Electronic device, system comprising such device and method for automatic detection of cage condition and presence

A method for detecting condition and presence of a laboratory animal cage, comprising:

• providing an electronic device at least a radiating element;
• radiating, by means of said radiating element an electro-magnetic field through a dielectric means which is present in the proximity of said radiating element;
• positioning a cage in the proximity of said radiating element so that said cage results to be inserted into said the dielectric means;
• detecting the variations in said electro-magnetic field by means of a detecting sensor;
• receiving and processing, by a processing unit, the signal coming from said detecting sensor and comparing said signal to threshold values previously determined to detect modifications of dielectric properties based on the comparison.