The Thomas cylinder test system is a new fully integrated device for the automatic measurement and fast analysis of the classical “Schallert cylinder test”, typically used for investigating the exploratory and motor behavior of rodents. The system works with up to 4 video cameras and video recording software that captures the movement of the animal inside a glass cylinder. Up to four video cameras allow continuous and time-synchronized recording of animal movements from four different perspectives. Video files will be stored on the connected personal computer hard disc. Additionally to the video recording software we will soon offer a software for marker less pose estimation based on transfer learning with deep neural networks.

Product Description

The algorithm achieves excellent tracking performance that is more objective than the assessment by a human experimenter. This system will highly increase the quality of the experimental data and the speed for analyzing them, since experimenters are not required to perform a qualitative frame-by-frame analysis of the recorded video. Furthermore, the all-in-one solution will allow for a quick standardized setup and high reproducibility between measurements. The system can provide valuable support, especially for research into movement disorders. As a standardized test for laboratory animals with PD symptoms and healthy control groups, it provides objective measurement results of the different groups of laboratory animals with information on how to adjust therapy parameters (e.g. stimulation parameters for DBS) to achieve optimal therapy results. As for example PD patients demonstrate severe disease-related multimodal gait dysfunction, one can investigate gait in PD mice or rats using the Thomas cylinder test system. Video recordings of freely behaving animals are then analyzed with marker less pose estimation. One can use or define a scoring system to quantitatively evaluate multiple behavioral outcomes.

Key Features

• Automatic Schallert Cylinder Test

• Simultaneous recording with up to 4 video cameras

• Cylinder D=200 mm, H=450 mm (Size customizable!)

• Including Video Cameras

• Data Acquisition Software (incl.)

• Fully automated Data Analysis Software (coming soon)

• Integrated & portable System

• Standardization of the test conditions

• High reproducibility of experiments

• Easy operation & handling

• Easy cleaning and maintenance

• Fulfills electrical safety requirements

• Easy customization

The Schallert Cylinder Test...

Video Recording Software

The Cylinder Test AI system works with up to 4 video video cameras and a video recording software that captures the movement of the animal inside the glass cylinder. Up to four video cameras allow continuous and time-synchronized recording of animal movements from four different perspectives in HD resolution. Video files will be stored on the connected personal computer hard disc. Additionally to the video recording software we will soon offer a software for marker less pose estimation based on transfer learning with deep neural networks. The analysis part of the software (pose estimation & automatic scoring) is currently under development.

[1] A. Grotemeyer, T. Petschner, R. Peach, D. Hoehl, T. Knauer, U. Thomas, H. Endres, R. Blum, M. Sendtner, J. Volkmann, C.W. Ip,

Standardized wireless deep brain stimulation system for mice

npj Parkinson's Disease 10(1) (2024) 153.

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