Radiotelemetry system for apnea study in lambs

Neonatal apneas are bring studied in the laboratory using polysomnographic recordings in lambs. Standard equipment, requiring animal restraint, disrup ts sleep and prevents development of spontaneous apneas. The aim of the cur rent work was to develop and validate a wireless recording equipment to stu dy freely moving lambs. Firstly, a radiotelemetry equipment composed of a m ultichannel FM transmitter and a receiver was developed. Secondly, to test the telemetry equipment, each biopotential-[electroencephalogram (EEG), ele ctrooculogram (EOG), electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyograms (EMGs), nasal airflow]-was recorded simultaneously by standard equipment and by telemetr y (5 lambs). The results indicated an excellent concordance between signals obtained by both systems. Finally, the 8-channel telemetry prototype was t ested for polysomnographic recordings (16 lambs). Results obtained confirme d the possibility of recording frequent REM sleep periods and spontaneous a pneas. In conclusion, this radiotelemetry polysomnographic equipment brings new possibilities for research on neonatal apneas. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.