TSE Systems continues to innovate with the introduction of a new development in telemetry. The new Stellar Telemetry System revolutionizes the field of remote data collection. Our proprietary sensor tipped catheter allows uninterrupted readings of blood pressure, biopotential and temperature data; even when the animal is removed out of range of the receiver. The Stellar Telemetry System has an unprecedented capability of measuring 256 animals with just one remote receiver making other systems receiver platforms obsolete.

High-profile scientists have gathered at historic Jagdschloss Niederwald between February 23^rd to 24^th to discuss the latest developments in automated phenotyping of rodents. The 1^st TSE Systems Symposium “From PhenoScale to PhenoWorld” demonstrated technological advances for higher data reliability, faster result generation and in high-throughput analysis of rodent behaviour and metabolism. Based on proceedings of the EU funded PhenoScale project, the way into the future of multi-arena setups was demonstrated with examples both in use and just off the drawing board. A lively discussion ensued with topics ranging from maintenance necessities to multivariate statistics for the amount of data generated by TSE Systems´ complex instrumentation. All participants agreed that the symposium was an extremely illuminating and stimulating event that should be perpetuated in the future.

The E-Spray NanoGen, TSE Systems´ solution for high quality, reproducible nanoparticle aerosol generation for inhalation exposure, won a first place at the 2011 Bad Homburg Innovation Award competition.

The jury was convinced that the technological advancements in the TSE Systems product enable more reliable data generation in nanoparticle toxicology research. This facilitates the assessment of risk levels for example in inhalation toxicology, environmental protection, workplace safety, and other applications. Other decision criteria were estimated market opportunities, user benefit, production sustainability, and impact on environment. More than 20 companies entered the fierce contest, which is held every 3 years.

The prize consists of an innovation management workshop with renowned researcher Prof. Michael Stephan, Managing Director of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the University of Marburg, Germany.

TSE Systems has completed the installation of the first PhenoWorld multi-arena setup for rats in the lab of Prof. Nuno Sousa at the Neurosciences Research Domain of the Instituto de Investigação em Ciências da Vida e da Saúde (ICVS).

The compact modular system includes a rat central cage, connected to multiple satellite arenas, featuring RFID identification of individual animals and gated access to food and drink choices, operant conditioning units, a T-Maze system, and activity cages with running wheels and open field arena and light/dark box. The unique combination of paradigms from the PhenoMaster, IntelliCage and Multi Conditioning Systems, controlled by a high-performance, user-friendly software package, allows fully automated, unbiased phenotyping and behavioural testing of group-housed rats.

The complete setup was developed in close collaboration with Prof. Sousa himself, and Dr. João Cerqueira from the institute, to enable sophisticated research programs in the field of brain ageing, neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. To this end, individual paradigms are connected in topical cage setups, for example the "Activity Cage" consisting of locomotion analysis, open field, light/dark, conditioned place preference and hole board. The "drinking and feeding cage" allows addiction , depression and aversion studies. Other topical setups are the "female cage" for social interaction and sexual behaviour, the "exercise cage" for voluntary and competitive exercise, anhedonia and motor skill testing, and the "operant cage" for the analysis of operant behaviour, panic reaction in rats, or spontaneous alternation in a T-maze.