TC-1000 Instruction Manual 7
© 2023 CWE, Inc.
Strategy 2: Intermittent use with one or more animals --- In this situation, the
animal is warmed for a while, then removed from the pad (perhaps for a separate
test or measurement, etc.), then returned to the pad. A similar situation would be
to sequentially warm a series of animals (e.g., during surgery, with the pad being
unoccupied between animals).
Procedure: Place the animal on the heating pad as usual and insert the probe
rectally. When the pad is not in use (i.e., the time between animals), place the
temperature probe on the surface of the heating pad. This simple procedure
prevents the controller from ramping up its heat output when no animal is present,
and prevents overheating the next animal in the sequence.
Strategy 3: Fail-safe simple warming technique --- If the object is to simply
keep the animal warm, and it is not too critical to maintain an exact body
temperature, then use this procedure.
Procedure: Place the animal on the heating pad as usual, but place the
temperature probe underneath the animal, i.e. between the animal and the heating
pad. The controller will then keep the surface temperature of the pad at the set
temperature. This prevents any possibility of overheating or heat injury to the
animal. Researchers who use this technique typically set the target temperature a
few degrees above the normal body temperature (say, to 40o C) to allow for heat
loss to the environment.
Note: This procedure can also be used to keep a number of small animals (e.g.,
newborn rodents) warm at the same time. Use this technique to create a small
incubator by placing the pad on the floor of a small plastic enclosure.
Strategy 4: General hints and suggestions --- Please observe the following
suggestions and precautions to enable successful operation of this instrument.
Do not: Place the heating pad directly on a cold table, metal plate, or other heat
conducting surface. You will be asking the heating pad to warm a far larger mass
than it is capable of, and it will not work!
Do: Place a small insulating layer between the heating pad and the underlying
surface. This will serve to isolate the pad/animal thermal system.
Do: If possible, place a small covering over the animal. This limits heat loss to the
environment, especially if the area is cold or drafty.
Do: Allow sufficient time for the system to stabilize. It will take a minimum of
several minutes for the controller to adapt to the prevailing conditions. The
controller is designed not to overshoot the set temperature. Consider the task: the
heating pad is radiating and/or conducting heat to the body of the animal, and thus
eventually to the thermistor probe. There is a considerable time lag in response,
and the controller tries to anticipate the future temperature of the probe/animal,
