PAW, a cost-effective and open-source alternative to commercial rodent running wheels

IF 2 Q3 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

HardwareX Pub Date : 2023-12-12 DOI:10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00499

Dylan J. Terstege, Jonathan R. Epp

{"title":"PAW, a cost-effective and open-source alternative to commercial rodent running wheels","authors":"Dylan J. Terstege, Jonathan R. Epp","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00499","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Voluntary wheel running is a common measure of general activity in many rodent models across neuroscience and physiology. However, current commercial wheel monitoring systems can be cost-prohibitive to many investigators, with many of these systems requiring investments of thousands of dollars. In recent years, several open-source alternatives have been developed, and while these tools are much more cost effective than commercial system, they often lack the flexibility to be applied to a wide variety of projects. Here, we have developed PAW, a 3D Printable Arduino-based Wheel logger. PAW is wireless, fully self-contained, easy to assemble, and all components necessary for its production can be obtained for only $75 CAD. Furthermore, with its compact internal electronics, the 3D printed casing can be easily modified to be used with a wide variety of running wheel designs for a wide variety of rodent species. Data recorded with the PAW system shows circadian patterns of activity which is expected from mice and is consistent with results found in the literature. Altogether, PAW is a flexible, low-cost system that can be beneficial to a broad range of researchers who study rodent models.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":37503,"journal":{"name":"HardwareX","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2023-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067223001062/pdfft?md5=40497daec4f0994eba40fda7268be810&pid=1-s2.0-S2468067223001062-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"HardwareX","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067223001062","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Voluntary wheel running is a common measure of general activity in many rodent models across neuroscience and physiology. However, current commercial wheel monitoring systems can be cost-prohibitive to many investigators, with many of these systems requiring investments of thousands of dollars. In recent years, several open-source alternatives have been developed, and while these tools are much more cost effective than commercial system, they often lack the flexibility to be applied to a wide variety of projects. Here, we have developed PAW, a 3D Printable Arduino-based Wheel logger. PAW is wireless, fully self-contained, easy to assemble, and all components necessary for its production can be obtained for only $75 CAD. Furthermore, with its compact internal electronics, the 3D printed casing can be easily modified to be used with a wide variety of running wheel designs for a wide variety of rodent species. Data recorded with the PAW system shows circadian patterns of activity which is expected from mice and is consistent with results found in the literature. Altogether, PAW is a flexible, low-cost system that can be beneficial to a broad range of researchers who study rodent models.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

PAW，一种替代商用跑鼠轮的高性价比开源产品

在神经科学和生理学领域的许多啮齿类动物模型中，自愿车轮跑步是衡量一般活动的常用方法。然而，对于许多研究人员来说，目前的商业车轮监测系统成本过高，其中许多系统需要投资数千美元。近年来，人们开发了一些开源替代品，虽然这些工具比商业系统更具成本效益，但它们往往缺乏灵活性，无法应用于各种项目。在此，我们开发了基于 Arduino 的三维打印车轮记录仪 PAW。PAW 是无线的、完全独立的、易于组装的，其生产所需的所有组件只需 75 美元 CAD 就能买到。此外，由于其内部电子元件结构紧凑，3D 打印外壳可以很容易地进行改装，以适用于各种啮齿类动物的各种跑轮设计。PAW 系统记录的数据显示了小鼠活动的昼夜节律模式，这符合人们的预期，也与文献中的结果一致。总之，PAW 是一种灵活、低成本的系统，对研究啮齿动物模型的广大研究人员大有裨益。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

HardwareX Engineering-Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

18.20%

发文量

124

审稿时长

24 weeks

期刊介绍： HardwareX is an open access journal established to promote free and open source designing, building and customizing of scientific infrastructure (hardware). HardwareX aims to recognize researchers for the time and effort in developing scientific infrastructure while providing end-users with sufficient information to replicate and validate the advances presented. HardwareX is open to input from all scientific, technological and medical disciplines. Scientific infrastructure will be interpreted in the broadest sense. Including hardware modifications to existing infrastructure, sensors and tools that perform measurements and other functions outside of the traditional lab setting (such as wearables, air/water quality sensors, and low cost alternatives to existing tools), and the creation of wholly new tools for either standard or novel laboratory tasks. Authors are encouraged to submit hardware developments that address all aspects of science, not only the final measurement, for example, enhancements in sample preparation and handling, user safety, and quality control. The use of distributed digital manufacturing strategies (e.g. 3-D printing) is encouraged. All designs must be submitted under an open hardware license.