DECRO – Jacket specifications for non-rodent species

This document describes the technical characteristics of the DECRO telemetry jackets available for large mammals: MARMOUSET, DOG and MINI-PIG.

For each species, the presentation of the jacket and associated sensors will be detailed (photos and annotations) along with sizing recommendations.

This article focuses on the material presentation of our jackets.

The equipment procedures including photos and videos are available. To access it, simply log in to your customer account and click here.

DECRO SOLUTION: General overview

The DECRO external telemetry system monitors cardiorespiratory function and activity index simultaneously, without surgery or restraint.

DECRO solution is composed of:

- Instrumented jacket(s): embedding plethysmographic sensors and protecting external ECG electrodes. Jackets are specific to the species and size of the animals

- Emitter(s) and batteries: digitizing and transmitting physiological signals via Bluetooth to an acquisition unit. The emitter also incorporates the 3D accelerometer to measure activity.

- Acquisition system: consisting of one or more acquisition units and a analysis server enabling the acquisition of physiological signals

- Software: The LASA software is hosted directly in the system and enables data acquisition, analysis and export.

DECRO can be used on rat, marmoset, dog and minipig. The software and hardware are the same for all the species, only the jackets and consumables are different to fit with the morphology of the model.

MARMOUSET Jacket

Jacket presentation

The marmoset jacket is shaped like a T-shirt: The sleeves help keep the vest on the wearer, who can easily manipulate the fabric with his or her hands. These, combined with an elastic collar and back closure, guarantee a secure fit.

The jacket is made of a soft and resistant textile, integrating the sensors. It includes two inductance plethysmography bands to measure volume deformations of the animal's trunk, and two electrodes to obtain a lead 2 ECG.

A pocket is available to protect the emitter/battery pack on the animal's back. This pocket, combined with a textile lining, protects connections from damage. You can also find leather protection to prevent the animal's teeth from piercing the textile and reaching the RIP strips underneath.

Sensor and signal

RIP : As shown in the figure above, the jacket includes two inductance plethysmography bands for measuring volume deformations: One for thoracic volume and one for abdominal volume. The respiratory signal observed on the software is the resultant of the two bands.

ECG : Electrodes are patches to be applied to the animal's skin. Electrodes are used with ECG gel, and require dorso-lateral shearing. Two openings are available on the back of the jacket and by unfolding the lining.

The recommendations for marmoset are as follows for electrode placement in order to obtain an ECG LEAD 2:

- The negative (black, right side) electrode is placed on the side, at the top of the thoracic cage of the marmoset, below the armpit.

- The positive (red, left side) electrode is placed on the side, at the bottom of the thoracic cage of the marmoset, at the edge of the shearing zone.

As the electrodes are not attached to the jacket for the mini-pig, it is possible to adapt their position.

SIGNAL:

The previous sensors can be used to obtain the following marmoset signals.

Signal from a marmouset recorded 5 min for a snapshot of its physiological state.

Size recommendations

The instrumented jacket is available in two sizes, depending on the marmoset's weight, to adapt to individual morphology: A size 2 jacket for weights between 300 and 400-420 gr and a size 3 jacket for weight between 400-420 gr and 500 gr.