Metris is continously innovating its products by listening carefully to the needs and requirements of its customers and potential customers. Metris is currently working on the following projects:
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Automatic classification of Flinching in rats Flinching is a behavior that can best be described as a brief shaking of the paw. It is often used as part of the Formalin Pain Test in combination with another behavior "Hind Limb Licking" that occurs. Metris has already developed an algorithm for Hind Limb licking that is used by a growing number of Pharmaceutical companies that were able to improve effiency and at the same time reduce the number of animals. The new flinching algorithm will expand the possibilities and accuracy of the Formalin Test, which will lead to significant lead time reduction and high quality results in "Pain research" (Availability: July 2012). |
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Light Dark cage for Laboras (rats and mice) The Light Dark test is used to assess anxiety. The main measure of this test is the preference of the animal for dark, enclosed places over bright, exposed places. Parameters that will be determined are Time spend in the light and dark sections of the cage, Entries in the light and dark sections and latency time to the dark section. The dark section consists of a removable red-transparant or non-transparant black box that will appear as a dark area for the animal. Different cages for rats and mice will be developed. The Light Dark test will further expand the variety of tests and animals models that can be performed with the Laboras equipment.(Availability: February 2012). |
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Automatic classification of Dyskinesia in rats Dyskinesia is a disease with a complex pattern of behaviors, that is difficult to score in an objective way by human observers. Dyskinesia is often divided in the following categories of behaviours: Locomotive Dyskinesia (Lo), Limb Dyskinesia (Li), Orolingual Diskynesia (OL) and Axial Diskynesia (Ax). A consistent and reliable quantative measure is difficult to give for some of these categories. Laboras determines already several parameters and behaviours that are part of the dyskinesia symptoms. Special algorithms are developed to recognize new parameters and behaviours and to combine these parameters in a quantative measure between 1 and 5 for each of the dyskinesia categories (Feasibility study). |
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Sonotrack version for field use Following requests of several customers a special version of Sonotrack is being developped which is completely adapted to field use in areas such as rain forests and other remote areas. All Sonotrack components will be mounted in a special (traveller) case which is water, air and dust tight and has integrated weels for easy transport. When the equipment is operated in the field, the microphones and cables can be taken out of the case and installed in a way that suits your field research. All other parts stay in the case and are therefore protected against environmental conditions. The Sonotrack system can be connected to a laptop. (Availability: May 2011). |
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For a complete list of planned or on-going research and developments at Metris b.v. and Metris IT Solutions Ltd. please contact us: info@metris.nl