ENV-042
Activity Wheel with Modular Holding Cage for Rat

This full size 14.0" (35.6 cm) diameter wheel features standard 0.1875" (4.8 mm) stainless steel grid rods placed on standard 0.625" (1.6 cm) spacing. A two bay modular resting cage measuring 7.0" L x 6.295" W x 8.0" H (17.8 cm x 16.0 cm x 20.3 cm) is included. The wheel and side chamber are attached to a 0.5" (1.3 cm) thick white polypropylene base measuring 16.0" W x 14.5" D (40.6 cm x 36.8 cm), but the overall area required for this unit is 20.0" L x 21.1875" D x 16.625" H (50.8 cm x 53.8 cm x 42.2 cm). The entrance to the wheel uses a manual door to provide an opening 2.83" W x 4.0" H (7.2 cm x 10.2 cm). The free wheeling drag of the wheel is approximately 12 grams; however, in order to match wheels, nine discrete steps of calibrated values from 15 to 80 grams may be selected. The electronic drag requires a separate 28 V DC power supply. A 90 degree cam, micro-switch, and LCD digital counter are provided for standalone operation. The cam switch may also be connected to any Med Associates' standard input module, SuperPort™, or SmartCtrl™ for automated data collection.

* The electronic drag requires a separate 28 V DC power supply

ENV-046
Activity Wheel with Plastic Home Cage for Rat

This unit is again identical to the ENV-042 except that the holding cage has been replaced with a standard plastic home cage that locks securely in place along side the activity wheel. It measures 19.0" L x 10.5" W x 8.0" D (48.26 cm x 26.67 cm x 20.32 cm) and is supplied with a stainless steel wire cover.*

* The electronic drag requires a separate 28 V DC power supply.

ENV-042A
Activity Wheel with Modular Test Chamber for Rat

This unit is identical to the ENV-042 except that the holding cage has been replaced with a full size modular testing chamber (see ENV-008) with grid floor. This assembly is placed on a 0.5" (1.3 cm) thick white polypropylene base measuring 21" W x 21" D (53.3 cm x 53.3 cm). Order chamber accessories, response modules, stimulus devices, and dispensers separately. *

* The electronic drag requires a separate 28 V DC power supply.

ENV-045
Slanted Activity Wheel with Five Bay Chamber for Rat

The unique wheel is completely housed within an extra wide modular test chamber (see ENV-009). It has been tipped 30 degrees while the grid rod running surface remains parallel to the floor of the test chamber. This permits free access to the wheel even when the animal is connected to a swivel or commutator for drug infusion, micro dialysis, brain stimulation, physiological recording, etc. The base dimensions run approximately 18" D x 24" W (45.7 cm x 61 cm) with an overall height of 15" (38 cm). The working area of the modular test chamber with its five channels for response levers, liquid and pellet delivery, and stimulus devices is 15.75" D x 8.5" W x 14" H (40 cm x 21.6 cm x 35.6 cm). This unit utilizes the same electronic drag, 90 degree cam, and digital display as the standard ENV-042, however, the free wheeling resistance is somewhat higher. * Contact Med Associates for details.

* The electronic drag requires a separate 28 V DC power supply.

ENV-042OE
Optical Encoder for ENV-042 or ENV-042A

For critical research, activity wheels may be ordered with an optional optical encoder. This provides a resolution of 5.625 degrees or up to 64 counts per full revolution.

The RotoRat™ software from Med Associates records these counts as maximum CW or CCW. The output from the optical encoder is 5 V TTL compatible.

Partial counts are defined by the user to produce 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 counts for a full revolution. In addition to partial counts CW and CCW, and full counts CW and CCW, direction changes are recorded with a special retrace feature that permits the user to set the direction change criterion. Each test session may be divided into user defined time slices with incremental or cumulative counts in each time slice. Refer to the RotoRat™ section for details on the junction box, interface requirements, and software requirements for the optical encoder.