Small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to a small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment, which comprises an adjusting bracket, a wrapping material, an anaesthetic mask and a mask adjusting mechanism, and is characterized in that the adjusting bracket is provided with an arc-shaped groove, and the angle of the adjusting bracket is adjustable; the wrapping material is detachably arranged on the outer side of the arc-shaped groove, and the wrapping material and the arc-shaped groove jointly form a barrel-shaped containing space with an opening in the end. The opening end of the anaesthetic mask faces one end of the cylindrical containing space, the anaesthetic mask is movably connected with the adjusting support through a mask adjusting mechanism, the mask adjusting mechanism is used for adjusting the angle and position of the anaesthetic mask relative to the cylindrical containing space, and the anaesthetic mask is communicated with the anaesthetic gas circulation pipeline. The device provided by the utility model is a key component for realizing accurate and efficient photoacoustic imaging conforming to ethics, can realize a long-time safe, comfortable and stable fixing effect on small animals, improves the overall imaging quality, protects animal welfare, and meets ethics requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of photoacoustic imaging, in particular to a small animal fixing device used for photoacoustic imaging equipment. Background Art

[0002] Small animal models play a critical role in clinical medicine and have great scientific research value in disease mechanism research, drug development and screening, and evaluation of treatment methods. By combining small animal models with imaging technology, it is possible to monitor and analyze the biological processes of animal models, which is crucial for understanding diseases and evaluating treatment methods, and provides a powerful tool for clinical medical research.

[0003] Among the currently commonly used small animal imaging methods, CT (computed tomography) and PET (positron emission tomography) require the small animals to be exposed to ionizing radiation, and long-term or frequent use may cause damage to or even kill the animals; ultrasound imaging requires high skills from the operator; and traditional slice tomography requires the small animals to be killed before slicing and imaging. In recent years, photoacoustic imaging technology, as a new type of biomedical imaging technology, has gradually become an important means of preclinical research due to its non-destructive and safe characteristics.

[0004] Photoacoustic imaging, also known as photoacoustic tomography or photoacoustic tomography, generates images by irradiating pulsed laser light onto biological tissues and then capturing ultrasound waves (photoacoustic signals) generated by the absorption of light energy by the tissue. Photoacoustic tomography combines the high selectivity of optical imaging methods with the high penetration of acoustic imaging methods. Based on its unique ability to distinguish endogenous chromophores from exogenous probes, it has been successfully explored for a variety of applications and is particularly suitable for studying vascular systems and tumors. In the past few years, small animal photoacoustic imaging has become an established imaging method for preclinical research.

[0005] Small animal fixation devices play a vital role in the process of imaging small animals using photoacoustic imaging equipment. A scientifically designed small animal fixation device must first keep the small animal alive for a long time and minimize its activity during the scanning process to reduce artifacts caused by movement. In addition, the fixation device should not have a large absorption or reflection of light and ultrasound, otherwise it will interfere with the photoacoustic signal of the small animal itself. Finally, the small animal fixation device should also take into account the comfort and safety of the animal, reduce unnecessary stress and discomfort, and meet ethical requirements.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to design a suitable small animal fixation device that can ensure high-quality imaging results, improve experimental efficiency and reproducibility, and protect animal welfare during photoacoustic imaging. Utility Model Content

[0007] Based on the above description, the utility model provides a small animal fixation device for photoacoustic imaging equipment to solve the problem of achieving long-term safe, comfortable and stable fixation of small animals during the detection process.

