Many of our customers had expressed their desire for a device to non-invasively measure ecg from conscious mice and rats, in order to automate the acquisition process on a large number of subjects.

In response, we designed, developed, extensively tested and launched the ecgTUNNEL to allow you to obtain high-quality and noise-free ecg signals from conscious non-anesthetized mice or rats.

The tunnel of ecgTUNNEL restrains the subject firmly and gently, without causing trauma.  For each model (mouse or rat), we propose a range of (interchangeable) tunnels to accommodate newborn to adult subjects.

The four electrode pads on the base of the ecgTUNNEL allow you to obtain 1- to 6-lead ecg data.  

The key advantages of this method - no surgery, no anesthetic, quick and easy setup, short adaptation time - can help you increase productivity particularly when screening subjects to be further investigated.

The following article by a research team (INSERM U582 - Institut de Myologie, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière) gives a valuable overview of the ecgTUNNEL from the researcher's point of view:

H. Mongue-Din, A. Salmon, M. Y. Fiszman, Y. Fromes (2007) Non-invasive restrained ecg recording in conscious small rodents a new tool for cardiac electrical activity investigation. (279.74 Ko), European Journal of Physiology 454:165–171.  

In their discussion, the workers state "when compared to telemetry, this restrained ecg monitoring method shows a very good yield".

• ecg
• or ecg and respiration

ecgTUNNEL houses subject

• tunnel gently and firmly restrains the subject
• mouse and rat models available
• each model accommodates neonate to adult subjects (interchangeable tunnels)
• 4 electrode pads for up to 6-lead ecg

plug-&-play data acquisition

• integrated amplifier
• designed for direct USB link to computer
• acquire from up to 4 ecgTUNNELS simultaneously

respiration analysis

• respiratory rates and durations, breathing depth
• degree of bronchoconstriction (penH)
• regulated ventilation for noise-free air renewal

acquisition and advanced ecg analysis

• acquisition in iox, ecg analysis in ecgAUTO
• ecg beat-by-beat or average beat analysis
• ecg single or multilead
• field-tested validated software

advantages

• no anesthetic and no surgery quick and
• easy setup
• rapid adaptation
• noninvasive ecg can also be obtained from sedated subjects (i.e. without tunnel)

options

• controlled and automated aerosol delivery
• exposure to gas mixtures
• controlled atmosphere: hyperoxia, hypoxia
• simultaneous data and video recording for easy synchronized review

ecgTUNNEL setup is composed of:

• a tunnel, to restrain the subject
• a base, including amplifier
• electrode pads
• a dome, with a pneumotachograph and a pressure port, for respiration measurement
• a faraday cage, to ensure a very clean signal
• a usb cable, to power the device

For respiration studies, this setup must be completed with:

• a bias flow pump
• a differential air pressure transducer

For each breath, the analyzer calculates parameters as for emka TECHNOLOGIES' plethysmograph for unrestrained animals (wbp).

complete seamless solution,
R to R, from rodent to report!