we are pleased to introduce the rodentPACK: our head-mounted biopotential telemetry system for rodents

The rodentPACK transmits data via radiotelemetry, offering a well-tolerated, humane alternative to tethered eeg.  

rodentPACK is a miniature transmitter
for use in rodents 250 g & larger,
such as rats 

8 signals are acquired for each rodentPACK:

• 2 eeg signals, each sampled at 1 kHz
  
• 2 ecg/emg signals (any combination),
  each sampled at 500 Hz
  
• 3-axis acceleration,
  sampled at 80Hz on each axis
• total acceleration (computed from 3 axes),
  for activity assessment

There are several possible applications; to cite just a couple:

• sleep and epilepsy studies, by recording eeg, emg and activity/position
• ecg recording (6-lead), with acitivity/position  

key features

• measures 21 x 28 x 23 mm (transmitter and headconnector)
• and weighs 13 g: ideal for rats
  
• transmission range: up to 5 m
• 70 hours of continuous transmission
• group housing with multiple animals in same cage
• 20 to 40 animals in same room with no required shielding
  
• rodentPACK may be fixed to the cranium or used as a transmitter alone  
• iox software for acquisition, analysis & synchronized video recording
• ecgAUTO software for advanced analysis (ecg, FFT, sleep scoring)
  
  

advantages

• compact, light and noise free transmitter ( thanks to direct electrode to amplifier link)
• no refurbishment, batteries cost less than 1$/recording 
• a single transmitter can be used with any implanted animal
• x/y/z acceleration signals allow for postural information
• total acceleration useful for validating events on eeg/emg traces (seizure, movement)
• rodentPACK may be fixed to the cranium or used as a transmitter alone 
• rapid acclimation to rodentPACK: rats are not restrained in their everyday activities
• easy to use configuration software
• open system with analog outputs for direct connection to any software
  

rodentPACK consists of:

• head connector permanently implanted in the skull
• transmitter, connected to the head connector only during recordings
• receiver with antenna

head connector

• is partially implanted in the subject's skull
• directly linked to brain electrodes and to wires leading to distant electrodes (ecg, emg)
• locks to transmitter through 9 pins connection

transmitter

• contains all electronics (radio transmission, signal conditioning) and a 3-axis accelerometer
• contains two button batteries, providing around 70 hours of continuous recordin
• locks to head connector 
• takes only moments to connect to the head connector, forming a secure connection 
• a single transmitter can be used with any implanted animal. For example, if you own only 4 transmitters, you may implant head connectors on 16 rats, and on Day-1 record on animals 1-4, then on Day-2 record on animals 5-8 etc. So that with a limited investment you can perform in depth study of 16 animals

receiver

• each rodentPACK transmitter is paired up with a specific receiver card
• each transmitter/receiver pair operates on a specific frequency
• group housing is possible, no special precaution is required to avoid cross-talk
• up to 4 or 8 cards fit within a receiver mainframe, and multiple mainframes can be used in parallel
• transmission strength and frequency of rodentPACKs / receiver cards can be modified. Configuration is done by wiring the transmitter to a dock, itself connected to a PC running dedicated software
• the receiver mainframe provides analog output, for direct connection to any software

acquisition and real-time analysis

Acquisition and real-time analysis can be done in iox software.

 rodentPACK data - 50 s of data from a rat cortex, hippocampus, emg, total acceleration

post-acquisition analysis

ecgAUTO software is available for post-acquisition analysis such as ecg analysis and eeg analysis (including Fast Fourier Transform and sleep scoring).

epoch power spectrum (eeg analyzer)

3D display of average spectrums over time