[0008] The technical solution of the utility model to solve the above technical problems is as follows:

[0009] A small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment comprises an adjustment bracket, a wrapping material, an anesthesia mask and a mask adjustment mechanism, wherein:

[0010] The adjusting bracket is provided with an arc-shaped groove, and the angle of the adjusting bracket is adjustable;

[0011] The wrapping material is detachably arranged on the outside of the arc-shaped groove, and together with the arc-shaped groove forms a cylindrical accommodation space with an open end;

[0012] The opening end of the anesthesia mask faces one end of the cylindrical accommodating space. The anesthesia mask is movably connected to the adjustment bracket through a mask adjustment mechanism. The mask adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the angle and position of the anesthesia mask relative to the cylindrical accommodating space. The anesthesia mask is connected to an anesthetic gas circulation pipeline.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this application has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0014] The utility model provides a small animal fixation device for photoacoustic imaging equipment, which is used to efficiently and comfortably wrap pre-anesthetized small animals through the cylindrical accommodation space formed by the wrapping material and the arc-shaped groove during the photoacoustic imaging test; the position and angle of the anesthesia mask relative to the small animal's head are flexibly adjusted by the mask adjustment mechanism, so that the anesthesia mask and the small animal's head are closely matched to ensure the anesthesia effect during the test and prevent the leakage of anesthetic gas; the angle of the small animal's body relative to the photoacoustic pool is adjusted by adjusting the bracket, so that the body of the small animal is located below the coupling agent liquid surface and the head is located above the coupling agent liquid surface during the test, ensuring the life safety of the small animal. The small animal fixation device of the utility model can ensure high-quality imaging results, improve the efficiency and repeatability of the experiment, and protect animal welfare in accordance with ethical requirements during the photoacoustic imaging process.

[0015] On the basis of the above technical solution, the present invention can also be improved as follows.

[0016] Preferably, the wrapping material is flexible and has strong laser and ultrasonic penetration properties.

[0017] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects are as follows: the flexible wrapping material provides flexible support for the body of the small animal, improves the comfort of the small animal during the test, and avoids accidental injury. The strong penetration of laser improves the efficiency of laser irradiation of small animal tissues during the test, and the strong penetration of ultrasound improves the penetration efficiency of ultrasound signals generated by laser irradiation of small animal tissues, thereby improving the imaging effect of photoacoustic imaging equipment.

[0018] Preferably, the adjustment bracket includes a turntable and a support seat, the turntable is hinged to the support seat and can rotate along the hinge point, and the arc-shaped groove is arranged on the outer edge of the turntable; clamps are respectively provided on both side surfaces of the turntable, the clamps are arranged adjacent to the arc-shaped grooves, and the wrapping material cooperates with the clamps.

[0019] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects are as follows: the small animal is fixed on the arc-shaped groove of the turntable, and the clamps arranged along the arc-shaped groove clamp the wrapping material of the small animal in place. When the turntable is rotated along the hinge point, the angle and position of the small animal as a whole relative to the photoacoustic pool can be flexibly adjusted so that the head of the small animal is located above the coupling agent liquid surface and the body is as underwater as possible, thereby ensuring the test effect while protecting the life safety of the small animal.

[0020] Preferably, the anesthesia mask includes a mask body and a support rod, the mask body is provided with an opening at one end facing the arc-shaped groove, the support rod is fixedly arranged on the mask body at one end facing away from the arc-shaped groove, and the support rod is connected to the turntable through a mask adjustment mechanism; the open end of the mask body is adapted to the head of the small animal, and the mask body is provided with a gas nozzle connected to the anesthetic gas circulation pipeline; the mask body is provided with a head fixing module, and the head fixing module is used to cooperate with the head of the small animal.

[0021] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects are as follows: the mask body is connected to the external anesthetic gas circulation pipeline through the gas nozzle, so that the small animal remains in an anesthetized state during the test to ensure the normal progress of the test. The head fixing module keeps the head of the small animal in a fixed posture during the test, which is conducive to ensuring that the body posture of the small animal remains unchanged during the test and avoiding the interference of posture changes on the photoacoustic imaging effect. The support rod provides structural support for the mask body, and the position of the support rod can be adjusted through the mask adjustment mechanism to adjust the degree of fit between the mask body and the small animal's head, increase the airtightness between the mask body and the small animal's head, and avoid anesthetic gas leakage and pollution of the environment.

