Animal research activity wheel BIO-ACTIWH2

for spontaneous exercisefor researchfor behavioral research

Presentation
The BIOSEB Spontaneous Activity Wheel (reference BIO-ACTIWH2) provides a laboratory-ready solution to quantify voluntary rodent locomotor behaviour within a home-cage environment. The device integrates a large-diameter running wheel with individual monitoring to permit extended single-animal housing with ad libitum access to food and water while accurately recording natural activity patterns.

Operating principle
The system pairs a coded rotating disc with an electronic sensor to capture voluntary running parameters. High-reliability sensors deliver an angular resolution of approximately 22° and a time resolution of 0.1 s, enabling detection of very short laps and precise characterization of acceleration and power profiles. Each wheel is fitted with an individual counter featuring an embedded LCD and automatic counting functionality.

Software
ACTIVW-SOFT is provided as the dedicated software suite for data acquisition and management. Data are recorded at 1 Hz. The software supports group management, delayed acquisition start, pause/resume (for cage maintenance), per-wheel or group visualization, and export to text/Excel. One PC can monitor up to 64 cages via USB (cable length up to 5 m between cage and PC). Output files contain computed parameters per period, including total time in wheel and discrete rotation/access events.

Key features

• Transparent components for long-term observation
• Removable rods to vary task complexity
• Adapted for animals from neonates to obese subjects
• Low-friction rotation mechanism with speed regulation
• Autoclavable parts for standard hygiene workflows
• Capability to monitor short- and long-term spontaneous activity
• High angular and temporal resolution for acceleration pattern analysis
• Supplied with home cage; robust design for easy cleaning
• Individual Wheel Counter with LCD display
• Configurations available for mice and for rats
• Optional ACTIVW-SOFT extends measured parameters and group monitoring

Domains of application

• Drug screening and preclinical pharmacology
• Phenotyping and behavioural phenomics
• Circadian rhythm and chronobiology studies
• Aging research
• Neuromuscular and motor coordination disorder studies
• Neurodegenerative disease models (Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS)
• Pain research and multidisciplinary behavioural studies

How delivered / Models & accessories (summary)
Delivered as a Premium activity wheel configured for mice or for rats. Additional wheels, individual counters and the ACTIVW-SOFT software are available as accessories to assemble multi-cage monitoring systems.

Technical specifications

• Reference: BIO-ACTIWH2
• Data output: requires 2 USB outputs
• Dimensions (overall): Rats 42 x 28 x 41 cm; Mice 37 x 22 x 29 cm
• Sampling rate: 1 Hz data transmission to software
• Angular resolution / accuracy: ~22°
• Time resolution: 0.1 s
• Measured parameters: distance run (both directions), wheel revolutions, average/min/max speed, acceleration, total time in wheel, number of access events; statistical displays and custom time-period analyses
• Software: ACTIVW-SOFT (manages up to 64 cages, export to text/Excel)
• Applications: behavioural phenotyping, motor control, pain, neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disease research
• Availability: Configurations for mice (BIO-ACTIWH2-M) and rats (BIO-ACTIWH2-R); additional accessories available