Peter F Duffy DeceasedBourne, MA

5163380, Nov 17, 1992

Aug 9, 1990

7/564877

Peter H. Duffy - Pine Bluff AR
Joseph F. Meehan - Little Rock AR
Ronald W. Hart - Little Rock AR

United States of America - Washington DC

A01K 100

119 15

Laboratory animals having known genetic, metabolic, and physiologic characteristics are maintained in sterile containment cells with known quantities of food, water, and oxygen provided to the animals and the rate of consumption monitored on a real- or near real-time basis. The containment cell, the food source, and the water source are mounted upon or suspended on or from load beams so that the mass of water and food consumed and the mass of the specimen are independently determinable on a real- or near real-time basis. The oxygen content of the input air is measured and at least the carbon dioxide and preferably both the oxygen and the carbon dioxide content of the output air are determined. A radio-frequency transducer is embedded within the specimen and transmits a short-range telemetry signal encoded with the specimen heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure to a set of spaced antennas connected to a data receiver. The relative received-signal strengths from the various antennas determines the position of the specimen in its containment cell and the rate of change of the position of the specimen with time to provide an indication of the motor activity of the specimen and the caloric energy expended by the specimen during the period of activity.