Abstract: An electronic monitor can monitor experimental animals in a cage. The cage has one or more walls that enclose a living space for the experimental animals. The electronic monitor is coupled to the cage. The electronic monitor may include a housing adapted to be mechanically coupled to the cage in a predefined position relative to the cage. A substantially sterile barrier is provided between the living space and the external environment in this coupled state. The walls of the cage may include a signal-interface section. An electromagnetic detector may be coupled to the housing to have a line-of-sight through the signal-interface section and into the living space of the cage. The electromagnetic detector is adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation that is transmitted through the signal-interface section. A controller processes a signal received from the electromagnetic detector to determine a status of the experimental animals or the living space.

Abstract: A method for preparing a card containing at least one sequestered compound is provided. The method includes preparing a first waxy phase, preparing a first volatile phase comprising a first sequestered compound, creating a first emulsion from the first waxy phase and the first volatile phase, depositing the first emulsion on the card, and cooling the first emulsion.

Abstract: A method of determining a cognitive state of an experimental animal in a cage is provided. The cage includes one or more walls that enclose a living space for containing the experimental animal, and a heating structure. The method includes installing a card with at least a first type of sequestered olfactory compound, directing the heating structure to selectively heat the card to release the first type of sequestered first type of olfactory compound to subject the experimental animal to a novel olfactory experience, creating a first assessment of a behavior of the laboratory animal, subjecting the experimental animal to experimental procedures and/or waiting a selected amount of time, directing the heating structure to selectively heat the card to release more of the first type of sequestered olfactory compound, creating a second assessment of a behavior of the experimental animal, and evaluating the first and second assessments to determine the cognitive state of the experimental animal.

Abstract: An electronic monitor can monitor experimental animals in a cage. The cage has one or more walls that enclose a living space for the experimental animals. The electronic monitor is coupled to the cage. The electronic monitor may include a housing adapted to be mechanically coupled to the cage in a predefined position relative to the cage. A substantially sterile barrier is provided between the living space and the external environment in this coupled state. The walls of the cage may include a signal-interface section. An electromagnetic detector may be coupled to the housing to have a line-of-sight through the signal-interface section and into the living space of the cage. The electromagnetic detector is adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation that is transmitted through the signal-interface section. A controller processes a signal received from the electromagnetic detector to determine a status of the experimental animals or the living space.

Abstract: A cage for housing at least one experimental animal is disclosed. The cage may include one or more walls that enclose a living space for at least one experimental animal with at least one wall comprising a plastic material. At least one electrical feedthrough may traverse the wall. The electrical feedthrough may include an internal electrical contact located inside the living space and an external electrical contact located outside the living space. The internal and external electrical contacts may be electrically connected. A system for monitoring at least one experimental animal and an electrical feedthrough for providing electrical continuity through a wall of a cage for housing an experimental animal is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequestering and releasing compounds into the air is provided. The apparatus includes a card with a first side and a second side, and a plurality of compound-sequestering structures affixed to the first side. Each of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures is configured to release a compound into the air when heated to a first temperature.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one physiological characteristic of at least one experimental animal in a cage is disclosed. The method may include capturing at least one infrared image of the at least one experimental animal in a band of infrared radiation that is within the range of from about 3 ?m to about 14 ?m in wavelength and capturing at least one visible image of the at least one experimental animal. The method may further include correlating the at least one image and the at least one visible light image and determining the at least one physiological characteristic of the at least one experimental animal based at least in part on the correlation. An apparatus to determine at least one physiological characteristic of at least one experimental animal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cage for monitoring an experimental animal is disclosed. The cage may include one or more walls that enclose a living space for at least one experimental animal. At least one of the one or more walls may include a first material that is a plastic material. The cage may further include a window that is transparent to a band of infrared radiation that is within the range of from about 3 ?m to about 14 ?m in wavelength. The transparent window may have an inner side exposed to the living space that includes a second material that is substantially non-toxic to the at least one experimental animal.

Abstract: A respiration rate detector is provided for determining a rate of respiration of an experimental animal. The respiration rate detector includes one or more optical detectors to observe an experimental animal and generate a video signal relating to the experimental animal. A controller is provided to process the video signal to determine an optical flow of the video signal and generate an optical-flow signal, and analyze the optical-flow signal to determine the respiration rate of the experimental animal based on a detected repetitive movement of the experimental animal. The respiration rate is thereby detected without requiring physical contact with the experimental animal.

Abstract: A method for electronically determining a metabolic characteristic of an experimental animal in a living space is disclosed. The method includes confirming that a temperature in a living space is within a predefined range that consists of temperatures near or within a metabolic thermoneutral zone of the experimental animal, capturing at least one infrared image of at least one experimental animal in a band of infrared radiation that is within the range of from about 3 ?m to about 14 ?m in wavelength, identifying at least one data set of the at least one infrared image that corresponds to a tail of the experimental animal, processing the at least one data set of the at least one infrared image to evaluate a temperature of the tail of the experimental animal, and determining the metabolic characteristic based at least in part on the evaluated tail temperature.

Abstract: A cage for monitoring an experimental animal is disclosed. The cage may include one or more walls that enclose a living space for at least one experimental animal. At least one of the one or more walls may include a first material that is a plastic material. The cage may further include a window that is transparent to a band of infrared radiation that is within the range of from about 3 ?m to about 14 ?m in wavelength. The transparent window may have an inner side exposed to the living space that includes a second material that is substantially non-toxic to the at least one experimental animal.