System and method for three-dimensional kinematic profiling of animal models

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12543700-B2
Application number	US-202318496375-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2023
Priority date	Oct 27, 2022
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

An observation chamber for three-dimensional kinematic profiling of subject animals. One example system for analyzing free-moving animal subject behavior includes a housing, a transparent arena configured to hold a subject, a camera mounted below the arena, and a mirror system configured to reflect multiple images of the subject in a single field of view of the camera. A height of the housing is less than 80 inches, and a width of the housing is less than 32 inches. The system fits within standard doorway dimensions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for analyzing free-moving animal subject behavior, comprising:
a housing, wherein a height of the housing is less than 80 inches, and wherein a width of the housing is less than 32 inches; a transparent arena coupled to the housing and configured to hold a subject; a camera mounted below the arena; and a mirror system mounted within the housing and configured to reflect multiple images of the subject in a single field of view of the camera.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mirror system includes four mirrors disposed orthogonally around the arena, and wherein the camera is configured to capture five simultaneous views of the subject.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light source, wherein the light source is an infrared source, and wherein the camera is an infrared camera.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is a first camera of a plurality of cameras, wherein each camera of the plurality of cameras is configured to capture multiple images of the animal.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lid covering the arena, wherein the lid includes a handle and a ventilation port.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the arena is a cubic arena including a base and four walls.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the four walls are tapered at an angle that aligns with a lens angle of the camera.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the base has an area of approximately 26 inches by 26 inches.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the arena has a height of approximately 36 inches.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic processor configured to:
receive, from the camera, video of the subject; analyze the video; and quantify an animal behavior based on the analyzed video.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:
generate metadata associated with the analyzed video, wherein the metadata includes at least one selected from the group consisting of an arena identification number, a date, an animal identification, and a duration of the analyzed video.

12 . A system for analyzing free-moving animal subject behavior, comprising:
a housing including a frame, a top surface, and a support platform; a transparent arena configured to hold a subject, wherein the transparent arena is connected to the top surface; a camera mounted below the arena; a computing platform supported by the support platform, and a mirror system configured to reflect multiple images of the subject in a single field of view of the camera, wherein the mirror system surrounds the transparent arena.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the mirror system includes four mirrors disposed orthogonally around the arena, and wherein the camera is configured to capture five simultaneous views of the subject.

14 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a light source configured to illuminate the arena, wherein the light source is an infrared source, and wherein the camera is an infrared camera.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the top surface includes a recess, and wherein the subject accesses the arena via the recess.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a lid configured to cover the recess.

17 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a second surface situated between the top surface and the support platform, wherein the camera is situated below the second surface.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second surface includes a camera viewport.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the arena is a cubic arena including a base and four walls, and wherein the four walls are tapered at an angle that aligns with a lens angle of the camera.

20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the computing platform includes an electronic processor configured to:
receive, from the camera, video of the subject; analyze the video; and quantify an animal behavior based on the analyzed video.

Assignees

• Univ Duke

Inventors

• Weaver Isaac
• Roach James
• Dunn Timothy
• Tadross Michael

Classifications

• H04N23/56 Primary

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N13/282

  for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems · CPC title

• H04N23/20

  for generating image signals from infrared radiation only · CPC title

• A01K29/005

  Monitoring or measuring activity · CPC title

• G06V10/12

  Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof · CPC title