GB2549738A

GB2549738A - Animal assessment device

Info

Publication number: GB2549738A
Application number: GB1607278.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Moon Lawrence; Gadiagellan Dhireshan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-26
Filing date: 2016-04-26
Publication date: 2017-11-01
Also published as: WO2017187167A1

Abstract

An animal assessment device 10 for use in a cage (20, fig 2) containing at least one animal. The animal assessment device includes a task assessment module 100 comprises a wall (102, fig 3) that defines a space inside the task assessment module. The wall defines an opening (104, fig 3) that permits an animal within the cage to access the space inside the task assessment module. The task assessment module comprises a positioning member 108 having an incentive receptacle 110 for holding an incentive, for example a sugar pellet. The positioning member is moveable within the space defined by the wall. The device may be provided with an incentive dispensing device 300 comprising an incentive reservoir 302 and a conveyor (308, fig 12) to deliver the incentive to a dispensing portion. Animal identification means 200 may be provided. A process of monitoring an animals attempts to retrieve the incentive wherein the success and failure rates are stored is claimed. The device may be used for single pellet grasping/reaching tasks (SPG).

Description

ANIMAL ASSESSMENT DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an animal assessment device. In particular, this invention relates to an assessment device for animals used in assessing new therapies in a laboratory setting.

BACKGROUND

People are often left disabled by brain and spinal cord injuries or diseases. The injuries or diseases often impair the person's dexterity thereby impairing their ability to feed themselves, for example.

Neuroscientists spend millions of hours each year assessing new therapies that are being developed to treat brain and spinal cord issues. Part of the assessment of these therapies is achieved by testing the behavioural responses of injured animals to dexterity tasks. These assessments require many man-hours in the laboratory, which costs a vast amount of money. One common labour-intensive animal assessment is known as the 'single pellet reaching task'.

The 'single pellet reaching task' assessment is usually carried out on rats and mice. The rats and mice have been subjected to a brain and/or spinal cord injury so that the effectiveness of a new therapy can be assessed using a series of single pellet reaching task assessments.

In order to carry out the experiments, an animal is trained manually by a scientist, and in isolation from other animals, to reach for single sugar pellets from one of two pedestals. Usually, rats are used for the reaching task assessment. A barrier separates the animal from the pedestals. Access to the sugar pellet is only available to the animal by way of the animal passing one of its forelimbs through a slit shaped opening in the barrier. The slit forces the rat to use its forelimb in a certain way thereby allowing the dexterity of the rat to be assessed fully. Placing the pellet to the left or the right of the slit will force the animal to use the opposing forelimb due to its physiology. The animal will initially perform poorly at the task and knock pellets from the pedestal or, even if it has grasped it, it may drop the pellet. However, after hundreds of trials, the animal becomes proficient at retrieving pellets from the pedestals. For example, an animal retrieving sixteen or more pellets from twenty attempted retrievals would be considered an expert rat.

Typically, an experiment might involve forty animals. Training this number of animals typically takes one technician up to two months. Following the training, an animal will then be given a disability. For example, a spinal cord injury performed under anaesthesia. The animal may then be given a therapy or placebo.

The animals involved in the experiment would then be assessed weekly, for eight weeks or more, for recovery of their dexterity using the single pellet reaching task. In some cases, the animals would also be given rehabilitation by daily intensive sessions of pellet reaching. This would typically take a person three months of full-time work to assess a therapy using this approach.

Each of the training or assessment tests requires the researcher to retrieve the animal from its cage and then place them onto the testing apparatus. The performance of the animal is then assessed laboriously pellet-by-pellet, animal-by-animal. Thus, the work is very time-consuming.

Cutting time from the animal assessment process would therefore be hugely beneficial in delivering effective therapies more rapidly and at a lower cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an animal assessment device for use with a cage containing at least one animal. The animal assessment device comprises a task assessment module. The task assessment module comprises: a wall that defines a space inside the task assessment module, wherein the wall defines an opening that permits an animal within the cage to access the space inside the task assessment module; and a positioning member having an incentive receptacle for holding an Incentive, wherein the positioning member is moveable within the space defined by the wall.

The animal assessment device may comprise an animal identification module. The animal identification module may include an animal identification means. The animal identification module may be arranged to provide the only access for an animal in the cage to the opening defined by the wall of the task assessment module.

The animal assessment device may comprise a processing module configured to monitor the animal assessment device and control the motion of the positioning member.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided incentive dispensing device comprising: an incentive reservoir for storing a plurality of incentives: and a conveyor configured to retrieve an incentive from the plurality of incentives and deliver the retrieved incentive to a dispensing position.

The incentive dispensing device may further comprise an incentive delivery chute configured to deliver the retrieved incentive from the conveyor to the dispensing position.

The animal assessment device may further comprise a dispensing module which is in accordance with the incentive dispensing device described herein. The delivery chute of the dispensing module may have an opening that is aligned with the incentive receptacle.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an animal assessment process for monitoring the behaviour of at least one animal in a cage. The animal assessment process comprises: obtaining a testing schedule from a first database; initiating a scheduled test; dispensing an incentive onto a positioning member at a dispensing position; moving the positioning member to a testing position in a space inside a task assessment module, where the space is defined by a wall of the task assessment module; monitoring an animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member through an opening defined by the wall of the task assessment module; determining the success or failure of the of the animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member; storing the success or failure of the of the animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member to a second database ; and returning the positioning member to the dispensing position.

The monitoring of an animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member may be a monitoring process comprising: monitoring the number of reach attempts to retrieve the incentive by the animal at the opening; determining whether the animal has failed the test due to exceeding the maximum allowable number of reach attempts; monitoring whether the animal has retrieved the incentive from the positioning member within a test time limit; determining whether the animal has failed the test due to exceeding the test time limit; monitoring whether the animal has dropped the incentive in an attempt to retrieve the incentive; determining whether the animal has failed the test due to dropping the incentive when attempting to retrieve the incentive; monitoring whether the animal has dislodged the incentive from the positioning member; registering a successful test if the animal has dislodged the incentive from the positioning member without determining that the animal has dropped the incentive when attempting to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member; and collecting the test result in preparation for outputting success or failure of the of the animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member.

The monitoring process may further comprise identifying which animal in the cage has approached the opening in the wall of the task assessment module.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an incentive dispensing process for an incentive dispensing device. The incentive dispensing process comprises: determining that an incentive is required to be dispensed from an incentive reservoir for storing a plurality of incentives; initiating the driving of a conveyor of the dispensing module to retrieve an incentive from the plurality of incentives; monitoring whether an incentive is present at a dispensing position; and determining whether to continue driving the conveyor in response to the monitoring of the presence of an incentive at the dispensing position; and determining that the dispensing process is complete and stopping the conveyor in response to an incentive being present at the dispensing position.

The animal assessment process may comprise the dispensing of an incentive onto a positioning member at a dispensing position byway of the incentive dispensing process described herein.

The incentive dispensing process and/or the animal assessment process may be implemented in a computing-based device or a computer system.

