Movement--responsive system for conducting tests on freely-moving animals

An apparatus for performing at least one biomedical test on a freely-moving animal, comprising:

• a container for housing the animal;
• means for rotating the container in response to rotational movement of the animal, including
• means for sensing rotational movement of the animal, the sensing means comprising
• first and second optical sensors activated upon interruption of a light beam emanating therefrom, the first and second sensors positioned such that the sensors are at a predetermined rotational angle with respect to each other as measured between the light beams, and
• a rotating element having at least a portion thereof positioned to interrupt the light beams of the first and second sensors during rotation of the rotating element;
• means for driving rotation of the container, the driving means electrically connected to the first and second optical sensors, such that activation of the first sensor causes the driving means to rotate the container in a clockwise direction and activation of the second sensor causes the driving means to rotate the container in a counterclockwise direction;
• and
• means for tethering the animal to the sensing means, the tether means having first and second ends, the first end connected to the animal, and the second end connected to the rotating element of the sensing means to cause rotation of the rotating element upon rotational movement of the animal;
• and
• at least one test lead for performance of at least one biomedical test, the lead having a first end for connection to the animal and a second end for connection to an external device,
• such that rotational movement of the animal causes the rotating element of the rotating means to interrupt either the first or second sensors to thereby result in counter-rotation of the container.

An apparatus for performing at least one biomedical test on a freely-moving animal, comprising:

• a container for housing the animal;
• means for rotating the container, the rotating means operably connected to the container;
• means for sensing rotational movement of the animal, the sensing means including
• first and second activatable limit detectors having a primary sensing axis, the first and second limit detectors positioned such that the primary sensing axes of the limit detectors are at a predetermined relative position with respect to each other, the first and second limit detectors logically connected to the rotating means to cause clockwise and counterclockwise movement, respectively, of the rotating means upon activation thereof, and
• a moveable triggering element having at least a portion thereof for activation and deactivation of the first and second limit detectors;
• means for supporting the sensing means above the animal, the support means connected to the sensing means;
• and
• means for tethering the animal to the sensing means, the tether means having first and second ends, the first end for connection to the animal, and the second end connected to the triggering element of the sensing means, wherein the tether means comprises a first test lead for performance of at least one biomedical test;
• such that rotational movement of the animal causes movement of the tether means which in turn causes movement of the triggering element of the sensing means, and upon activation of either the first or second limit detectors by the portion of the triggering element for activation of the first and second limit detectors results in counter-rotation of the container by the rotating means by activation of the respective limit detector and recording of the direction of rotation by a recording device electrically connected to the controller which in turn is electrically connected to the limit detector.