Animal research activity monitor LE8815

for researchfor behavioral researchfor preclinical research

Presentation
The Infrared (IR) Actimeter LE8815 is a modular detection system for automated monitoring of spontaneous locomotor activity, rearings and exploration in rodents. It supports open-field and home-cage configurations and is designed for pharmacological screening and phenotype characterisation under both light and dark conditions.

Operating principle
The system comprises square sensor frames (X and Y axes), frame supports and a control/data logger unit. Each frame incorporates a grid of infrared beams to detect subject position and movements. Frames are interchangeable and configurable for surface activity, rearing (Z) detection or hole-board nose-poke detection. The photocell array offers up to 15 sensitivity levels and can be configured to ignore beams obstructed by cage walls or accessories.

Key features

• Modular, interchangeable frames for ACT, REAR or POKING modes
• Up to 15 adjustable sensitivity levels and beam obstruction filtering
• Operable with or without a PC via independent control units
• Minimal maintenance and low lighting requirements for animal comfort

Software / Data
Frames may be controlled by independent units (e.g. LE8825) or via SEDACOM software. The ACTITRACK option provides trajectory analysis (distance, speed, time in zones) and complements control-unit outputs for advanced behavioural metrics.

Parameters measured

• Fast/Slow activity (displacement movements) — control unit
• Fast/Slow stereotypies (non-displacement movements) — control unit
• Fast/Slow rearings — control unit
• Fast/Slow nose-poke (hole-board) — control unit
• Track analysis: distance, speed, time in zone, inactivity intervals — ActiTrack
• Rearing events and duration — ActiTrack

LE8815 Actimeter composition (example configuration)

• 2 × square frames LE8816, internal area 22 × 22 cm, 16 IR beam cells per side (X and Y)
• 1 × LE8818 frame support for 2 frames
• 1 × LE8825 electronic data logger/control unit (monitors 1–2 frames; LCD for protocol setup and results; configurable for hole-board)

Notes on modularity
Each sensor frame can be configured as a surface (X,Y) or rearing (Z) sensor, enabling monitoring of one animal in 3D (X,Y,Z) or two animals in XY.

Domains of application

• Baseline activity assessment and longitudinal monitoring
• Response to novelty or anxiogenic environments
• Pharmacological, lesion or genetic intervention studies
• Drug screening and phenotyping
• Models for Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and ADHD research

Options

• LE8825: Data logger (up to 200 h memory, RS232)
• LE8814: Transparent arena for 1 subject (for LE8815), 440 × 440 mm
• LE8813: Transparent arena for 1 subject (for LE8816), 210 × 210 mm
• LE8821: Transparent arena for 2 subjects (for LE8815), requires ActiTrack
• LE8823: Transparent arena for 2 subjects (for LE8816), requires ActiTrack
• LE8820: Hole-board nose-poke base for LE8815 (16 holes, Ø2.4 mm, depth 1 cm)
• ACTITRACK software: tracking analysis for up to 32 frames (up to 64 animals) via PC RS232

Technical specifications

• Product name: Infrared Actimeter
• Reference code: LE8815
• Frame model: LE8816 — 22 × 22 cm internal area; 16 IR beam cells per side (X and Y)
• Frame support: LE8818 (supports 2 frames)
• Control unit / Data logger: LE8825 — monitors 1–2 frames; protocol setup; displays global/surface/rearing and movement data; up to 200 h memory
• Sensitivity: up to 15 levels; configurable beam filtering
• Operation modes: general activity, locomotor/stereotyped movements, rearings, hole-board (nose-poke)
• Software: ACTITRACK for distance, speed, time in zone, inactivity intervals and rearing events
• Modularity: frames configurable as surface or rearing sensors; system can monitor 1 animal in 3D or 2 animals in XY
• Typical use: automated open-field and home-cage monitoring for rodents (mice and rats)