The computing-based device or the computer system may provide the processing module. A selection of optional features is set out in the dependent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an animal assessment device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows an array of animal cages;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a task assessment module of the animal assessment device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is another perspective view of the animal assessment device of Figure 1 in which the platform of the task assessment module is rotated into its cleaning position;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the animal assessment device of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a schematic showing the range of motion of the positioning member of an animal assessment device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of a task assessment module of an animal assessment device according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an animal assessment device according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a detailed view of a home station of the embodiment of animal assessment device of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is another perspective view of the animal assessment device of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a dispensing module of the animal assessment device of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is another perspective view of the dispensing moduie of Figure 11;

Figures 13A and 13B are views of an embodiment of an incentive dispensing device/moduie according to the invention;

Figure 14 is a flow diagram of an animai assessment process according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 15 is a flow diagram of a monitoring process of the animal assessment process of Figure 14;and

Figure 16 is a flow diagram of a dispensing process according to an embodiment of the invention. Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures to indicate similar features. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows an overview of an animal assessment device 10 according to the invention. The device 10 is to be placed in, or attached to, a cage containing at least one animal whose behaviour is to be assessed for research purposes. Alternatively, the cage may contain more than one animal, each of whose behaviour is to be assessed. The cage may be considered to be any enclosure that adequate confines an animal or animals for research or experimental purposes. The device 10 allows an incentive to be placed in a range of locations behind a barrier. The barrier separates the animal being assessed from the incentive. The only way for the animal to reach the incentive is by reaching through a restricted opening in the barrier. The opening, in combination with the placement of the incentive relative to the opening allows an animal’s reaction to the incentive to be assessed. The incentive can be thought of as a lure or inducement and acts as a carrot to induce the animal being analysed to attempt a desired action. The animal's achievement of completing the desired action is then measured so that the animal's behavioural performance can be assessed over period of time. The desired action may be the same action over-and-over, or with slight variant each time.

The animal assessment device 10 can be used for training the animal to perform a behavioural task of retrieving the incentive from the range of locations. The animal can be trained to do the same task, or similar tasks, repeatedly. The animal assessment device 10 can also be used to assess the animal's performance in repeatedly attempting the same task before, or after, induction of disease or injury (for example, a brain and/or spinal cord injury). The animal assessment device 10 can test the animal's dexterity. The animal assessment device 10 can also be used to rehabilitate an animal that has been given a disease and/or injury. Thus, the animal assessment device 10 can improve the animal's dexterity.

With reference to Figure 2, the device 10 is for placement into a cage 20 containing at least one animal that will be subject to assessment. Generally, it is expected that the device 10 will be used for the assessment of rats or mice, although other animals may be assessed. It is expected that the number of rats in a cage will be four, for example. However, a larger or smaller number of animals could be assessed, for example a single animal in a cage. It is also expected that an array 50 or rack of cages would be provided, each of which had a single device 10 placed therein. Each cage 20 would have multiple rats, for example, providing an assessment system that allows the testing of many tens or hundreds of animals. Thus, as described below, the assessment of new therapies can be greatly accelerated relative to the existing system in which only human lab technicians or researchers conduct the experimental analysis of the animals.

The incentive will generally be a single relatively hard pellet. The pellet is normally sugar based, such as sucrose. However, other foodstuffs may be used as the incentive. For the assessment of rats performing a reach test, it is expected that the pellets may be sized to be approximately 4mm in diameter and 3mm in height. Thus, a 45mg pellet may be used for rats. In the case of testing and assessing mice, a smaller pellet at 20mg (2.54mm diameter) or at 14mg (2mm diameter) may be used.

Referring again to Figure 1, the device 10 comprises a task assessment module 100, and a processing module (not shown). The device 10 may also include an animal identification module 200.

The device 10 may also include a dispensing module 300. As shown in Figures 13A and 13B, the dispensing module 300 can be supplied separately as an incentive dispensing device and will find use in other animal therapy assessment experiments. For example, in an experiment where the relative placement of the incentive is not important, the dispensing module 300 could simply deliver the incentive into an animal cage.

The device 10 may be provided as a single integrated unit comprising the task assessment module 100, the processing module and any of the optional modules 200, 300. In this way, the device 10 can be inserted and removed from the cage easily by a lab technician or researcher. Alternatively, each of the modules 100, 200, 300 may be independent units that can be positioned independently in the cage 20 as necessary by the lab technician. In particular, it may be beneficial to provide the animal identification module 200 separately from the other modules, which would be provided as an integrated unit. The identification module 200 and the integrated unit could then be positioned appropriately in the cage 20 by the lab technician

Because the device 10 can be easily removed from the cage 20, this allows the cages 50, and the device 10, to be easily cleaned. The technician removes the device 10 and animals, cleans the cage 20, and then replaces the device 10 in order for the assessment of the animals to continue. The device 10 can be easily refilled with incentives, checked for proper functionality, and maintained at this time.

In an alternative embodiment, the device may be integrated within a cage itself. For example, the device 10 could be integrated into the wall of a cage, which would allow the device to be easily accessed for maintenance without disturbing the animals within the cage. Further still, the device 10 could be located remotely from the cage, for example down an access tunnel or path through which the animals travel from the cage. Alternatively, the device 10 could be located remotely from a home cage in a separate enclosure, and the lab technician would place the animal(s) into the separate enclosure.

The task assessment module 100 will now be described. As can be seen in Figure 3, the assessment module 100 comprises a wall 102 that separates a space 106 inside the assessment module 100 from the cage 20 into which the device 10 is placed or attached. The wall 102 may include a ceiling and a floor. For the sake of clarity, the wall 102 is omitted from the remaining figures illustrating the task assessment module 100.

The wall 102 also defines an opening 104 that permits an animal within the cage 20 to access the space 106 behind the wall 102. In one example, and as shown in Figure 3, the opening 104 is a slit oriented vertically with respect to the floor of the cage. The opening 104 is dimensioned to allow the animal being assessed a restricted range of movement relative to the wall 102 and opening 104. For example, the opening 104 may restrict the ability of a rat to reach through into the space behind the wall 102 with its forelimbs. A vertical slit is particularly beneficial for restricting the range of movement of an animal’s forelimb during reaching for an incentive. The vertical slit also restricts access to the incentive to the animal’s forelimb or tongue. The vertical slit may be between 8mm and 12mm wide when the assessment device 10 is used with rats. The slit may be 11mm wide. The slit may be between 4mm and 6mm wide when the assessment device 10 is used with mice.

With reference to Figures 1,4 and 5, in the space 106 behind the wall 102 a positioning member 108 is provided. The positioning member 108 has an incentive receptacle 110 that can hold the incentive. For example, an incentive 111 comprising a sugar pellet as described above is shown in Figure 1. The incentive receptacle 110 could be a dish or a spoon for example. The positioning member 108 is moveable within the space 106 behind the wall 102. Because the positioning member 108 is moveable within the space 102 behind the wall 102 it can be moved to a range of positions that will test the animal’s ability to reach through the opening 104 and grab the incentive.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the movement of the positioning member 108 is restrained in a single plane and can only move in two-dimensions. The movement in two-dimensions may be restrained to a horizontal plane, for example. Alternatively, if desired the positioning member 108 may be moveable in three-dimensions. Further still, the positioning member 108 may be moveable in one dimension only, for example towards and away from the opening 104.

The positioning member 108 may be moved by translation about the space 106. For example, leadscrews could be used to translate the positioning member 108 along each desired axis of movement to the desired position within the space 106. For example: x and y axes for two-dimensional movement; or x, y and z axes for three-dimensional movement. In the case of the positioning member 108 being restrained to single plane of motion, a pair of leadscrews respectively oriented along the x and y axes could provide rectilinear motion so that the positioning member 108 can be located anywhere in the two-dimensional space within the range of movement of the leadscrews.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the positioning member 108 is restrained to motion in a single plane only. In this embodiment, the single plane of motion is horizontal plane. However, the single plane of motion may not be a horizontal plane. For example, the single plane of motion may be at a small angle to the horizontal. As described below, the assessment/experiment for which the device 10 was conceived generally requires the incentive to be placed in one of two assessment positions, A or B, on either side of the opening 104. See Figures 5 and 6, which show the positions A and B. From the perspective of the animal accessing the space 106, these would be considered left and right assessment positions. Alternatively, the positioning member 108 may be positioned anywhere within the space 106 in order to assess an animal's ability to perform a task at that location. For instance, the animal could be required to reach further to obtain the incentive each time it begins an assessment cycle. Hence, the task assessment module 100 is not restricted to positioning the positioning member 108 at positions A or B. The positioning member 108 may be positioned anywhere in the space 106 within the range of motion of the movement mechanisms. By positioning the incentive in an infinitely variable number of locations in front of the animal, and within the space 106, the animal can be assessed in quantitatively richer manner. A much wider variety of assessments can be made in comparison with the conventional 'single pellet reaching task' described above. For example, it could now be asked: how far (e.g. in mm) can a disabled rat reach after treatment with drug X?

The applicant has found that, to provide this range of positions for the positioning member 108, a combination of rotation and translational motion is preferable. It should be understood that solely rotational motion of the positioning member 108, in a single plane, could be provided in order to move the incentive adequately around the space 106 to positions A and B. Using rotational motion of the positioning member 108 avoids the need to move the positioning member 108 in two axes. Furthermore, the rotational motion may be provided using a low power, low torque motor. The motor may be a stepper motor. The motor may be a DC motor.

The range of motion of the embodiment of the device 10 shown in the figures can be cieariy understood from Figures 5 and 6 in particuiar. Figure 6, which is a range of motion schematic, iiiustrates how the positioning member 108 can be rotated between positions A and B corresponding to the desired ieft and right assessment positions. Arrow R indicates the rotationai motion of the positioning member about axis z. As shown in Figure 6, the positioning member 108 has an anguiar range of motion a that may be greater than the actuai range of motion required to rotate between positions A and B. This ensures the fuii range of positions can be reached.

The positioning member 108 may aiso be transiated in a rectiiinear manner in the direction of arrow D. in other words, the positioning member 108 can be extended and retracted in a radiai direction with respect to the axis z about which the positioning member 108 rotates. The radial movement of the positioning member 108 aiiows a finer controi over the position of the incentive within the space 106 behind the waii 102. Additionaiiy, as expiained beiow, the radial movability of the positioning member 108 aiso aiiows the device 10 to perform other functions. For example, the positioning member 108 can be retracted to a position that allows sensor cleaning and, where the dispensing moduie 300 is present, a new incentive to be dispensed into the receptacle 110 from the dispensing moduie 300.

As iiiustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the positioning member 108 is mounted on a platform 112. The positioning member 108 is moveably attached to the platform 112 such that it may be extended and retracted radially in the manner described above. The positioning member 108 is mounted in a slot 114 provided in the platform 112. A member drive motor 116 is mounted on the piatform 112 to drive the positioning member 108 linearly along the slot 114 in either direction and thereby extend and retract the positioning member 108. The member drive motor 116 may be a stepper motor. The motor 116 may be connected to the positioning member 108 by a linear actuator, (not shown), to convert the rotational motion of the motor drive shaft into linear motion of the positioning member 108. By way of example only, the linear actuator could be a leadscrew (as mentioned above), a ball screw, or a rack and pinion arrangement.

The platform 112 is mounted to a base 118. The platform sits on a bearing 120 that allows the platform 112 to rotate. The rotation of the platform 112 is about the axis z, as described above. The bearing 120 is centred on the axis z as shown in the exploded view of Figure 7. As the platform 112 rotates about the axis z, the positioning member 108 rotates with the platform 112.

Rotating the platform 112 about the axis z will allow the positioning member 108 to be rotated to its desired angular position. If desired, the positioning member 108 can, at the same time or in an independent movement, be extended and retracted in a radial direction with respect to the axis z about which the positioning member 108 rotates to further control the position of the positioning member 108 within the space 106.

The base 118 has a circular portion 122 into which the bearing 120 is inserted. A rotational drive motor 124 is mounted to the platform. The rotational drive motor 124 may be a stepper motor. The rotational drive motor 124 engages with the base 118 to drive the platform 112 about the axis z on the bearing 120. The rotational drive motor 124 may have a worm gear 125 (see Figure 7) that engages with an annular gear 126 on, or formed as part of, the circular portion 122 of the base 118. Alternatively, a pinion gear may be used that engages with the annular gear 126. As the worm gear 125 is turned by the rotational drive motor 124, the worm gear 125 is driven around the annular gear 126 and so rotates the platform 112 in the desired angular direction.

With reference primarily to Figures 1, 4, 5 and 8, the assessment arrangement of the task assessment module 100 will now be described. The base 118 also has a detection portion 128 that is adjacent to the wall 102. The detection portion 128 may include two drop chutes 130, 132 that are respectively arranged directly beneath the two assessment positions A and B. The drop chutes 130, 132 allow an incentive that has been knocked off the incentive receptacle 110 to be detected. As described below, this would occur when an animal attempts to retrieve the incentive from the receptacle 110 but fails to grasp it correctly. In order to detect when the animal fails to collect the incentive, which then drops through the chute, the drop chutes 130, 132 are each provided with respective drop sensors 134, 136. The drop sensors 134, 136 may be 'through-beam' sensors mounted in the drop chutes 130, 132. If the animal is trying to retrieve an incentive from the positioning means 108 and the incentive drops out of the animal’s grasp, then the respective drop sensor 134, 136, will detect the animal’s failure to complete the task. In the embodiment shown in the figures, two drop chutes and respective sensors are used. However, a different number of drop chutes and drop sensors may be used. For example, a single drop chute may be provided that includes a drop sensor. The single drop chute may be arranged to detect an incentive that is dropped anywhere in the space 106 behind the wall 102. Alternatively, the single drop chute may be arranged to detect an incentive that is dropped anywhere in the detection portion 128. In another example, a plurality of drop chutes may be provided, each of which is respectively arranged directly beneath a plurality of assessment positions. Each of the plurality of drop chutes may be provided with respective drop sensors. The detection module could use other methods for detecting incentives that are dropped that need not involve drop chutes. For example, a wide through-beam sensor, acoustic sensors, load cells or a camera could be used to detect incentives that are dropped below the incentive receptacle.

As the animal can knock the incentive in a wider area than that immediately below the assessment points A, B, the drop chutes 130, 132 may be provided with a chamfered edge to ensure the incentive is collected by the chutes 130, 132. Furthermore, the upper surface of the detection portion 128 may be curved in a dish-like manner to further aid in collecting the incentive as it drops from the receptacle 110. An incentive that falls through one of the drop chutes 130, 132 will remain under the device 10 and can be, counted, recycled or discarded by the technician when the cage 20 is cleaned. One or more containers may be provided to collect incentives that were dropped on either of the two assessment positions.

Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the device 10. In this embodiment, detection portion 128 includes a pair of side walls 137. The side walls 137 prevent incentives bouncing out and away from the drop chutes 130, 132. This ensures any dropped incentives are captured by the drop chutes 130, 132 and thereby prevents false positive (successful) test results. The side walls 137 may form a part of the wall 102 that separates the animal from the space 106 behind the wall 102.

The detection portion 128 itself may form a part of the wall 102 that separates the animal from the space 106 behind the wall 102. As can be seen from Figures 3, 10 and 11, a reach attempt sensor 138 is provided in a recess around the opening 104. The reach attempt sensor 138 may be, for example, a proximity sensor or a through-beam sensor. The reach attempt sensor 138 allows the detection of an animal’s attempt to retrieve the incentive from the receptacle 110. In this way, the device 10 is able begin the process of determining whether an animal is able to perform the behavioural task being assessed.

In order for the device 10 to keep track of the incentive, the positioning member 108 also includes a receptacle sensor 140 that is embedded in the incentive receptacle 110. The receptacle sensor 140 may be a proximity sensor. The receptacle sensor 140 allows the device 10 to determine whether an incentive remains on the positioning member 108 during the assessment of an animal. As explained further below, if the receptacle sensor 140 determines that the incentive has been displaced from the incentive receptacle 110, then the device 10 is able to determine whether the animal has successfully retrieved the incentive or whether the incentive has been knocked from the incentive receptacle 110. As explained further below, the other sensors aid in determining what exactly has happened during the assessment process.

Additionally, when the dispensing module 300 is used in the device 10, the receptacle sensor 140 also aids in determining whether an incentive has been dispensed properly from the dispensing module 300. Once the presence of an incentive is detected on the incentive receptacle 110, the dispensing module 300 may cease dispensing.

The positioning member 108 may have a home station 142 or position as shown in Figure 4. The home station 142 is incorporated into the base 118 and coincides with the positioning member 108 being fully retracted into the platform 112 and the platform 112 being fully rotated to one end its rotational range of movement. The home station 142 may comprise a cleaning brush 144 that cleans the incentive receptacle 110 and the embedded receptacle sensor 140 as they rotate into the home station 142 and past the cleaning brush 144. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the positioning member 108 has rotated past the cieaning brush 144, but is not fuiiy retracted into the home station 142.

Another view of the home station 142 is shown in Figure 9. The embodiment shown in Figure 9 inciudes the pair of side waiis 137 described above with respect to Figure 8. As can be seen from Figure 9, the positioning member 108 has been rotated past the cieaning brush 144 and is fuiiy retracted into the home station 142.

Dispensing the incentive from the dispensing moduie 300 onto the incentive receptacie 110 may take piace at a home station 142. The dispensing may take piace after the incentive receptacie 110 is swept by the cieaning brush 144. The home station 142 may comprise a bounce prevention feature 146 to reduce the chance of the incentive rebounding off the incentive receptacie 110 when the incentive is dispensed. Aiternativeiy, the dispensing of the incentive onto the incentive receptacie 110 may take piace at another point aiong rotational arc of the platform 112.

The home station 142 can aiso be used as a datum or reference point to determine the angular position of the piatform 112. A hard stop may be provided so that, once the platform 112 is rotated to the hard stop, its anguiar position is known. The hard stop has a limit switch that can be read by the processing moduie. if necessary, the calculated angular position of the platform 112 can be recalibrated by the processing moduie. In this way, any positional errors that build up during the movement of the piatform 112 during an assessment cycle can be corrected. Optionally, the bounce prevention feature 146 may act as the hard stop. Alternatively, the home station 142 may acts as the hard stop. A similar calibration stop may also be employed for the fully retracted or extended positions of the positioning member 108 within the slot 114 of the platform 112. A limit switch can be provided for the fully retracted and/or extended positions, which can be read by the processing module.

In addition to the supply of power, each of the motors and sensors described above may be connected to the processing module. Signals exchanged between these components and the processing module allows the device 10 to perform the animal assessment processes described below.

With reference to Figures 1 and 10, the animal identification module 200 will now be described. The animal identification module 200 is for use when there is more than one animal being assessed within the cage 20 into which the device 10 is placed. The animal identification module 200 is placed in front of the opening 104 in the wall 102 of the task assessment module 100. When used, the animal identification module 200 provides the only access for the animal to the opening 104 in the wall 102. The animal identification module 200 is dimensioned such that it restricts access to the opening 104 to a single animal at a time.

In an alternative embodiment, where the animal identification module 200 is provided, the wall 102 that divides the inside space of the task assessment module 100 from the surrounding cage could be provided as part of the animal identification module 200. Alternatively, depending on design preferences, the wall 102 could be partly formed on the task assessment module 100 and partly formed on the animal identification module 200.

In any of the above arrangements, and as Figure 1 shows, the animal to be assessed can only approach the task assessment module 100, and therefore the opening 104 in the wall 102, from the direction of arrow C. The animal identification module 200 may provide a passage or a structure that restricts an animal's access to the opening 104 in a defined way. For instance, the animal to be assessed must pass through the passage to reach the opening 104. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 10, the animal identification module 200 takes the form of an arch 202 through which the animal must pass to approach the opening 104 and attempt to retrieve the incentive.

The animal identification module 200 may include an animal identification means. The animal identification means may comprise radio-frequency identification (RFID) where the animal identification module 200 comprises an RFID antenna. For example, the RFID antenna may be enclosed within the arch 202. The RFID antenna may be enclosed within the walls of the Identification module 200. Where the device 10 is placed into a cage containing more than one animal and the animal identification module 200 is used, each animal is fitted with a unique RFID tag. The RFID tag return signal is picked up by the RFID antenna and the animal identification module 200 communicates with the processing module which can then identify which animal is approaching the opening 104 in the wall 102 of the task assessment module 100. In this way, there is no need for a technician to be present to identify which of the animals in the cage is approaching the task assessment module 100.

As described above, the device 10 may also comprise a dispensing module 300. The dispensing module 300 allows a new incentive, such as the pellet described above, to be dispensed onto the incentive receptacle 110 of the positioning member 108. Once, during the assessment process, the incentive on the incentive receptacle 110 has been retrieved by an animal, the positioning member 108 is retracted from the testing area, which is the space 106 behind the wall 102, to a position where a new incentive can be dispensed onto the incentive receptacle 110. The next assessment cycle can then take place, beginning with the positioning member 108 being moved into the chosen testing position.

As explained above, the dispensing module 300 is optional. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the dispensing module 300 is integrated with the task assessment module 100. Alternatively, the dispensing module 300 can be a separate unit that can be easily fitted and removed from the task assessment module 100 as desired. The dispensing module 300 comprises an incentive reservoir 302. For the sake of stability and compactness, when installed on, or integrated with, the task assessment moduie 100, the incentive reservoir 302 may be iocated directiy above the bearing 120 supporting the platform 112 of the task assessment module 100. As can be seen from the figures, the dispensing module 300 rotates with the platform 112 of the task assessment module 100. This means that the dispensing module 300 is aligned with the positioning member 108 and dispensing an incentive can occur at any angle at which the platform is rotated. The positioning member 108 may be fully retracted into the platform 112 when dispensing occurs. Alternatively, the positioning member 108 may not be required to be fully retracted into the platform 112 when dispensing occurs.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the incentive reservoir 302 is set at an incline. The incentive reservoir 302 may be cylindrical in shape. The dispensing module 300 also includes a conveyor to deliver the incentives out of the incentive reservoir 302 so that they can be placed on the positioning member 108. The embodiment of dispensing module 300 shown in the figures comprises a screw conveyor 308, which will now be described.

Referring to Figures 11, 12, 13A, and 13B in particular, the incentive reservoir 302 may have a channel guide 304 that is set against the inclined inner surface of the incentive reservoir 302. As can be seen in the figures, the location of the channel guide 304 may substantially correspond with a line drawn on the inside surface at a position where a vertical plane, which passes through the central axis of the cylindrical reservoir, intersects the inside surface of the incentive reservoir 302. In other words, the channel guide 304 may run along the lowermost portion of the inside surface so that the screw conveyor 308 may make use of the gravitational force on the incentives stored in the incentive reservoir 302.

The channel guide 304 may be a u-shaped channel, for example. In other words, the channel guide 304 may be an open channel having, three sides, for example. Other shapes could be used for the reservoir and a channel guide could be provided with the appropriately arranged to take advantage of the force of gravity. The channel guide 304 may be sized as appropriate to accommodate different sized incentives.

Figures 12 and 13B illustrate how the dispensing module 300 may also comprise a helical screw blade 306 or auger. The helical screw blade 306 may be set at an incline corresponding to the incline of the channel guide 304. The helical screw blade 306 is rotatable. The helical screw blade 306 is set to rotate directly adjacent to the open side of the channel guide 304 with minimal clearance between the blade 306 and the channel 304. Together, the helical screw blade 302 and channel guide 304 form the screw conveyer 308.

The rotation of the helical screw blade 306 collects an incentive from the bottom of the incentive reservoir 302 and traps it against the inner surfaces of the channel guide 304. The dimensions of the helical screw blade 306 and the channel guide 304 are such that there is only space for a single incentive between adjacent threads of the helical screw blade 306 and the channel guide 304. The open side of the channel guide 304 allows the helical screw blade 306 to act upon the incentive, which rests upon the blade 306 due to gravity. As the blade 306 rotates, it drives the incentive up the spiral of the helical screw blade 306 and linearly along the channel guide 304 until it reaches a lip 310 at the top of the channel guide 304. The incentive drops over the lip 310 and into an incentive delivery chute 312.

The combination of an appropriately dimensioned channel guide 304 with the helical screw blade 306 allows the incentives to be oriented in ‘single file’ along the length of the channel guide 304. The applicant has found the arrangement shown in the figures to be particularly beneficial where the incentive comprises the sugar pellets described above. The helical screw blade 302 and channel guide 304 allow the grinding of pellets to be minimised. Furthermore, any pellet fragments or pellet dust is not lifted up because of the spacing of the channel guide 304 and the helical screw blade 302. It is expected that other dispensers or conveyor arrangements, for example other screw conveyor arrangements or gravity-fed dispensers, may be used for delivering the incentive to the incentive delivery chute 312. For example, a screw conveyor may comprise a spiral blade joined to an external casing, where the external casing rotates with the spiral blade.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 13A, the dispensing module 300 may comprise a lid 314 that may partially or fully cover the incentive reservoir 302. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 13A, the lid 314 forms a mount for a dispensing motor 316 that drives the helical screw blade 306.

The dispensing motor 316 may be driven in a stop-start manner to deliver incentives, which are lined up in the channel guide 304 of the screw conveyor 308, one at a time into the incentive delivery chute 312. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the delivery chute 312 is oriented vertically and has an opening that is aligned with the incentive receptacle 110 when the positioning member 108 is fully retracted within the platform 112. Delivery of the incentive into the delivery chute 312 may take place at the home station 142. The bounce prevention feature 146 located at the home station 142 helps ensure that the incentive is retained on the incentive receptacle 110 when it is dispensed down the delivery chute 312. In an alternative embodiment, the incentive can be dispensed into the delivery chute 312, and thereby onto the positioning member, at any rotational position of the platform 112.

Optionally, in order to dispense an incentive, the dispensing motor 316 may work in combination with the receptacle sensor 140 embedded in the incentive receptacle 110. From the receptacle sensor 140, the processing module can determine whether an incentive is present or absent. If there is no incentive present on the incentive receptacle 110, and the device 10 determines that an animal assessment cycle should take place, then the positioning member 108 is fully retracted into the platform 112. Once the positioning member 108 is determined to be fully retracted the dispensing motor 316 is activated to rotate the screw conveyor 308 and drive an incentive over the lip 310. Once the receptacle sensor 140 determines that an incentive has been dropped down the delivery chute 312 and securely delivered to the incentive receptacle 110, then the dispensing motor 316 is stopped. A number of stop-start actions of the motor 316 may be required in order to dispense the incentive. For instance, the motor 316 may be turned the commensurate number of turns that are known to turn the helical screw blade 306 so that it is expected an incentive should have been dispensed. The receptacle sensor 140 can then act as a check on whether an incentive has been dispensed. If the dispensing action is determined to have failed, then the processing module will cause the dispensing motor 316 to activate the screw conveyor 308 once more.

The processing module may also determine, through the lack of an incentive being dispensed onto the positioning member 108, that the screw conveyor 308 has become jammed. For instance, an incentive may be stuck between the channel guide 304 and the edge of the helical screw blade 306. To overcome this problem, the helical screw blade 306 of the screw conveyor 308 may be reversed by rotating the blade 306 in the opposite direction. This will unJam the incentive and allow normal operation of the dispensing module 300 to resume. Furthermore, the applicant has found that forward based movement of the helical screw blade 306 combined with micro-reverse steps encourages a reverse vibratory settling of the incentives, particularly the pellets described above, which prevents jamming of the screw conveyor 308. The processing module may control the motor in a manner necessary to drive this sequence.

The processing module may also determine, through the lack of an incentive being dispensed onto the positioning member 108, that the incentive reservoir 302 is empty. The processing module may then also determine that the lab technician or researcher be notified that the incentive reservoir 302 is empty and needs to be refilled. The lab technician or researcher may be notified via any of the user interfaces of the processing module as described below.

As mentioned above, the dispensing module 300 is expected to find use in other experimental situations. For example, the dispensing module could be used where an incentive is to be dispensed at regular intervals over a predefined period of time. The dispensing motor 316 can be instructed to operate the screw conveyor 308 at these timed intervals, for example.

The operation of the motors and sensors described above may be controlled by the processing module. All the motors and sensors may be electrically connected to the processing module so that they may receive control signals and operational power. The motors and sensors may also send signals to the processing module so that the processor can determine the status of the device 10 and perform appropriate operational steps.

The processing module may be mounted on the device 10. Alternatively, the processing module may be a completely separate unit that is located outside the cage. Advantageously, a single power and control cable 400 (see Figure 3) can be run from the external processing module to the remainder of the device 10. Avoiding multiple cable connections in this way reduces cleanliness issues with respect to the live animals in the cage. Additionally, avoiding multiple cable connections in this way makes it quick and easy to take the device out and replace it, for example during routine cleaning or changing of the cage. The cable may be armoured and routed in a manner which prevents the animals chewing through the cables. If the processing module detects a failure of communication with the device 10, the processing module may then also determine that the lab technician or researcher be notified of this failure.

The processing module may be a computing-based device or a computer system which may be implemented as any form of a computing and/or electronic device and in which the embodiments of the methods described below may be implemented. The computing-based device may be any kind of device, machine or dedicated circuit, or collection or portion thereof, with processing capability such that it can execute instructions. The computing-based device may comprise one or more processors which may be microprocessors, controllers or any other suitable type of processors for processing computer executable instructions to control the operation of the computing-based device in order to perform the method as described herein. Those skilled in the art will realize that such processing capabilities are incorporated into many different devices and therefore the term 'computer' includes PCs, servers, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants and many other devices. A computer program code for performing a method as described herein may be provided. There may be provided non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions that, when executed at the computer system, cause the computer system to perform the method as described herein. The computer executable instructions may be provided using any computer-readable media that is accessible by the computing-based device. The terms computer program code and computer readable instructions as used herein refer to any kind of executable code for processors, including code expressed in a machine language, an interpreted language or a scripting language.

The methods described herein may be embodied in hardware on an integrated circuit. Generally, any of the functions, methods, techniques or components described herein can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware (e.g., fixed logic circuitry), or any combination thereof. In the case of a software implementation, the module, functionality, component, element, unit, block or logic represents program code that performs the specified tasks when executed on a processor.

The algorithms and methods described herein could be performed by one or more processors of the computer-based device executing code that causes the processor(s) to perform the algorithms/methods.

The methods described herein may be performed by the computer system, or the computer-based device, configured with software in machine readable form stored on a tangible storage medium. For example, in the form of a computer program comprising computer readable program code for configuring a computer to perform the constituent portions of the described methods or in the form of a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform all the steps of any of the methods described herein when the program is run on a computer and where the computer program may be embodied on a computer readable storage medium. Examples of tangible (or non-transitory) storage media include disks, thumb drives, memory cards. The software can be suitable for execution on a parallel processor or a serial processor such that the method steps may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously

The computing-based device may also comprise an input/output controller arranged to output display information to a display device. The display device may be separate from or integral to the computing-based device. The display information may provide a graphical user interface. The input/output controller may also be arranged to receive and process input from one or more devices, such as a user input device (for example a mouse or a keyboard).

The operation of the animal assessment device 10 will now be described. The task assessment module 100 operates in the following manner. The processing module stores, in a first database, a testing schedule for the animal, or animals, resident in the cage 20. The testing schedule may be one of a plurality of schedules stored in the first database. For example, a schedule may relate to training, and/or to testing, and/or to rehabilitation. The processing module will initiate the operation of the task assessment module 100 at the time determined by the testing schedule. In response to signals from the processing module, the positioning member 108 will be moved into a position where an incentive is dispensed onto the incentive receptacle 110 of the positioning member. The positioning member 108 may be fully retracted in the slot 114 before dispensing of the incentive takes place. The incentive may be dispensed from the dispensing module 300 where that module is included in the animal assessment device 10. The positioning member 108 may be rotated to the home station 142 before the incentive is dispensed onto the incentive receptacle 110. The receptacle sensor 140 embedded in the incentive receptacle 110 will indicate to the processing module whether an incentive has been successfully dispensed onto the receptacle 110.

If the processing module determines that an incentive has been successfully dispensed, then it will instruct the task assessment module 100 to drive the positioning member 108 into the selected assessment position within the space 106 behind the wall 102. The chosen assessment position will be determined by the processing module according to the testing schedule.

The processing module may activate the rotational drive motor 124 to rotate the platform 112 about axis z to an angle of rotation corresponding with the positioning member 108 being at a chosen angular assessment position within the space 106. The processing module may activate the rotational drive motor 124 to rotate the platform 112 about axis z to an angle of rotation corresponding with the positioning member 108 being located at assessment position A. The processing module may activate the rotational drive motor 124 to rotate the platform 112 about axis z to the angle of rotation corresponding with the positioning member 108 being located at assessment position B. The processing module may activate the rotational drive motor 124 to rotate the platform 112 about axis z to the angle of rotation corresponding with the positioning member 108 being located at any one of an infinite number of positions on its rotational arc.

The processing module may activate the member drive motor 116 to radially extend the positioning member 108 to a radius from axis z that corresponds with the desired radial position the positioning member 108. The processing module may activate the member drive motor 116 to radially retract the positioning member 108 to a radius from axis z that corresponds with the desired radial position of the positioning member 108. The processing module may activate the member drive motor 116 to radially extend or retract the positioning member 108 to a radius from axis z that corresponds with the positioning member 108 being located at assessment position A. The processing module may activate the member drive motor 116 to radially extend or retract the positioning member 108 to a radius from axis z that corresponds with the positioning member 108 being located at assessment position B. The processing module may activate the member drive motor 116 to radially extend or retract the positioning member 108 to a radius from axis z that corresponds with the positioning member 108 being located at any one of an infinite number of positions on its rectilinear path.

If the processing module determines that the positioning member 108 has been positioned correctly at the selected assessment position within the space 106, the processing module will monitor the sensors to determine if an animal has made an attempt to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member 108.

The processing module may monitor the reach attempt sensor 138 to determine if an animal has attempted to put a limb through the opening 104 in the wall 102 and reach the incentive. The processing module may then monitor the receptacle sensor 140 and the drop sensors 134, 136 to determine whether the animal has successfully retrieved the incentive from the positioning member 108.

The processing module may measure the time taken since the animal triggers the reach attempt sensor 138 that monitors the opening 104. The processing module may determine that the animal has failed in its retrieval attempt if a predefined length of time has passed without the animal retrieving the incentive once the reach attempt sensor 138 has been triggered.

The processing module may measure the number of times the animal triggers the reach attempt sensor 138 without successfully dislodging or retrieving the incentive from the positioning member 108. The testing schedule may set out a maximum number or reach attempts, calculated from the reach attempt sensor 138 being triggered, which, if exceeded, would determine that an animal had failed the behavioural task.

The processing module may determine that an animal has successfully retrieved the incentive if the reach attempt sensor 138 at the opening is triggered and the receptacle sensor 140 indicates to the processing module that the incentive is no longer present on the positioning member 108. The processing module may also monitor the drop sensors 134, 136 and confirm, through the absence of an incentive falling through the drop chutes 130, 132, that the incentive has not been knocked from the positioning member 108 or dropped by the animal in an attempt to grasp it.

The processing module may determine that an animal has failed to retrieve the incentive if the reach attempt sensor 138 at the opening is triggered and the receptacle sensor 140 indicates to the processing module that the incentive remains on the positioning member 108 after a certain amount of time.

The processing module may determine that an animal has failed to retrieve the incentive if the reach attempt sensor 138 at the opening is triggered, and the receptacle sensor 140 indicates to the processing module that the incentive is no longer present on the positioning member 108, and one of the drop sensors 134, 136 indicates to the processing module that the incentive has fallen through the respective drop chute 130, 132. Thus, the processing module may determine that the incentive has been knocked from the positioning member 108 or dropped by the animal behind the wall 102 in an attempt to grasp it.

Once the processing module has monitored the sensors and made a determination as to the success or failure of the animal to retrieve the incentive, the processing module may record the success or failure indication in a second database. The recording step ends an animal assessment cycle. Following the end of the animal assessment cycle, the processing module will initiate a new animal assessment cycle according to the testing schedule. Accordingly, the processing module will instruct the positioning member 108 to be moved into a position where an incentive is dispensed onto the incentive receptacle 110 of the positioning member 108.

Optionally, the processing module may also include the step of cleaning the receptacle sensor 140 on the positioning member 108 as it is rotated to the home station 142. This step may be performed before the incentive is dispensed onto the incentive receptacle 110. This cleaning functionality may take place at any time in the cycle, for instance if the processing module determines that the receptacle sensor 140 is not functioning correctly. The cleaning may be by way of the cleaning brush 144 located at the home station 142.

Where more than one animal is present in the cage 20, the animal identification module 200 may be included in the animal assessment device 10. The processing module may determine which animal has approached the opening 104 in the task assessment module 100 by receiving that information from the animal identification means, which may comprise the RFID antenna described above. The animal identity information will be recorded in the second database. Accordingly, in this instance, the second database will record the retrieval success results for each animal in the cage.

Where the dispensing module 300 is used to dispense the incentives onto the positioning member 108, the dispensing module 300 operates in the following manner. Upon the positioning member 108 being in the dispensing position, the processing module instructs the dispensing motor 316 to drive the screw conveyor 308 to deliver an incentive to the positioning member 108. Optionally, once the receptacle sensor 140 indicates to the processing module that an incentive has been securely delivered to the incentive receptacle 110, then the processing module directs the dispensing motor 316 to stop. Alternatively, the processing module may direct the dispensing motor 316 to turn screw conveyor 308 the predetermined number of turns that are expected to deliver an incentive to the positioning member 108. The processing module may then seek confirmation from the receptacle sensor 140 that an incentive has been dispensed. If the processing module determines through the receptacle sensor 140 that the screw conveyor 308 has become jammed then it may perform the unjamming motions described above.

With reference to Figure 14, an animal assessment process 500 for following a testing schedule in a first database will now be described. The animal assessment process 500 commences at 510 where a testing schedule is obtained from a first database. Once it is determined that the next scheduled test should take place, the process follows by initiating the scheduled test at 520 in an animal assessment device as described above. Initiation may include calibration of sensors. This may include calibration of positional sensors (for example sensors for positioning member 108 and for platform 112), calibration of drop or reach sensors (for example 134, 136 and 138), calibration of sensors that detect ambient light levels (for example receptacle sensor 140), and calibration of sensors that detect temperature and/or humidity. At 530 a single incentive is dispensed onto to the positioning member 108 at a dispensing position. The dispensing may be by an optional dispensing process 530 described below. At 540 the positioning member 108 is moved to the position in the space 106 according to the testing position specified in the testing schedule. This position may be one of the two assessment positions, A or B, on either side of the opening 104 which are identified above.

At 550, the process monitors an animal's attempt(s) at retrieving the incentive from the positioning member 108. The test result, which is the success or failure of the animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive, is determined at 560. At 570 the test result is stored to a second database. Also at 570 other relevant information may also be stored to the second database together with the test result. The other relevant information may include: an animal identification number or animal identification numbers; test start time; test end time; time of each RFID read; time of each reach attempt; time of pellet drop detection; temperature; humidity; ambient light data; proximity data and data from any other sensors obtained during the test.

Optionally, at 580, the positioning member 108 may be cleaned. At 590 the positioning member 108 is returned to the dispensing position ready to receive another incentive. The animal assessment process 500 may then commence again according to the testing schedule.

With reference to Figure 15, the monitoring process 550 of the animal assessment process 500 is described. Optionally, where there is more than one animal in the cage in which the animal assessment process 500 is being carried out, the monitoring process 550 may include at 5502 identification of which animal has approached the opening 104 in the wall 102.

At 5504, the monitoring process 550 monitors the animal attempting to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member 108. The monitoring process 550 may monitor the reach attempt sensor 138, the receptacle sensor 140 and the drop sensors 134,136 in order to determine, according to the monitoring process 550 described herein, whether the animal has successfully retrieved the incentive from the positioning member 108 or has failed the test.

At 5506, the number of reach attempts by the animal at the opening is monitored by the monitoring process 550. The monitoring process 550 determines whether the maximum number of reach attempts allowed has been attained. If the maximum number of reach attempts has been attempted without the animal retrieving the incentive, then the process 550 determines, at 5508, that the animal has failed the test due to exceeding the maximum allowable number of reach attempts.

At 5510, the monitoring process 550 monitors whether the animal has managed to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member within a certain test time limit. If the test time limit is exceeded without the animal retrieving the incentive, then the process 550 determines, at 5512, that the animal has failed the test due to exceeding the test time limit.

At 5514, the monitoring process 550 monitors whether the animal has dislodged the incentive from the positioning member 108 and/or whether the incentive has been dropped through either of the drop chutes 130, 132. If the monitoring process 550 determines that the incentive has been dropped through either of the drop chutes 130, 132, then the process 550 determines, at 5516, that the animal has failed the test due to dropping the incentive when attempting to retrieve it.

At 5518, the monitoring process 550 will register a successful test if the animal has dislodged the incentive from the positioning member 108 without the monitoring process 550 determining that the incentive has been dropped through either of the drop chutes 130, 132. In other words, the monitoring process 550 will register that the animal has successfully retrieved the incentive from the positioning member 108.

At 5520, the monitoring process 550 will collect the test result in preparation for the output at 560 as described above with respect to Figure 14.

With reference to Figure 16, the optional dispensing process 530 of the animal assessment process 500 is described. The dispensing process 530 may utilise the dispensing module 300 described herein.

At 5302, the dispensing process 530 determines that an incentive is required to be dispensed. At 5304, the dispensing process 550 initiates the driving of the conveyor of the dispensing module.

At 5306, the dispensing process 530 monitors whether an incentive is present on the positioning member 108. This dispensing process 530 may utilise the receptacle sensor 140 to determine the presence of an incentive on the positioning member 108. If the dispensing process 530 determines that there is no incentive present on the positioning member 108, then the dispensing process 530 instructs that the conveyor continue to be driven in order to dispense an incentive.

At 5306, the dispensing process 530 determines that the dispensing process 530 is complete if an incentive is present on the positioning member 108. The animal assessment process 500 may then continue to 540 where the positioning member 108 is moved to the position in the space 106 according to the position specified in the testing schedule.

The dispensing process may take place without the presence of the positioning member 108 and instead dispense to a dispensing position.

The processes described herein (for example the animal assessment process 500, dispensing process 530 and the monitoring process 550) may be implemented in the processing module of the animal assessment device 10. Accordingly, as per the description of the processing module above, the processes described herein may be implemented in a computing-based device or a computer system which provide the processing module of the animal assessment device 10.

The processes and device described herein allow the assessment of the animal(s) to be carried out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without a technician needing to be present in the laboratory. Furthermore, by providing an array of cages, each containing a device operating as described above, a large number of animals can be trained, assessed and/or rehabilitated simultaneously.

In contrast, the conventional single pellet reaching task experiment only allows one rat at a time to be assessed by a single person.

The processes and devices described herein also eliminate the time necessary to train new technicians to perform the conventional single pellet reaching task, i.e. how to train and assess animals. Instead, the device performs the animal task training.

The processes and device described herein enable each animal to be trained, tested and rehabilitated.

Experiments using the device and processes described herein will not be subject to the limitations of the conventional single pellet reaching task, where researchers are normally limited to performing experiments that involve, say, forty rats, because they do not have time to train, rehabilitate or assess more than this number concurrently. This means that much larger experiments can be run. Importantly, this it becomes possible to test multiple therapies against a single control group, which becomes very cost-effective.

Assessing multiple therapies against a single control group means that fewer animals overall can be used in research, which is a stated aim of many research governing bodies and research funding bodies. It is thought that around half of all animals used worldwide In therapy testing experiments receive a placebo rather than a drug treatment. This is wasteful and is the result of researchers being only able to handle a limited number of animals simultaneously. For example, at present, many experiments involve twenty rats treated with a therapy (X) and twenty rats treated with placebo. Using the device and processes described herein allows, for example, an experiment involving eighty rats in which three different drugs (X, Y or Z) are evaluated against the same placebo group.

Furthermore, using the animal assessment device and processes described herein means animals can be trained, rehabilitated and assessed in a manner that avoids stress to the animal. For example, in the case of rats, they can be trained at night, when they are most active. Presently, most laboratories train, assess and rehabilitate their rats during the day when they are normally asleep. The animal assessment device enables rats to follow their circadian rhythm and sleep when they are meant to, and to participate in the incentive reaching task when the rats wish. This will lead to a collection of higher quality data.

