath Rate - Real-time display from the ECG and respiration waveform
• Warming & Temperature - Heated platform and rectal probe for precise control and monitoring
• Blood Pressure (option) - Connection for a pressure catheter
• SpO2 (option) - Pulse oximetry and oxygen saturation with a paw/tail sensor
• Exhaled CO2 (option) - Gas ports for precise CO2 measurements (with an external ventilator)

Advanced Display Interface

• Touchscreen display - Pinch to zoom on waveforms (works with surgical gloves)
• 1 to 5 second waveforms - Select any signal to display
• 1 to 30 minute trends - View temperature, heart & breath rate trends, and numeric values
• Easy data saving - Add notes, save and export data for an easy analysis

Heated Platform

• External ports – Rectal temperature, pressure catheter, ECG electrodes, SpO2 sensor
• ECG electrodes
• Respiration sensor
• Warming zone – 0.1oC resolution
• Single data/power cable – Link to a compact Bluetooth module with 4 analog outputs
• Exhaled CO2 ports

System Information

Heated Platform

• Easy to clean surface
• 10 cm x 21 cm x 2.5 cm (mice)
• 12 cm x 27 cm x 2.5 cm (rats)

Tablet

• 8” Android tablet (10.1” available)
• High resolution touchscreen display
• Capacity of over 400 hours of saved data
• 5-8 hours battery life
• USB cable and charger

Communication Module

• Bluetooth and analog outputs are in a separate enclosure to avoid interferences
• 9 cm x 11 cm x 2.5 cm
• 100-240 V power supply

Bluetooth

15 to 25 meters typical range between the communication module and the display unit Analog Outputs
• 4 configurable outputs
• BNC connectors, ±5V range
• 1 kHz, 16-bit refresh rate

Data Analysis

• .csv conversion tool
• MATLAB® & Excel® import and display scripts
• Compatible with third-party analysis software (LabChart)

How to order 

2020 Virtual FENS Highlights - Enhance your Rota Rod Experiment!

• New Speed Rage (2-90 RPM)
• New Editable Acceleration/Ramp mode
• New Speed Protocol & Rocking Modes
• New Integral Cover for Mice

Rota Rod description

Our Rota Rod provides an easy way to test the effects of drugs,brain damage, or diseases on motor coordination or fatigue resistance in rodents.

The animal is placed on the rotating lane of the Rota Rod and the timer is started. When the animal drops safely into its own lane, the time latency to fall (minutes and seconds) and rotation speed are automatically recorded. A removable upper separator for rat models is included to prevent interference between animals running in adjacent lanes.

The Rota Rod is controlled by an advanced microprocessor which provides precise timing control and ultra-accurate speed regulation. Rotation can be electronically set at a constant speed (2 to 90 rpm). Alternatively, acceleration rate may be selected at a defined time (2 to 5999 sec, 1 sec increments).

Unique in the market, the extended speed range (2 to 90 RPM)combined with the expanded acceleration mode settings, speed protocols and rocking modes, make the experimental reach of the rota rod exceptionally flexible.

The touchscreen graphic user interface allows clear visualization of timing and speed for each lane. Change modes, adjust speed, and create protocols right from the main screen for greater flexibility with maximum functionality and usability. The data can be read on the screen and/or exported to the SEDACOM software for saving the data in table form by lanes/trials.

The new integral cover option helps confine the animals if they fall off of the rod (only available for mice).

Parameters measured

• Animal latency to fall
• Rotation speed when fall occurs

Innovative Metabolic Monitoring

OxyletPro is a modular system integrating:

• Respiratory metabolism (VO2 consumption/VCO2 production)
• Food and drink intake
• Activity/rearing measurements

OxyletPro, an optimized system for studies in laboratory research models, utilizes indirect calorimetry to evaluate respiratory metabolism.

Food and drink intake and activity are evaluated using Panlab’s weight transducer technology. This highly stable technology permits the continuous assessment of consumption and spontaneous activity with superior accuracy. For a more comprehensive evaluation of activity, an Infrared (IR) frame can be added to monitor rearing behavior.