[0022] Preferably, the mask adjustment mechanism includes an axial locking module and an adjustment beam, the axial locking module is installed on the turntable, the adjustment beam is provided with an elongated hole, and the axial locking module passes through the elongated hole of the adjustment beam; when the axial locking module is in an unlocked state, the elongated hole of the adjustment beam slides and / or rotates with the axial locking module; when the axial locking module is in a locked state, the axial locking module locks the adjustment beam; the support rod of the anesthesia mask is installed at one end of the adjustment beam.

[0023] After adopting the above technical solution, its beneficial effect is: the turntable provides structural support for the axial locking module. When the axial locking module is in the unlocked state, the elongated hole of the adjustment beam can slide along the axial locking module to adjust the position of the anesthesia mask relative to the head of the small animal, and the adjustment beam rotates around the axial locking module to adjust the angle of the anesthesia mask relative to the head of the small animal. By adjusting the position and angle, the best position for the anesthesia mask to match the head of the small animal is found, and then the axial locking module is locked, the adjustment beam is fixed, and then the anesthesia mask is fine-tuned to complete the effective positioning of the anesthesia mask. The adjustment range of the anesthesia mask is related to the size of the elongated hole of the adjustment beam. The longer the elongated hole, the larger the position adjustment range between the anesthesia mask and the small animal.

[0024] Preferably, the axial locking module includes a U-shaped seat and a locking shaft, the U-shaped seat is fixedly mounted on the turntable, the adjusting beam extends into the open end of the U-shaped seat, the locking shaft passes through the open end of the U-shaped seat and the elongated hole of the adjusting beam, the locking shaft is hinged to the open end of the U-shaped seat, and the locking shaft and the elongated hole can slide or rotate relative to each other; when the locking shaft is rotated to a certain extreme position, the adjusting beam is locked.

[0025] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects are as follows: the U-shaped seat provides structural support for the locking shaft, and the locking shaft provides structural support for the adjustment beam, that is, the adjustment beam is hinged to the U-shaped seat through the locking shaft and can rotate around the axial direction of the locking shaft. When the locking shaft is in the unlocked state, the relative position / angle of the anesthesia mask and the small animal can be adjusted by adjusting the position and angle of the adjustment beam. When the anesthesia mask is adjusted in place, the adjustment beam can be locked by the locking shaft to fix the relative position / angle of the anesthesia mask and the small animal.

[0026] Preferably, a handle is provided at one end of the locking shaft, and the handle is arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking shaft.

[0027] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effect is that the handle is convenient for the operator to rotate and adjust the locking shaft.

[0028] Preferably, a mounting hole is provided at the end of the adjusting beam, and the support rod of the anesthesia mask is installed in the mounting hole and can rotate along the circumference of the mounting hole.

[0029] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects are: the mounting hole provides structural support for the anesthesia mask and also enables it to rotate circumferentially to adjust the angle of the anesthesia mask relative to the head of the small animal, further improving the matching degree between the anesthesia mask and the head of the small animal and preventing anesthetic gas leakage.

[0030] Preferably, the support rod of the anesthesia mask is threadedly engaged with the mounting hole.

[0031] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effect is: through the threaded matching method, the support rod and the mounting hole can rotate relative to each other, and at the same time, there is an effective axial fixing effect between the support rod and the mounting hole, which can prevent the anesthesia mask from falling off during the test.

[0032] Preferably, the support rod of the anesthesia mask is transitionally matched with the mounting hole.

[0033] After adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effect is: the transition fit makes the support rod and the mounting hole both stable and can also rotate relative to each other when a certain circumferential force is applied, which can meet the needs of fine-tuning the anesthesia mask. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an application scenario of a small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment provided by an embodiment of the utility model;

[0035] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the application scenario of the fixture is shown below;

[0036] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the fixing device;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the process of wrapping small animals;

[0038] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the installation of the fixture is provided.

[0039] In the accompanying drawings, the components represented by the reference numerals are listed as follows:

[0040] 1. Adjustment bracket, 101. Support seat, 102. Turntable, 102a. Arc-shaped groove, 103. Clamp, 2. