Monitoring System Using Piezo-Electric Cable Sensing

Abstract

A rack system including a plurality of cages, wherein each cage comprises a respective plurality of outside surfaces, a plurality of housing areas, each housing area corresponding to a respective one cage of the plurality of cages, each housing area comprising a respective plurality of inside surfaces of the rack system and arranged to support at least a portion of one of the respective plurality of outside surfaces of its corresponding one cage, and a plurality of coaxial piezoelectric cables, each coaxial piezoelectric cable corresponding to a respective one cage of the plurality of cages and at least indirectly coupled to its corresponding one cage.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A rack system, comprising:
 a cage having an outer surface;   a housing configured to support the cage to enable pivotal motion of the cage about a fulcrum; and   a coaxial piezoelectric cable supported in the housing, wherein a portion of the coaxial piezoelectric cable is positioned adjacent to the fulcrum, whereby the cage applies force on the portion of the coaxial piezoelectric cable positioned adjacent to the fulcrum, the force being associated with a weight of the cage and movement of a rodent within the cage.   
     
     
         22 . The rack system of  claim 21 , wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable supported in contact with the outer surface of the cage. 
     
     
         23 . The rack system of  claim 22 , wherein the housing includes a track arranged to support the cage and coaxial piezoelectric cable. 
     
     
         24 . The rack system of  claim 21 , wherein the housing further comprises an inner surface configured to support the cage. 
     
     
         25 . The rack system of  claim 24 , wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable is located between a portion of the outer surface of the cage and a portion of the inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
         26 . The rack system of  claim 25 , wherein the inner surface comprises a track, wherein the cage further comprises a support surface configured to slide along the track. 
     
     
         27 . The rack system of  claim 26 , wherein the portion of the coaxial piezoelectric cable is located between the support surface and the track. 
     
     
         28 . A rack system, comprising:
 a cage having an support surface;   a housing including a track, the track including a channel defined therein, wherein the track cooperates with the support surface to support the cage in the housing, the support surface extending into the channel; and   a coaxial piezoelectric cable supported in the housing, wherein a portion of the coaxial piezoelectric cable is positioned in the channel, whereby the cage applies force on the portion of the coaxial piezoelectric cable in the channel, the force being associated with a weight of the cage and movement of a rodent within the cage.   
     
     
         29 . The rack system of  claim 28 , wherein the cage is supported in the housing to enable pivotal motion relative to the track. 
     
     
         30 . The rack system of  claim 29 , wherein the pivotal motion of the housing applies force on the portion of the coaxial piezoelectric cable in the channel.