Experimental mouse cage

Abstract

The utility model discloses an experimental mouse cage, and relates to the technical field of animal experiments. The experimental mouse cage can automatically monitor food intake of mice. The experimental mouse cage comprises a mouse cage body, a first mouse cage cover, a second mouse cage cover, a feeder, a water feeder and a weighing sensor; the number of the weighing sensors is two, and the two weighing sensors are installed at the same end of the mouse cage body and arranged in a spaced mode. The first mouse cage cover and the second mouse cage cover are arranged at an interval, one end of the first mouse cage cover and one end of the second mouse cage cover are hinged to the same end of the mouse cage body, and the other end of the first mouse cage cover and the other end of the second mouse cage cover are lapped on the two weighing sensors respectively; the feeder is installed on the first mouse cage cover and extends into the mouse cage body, and the water feeder is installed on the second mouse cage cover and extends into the mouse cage body. The mouse diet frequency and diet amount monitoring system can automatically monitor the diet frequency and diet amount of the mouse, and frequent manual participation is not needed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of animal experiments, in particular to an experimental mouse cage. Background Art

[0002] In animal experiments, it is often necessary to monitor the frequency and amount of food eaten by mice. Recording the above information is useful for judging the health status of mice, understanding the mental behavior and nutritional status of mice and rats, and is conducive to the control of wasting diseases in mice, especially wasting diseases in tumor mice.

[0003] Currently, the dietary information of mice is mainly monitored manually, such as measuring the amount of food and water in advance, putting the food and water into containers and putting them into the mouse cage, and taking them out and measuring them again after a period of time. This method is used to measure the amount of food that mice eat over a period of time, and it is difficult to obtain a large amount of data; if you want to know the frequency of mice eating and the amount of food they eat each time, you need long-term manual observation and frequent manual measurement, which is very cumbersome.

[0004] After searching, some patents disclosed mouse cages with the function of measuring the diet of mice. For example, the patent with application number 201720623500.X disclosed a cage that can weigh the food intake and water intake of experimental mice. The method of use is: the experimenter first puts the feed on the electronic scale in the electronic scale area, reads the data to record the weight of the feed, and then tilts the cage, and the feed enters the feed area from the electronic scale area through the movable baffle. Fill the water dispenser with full scale water, place it on the inclined surface of the metal mesh fence on the drinking area, put the experimental mouse in the cage, and tilt the cage in the opposite direction whenever you want to obtain the food intake or water intake data of the experimental mouse. The feed flows through the baffle to the electronic scale in the electronic scale area, and the food intake data of the experimental mouse can be obtained after weighing. The water intake data of the experimental mouse can be obtained at any time according to the remaining amount of water displayed on the scale value on the water dispenser.

[0005] The above-mentioned mouse cage facilitates the monitoring of the mouse's diet to a certain extent, but to understand the mouse's eating frequency and the amount of food each time, it still requires long-term manual observation and frequent manual measurement. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide an experimental mouse cage capable of automatically monitoring the diet amount of mice.

[0007] The technical solution adopted to solve the above problems is: the experimental mouse cage includes a mouse cage body, a first mouse cage cover, a second mouse cage cover, a feeder, a waterer and a weighing sensor; the number of the weighing sensors is two, and the two weighing sensors are installed at the same end of the mouse cage body and are arranged at intervals; the first mouse cage cover and the second mouse cage cover are arranged at intervals, one end of the first mouse cage cover and the second mouse cage cover are hinged to the same end of the mouse cage body, and the other ends of the first mouse cage cover and the second mouse cage cover are respectively placed on the two weighing sensors; the feeder is installed on the first mouse cage cover and extends into the mouse cage body, and the waterer is installed on the second mouse cage cover and extends into the mouse cage body.

[0008] Furthermore, the squirrel cage body comprises a rotating shaft, on which a rolling bearing is sleeved, and ends of the first squirrel cage cover and the second squirrel cage cover are sleeved on the rolling bearing.

[0009] Furthermore, two sensor placement boxes are arranged on the squirrel cage body, and two weighing sensors are placed in the two sensor placement boxes respectively.

[0010] Furthermore, the experimental cage includes two anti-opening bolts; one anti-opening bolt passes through the first cage cover and is connected to the cage body, a distance is provided between the bolt head of the anti-opening bolt and the first cage cover, and the first cage cover is restricted from opening; the other anti-opening bolt passes through the second cage cover and is connected to the cage body, a distance is provided between the bolt head of the anti-opening bolt and the second cage cover, and the second cage cover is restricted from opening.

[0011] Furthermore, a feeding convex platform is provided on the bottom surface of the cage; the feeder and the waterer are both located beside the feeding convex platform, and the distance between the bottom surface of the feeder and the waterer and the bottom surface of the inner space of the cage is not less than cm.

[0012] Furthermore, the feeder includes a feeder body and a receiving box; the feeder body includes a cylindrical shell and an inclined partition, the cylindrical shell is vertically arranged, the front surface of the cylindrical shell faces the eating boss, and a feeding port is arranged at the lower part of the front surface of the cylindrical shell; the inclined partition is located in the cylindrical shell, and the inclined partition extends from the upper direction of the feeding port to the rear and lower direction, the space behind and above the inclined partition is the food storage space, the space in front of and below the inclined partition is the eating space, and the gap between the inclined partition and the bottom surface of the cylindrical shell is a connecting gap connecting the eating space and the food storage space; the receiving box is located below the feeder body and is detachably connected to the cylindrical shell, the front end of the receiving box is located in front of the feeding port and forms a leakage gap between the cylindrical shell, and the receiving box has a footrest surface located in front of the leakage gap.

[0013] Furthermore, the waterer is arranged vertically, and is a ball drinking fountain.

[0014] Furthermore, the experimental mouse cage comprises a sealing plug plate, and an outlet is provided on the side of the mouse cage body. The sealing plug plate is installed on the mouse cage body and closes the outlet, and the sealing plug plate can be opened.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the utility model are as follows: 1. The utility model continuously measures the pressure of the first cage cover and the second cage cover on the weighing sensor through the weighing sensor, and the weight of the food in the feeder and the water in the waterer can be obtained by simple conversion of the pressure. By monitoring the measured value of the weighing sensor, each change in the measured value (excluding special circumstances) represents that the mouse has drunk water or eaten, so the frequency of the mouse's eating can be obtained. The measured value of the weighing sensor before eating is subtracted from the measured value of the weighing sensor after eating, and the amount of food eaten can be obtained after conversion. It can be seen that the utility model can automatically monitor the frequency and amount of food eaten by mice, without the need for frequent manual participation, which greatly facilitates the monitoring of the frequency and amount of food eaten by mice.

[0016] 2. The utility model has a relatively simple structure, low cost and good practicality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the experimental mouse cage at the feeder;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the water feeder of the experimental mouse cage;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a top view of the experimental mouse cage;

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Enlarged image in the upper left corner;

[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Enlarged image in the upper right corner;

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 AA section view;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a side view of the experimental mouse cage;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a diagram of the mouse diet monitoring system;

[0025] Marked in the figure are: squirrel cage body 1, feeding boss 11, rotating shaft 12, rolling bearing 13, sensor placement box 14, wiring hole 15, outlet 16, first squirrel cage cover 2, feeder 3, feeder body 31, cylindrical shell 311, inclined partition 312, food storage space 313, feeding port 314, eating space 315, connecting gap 316, receiving box 32, leakage gap 321, footrest 322, weighing sensor 4, anti-opening bolt 5, second squirrel cage cover 6, water feeder 7, sealing plug plate 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The utility model is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0027] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the experimental cage includes a cage body 1, a first cage cover 2, a second cage cover 6, a feeder 3, a waterer 7 and a weighing sensor 4; there are two weighing sensors 4, which are installed at the same end of the cage body 1 and are arranged at intervals; the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 are arranged at intervals, one end of the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 are hinged to the same end of the cage body 1, and the other ends of the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 are respectively placed on the two weighing sensors 4; the feeder 3 is installed on the first cage cover 2 and extends into the cage body 1, and the waterer 7 is installed on the second cage cover 6 and extends into the cage body 1.

[0028] like Figure 8 As shown, the utility model should be used together with a device for receiving and displaying the signal of the weighing sensor 4, which can be an existing computer. So that the signal of the weighing sensor 4 can be displayed. The signal transmission method can be an existing wired or wireless method.

[0029] The utility model continuously measures the pressure exerted on the weighing sensor 4 by the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 through the weighing sensor 4. The pressure borne by a weighing sensor 4 is derived from the gravity of the first cage cover 2 plus the water feeder 7, which is calculated as F1; the distance between the center of gravity of the first cage cover 2 plus the water feeder 7 and the rotation center of the first cage cover 2 is calculated as L1; the torque exerted on the rotation center of the first cage cover 1 by the first cage cover 2 plus the water feeder 7 is F1L1; F1L1 is a fixed parameter of the experimental cage, which is known and unchanged. The gravity of the food is calculated as F2, the center of gravity of the food is roughly located at the center of the feeder 3, the distance between the center of gravity of the food and the rotation center of the first cage cover 1 is calculated as L2, L2 is known, and the torque exerted by the food on the rotation center of the first cage cover 1 is F2L2. The weighing sensor measurement value is calculated as L3, the distance between the weighing sensor 4 and the rotation center of the first cage cover 2 is calculated as L3, and the torque exerted by the weighing sensor on the rotation center of the first cage cover 1 is F3L3. F3L3, F1L1 and L2 are all known data, so the weight of the food F2 can be obtained by simple calculation. The weighing sensor 4 continuously measures the value F3, so the weight of the food F2 can be continuously calculated. Based on the same principle, the utility model can also continuously measure the weight of water. According to the reduction of the weight of food and water (excluding special circumstances), it can be concluded that the mouse has drunk water or eaten, and thus the frequency of the mouse's eating can be obtained. According to the reduction of the weight of food and water, the amount of food and water consumed by the mouse can be obtained.

[0030] As mentioned above, according to the reduction of food and water gravity, it can be concluded that the mouse has drunk water or eaten, but special circumstances need to be excluded. When the mouse eats, the mouse will press on the feeder 3, so the measured value of the weighing sensor 4 suddenly increases significantly and fluctuates when the mouse eats. After the mouse leaves after eating, the measured value of the weighing sensor 4 suddenly decreases significantly and then stabilizes; the measured value of the weighing sensor 4 represents the mouse eating; subtract the final value from the starting value of this data, and then convert it as above to get the mouse's diet. The same way of judging and calculating can be used to get the mouse's water drinking amount. If the measured value of the weighing sensor 4 is not the case, it means that the mouse is not eating food. For example, the measured value of the weighing sensor 4 increases significantly, and then there is no change, which means that food or water is added to the feeder 3 or the water feeder 7. The measured value of the weighing sensor 4 decreases directly, which means that something is placed under the feeder 3 or the water feeder 7.

[0031] It can be seen that the utility model can indirectly and automatically monitor the food intake of mice without frequent human intervention, which greatly facilitates the monitoring of the eating frequency and food intake of mice.

[0032] Specifically, the cage body 1 includes a rotating shaft 12, the rotating shaft 12 is provided with a rolling bearing 13, and the ends of the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 are both provided on the rolling bearing 13. Such a configuration can reduce the friction force of the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 when rotating, thereby reducing the error of the food intake monitoring.

[0033] The principle of the weighing sensor 4 is consistent with that of the existing sensor, but Figure 5 As shown, the shape of the weighing sensor 4 should match the occasion of the utility model. Specifically, the contact surface between the weighing sensor 4 and the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 is preferably an arc-shaped surface convex upward.

[0034] The specific installation method of the weighing sensor 4 can be as follows Figure 4 As shown: two sensor placement boxes 14 are arranged on the squirrel cage body 1, and two weighing sensors 4 are respectively placed in the two sensor placement boxes 14. Wiring holes can be arranged on the wall surface of the sensor placement box 14 for wiring to output the measured value signal of the weighing sensor 4.

[0035] The utility model is used in a fixed manner. Due to the sufficient weight, the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 are placed on the weighing sensor 4 and will not be opened due to the movement of mice. However, in order to ensure that the experimental cage is not accidentally opened, the experimental cage preferably includes two anti-opening bolts 5; one anti-opening bolt 5 passes through the first cage cover 2 and is connected to the cage body 1, and there is a distance between the bolt head of the anti-opening bolt 5 and the first cage cover 2 and the opening of the first cage cover 2 is limited; the other anti-opening bolt 5 passes through the second cage cover 6 and is connected to the cage body 1, and there is a distance between the bolt head of the anti-opening bolt 5 and the second cage cover 6 and the opening of the second cage cover 6 is limited. The distance between the bolt head of the anti-opening bolt 5 and the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 should be small, and the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 should not be pressed tightly to avoid affecting the measured value of the weighing sensor 4; at the same time, the first cage cover 2 and the second cage cover 6 can only be slightly rotated upward to avoid opening.

[0036] The cage 1 is usually padded with wood chips, which should not be placed on the feeder 3 and the waterer 7, so as to avoid causing the weighing sensor 4 to measure too small a value. However, if the feeder 3 and the waterer 7 are too high, it may be difficult for the mice to reach them. For this reason, the utility model preferably makes the following settings: a food boss 11 is provided on the bottom surface of the cage 1; the feeder 3 and the waterer 7 are both located next to the food boss 11, and the distance between the bottom surface of the feeder 3 and the waterer 7 and the bottom surface of the cage 1 is not less than 10 cm.

[0037] A feeding boss 11 is provided, and the feeder 3 and the waterer 7 are raised, and the mice eat and drink on the feeding boss 11, which has no effect on the mice's diet. The feeding boss 11 also has an inclined surface extending from bottom to top, so that the mice can climb to the top of the feeding boss 11 to eat and drink. The significance of such a setting is to prevent the wood chips or other items in the mouse cage 1 from padding the feeder 3 and the waterer 7, thereby avoiding affecting the measured value of the weighing sensor 4.

[0038] The specific structure of the feeder 3 is preferably as follows Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the feeder 3 includes a feeder body 31 and a receiving box 32; the feeder body 31 includes a cylindrical shell 311 and an inclined partition 312, the cylindrical shell 311 is vertically arranged, the front surface of the cylindrical shell 311 faces the eating boss 11, and the lower part of the front surface of the cylindrical shell 311 is provided with a feeding port 314; the inclined partition 312 is located in the cylindrical shell 311, and the inclined partition 312 extends from the upper side of the feeding port 314 to the rear and lower direction, and the space behind and above the inclined partition 312 is a food storage space 313, and the inclined partition 312 is provided with a food storage space 314. The space in front of and below the partition 312 is the eating space 315, and the gap between the inclined partition 312 and the bottom surface of the cylindrical shell 311 is the connecting gap 316 connecting the eating space 315 and the food storage space 313; the receiving box 32 is located below the feeder body 31 and is detachably connected to the cylindrical shell 311, and the front end of the receiving box 32 is located in front of the feeding port 314 and forms a leakage gap 321 between the cylindrical shell 311, and the receiving box 32 has a footrest 322 located in front of the leakage gap 321.

[0039] The structure and principle of the feeder 3 are basically the same as those of the prior art. Granular food is stored in the food storage space 313, and the food flows into the eating space 315 through the connecting gap 316 due to its own weight, so as to be eaten by mice. When there is a certain amount of food in the eating space 315, it plays a blocking role to prevent the food in the food storage space 313 from continuing to flow down, so as to prevent the excessive food in the eating space 315 and automatically replenish the food. The receiving box 32 is used to receive the food that may be taken out by the mice from the eating space 31. This part of the food is not eaten by the mice, and if it falls into the mouse cage body 1, it will affect the accuracy of the measurement of the utility model. If the receiving box 32 is provided, the food taken out by the mice in the eating space 31 enters the receiving box 32 from the leakage gap 321, and this part of the food still gives pressure to the weighing sensor 4 and is not counted as eaten by the mice, so the accuracy of diet monitoring can be improved. The leakage gap 321 should be appropriately larger to avoid jamming the legs of the mice.

[0040] The specific water feeder 7 is arranged vertically, and the water feeder 7 is a ball drinking fountain. The ball drinking fountain is a prior art product, which is widely used in the breeding of small animals such as mice. When the animal sucks, water can be sucked out; and when not sucking, the water will not flow out automatically.

[0041] When diet monitoring is required, only one mouse can be kept in one experimental cage, otherwise it will be difficult to monitor which mouse has eaten. If the experiment requires breeding more mice, multiple experimental cages can be set up accordingly, and Figure 8 Arranged in one or several rows. Mice are social animals. When diet monitoring is not performed, it can be considered that mice can gather together. For this reason, the utility model can be as follows Figure 7As shown: the experimental mouse cage includes a sealing plug 8, and an outlet 16 is provided on the side of the mouse cage body 1. The sealing plug 8 is installed on the mouse cage body 1 and closes the outlet 16. The sealing plug 8 can be opened.

[0042] When the sealing plate 8 is closed, mice can only stay in their own cages. When the sealing plate 8 is lifted, the exit 16 is opened, and mice can gather.

Claims

1. Experimental mouse cage, characterized by: The invention comprises a cage body (1), a first cage cover (2), a second cage cover (6), a feeder (3), a waterer (7) and a weighing sensor (4); the number of the weighing sensors (4) is two, and the two weighing sensors (4) are installed at the same end of the cage body (1) and are arranged at intervals; the first cage cover (2) and the second cage cover (6) are arranged at intervals, one end of the first cage cover (2) and the second cage cover (6) are both hinged to the same end of the cage body (1), and the other ends of the first cage cover (2) and the second cage cover (6) are respectively placed on the two weighing sensors (4); the feeder (3) is installed on the first cage cover (2) and extends into the cage body (1), and the waterer (7) is installed on the second cage cover (6) and extends into the cage body (1).

2. The experimental mouse cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cage body (1) comprises a rotating shaft (12), the rotating shaft (12) is sleeved with a rolling bearing (13), and the ends of the first cage cover (2) and the second cage cover (6) are sleeved on the rolling bearing (13).

3. The experimental mouse cage according to claim 2, characterized in that: Two sensor placement boxes (14) are arranged on the squirrel cage body (1), and two weighing sensors (4) are respectively placed in the two sensor placement boxes (14).

4. The experimental mouse cage according to claim 3, characterized in that: The invention comprises two anti-opening bolts (5); one anti-opening bolt (5) passes through a first cage cover (2) and is connected to a cage body (1); a distance is provided between the bolt head of the anti-opening bolt (5) and the first cage cover (2), and the first cage cover (2) is restricted from opening; and the other anti-opening bolt (5) passes through a second cage cover (6) and is connected to the cage body (1); a distance is provided between the bolt head of the anti-opening bolt (5) and the second cage cover (6), and the second cage cover (6) is restricted from opening.

5. The experimental mouse cage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom surface of the cage body (1) is provided with a food projection (11); the feeder (3) and the waterer (7) are both located beside the food projection (11), and the distance between the bottom surfaces of the feeder (3) and the waterer (7) and the bottom surface of the inner space of the cage body (1) is not less than 10 cm.

6. The experimental mouse cage according to claim 5, characterized in that: The feeder (3) comprises a feeder body (31) and a receiving box (32); the feeder body (31) comprises a cylindrical shell (311) and an inclined partition (312); the cylindrical shell (311) is arranged vertically, the front surface of the cylindrical shell (311) faces the eating boss (11), and a feeding port (314) is arranged at the lower part of the front surface of the cylindrical shell (311); the inclined partition (312) is located in the cylindrical shell (311), and the inclined partition (312) extends from the upper side of the feeding port (314) to the rear and lower side, and the space behind and above the inclined partition (312) is a food storage space (313), and the inclined partition (312) is provided with a food storage space (313). The space in front and below (312) is a dining space (315), and the gap between the inclined partition (312) and the bottom surface of the cylindrical shell (311) is a connecting gap (316) connecting the dining space (315) and the food storage space (313); the receiving box (32) is located below the feeder body (31) and is detachably connected to the cylindrical shell (311), the front end of the receiving box (32) is located in front of the feeding port (314) and forms a leakage gap (321) with the cylindrical shell (311), and the receiving box (32) has a footrest (322) located in front of the leakage gap (321).

7. The experimental mouse cage according to claim 5, characterized in that: The water feeder (7) is arranged vertically, and the water feeder (7) is a ball drinking fountain.

8. The experimental mouse cage according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The invention comprises a sealing plug plate (8). The side of the squirrel cage body (1) is provided with an outlet (16). The sealing plug plate (8) is installed on the squirrel cage body (1) and seals the outlet (16). The sealing plug plate (8) can be opened.

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