Abstract: An observation chamber for three-dimensional kinematic profiling of subject animals. One example system for analyzing free-moving animal subject behavior includes a housing, a transparent arena configured to hold a subject, a camera mounted below the arena, and a mirror system configured to reflect multiple images of the subject in a single field of view of the camera. A height of the housing is less than 80 inches, and a width of the housing is less than 32 inches. The system fits within standard doorway dimensions.

Abstract: A band has at least one actuator including first and second members connected to one another so as to be pivotable between open and closed positions. The first member includes a pair of deformable beams, each having a protuberance extending therefrom. The second member includes a series of ridges and valleys formed therein that are sized, shaped and positioned to cooperate with the protuberances extending from the beams. In the open position and the closed position, the protuberances align with the valleys, such that the beams are in a relaxed state and generally parallel with each other, and when the first and second members are pivoted to positions between the open and closed positions, the protuberances cooperate with the ridges, such that the beams are elastically deformed so as to no longer be parallel with each other, and so as to store strain energy.

Abstract: A band includes a pair of members moveable between an open position adapted to receive an article in a channel and a closed position adapted to retain the article within the channel. Each of the members includes a plurality of pivotally attached bistable compliant links, such that when the links are pivoted past a threshold position toward the closed position, the links are biased toward the closed position and such that when the links are pivoted past the threshold position toward the open position, the links are biased toward the open position. An actuator linkage is pivotally connected to at least one of the links, the actuator linkage including an engagement end protruding into the channel when the members are in the open position, such that movement of the article into the channel causes the article to contact and exert actuation forces on the engagement end.

Abstract: A band includes a pair of members moveable between an open position adapted to receive an article in a channel and a closed position adapted to retain the article within the channel. Each of the members includes a plurality of pivotally attached bistable compliant links, such that when the links are pivoted past a threshold position toward the closed position, the links are biased toward the closed position and such that when the links are pivoted past the threshold position toward the open position, the links are biased toward the open position. An actuator linkage is pivotally connected to at least one of the links, the actuator linkage including an engagement end protruding into the channel when the members are in the open position, such that movement of the article into the channel causes the article to contact and exert actuation forces on the engagement end.

Abstract: A plurality of bistable compliant links are pivotally attached to one another, each of the links having a compliant section and first and second rigid sections extending from the compliant section. The links are pivotally attached to one another via the first and second rigid sections, such that when the links are pivoted with respect to each other past a threshold position toward a closed position, the links are biased toward the closed position by forces created by the compliant sections, and when the links are pivoted with respect to each other past the threshold position toward an open position, the links are biased toward the open position by forces created by the compliant sections. The forces created by the compliant sections biasing the links toward the closed position and biasing the links toward the open position are caused by elastic deformation of the compliant sections.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrically conductive polymer compositions comprising a polymer and a dispersant, and methods of synthesizing the polymers therein. Also disclosed herein are microelectrode arrays comprising the electrically conductive material and a conductive polymer composition attached to a surface of the electrically conductive material. Further disclosed herein are methods of detecting electrical activity in a cell comprising contacting the microelectrode array with a cell and detecting electrical activity in the cell by covalently attaching the polymer of the conductive polymer composition to a protein on the surface of the cell.

Abstract: An observation chamber for three-dimensional kinematic profiling of subject animals. One example system for analyzing free-moving animal subject behavior includes a housing, a transparent arena configured to hold a subject, a camera mounted below the arena, and a mirror system configured to reflect multiple images of the subject in a single field of view of the camera. A height of the housing is less than 80 inches, and a width of the housing is less than 32 inches. The system fits within standard doorway dimensions.