Force measurement device, method of making force measurements of sensitivity threshold of animals, rodent enclosure, program to display force measurement data
MICHAEL JOHN DIXON,POLLY MARGARET TAYLOR,BENJAMIN DIXON
申请号：
GB201105990
公开号：
GB2489933A
申请日:
2011.04.08
申请国别(地区):
GB
年份:
2012
代理人:
摘要：
A force measurement device suitable for use with a rodent enclosure to measure the tactile response of a rodent comprises a measurement probe 10 connected to a device body. The probe has a tip 16 which can be engaged with a rodent's paw through the floor of the enclosure. The device body has a fixed body part 22, 32, 34 fig. 2 and a rotatable body part 24 arranged to allow relative rotation between them. A rotation sensor detects the relative rotation and outputs a measurement parameter having values that are calibrated against force values associated with forces applied to the probe's tip. A rodent enclosure figs 4-6 is also claimed, dimensioned in length, width and height so as to allow a rodent to run freely along the length of the enclosure, but not turn around without standing on its hind legs. The enclosure has a floor with bars extending transversely to allow access for a force sensor's probe from below. A computer program product is also claimed bearing instructions comprising a display part to display a graph of force as a function of time from a force measurement data set, a visual representation of a range of acceptable evolutions of force v time overalaid on the graph and an input via which the operator is prompted to provide an input decision accepting or rejecting the displayed force measurement data set.
