Patent ID: 7011939
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for running a plurality of tests to obtain electrophysiological data, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of recording stations, each of said recording stations capable of containing at least one test subject; (b) introducing at least one test subject into a first one of said plurality of recording stations; (c) introducing at least one test subject into a second one of said plurality of recording stations; (d) assessing the viability of said at least one test subject in said first one of said plurality of recording stations; (e) assessing the viability of said at least one test subject in said second one of said plurality of recording stations; (f) introducing at least one test material into at least one of said plurality of recording stations that contains a viable test subject as determined by the assessment made in steps (d) and (e), wherein a movable applicator introduces said at least one test material of step (f) directly into at least one of said plurality of recording stations; (g) replacing said at least one test subject in said first one of said plurality of recording stations if said at least one test subject in said first one of said plurality of recording stations fails to respond adequately to a control or if the electrophysiological data of said at least one test subject in said first one of said plurality of recording stations exceeds a user-defined set point; (h) replacing said at least one test subject in said second one of said plurality of recording stations if said at least one test subject in said second one of said plurality of recording stations fails to respond adequately to a control or if the electrophysiological data of said at least one test subject in said second one of said plurality of recording stations exceeds a user-defined set point; and (i) collecting said electrophysiological data from each of said plurality of tests, wherein the steps (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) are carried out without substantial intervention by a human operator, further including the step of disabling said first one of said recording stations if said first one of said recording stations has a higher than expected number of failures, the expected number of failures being defined by the user.