Jonathan Betts-Lacroix,Timothy L. Robertson,Laura R. Schaevitz
申请号：
US14675717
公开号：
US09485966B1
申请日:
2015.03.31
申请国别(地区):
US
年份:
2016
代理人:
摘要：
The invention describes an automated method, device and system for both husbandry and study purposes of animals by providing a heat reward for specific behavior. Embodiments include maintaining the cage temperature at a normal, comfortable temperature for the animals, such as mice, using radiant heat rather than conducted heat to provide the reward, using home cages for the animals, detecting the behavior fully automated, operating in animal darkness, and using cages that are free of electrical penetrations. Some embodiments have one animal in a cage. Some embodiments have or support multiple animals in a cage and include methods to detect automatically identify animals, locate animals in the cage and associate a behavior and reward for a specific animal. Some embodiments place all sensors and radiant heat sources outside the cage, or use infrared sources for both heating and for IR camera lighting.