OxyletPro’s unique modular design allows for simple expandability. Start with the configuration that meets your requirements today, and expands as needs change and grow.

Special configurations are available for calorimetry studies with neonatal rat pups as well as exercise physiology studies with our single lane, airtight treadmills.

OxyletPro can be used in the following applications:

Obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders, nutrition studies, chronobiology/circadian rhythm studies, drug screening, phenotyping and more!

Indirect Calorimetry

OxyletPro uses a standard rodent home cage and uses an airtight lid to ensure the integrity of the sample environment. Simply change from a mouse lid to a rat lid - that is how easy it is to adapt the system for both species.

The home cages are autoclavable, making cleaning easy.

The air supply and switching unit allows for independent flow control to each connected cage and sends the cage samples in tandem to the gas analyzer for O2 and CO2 concentration analysis. Since the flow is independently controlled for each cage, the system has the flexibility to conduct simultaneous experiments of subjects of varying species and/or size, making OxyletPro extremely efficient.

Our gas analyzer features a high quality laser diode O2 sensor and Infrared spectroscopy CO2 sensor, allowing 0.01% resolution.

We offer special configurations for neonatal rats and our single lane airtight treadmills.

Food and Drink Intake

Opt for our airtight lids with transducers to add on food and drink intake monitoring! High precision extensiometric weight transducers are integrated into our airtight lid design and feature easy to access food and drink dispensers.

This extremely stable technology allows intake monitoring with the highest possible accuracy (0.02 g for food and 0.01 g for liquid).

Activity and Rearing

Add on the sensor platform, which houses a third extensiometric weight transducer and continuously record spontaneous activity to clearly identify circadian patterns and activity levels. This highly precise capability will allow you to detect activity without displacement; even the finest movements by mice are detected.

For additional activity monitoring, our IR sensor bars are added to detect occurrence and duration of rearing events.

Modular software package for a modular system

Metabolism offers software modules for respiratory metabolism (METAOXY), intake (METAINT), and activity (METACT) to complement our OxyletPro modular hardware. The NEW user interface features an Experiment Assistant which simplifies and expedites the setup and an Advanced Scheduler Tool for organizing and managing OxyletPro experiments. The Data analysis enhancements include runtime viewers and charts for real time monitoring, batch analysis and an option for data averaging.

Now with an improved, 1-minute switching time, OxyletPro and Metabolism provides greater resolution for the following parameters for each user-defined time interval:

• VO2/VCO2 concentration
• VO2/VCO2 consumption
• Air flow rate
• Respiratory Quotient (VO2/VCO2)
• Energy expenditure
• Treadmill data (if applicable)
• Food and drink consumption
• Mean spontaneous activity
• Rearing data

NOTE: the calibration tanks are not provided with the system and should be purchased separately by the user (see specifications below).

Presentation

The SMALGO system is a quick and reliable instrument to assess threshold sensitivity of the animal when applying a progressive force. A MUST for osteo-arthritis and pain studies!

The SMALGO system fits on your finger (thumb or index) and allows applying easily a force or pressure on the desired location. Designed for OA quantification, it is generally used on the knee joint or on the lumbar vertebrae for low back pain assessment.

The threshold sensitivity of the animal is quickly and reliably found when applying a progressive force, this threshold is immediately displayed on the electronic device in Grams, Newton, Ibs or Oz.

The instrument is composed of :

• The stimulator unit designed to be attached to the thumb delivered with 3 stimulation tips (3,5 and 8 mm in diameter)
• A new interface table casing: This control unit is now the same as other mechanical pain stimulation instruments such as the Rodent Pincher and Electronic Von Frey. This compatibility allows the use of one unit for several instruments (economical solution). Moreover, a new feature is available : the Smalgo is now able to deliver TTL signals for electrophysiology applications.
• The BIO-CIS Software for connection to a computer.

 Operating principle

 The operator adjusts the algometer (analgesimeter) to the thumb and applies a progressive pressure to the relevant location on the animal, as if he was applying the pressure directly with his own finger. The operator increases the stimulation until he obtains a reaction from the animal (scream, shudder...) and then stops the stimulation. The maximum force value is automatically saved and displayed on the screen of the instrument.

You can also connect the Smalgo to the BIO-CIS software. There are two ways of using Smalgo with this software :

• The Smalgo can be connected directly to the software during the experiment. Bio-Cis will display force curves in real-time during every measurement, which is a great help to ensure repeatability during your stimulations and to validate your data.
• You can also export all measurements stored in the inner memory of the Smalgo after the experiment.
• In both cases, you will furthermore be able to export your results to an Excel file.

Supplied with

• Carry case, mains adaptor 110/220 V
• Control unit and its sensor (cable is 1 meter long)
• 3 sensor tips 3, 5, 8 mm diam.
• Software BIO-CIS included (only for SMALGO, not VETALGO) to display force curves and transfert data under MS Excel data sheet
• RS-232-USB cable to plug it to a laptop under Windows
• USB footswitch to reset the display hand-free

New Features

Enhanced compatibility: The Smalgo control unit is now the same as other mechanical pain stimulators from Bioseb.

• Economical solution if you want to buy several mechanical pain stimulators.
• All in one instrument reducing space in your laboratory.
• Easy maintenance : Only one instrument to re-calibrate. Also, for users already owning the Bioseb Von frey (EVF4) or Pincher, the SMALGO sensor is available as an “add on” part to their instrument. (Ref: SMALGO-SPIP ).

TTL Option: For laboratories that need compatibility between Smalgo and Electrophysiology,  the instrument is eble to send TTL Signals between 0 and 5 volts.

• Smalgo now enables you to pair electrophysiology signals and pain stimulation.
• The operator can define a limit in force at which the Smalgo will send the trigger. The trigger can be sent when reaching one or several values. This is a very convenient feature for a large number of protocols.
• The TTL trigger is easy to set up directly in the menu of the apparatus (without needing to connect to the software)
• A sound and a light can be activated at a specific force. Several possibilities are available. Do not hesitate to contact us for this option.

Foot switch: With Smalgo, it is now possible to reset the value (tar/reset to zero) with a foot switch, allowing the operator to keep his both hands to manipulate the animal. The foot switch is systematically delivered with the Smalgo.

Bioseb's "Rodent Pincher" algometer allows calibrated forceps to induce quantifiable mechanical stimulation in the animal (rats or mice) on a linear scale. The most suitable protocol was experimented by determining the effects of 3 repetitive measurements on the 2 hindpaws, respectively over long-term (9 days), mid-term (1 day) and short-term (2 hours). It was primarily developed as an analgesimeter/algometer (analgesia measurement instrument) for nociceptive tests. In this specific use, the Rodents Pincher not only represents an alternative to the "RANDALL & SELITTO" test - but also presents the following advantages when compared to the classical test:

• More ethical handling, less stressful for the animal (rat or mouse) resulting in less variable measurements
• Faster measurement, less traumatic for the tissues
• Digital measurement with metrological traceability 

Furthermore, this pincher-based analgesia meter can also be used for other applications that require a controlled force or pressures values, for example :

• Sensitivity recovery after nerve crush: pinching is applied at several places over the paw to see the sensitivity recovery
• Mechanical injuries for thrombotic models
• Mechanical stimulation for in vivo electrophysiological recordings using the possibility to trigger recording on force thresholds

Comparative studies (including comparative tests with the Randall & Sellito analgesimeter) have demonstrated the accuracy of this pincher-based algometer for easy, fast and reproducible measurement of mechanical pain threshold on rat limbs. Moreover, it allowed to perform rat analagesia testing with minimal constraint, which reduces data variability.

Operating principle

The pressure is applied in the "inter-digital" region. When used on the rat the pressure can also be applied to the tail. The instrument displays the force (in grams, newton, oz, lbs) at which the animal reacts and reports the nociception threshold. 

Individual pain threshold measurements (up to 100) are stored in the internal memory, and can be downloaded post experiment. Recently an embedded statistical computation has been included in the electronic device of the algometer. This is a very useful feature that has been very well received and used by users of large numbers of tests. The display shows in real time the mean, standard deviation and variation coefficient from groups of animals (rats or mice). This feature also allows the user to cancel any analgesia test incorrectly performed.

The Dynamic Weight Bearing - New Incapacitance Test, is a new test for assessing spontaneous pain in freely moving rodents, which is based on an instrumented-floor cage and a combined video acquisition system. The Dynamic Weight Bearing test, especially suitable for research on Parkinson and allodynia, was a major break-through in the field of research on analgesia: operator-independent, time-saving, convenient for manipulating large amounts of rodents, and induces no stress on the animal (rat or mouse). The system has been used extensively by many customers from private firms to academic labs since 2008 for various types of research on analgesia and nociception.

The Dynamic Weight Bearing system also offers the possibility of conducting the experiment over a longer observational period (5 minutes) without an operator (thus reducing stress on the animal), and without any habituation period. With these exclusive features, the DWB opens a new and improved generation of instruments for drugs screening and optimization of preclinical models. The latest version is now a semi-automatic, operator-independent instrument. 

Operating principle

Performing the same measurements as the original manual Version, the Advanced DWB (Dynamic Weight Bearing) improves two of the turnkey points of the system: the speed of operation and the operator independent factor. The Advanced DWB allows the user to reduce the most important phase of the process by a factor of 8 to 10, thus the analysis of 1 animal will take 1 to 2 minutes and be operator-independent.

The results encompass a lot of valuable information but will ask for a minimum of manpower and many more animal analysis can be done in the same amount of time than with a manual instrument. The software gives the weight distribution of the animal (rat or mouse), per limb, with additional ratio computations and filtering options. 

Analysis and replay can be performed on site or remotely using Bioseb's exclusive software for Dynamic Weight Bearing and Incapacitance tests. During the analysis and replay, the operator can check and secure each limb recognition for hind and front paws. The weight distribution of the animal (rat or mouse) per limb is then shown in the result window, for each time period with the mean and the variation coefficient. 

Parameters measured

• Weight for each paw (g and % total animal weight)
• Weight for grouped front and rear paws (g and %total animal weight)
• Left/Right and Front/Rear weight ratio
• Surface for each paw (mm²)
• Surface for grouped front and rear paws (mm²)
• Variability (standart deviation/mean) for each parameter
• Parameters are given for each posture and as a mean for the whole experiment
• Duration of different postures (4 paws, rearing…) over the whole experiment (s)
• Total time spent on each paw over the whole experiment (s)

The Kinetic Weight Bearing (KWB) system is an alternative method generating quantitative data on footprints and gait in spontaneously moving animals. 

The unique "sensor-mat" technology originally designed by Bioseb for the Dynamic Weight Bearing application has been refined and adapted to make kinetic analysis possible. This allows the weight borne by each individual paw to be tracked during a walking sequence in a corridor. The Kinetic Weight Bearing Instrument provides additional information on applied weight as well as the speed and acceleration of each paw as the animal moves toward an end point of the runway platform. This additional information provides data on coordination and gait comparison paw to paw and step to step. The system combines the video of a freely walking rodent (mouse or rat) with the pressure applied by each paw in real time using an array of not less than 4000 or 6000 sensors depending on the corridor's length.

Operation principle

The Kinetic Weight Bearing (KWB) Instrument offers automated parameter analysis for each paw of a rodent on Maximum Force (mN), Mass Velocity (N/s), and Maximum surface area (cm2). Additional Gait Parameters are also analyzed, speed, cadence, overlaps, and step patterns, are all compared and statistically processed. An automated analysis package is available for automatic analysis of a batch of experiments, saving time in analysis, and making the results more consistent and less operator dependent.

