Water Dispenser with Lickometer

Description

The Water Dispenser with Lickometer provides on-demand water delivery for mice or rats. It includes an input trigger control for precise timing and volume adjustments. The integrated lickometer records the number of licks, allowing for accurate estimation of water intake.

The dispenser features digital control via software, a PsychoPy plugin, and a comprehensive list of serial commands. This design ensures seamless integration with experimental setups, enabling researchers to program and automate water delivery protocols with ease. Additionally, for enhanced functionality, pair the dispenser with our Behavioral Camera to capture high-speed recordings of animal behavior and licking activities.

The peristaltic pump in this product offers superior reliability and precision compared to a solenoid valve. Unlike solenoid valves, which can suffer from mechanical wear and inconsistent performance, the peristaltic pump maintains accuracy over time due to its simple design and lack of moving parts that contact the fluid. This design also ensures cleaner operation by isolating the fluid from the mechanical components, reducing the risk of contamination. Widely used in various applications for its robustness and dependability, the peristaltic pump consistently delivers superior performance and reliability.

Operation of the water dispenser

Our versatile device offers three convenient modes of operation, providing researchers with greater flexibility in their experiments. The programmed sequence can be triggered by an external signal, allowing seamless integration with existing experimental setups and protocols. Additionally, researchers can fully control the device through a digital signal, enabling direct action on the pump. Furthermore, the pump supports a serial command mode, allowing researchers to trigger the specified sequence using serial commands from our software or our PsychoPy plugin. With these advanced features, our device empowers researchers to explore new avenues of investigation in their studies with ease and accuracy.