Force measurement device, method of making force measurements of sensitivity threshold of animals, rodent enclosure, program to display force measurement data

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.