The animal assessment device and processes described herein will also allow the collection of much more information about each individual reach taken by the animal. The conventional 'single pellet reaching task' simply records whether the rat did or did not successfully pick up a pellet from a location. For instance, the animal assessment device can measure how far the animal can reach (for example in mm) left/right and near/far.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that various modifications, alterations and/or combinations of features disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An animal assessment device for use with a cage containing at least one animal, the animal assessment device comprising: a task assessment module comprising: a wall that defines a space inside the task assessment module, wherein the wall defines an opening that permits an animal within the cage to access the space inside the task assessment module; and a positioning member having an incentive receptacle for holding an incentive, wherein the positioning member is moveable within the space defined by the wall.

2. An animal assessment device according to claim 1 wherein the opening is a vertical slit.

3. An animal assessment device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the positioning member is moveable in a single plane of motion such that the positioning member is restricted to two-dimensional motion.

4. An animal assessment device according to claim 3 wherein the positioning member is rotatable in the single plane of motion about an axis that is perpendicular to the single plane of motion.

5. An animal assessment device according to claim 4 wherein the task assessment module further comprises a base and a platform, in which the platform is rotatably mounted to the base about the axis, and wherein the positioning member is mounted to the platform.

6. An animal assessment device according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the positioning member is extendable and retractable in a radial direction with respect to the axis about which the positioning member is rotatable.

7. An animal assessment device according to claim 6, when dependent on claim 5, wherein the positioning member is moveably mounted in a slot provided in the platform.

8. An animal assessment device according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the positioning member comprises a receptacle sensor that is embedded in the incentive receptacle.

9. An animal assessment device according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the task assessment module further comprises a home station.

10. An animal assessment device according to claim 9 in which the home station includes a brush for cleaning the incentive receptacle.

11. An animal assessment device according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein a reach attempt sensor is provided adjacent to the opening defined by the wall.

12. An animal assessment device according to any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the task assessment module further comprises a detection portion adjacent to the wall, the detection portion including two drop chutes, in which the drop chutes are respectively arranged beneath two assessment positions of the positioning member and wherein the two assessment positions are located on either side of the opening.

13. An animal assessment device according to claim 12 in which the drop chutes are provided with respective drop sensors.

14. An animal assessment device according to any of claims 1 to 13 wherein the animal assessment device further comprises an animal identification module, in which the animal identification module includes an animal identification means and the animal identification module is arranged to provide the only access for an animal in the cage to the opening defined by the wall of the task assessment module.

15. An animal assessment device according to claim 14 wherein the animal identification means comprises an RFID antenna.

16. An animal assessment device according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the animal identification module comprises an arch through which an animal must pass to approach the opening defined by the wall.

17. An animal assessment device according to any of claims 1 to 15 wherein the animal assessment device further comprises a dispensing module according to an incentive dispensing device of any of claims 22 to 27.

18. An animal assessment device according to claim 17 in which the dispensing module is integrated with the task assessment module.

19. An animal assessment device according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the dispensing module is arranged to rotate with the platform.

20. An animal assessment device according to claim 19 when dependent on claim 5 and in which the dispensing module is an incentive dispensing device of claim 26, wherein the delivery chute has an opening that is aligned with the incentive receptacle when the positioning member is fully retracted within the platform.

21. An animal assessment device according to any of claims 1 to 20 wherein the animal assessment device further comprises a processing module configured to monitor the animal assessment device and control the motion of the positioning member.

22. An incentive dispensing device comprising: an incentive reservoir for storing a plurality of incentives; and a conveyor configured to retrieve an incentive from the plurality of incentives and deliver the retrieved incentive to a dispensing position.

23. An incentive dispensing device according to claim 22, wherein the incentive reservoir is set at an incline.

24. An incentive dispensing device according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the conveyor is a screw conveyor.

25. An incentive dispensing device according to claim 24 wherein the screw conveyor comprises: a channel guide set against an inclined inner surface of the incentive reservoir; and a helical screw blade, wherein the helical screw blade is rotatable and is set to rotate directly adjacent to the channel guide.

26. An incentive dispensing device according to any of claims 22 to 25 wherein the incentive dispensing device further comprises an incentive delivery chute configured to deliver the retrieved incentive from the conveyor to the dispensing position.

27. An incentive dispensing device according to any of claims 22 to 26 wherein the incentive dispensing device further comprises a dispensing motor configured to drive the conveyor.

28. An incentive dispensing device according to any of claims 22 to 25 wherein the incentive dispensing device further comprises: a dispensing sensor provided at the dispensing position configured to detect the presence of an incentive at the dispensing position; a dispensing motor configured to drive the conveyor; and a processing module configured to receive a signal from the dispensing sensor and configured to drive the dispensing motor so that the conveyor delivers an incentive to the dispensing position.

29. An animal assessment process for monitoring the behaviour of at least one animal in a cage, the animal assessment process comprising: obtaining a testing schedule from a first database; initiating a scheduled test; dispensing an incentive onto a positioning member at a dispensing position; moving the positioning member to a testing position in a space inside a task assessment module, where the space is defined by a wall of the task assessment module; monitoring an animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member through an opening defined by the wall of the task assessment module; determining the success or failure of the of the animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member; storing the success or failure of the of the animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member to a second database; and returning the positioning member to the dispensing position.

30. An animai assessment process according to ciaim 29 wherein the monitoring of an animai's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member is a monitoring process comprising: monitoring the number of reach attempts to retrieve the incentive by the animal at the opening; determining whether the animai has failed the test due to exceeding the maximum aiiowabie number of reach attempts; monitoring whether the animal has retrieved the incentive from the positioning member within a test time limit; determining whether the animal has failed the test due to exceeding the test time limit; monitoring whether the animal has dropped the incentive in an attempt to retrieve the incentive; determining whether the animai has failed the test due to dropping the incentive when attempting to retrieve the incentive; monitoring whether the animal has dislodged the incentive from the positioning member; registering a successful test if the animal has dislodged the incentive from the positioning member without determining that the animal has dropped the incentive when attempting to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member; and collecting the test result in preparation for outputting success or failure of the of the animal's attempt(s) to retrieve the incentive from the positioning member.

31. An animal assessment process according to claim 30 in which the monitoring process further comprises identifying which animal in the cage has approached the opening in the wall of the task assessment module.

32. An incentive dispensing process for an incentive dispensing device, the incentive dispensing process comprising: determining that an incentive is required to be dispensed from an incentive reservoir for storing a plurality of incentives; initiating the driving of a conveyor of the dispensing module to retrieve an incentive from the plurality of incentives; monitoring whether an incentive is present at a dispensing position; and determining whether to continue driving the conveyor in response to the monitoring of the presence of an incentive at a dispensing position; and determining that the dispensing process is complete and stopping the conveyor in response to an incentive being present at the dispensing position.

33. An incentive dispensing process according to claim 32 in which the incentive dispensing process is implemented in a computing-based device ora computer system.

34. An incentive dispensing process according to claim 33 in which the computing-based device or the computer system provide the processing module of claim 28.

35. An animal assessment process according to any of claims 29 to 31 wherein the dispensing of an incentive onto a positioning member at a dispensing position is an incentive dispensing process according to claim 32.

36. An animal assessment process according to any of claims 29 to 31 or claim 33 wherein the animal assessment process is implemented in a computing-based device or a computer system.

37. An animal assessment process according to claim 36 in which the computing-based device or the computer system provide the processing module of claim 28.

38. An animal assessment device as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures.