Activity Wheel
The Activity Wheel is designed to measure voluntary physical activity in rodents, making it an essential tool for research in exercise physiology, motivation, and circadian rhythm regulation. By capturing running behavior in real time, the wheel allows researchers to assess activity patterns, endurance, and daily rhythmicity. Integrated with a magnetic sensor and Fusion Software, it provides precise, automated tracking of wheel revolutions. The standard 6.5” wheel suits mice, with optional sizing for rats or custom needs. An optional Dual Wheel Kit enables simultaneous testing of two animals, supporting high-throughput, behaviorally relevant data collection in a naturalistic and enriched environment.
Overview
The Activity Wheel is a versatile accessory for the SuperFlex Open Field System and Home Cage System, enabling detailed investigation into voluntary exercise, motivation, and circadian rhythm behavior in rodents. Designed to integrate seamlessly with the SuperFlex environment, this module provides a naturalistic and enriching platform for animals while delivering precise behavioral data for researchers. The system includes a single running wheel assembly equipped with a magnetic sensor that accurately captures revolutions and running activity, allowing for comprehensive tracking of locomotor behavior.
With a standard wheel diameter of 6.5 inches for mice, the module supports a variety of species and research needs, offering optional sizing for rats or custom specifications. For high-throughput studies, an optional Dual Wheel Kit is available, permitting simultaneous testing of two animals within the same arena. This configuration enhances efficiency while maintaining individual behavioral data streams, thanks to the module’s compatibility with Fusion Software for automated data acquisition and analysis.
The Activity Wheel is ideal for studies examining exercise-driven behavioral changes, motivational paradigms, and circadian rhythm regulation. By encouraging voluntary physical activity, it promotes environmental enrichment and supports the expression of natural behaviors, which is critical for both scientific validity and animal welfare. Whether used independently or alongside other SuperFlex accessories, the Activity Wheel Module offers a robust and adaptable solution for a wide range of behavioral neuroscience applications.
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* SuperFlex Open Field *
The SuperFlex is a powerful and versatile open field system for tracking animal movement and behavior. It uses a 16x16 infrared grid to monitor animals in standard or custom-sized cages, with recorded data analyzed through Omnitech's Fusion software. This software allows for flexible experiment design, multi-animal tracking, and long-term studies, while generating visual outputs like heat maps and path plots. The system is easy to set up with plug-and-play USB connectivity and can handle up to 32 systems on a single PC, making it ideal for high-throughput research. SuperFlex offers customizable sensor configurations and integrates smoothly with other lab equipment, providing a flexible, scalable solution for behavioral research.
AccuPacer Mouse Treadmill
The Omnitech AccuPacer Treadmill is designed for studying exercise-related paradigms such as muscle atrophy, stress, running, and fatigue in animals. It features a belt driven by a DC servomotor for precise speed control, adjustable from 0 to 100 meters per minute, with an optional motorized grade adjuster for incline. Each animal runs in its own separated lane, with individual shock grids for training, and the treadmill uses both negative and positive stimuli to reduce training time. Additional features include independent lanes, waste collection trays, and air-tight runways for optional integration with a metabolic system.
AccuRotor EzRod
The AccuRotor EzRod is a rotarod system designed for testing balance and coordination in mice and rats. It works with Fusion software to set up trials at constant speeds or with variable acceleration. The system automatically stops when a fall is detected by infrared sensors. The Fusion software can manage up to 16 EzRods per computer, allowing researchers to quickly start new tests after a subject falls, making it ideal for high-throughput experiments.
AccuRotor Four Animal Rotarod
The AccuRotor Computerized Rota-Rod is designed for balance and coordination testing in mice and rats, offering features like customizable constant-speed and acceleration trials. It uses a precise DC servo motor for smooth rotation, with speeds ranging from 0.0 to 100.0 RPM, and can handle complex acceleration profiles, including forward/reverse rocking. The system includes fall detection via optical sensors, eliminating issues with mechanical systems, and records trial duration or fall counts. It supports up to four animals simultaneously, with adjustable lanes and easy-to-use software that offers trial customization, real-time data recording, and export to Excel. The system is adaptable for both mice and rats, with removable rat adapters, and provides simple USB connectivity for easy setup.
Conditioned Place Preference
The Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) and Conditioned Place Aversion (CPA) systems are used to study animals' preference or aversion to stimuli, such as drugs, through Pavlovian conditioning. The protocol consists of three phases: habituation, conditioning (associating the drug with a cue), and testing where the animal chooses between the drug-associated and neutral cues. If the drug induces preference, the animal spends more time near the drug cue, or less time if it induces aversion. Sensors track variables like locomotor activity, time spent, entries into compartments, and movement, providing detailed data on the animal's response to the conditioning.
Dark Enclosure
The light/dark box test assesses anxiety in rodents by measuring their preference for dark versus brightly lit areas with more time in the dark suggesting higher anxiety. The Fusion system automates this by dividing the cage into light and dark zones, tracking behaviors like movement, time spent, and activity levels to provide detailed anxiety-related data.
Environmental Control Chamber
The Environmental Control Chamber (ECC) is designed to minimize external influences on experimental subjects, reducing environmental bias. It works in conjunction with the SuperFlex Open Field system, providing uniform lighting and sound attenuation, ideal for light- and sound-sensitive experiments. Lighting duration and intensity can be programmed, simulating day/night cycles. The stackable design saves space, with optional mobile bases for easy transport and cleaning. The ECC powers the open field setup with a single cord, and features a silent, user-controlled fan to manage airflow and temperature.
Tall AccuRotor Four Animal Rotarod
The Tall AccuRotor Rotarod provides a 64 cm fall height and 7 cm rod diameter, supporting up to four subjects at once. It combines smooth, controlled motorized rotation with customizable software-based trial design. With optical fall detection, individual lane controls, and simple USB connectivity, the system offers a reliable and adaptable platform for motor coordination testing in rats.