The instrument combines the video of a freely moving rodent with the data supplied by the mat including up to 6000 sensors that cover the full length of a corridor at the end of which lies the animal's home cage. Gait analysis can be carried out, and can be applied in the study of diseases such as CNS ischemia, SCI, and Neurotrauma, for example.

Bioseb has demonstrated that the rising time to the maximum force of each animal step differs across different animal models. The KWB is able to compare the path of the animal's "Geometric Center of Gravity" with the actual "Weighted Center of Gravity", and show significant differences. Changes in weight distribution from left to right, front to back and contra-lateral compensation are easily measured, thus providing useful information for your research work on nociception and analgesia.

Gait analysis has been extensively used in phenotyping of CNS diseases such as cerebral ischemia, neurodegenerative diseases, Spinal Cord Injury models and some pain models like neurotrauma (Nerve Crush, SNI…). The kinetic weight bearing system adds a major feature to existing gait analysis systems by including the measurement of the force applied by each individual paw to the floor the animal is walking upon.

Parameters measured:

• Scored prints/total
• Steps number for each paw
• Animal speed
• Paw speed
• Cadence 
• BoS front rear
• Overlap left/right
• Animal weight (g)
• Mean forces/weight ratio
• Peak force for each paw/animal weight
• Peak surface for each paw
• Stride length /paw
• Swing duration /paw (s)
• Stance duration/ paw (s)
• Propulsion duration /paw (s)
• Step duration /paw (s)
• Ratio of any 2 parameters

The OxyletPro system is a modular system allowing the integration of respiratory metabolism (O2 consumption /CO2 production). Panlab provides a complete Oxylet solution enabling forced exercise training in a treadmill combined with indirect calorimetry in rodents.

Basically, Panlab Treadmill apparatus consists of a rolling belt with adjustable speed (up to 150 cm/s) and slope (from -25 to 25 degrees) and a control Unit. The rolling belt is built with especially selected materials to guarantee the best performance under conditions of intensive use and the minimum operations of maintenance, as well as simplicity in keeping it clean. The lanes (corridors of activity for the animal) have sufficient width for the subject to correct its errors in coordination, thereby allowing an exact measurement of the fatigue without deficiencies in motor coordination. 

The treadmill unit controls the speed of the belt, shows measured data in its touchscreen display and provides electrical shock to the grid. The electrical shock supplied by the grid is of constant intensity (from 0 to 2 mA), that is, the current which circulates through the animal (and therefore its effect) only depends on the value of the mA chosen and not of the subject (quantity of body mass in contact with the bars, perspiration, etc.)

For metabolism studies, the treadmill is provided with an air isolated enclosure. The LE400 air flow control unit allows a fine regulation of the air flow inside the treadmill and sends the air to the LE450 gas analyzer for O2/CO2 gas concentrations determination.

The associated METABOLISM software transfers the data from the treadmill control unit and the gas analyzer to a PC computer using RS232/USB outputs for data storage and further analysis.

NOTE: the calibration tanks are not provided with the system and should be purchased separately by the user (see Specifications tab).

The Thermal Gradient Test has been described in Moqrich et al. 2005, and is one of the very few thermal nociception tests to be operator independent on freely moving rodents (mice and rat). A continuous temperature gradient (5 to 55°C) is established over a 120 cm long base plate, on which the animal is free to walk. After the exploration period the rodent (mouse or rat) shows a distinct zone preference, or comfort zone.

Bioseb has defined an automated instrument for your research on analgesia and nociception (especially suitable for research on alodynia), with a temperature gradient stable over the surface and over time, allowing to identify the preferred temperature zone. Two instruments models will test independently and simultaneously 2 mice or small rats (1 adult rat).

The accompanying software, coupled to a video camera, displays for each animal the time spent per time period in each temperature zone, together with overall travelled distance.

The encrypted data and the video images are recorded synchronously in real time during the nociception experiments. This allows the operator to replay and check the animal behaviour at any time and remotely, and also to comply with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP).