The Columbus Instruments latest Opto-Varimex-5 Auto Track System is the 5th generation of our animal activity meter designed for the Open Field Anxiety and Exploratory Tests. The Auto-Track is an advanced system using the latest technology to quantify locomotor activity and trace the animal's path for behavioral analysis. Systems can support up to 16 stations on a single PC and come complete with cages, sensors, brackets, interface, and Windows software.
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The Auto-Track System senses motion with a grid of infrared photocells placed around the arena (typically 17.5" x 17.5" (44.5 cm), but other sizes are available). Vertical motion is detected by a second array of photocells placed above the animal.
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The simultaneous interruption of beams along the horizontal axes (X & Y) provide coordinates that identify animal location. Vertical motion is scored and stored with the horizontal position data. The software records these coordinates for later playback and analysis. Suitable manipulation of the recorded pattern by analysis methods can reveal subtle changes in animal behavior over the course of an experiment, between experiments, and / or between animals.
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The Opto-Varimex-5 also can be adapted to perform automated measurements for other tests such as the Contextual Place Preference Test, Hole Poke Exploratory Test, and Light/Dark Transition Test.

Contextual Place Preference Cage Insert

Hole-Poke Setup

Light/Dark Cage

Features / Specifications

• Distance Traveled (cm)
• Resting Time (sec)
• Stereotypic Time (sec)
• Ambulatory Time (sec)
• Bursts of Stereotypic Movement
• Horizontal Beam Break Counts
• Ambulatory Beam Break Counts
• Vertical Counts
• Bursts of Vertical Movement
• Time in Square Analysis
• Raw Data Storage (GLP compliant)
• Real Time Monitoring
• Validation Protocols
• Staggered Start
• Re-Analysis of Data
• 16 beams per axis
• Sensors available with 1" (2.54 cm) or 0.5" (1.27cm) beam spacing.
• 17.5" (44.5 cm) Cage comes with base plate of 23.25" x 23.25" (59cm)
• 9.5" (24 cm) comes with base plate of 12.625" (32.7 cm)

Ordering Information

‍Auto-Track/Opto-Varimex-5 Open Field Systems (17.5" x 17.5" Arena)

• 0271-8000  Opto-Varimex-5  Software Interface Kit (Auto-Track)
• 0271-8002  Opto-Varimex-5  8-Channel Interface Electronics Kit
• 0271-5102  Opto Open Field 1 Station (XYZ) Inclusive of Cage, Brackets, Cables 16 x 16 inch Sensors
  

Contextual Place Preference

• 0271-8301 Opto-Varimex-5 Contextual Place Preference Box Insert
  

Hole Poke Exploratory Test

• ‍‍0271-8302 Opto-Varimex-5 Hole Poke Kit for Mice: Includes Mouse Board and one 16" Sensor Set
• 0271-8303 Opto-Varimex-5 Hole Poke Kit for Rats: Includes Rat Board and one 16" Sensor Set
  

Light/Dark Transition Test

• 0271-8300 Opto-Varimex-5 Light / Dark Box for Mice and Rats (17.5" x 17.5" total arena size)