Position inside laboratory cage and activate. Dry PTFE/brass sliding friction pair ensures ultra-low breakaway torque without lubrication.
Typical Limitations in Locomotor Monitoring — And How VivAct™ Solves Them
Recording voluntary rodent running demands rigorous consideration of biomechanics, strict vivarium hygiene protocols, and minimization of animal handling stress.
VivAct™ inside standard cage: compact placement without obstructing feeder hopper, water lixit, or ventilation airflows.
01 / Biomechanics & Inertia
High Starting Resistance and Inertia
Heavy Solid Drums:
High initial inertia requires excessive torque. In disease models with motor impairment (oncology, sarcopenia, neurodegeneration), animals cease running prematurely, obscuring subtle phenotypic deficits.
VivAct™ Solution:
All-metal low-mass wheel (150 g) on a dry brass/PTFE friction pair minimizes breakaway resistance, enabling natural locomotion even in frail animals and 20–35 g mice.
02 / Positional Stability
Wandering and Bedding Vibration
Lightweight Plastic Stands:
Vibrate and wander across woodchip bedding during vigorous nocturnal bouts, tipping over or obstructing feeder hoppers.
VivAct™ Solution:
Low center of gravity, 520 g total unit mass, and elastomer dampening feet eliminate drift and tipping on deep bedding during maximum running velocities.
03 / Biosecurity & Disinfection
Aggressive Chemical Disinfection
Exposed Electronics:
Open circuit boards, unsealed connectors, and ball bearings rapidly corrode when exposed to quaternary ammonium solutions, ammonia vapors, and alcohol wipes.
VivAct™ Solution:
Solid resin compound encapsulation engineered for high chemical resistance against 70% alcohol (ethanol/IPA) and quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC).
04 / Animal Welfare & Protocol
Handling Stress from Frequent Battery Swaps
Short Battery Life:
Depletion within 1–2 weeks forces frequent cage openings, disrupting nest architecture, pheromone cues, and introducing handling artifacts.
VivAct™ Solution:
Multi-month operating autonomy enables continuous longitudinal protocols without unnecessary cage entries or study interruptions.
Methodological Principle: VivAct™ measures voluntary locomotion in the laboratory cage without forced exercise, providing an authentic physiological locomotion profile.
