ITAP—Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce 59, Valladolid 47011, Spain
Javier Pérez-Turiel
ITAP—Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce 59, Valladolid 47011, Spain
Ellen Damm
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg Esch-sur-Alzette L-4362, Luxembourg and Internal Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg 66421, Germany
Jochen G. Schneider
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg Esch-sur-Alzette L-4362, Luxembourg and Internal Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg 66421, Germany
Animal testing plays a vital role in biomedical research. Stress reduction is important for improving research results and increasing the welfare and the quality of life of laboratory animals. To estimate stress we believe it is of great importance to develop non-invasive techniques for monitoring physiological signals during the transport of laboratory animals, thereby allowing the gathering of information on the transport conditions, and, eventually, the improvement of these conditions. Here, we study the suitability of commercially available electric potential integrated circuit (EPIC) sensors, using both contact and contactless techniques, for monitoring the heart rate and breathing rate of non-restrained, non-sedated laboratory mice. The design has been tested under different scenarios with the aim of checking the plausibility of performing contactless capture of mouse heart activity (ideally with an electrocardiogram). First experimental results are shown.
