Kaha Telemetry

for Neurophysiology
How wireless telemetry
can improve your research
Table of Contents
1 The Benefits of Wireless Telemetry

2 Kaha Telemetry

3 Neurophysiology Applications
• Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
• Seizures
• Long-Term Chronic Studies

6 Resources

8 Kaha Wireless Telemetry Products

• Rat Telemetry
• Mouse Telemetry

12 Specification Table

13 Optogenetic Telemetry

14 FAQ
The Benefits of Wireless Telemetry
Animal Welfare
Wireless telemetry allows you to work with conscious, freely moving animals. Other data collection
methods require animal restraint or tethers, which cause stress and can affect normal physiological
functions and recorded data.
With fully implantable wireless telemetry you can achieve better results with fewer animals, less handling,
less risk of infection, and less human interference in animal activity. This reduces the overall stress on the
animals in your care.

Data Quality
2 kHz continuous high fidelity data transmission ensures every event is accurately recorded. Without
the chemical alteration of anesthesia, the physical stress of restraint or handling, or the signal artifacts
of tethers, you can be confident in your data. This level of data clarity for continuous monitoring over
days, weeks, or months, lends itself to automated processing and signal detection; a process which is
impossible in more traditional tether-based continuous monitoring.

Flexibility
Rechargeable wireless telemetry means the telemeters work on your schedule. Other wireless telemeters
rely on replaceable batteries, giving you a short window of time to perform your research before the
telemeter battery dies and has to be replaced.
Our rechargeable telemetry system survives delays, so you have one less thing to worry about. Now you
can rely on high quality, clear, physiological signals whether your experiments started on time, were
delayed by a few days, or by a few months.

Study Options
Stress-free, continuous telemetry data enables you to perform studies and quantify data in ways not
possible or feasible with other sampling methods.
• Perform experiments with the same animal over days, weeks, or months.
• Record multiple data points from a single subject in different experimental settings, using the animal
as its own control.
• Study biological rhythms and detect subtle changes that would be missed in between-subject noise.
• Reduce the number of animals required for your experiment with higher quality data and more
advanced experimental options.
• Perform behavioral experiments (mazes, operant training, socialization, etc.) up to 5 meters from your
SmartPad for 4-6 hours at a time.

Cost Saving
The combination of reduced handling, smaller sample sizes, and reliable high quality data leads to
significant savings in labor, consumables, husbandry and more. The more time and energy you and your
team save in data collection, the more you have to use in other areas of your work.

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 Kaha Telemetry
Kaha telemeters wirelessly record and transmit physiological signals from freely moving
animals living in their home cages without the use of tethers.
Kaha Sciences sets the new standard in quality and power for implantable, wireless
telemetry in rats and mice. Kaha Telemetry is the best option for research scientists,
allowing you to record continuous data from freely moving animals across extended periods
with accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity.

Wireless recharging
Our patented wireless inductive recharging keeps your telemeters charged and transmitting continuously for days, to
weeks, to months. Ideal for progressive or chronic disease research.

2 kHz sampling rate

Patented wireless power technology allows for higher sampling rates (2 kHz), improved time resolutions, and opens
the door for the unique use of more complicated and power intensive technologies such as oxygen sensors and gold
standard Millar Mikro-Tip® sensors.

High-fidelity signals
Record true high-fidelity signals such as ventricular and arterial pressures, sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), biopotentials
(e.g. ECG, EMG, EEG), and tissue oxygen.

Reusability
Kaha rat telemeters are fully reusable; able to be explanted, cleaned, and implanted for your next round of experiments
without any need to return them for refurbishment or battery replacement.

Cohousing Animals
Kaha rat telemeters offer a Cohousing feature. This feature allows two rats, each implanted with a telemeter, to be
housed together in a single cage, or for two telemeters to be implanted in one animal (larger than 350 g).

With Cohousing, the system continues to regulate the power

supplied to both telemeters seamlessly while collecting
continuous data with the expected accuracy and quality.
To see the full range of Kaha rat telemeters available visit
adi.to/rat-telemeters

2
Neurophysiology Applications
Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
The ability to capture data in real-time, 24/7 is invaluable when studying physiological rhythms. Using Kaha rat and
mouse biopotential telemeters it is possible to record and identify different stages of the sleep/wake cycle over
the course of your experiment. This enables you to track changes in circadian or ultradian rhythms in response to
interventions, disease progression, or to characterize these rhythms as part of an animal model. The implantation
ensures that not only will artifacts be minimized, but the animal will be able to return to a more physiological normal
pattern of behavior; maximizing the generalisability of your results.

Using the rat or mouse

biopotential telemeters, record
EEG to have the clearest view
of the animal’s sleep/wake
cycle and monitor their neural
oscillations with absolute clarity.

Or implant the biopotential leads

in the trapezius muscle to record
EMG for an indirect measure of
activity and wakefulness.

Publications:
Emans, T. W., et al. Circadian Rhythm in Kidney Tissue Oxygenation in the Rat. Physiol. 8, (2017).
Adamovich, Y., et al. Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Rhythms Are Circadian Clock Controlled and
Differentially Directed by Behavioral Signals. Cell Metabolism, 29 (5), (2019).

3
Seizures
Monitoring pathophysiological activity, such as seizures, in vivo has traditionally been challenging due to the
spontaneous nature of the condition. Kaha Sciences’ innovative use of wireless power technology has removed
the compromise of battery-life to allow users to record continuously at a high sampling rate (2 kHz) over long-term
experiments. The ability to record continuously ensures that more data is captured and fewer seizure events are missed.

Use a biopotential telemeter to record the EEG activity of Use a dual biopotential telemeter to record EEG and
seizure events over the course of your experiment. nuchal EMG to determine when the seizure event begins
in the brain and the physical severity.

Use our mouse biopotential telemeter to record ECG for long-term observation of seizure impact on cardiovascular health.

Publications:
Hill, A. C., et al. Correction of medication nonadherence results in better seizure outcomes than dose escalation in a novel
preclinical epilepsy model of adherence. Epilepsia 60 (3), (2019).
Read, M.I., et al. Improved Cardiac Outcomes With Combined Atenolol and Diazepam Intervention in Seizure.
Epilepsia, 59 (4), (2018).

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Long-Term Chronic Studies
Long-term chronic studies are the gold standard when characterizing new animal models, disease progression, or
treatment effectiveness. However, performing these studies has typically required a trade-off between signal clarity
and study duration. Tethers have been a go-to for long-term studies, but produce noisy data. Whereas battery-powered
telemeters have enabled clearer signals but on very restricted timescales.
The wireless and rechargeable Kaha Telemeters enable you to collect clean data on a timescale that works around you.
With our telemeters, your experiments are no longer limited by battery life. Running an experiment that lasts weeks or
months is just as simple to set up as an experiment that runs for hours or days.
Delays in starting your experiment, or moving from one phase to the next, have no impact on the telemeter’s ability to
perform. Once you’re done, simply explant and prepare the telemeter for your next experiment.
Run long-term observational studies solely in the animal’s homecage, or multi-stage behavioral conditioning
experiments up to 5 meters from their SmartPad. Whatever your experiment requires in terms of data clarity, duration,
accuracy, and signal fidelity is easily within reach.

Measure the impact of optogenetic targets

in Parkinsonian rats over the course of their
disease progression with our Optogenetic
Telemeter. The telemeter can be used up to
5 meters from the SmartPad, and will last
4-6 hours before needing to be recharged.

Use the Pressure Biopotential Telemeter to

observe EEG and intracranial pressure over
the course of hydrocephalus development
and progression.

Use the Biopotential Telemeter to

observe progressive changes in EEG in
degenerative neurological disorders.

Publications:
Chapman, R.W., et al. Treprostinil Palmitil, an Inhaled Long-acting Pulmonary Vasodilator, Does Not Show Tachyphylaxis
With Daily Dosing in Rats. Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 66, (2021).
Eftekhari, S., et al. Long-term Monitoring of Intracranial Pressure in Freely-moving Rats; Impact of Different Physiological
States. Fluids and Barriers of the CNS, 17 (1), (2020).

5
Resources

Getting Started with Kaha Sciences

For everything you need to know about our Kaha Sciences Telemetry System, explore our extensive
list of resources.

https://adi.to/kaha-getting-started

Telemetry 101
This webinar explores the benefits of using telemetry and discusses the specific advantages of ADInstruments’ small
animal telemetry systems, including wireless power technology for continuous, long-term recording and the integration
of Millar Mikro-Tip® pressure sensors for increased accuracy and fidelity.
Key topics include: • How does incorporating Millar Mikro-Tip® pressure
• What are the benefits of telemetry over other techniques sensors enhance telemetry studies?
for recording physiological parameters in vivo? • How could ADInstruments telemetry fit into my
• What are the advantages of wireless power technology in physiology or neuroscience experiments?
telemetry studies?

https://adi.to/Telemetry101

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Kaha Telemetry System Overview
This demo provides an overview of the main components of our Kaha telemetry system. This includes the telemeters,
the Configurator, and the SmartPad/tBase.
Key topics include:
• An overview of the Kaha Wireless Telemetry system • Benefits of Solid-State Catheter technology in long
and components term studies
• Bases and wireless continuous charging • Key benefits of wireless telemetry
• Mouse Biopotential Telemeter • A demonstration of hardware and software
• Rat Telemeters
https://adi.to/Kaha-Telemetry-System

Surgical
Instruction Videos
https://adi.to/kahasupport
We offer surgical instruction videos and support webinars to ensure you have access to the information you need when
you need it. This sensitive information is gated. For first-time access to the following surgical instruction videos and
resources, please follow the link above to create an account on the ADInstruments website. This will give you access to
our collection of surgical videos that include:
• Surgical Instruction: Rat Telemeter Placement in the Abdomen
• Surgical Instruction: Rat Telemeter Placement
• Surgical Instruction: Placement of Optogenetics Telemeter within the Rat Brain

7
Kaha Wireless Telemetry Products
Kaha Rat Telemetry: The Rat System
Configure a Kaha Sciences Rat telemetry system to meet your exact research needs.

Telemeter of your choice One SmartPad per animal One Configurator System per lab

PowerLab options LabChart / LabChart Lightning

Your lab will need:

• One telemeter and SmartPad per animal • A data acquisition device
• One Configurator per lab • Data acquisition and analysis software

The Configurator is used to pair each telemeter with its SmartPad. Once paired, the telemeter will transmit recorded
data to the SmartPad using the configured frequency. There are 40 wireless frequencies to choose from when
configuring your telemeter and SmartPad, ensuring that 40 telemeter and SmartPad pairs can run concurrently without
interference.
While rat telemeters can be charged by any SmartPad, in order to transmit data the telemeter and its paired SmartPad
must be within 5 meters of each other.
The SmartPad is connected to your data acquisition device using BNC cables. Your DAQ device is, in turn, connected to
your data acquisition and analysis software.
A typical set-up would have one telemeter transmitting two streams of data (e.g. biopotential and temperature) to its
paired SmartPad. The SmartPad transmits that data through two BNC cables (one for each data stream) to a
PowerLab C Instrument Interface. The Instrument Interface would then record the data into LabChart through direct
USB-C connection to the computer.

REQUEST A QUOTE

8
Rat Dual Bio Telemeter TR50BB

Telemeter Body

Minimum rat weight 175 g (single) or 350 g (double)

Outer material Biocompatible hard-shell (liquid crystal polymer)

Weight 12 g

Dimensions 31.5 x 24 x 11 mm

Temperature operating range 8 to 41 degrees Celsius

Reusability Fully reusable

Rechargeable Battery

Continuous charging on SmartPad. Out of SmartPad

Battery life
charging field, battery life is 4-6 hours.

Recharge time 3 hours minimum

Activation by SmartPad & deactivation by

Power On-off
Configurator System.

Data Transmission

Transmission range Up to 5 meters

Transmitted signal 2.4 GHz, fully digital

Transmission frequencies 40 available, configured by user

Sampling frequency 2 kHz

Low Pass filter cut-off frequency (SmartPad) 1 kHz

REQUEST A QUOTE

9
Kaha Wireless Telemetry Products
Kaha Mouse Telemetry: The Mouse System
Kaha Sciences mouse telemeters provide the ideal solution for research scientists looking to record
high quality wireless biopotential signals (ECG, EEG, or EMG) and index of animal activity in mice
over 22 grams.

Mouse Biopotential Telemeter One tBase per animal One Configurator System per lab

PowerLab options LabChart / LabChart Lightning

Your lab will need:

• One telemeter and tBase per animal • A data acquisition device
• One Configurator per lab • Data acquisition and analysis software

Each laboratory will need just one Configurator in order to configure all Kaha equipment. The Configurator is used
to pair each telemeter with its tBase. Once paired, the telemeter will transmit recorded data to the tBase using the
configured frequency. There are 40 wireless frequencies to choose from when configuring your telemeter and tBase,
ensuring that 40 telemeter and tBase pairs can run concurrently without interference.
The tBase generates an inductive power field which extends approximately 7 cm above the surface of the base. When
the mouse telemeter is within this power field, the telemeter will be powered and data will be recorded.
A typical set-up would have one telemeter transmitting two streams of data (e.g. biopotential and location) to its
paired tBase. The tBase transmits that data through two BNC cables (one for each data stream) to a PowerLab C
Instrument Interface. The Instrument Interface would then record the data into LabChart through direct USB-C
connection to the computer.

REQUEST A QUOTE

10
Mouse Biopotential Telemeter MT10B

Telemeter Body

Minimum mouse weight Mouse >22 g

Outer material Ceramic (telemeter body) and polyurethane (leadset)

Dimensions 1.8 cm3

Reusability Single-use

Optical fiber minimum bend radius 5 mm (breakpoint radius <3 mm)

Power

Does not contain a battery. Is powered through

Power inductive wireless power when within 7 cm of the
tBase surface.

Powered when placed on the tBase and deactivated

On-off mechanism
when removed from the tBase.

Data Transmission

Transmission Range Signal only transmitted while the animal is on the tBase.

Transmitted signal Fully digital at 2.4 GHz

Transmission frequencies 40 independent channels available; configured by user

Sampling frequency 2 kHz

REQUEST A QUOTE

11
Specification Table
Rat Biopotential
+ Rat Pressure Mouse Biopotential
Feature Dual Biopotential Biopotential Telemeter Telemeter
Telemeters
EEG, ECG, EMG, EEG, ECG, EMG,
Signals EEG, ECG, EMG, Movement
Temperature Pressure, Temperature
Length of biopotential 8 cm length, coiled
25 cm
lead wire/s stainless steel
Biopotential lead wire/s
1 mm 0.42 mm
diameter

Length of pressure
N/A 9 cm, 15 cm, or 25 cm N/A
catheter
Distal tip: 2Fr (660 µm)
Pressure sensor diameter N/A N/A
Catheter: 1.5Fr (500 µm)
Input range ±2 mV + 2.5 mV

Resolution 12 bit A/D 12 bit A/D

AC coupled, single pole, AC coupled, single pole,
High pass characteristics
-3dB point at 0.7 Hz -3 dB point at 2 Hz
Low Pass filter cut-off AC coupled, single pole,
1 kHz
frequency -3 dB point at 440 Hz
Sampling frequency 2 kHz 2 kHz

Analog Biopotential 2V output = 0mV input 2.048 V output = 0 mV input

output calibration value 4V output = 2 mV input 4.096 V output = 2.5 mV input
Analog Temperature 0V output = 0oC
N/A
output calibration value 1V output = 20oC
Analog activity output 0 V output = 0 RAU
N/A
calibration values 3.84 V output = 10 RAU
~0 V output = 0
Analog data received
N/A (no data received)
output calibration values
~3.3 V = 1 (data received)
Pressure sensor accuracy N/A ±2 mmHg N/A

Pressure sensor drift N/A <4 mmHg per month N/A

Pressure sensor Frequency
N/A DC to 500 Hz (-3 dB) N/A
response
-40 to 300 mmHg @ atm
Pressure sensor range N/A of 760 mmHg (720 to 1060 N/A
mmHg absolute pressure)
Ambient pressure range N/A 650 to 800 mmHg N/A

Maximum operating
N/A 1300 m N/A
altitude
Analog Pressure output 1V output - 0 mmHg
N/A N/A
calibration value 2V output = 100 mmHg

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Optogenetic Telemeter
Research Prototype
The Kaha Sciences Optogenetics Biopotential Telemeter is currently available as a research prototype.
The telemeter is the first fully implantable, wireless optogenetic solution to offer both optogenetic stimulation and
recording (EEG, ECG, and EMG) within the same device. A 35 cm fiber optic cable allows for direct placement of the
stimulating blue light (460 nm) at target cells while the biopotential signal measures the potential difference between
the pair of 25 cm coiled electrode leads.

Research Areas
Parkinson’s Disease • Epilepsy • Depression • Addiction • Pain • Auditory Dysfunction

Optogenetic Telemeter

Biopotential lead wires 25 cm length, coiled stainless steel (1 pair)

Biopotential lead wire diameter 1 mm

Optical fiber length 35 cm length, Silica core with Tefzel (ETFE)

Optical fiber diameter 200 µm (glass core only)

Optical fiber minimum bend radius 5 mm (breakpoint radius <3 mm)

Fiber Optic Cable

Purpose Opsin activation

Light wavelength 460 nm (blue)

Light power ≥1.0 mW

Light intensity ≥30 mW/mm2

REQUEST A QUOTE

13
FAQ
How are the telemeters powered?
Kaha Sciences telemetry systems use patented inductive wireless power to remove the limitations of battery life and
support both long-term and continuous recording at a high sampling rate (2kHz) from rats and mice. SartPads and
tBases convert mains power into an electromagnetic field which passes harmlessly through non-metallic surfaces, such
as the cage base and the skin of the animal. Telemeters have an inductor coil which converts the electromagnetic field
back to electricity and subsequently powers the telemeter.

Is there thermal generation during charging?

Thermal generation in the telemeters during charging is insufficient to cause acute or chronic issues while implanted.
The wireless power technology is smart enough that the field generated by the TR181 SmartPads and MT110 tBases
is optimized based on feedback from the telemeter. In addition, rat telemeters constantly monitor their internal
temperature to ensure overheating doesn’t occur. If for any reason telemeter temperature exceeds a certain value, the
wireless power field is temporarily disabled.

How many times can a rat telemeter be used?

Experienced users will be able to get four or five uses from each telemeter. The exact number of uses will vary and
depends on the telemeter model, customer application and how carefully telemeters are handled during implantation,
explantation and cleaning.
It is strongly recommended that users of the rat telemetry system carefully study the surgical implantation and
explantation videos available on our website to ensure that best practice is followed.
Surgical implantation videos
Explantation video

When reusing the EEG/biopotential units (between subjects), can you address how or whether one
can lengthen the lead wires if needed?
The lead wires are approximately 25 cm long which should provide ample length to allow customers to use the
telemeters 4-5 times. If you wish to extend the usage of the telemeters further we recommend minimizing the length of
lead that needs to be cut at explantation by using dental cement sparingly to secure the leads in place for EEG recording.
We do not provide splice kits for lengthening the biopotential leads due to the possible effect this may have on
signal quality.

Do you offer telemetry for temperature?

The rat telemeters provide temperature measurement every 2 hours during normal recording in the home-cage and
continuous temperature monitoring away from the home-cage for 4-6 hours (depending on the telemeter model). This
function is disabled when using Cohousing Mode. The mouse telemetry system does not offer temperature monitoring.

Which is the highest rate that can be transferred?

Both the rat and mouse telemetry systems offer a 2 kHz sampling rate which is suitable for recording biopotentials such
as EEG and ECoG for neuroscience studies.

Can Kaha Telemeters interface with the ADI systems you already own?
Yes, the analog outputs of the SmartPad and tBase connect to the analog inputs of the PowerLab and data can be
acquired and analyzed in LabChart. Most customers record 2 analog outputs from each animal, in which case a
PowerLab 16/35 would support recording from up to 8 animals, and a PowerLab C would support 2 animals for each
connected Instrument Interface.

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 Need more information?
ADInstruments are the exclusive global
distributors of Kaha small animal telemeters
and associated hardware and software.

We’re experts in helping you find the right tools

for your research. Have any questions about which
telemeter is the best for your application?
Contact us to discuss your research and workflow.

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