NIBP Controller
Owner’s Guide
22
Users are presented with all the information that is typically recorded by NIBP
systems and can implement their own algorithms.
The following guidelines are provided to assist in the development of
protocols and reliable algorithms for the non-invasive measurement of blood
pressure in small animals.
Protocol Development Guidelines
1.
Training: Most animals require some training, habituation to the protocol,
and careful handling to produce repeatable results; rats are more readily
trained than mice. Two to three training sessions may be necessary to
acclimatize the animals. Even when the animal has been trained it may
take a few minutes before a distinct pulse is measurable on the tail.
2.
Restraint cages: These are necessary for conscious animals. Ensure that
Perspex restraint cages are selected to fit the animal comfortably. Place the
animal in the Perspex cylinder restraint cage and adjust the depth to
restrict forward and backward movement within the tube. The tube
should prevent the animal from turning around.
3.
External stimuli: Sudden motion and sounds should be restricted as much
as possible, since they cause animal movement. It sometimes helps to
cover the restraint cage with a cloth to reduce the impact of external
stimuli.
4.
Temperature maintenance: Warming rats and mice improves blood
circulation in the tail and the signal to noise ratio in the recording.
Typically animals should be preheated to 28–30 °C and maintained at that
temperature during the test.
5.
Tail cuff: The tail cuff is used to occlude blood flow in the tail and thereby
interrupt the pulse that is measurable in the caudal artery. The tail cuff is
positioned at the proximal end of the tail.
6.
Pulse transducer positioning: The active site of the pulse transducer
should be located on the ventral surface of the tail, directly below the
caudal artery. The transducer is positioned directly following the tail cuff.
Maximum sensitivity is achieved when the artery is positioned above the
most sensitive position on the transducer. Movement from this position
can reduce the amplitude of the measured pulses.
7.
Mechanical vibrations: The transducer used to make the pulse
measurements is very sensitive and subject to vibrations. Ensure that
mechanical vibrations from other laboratory devices do not affect the
transducer.
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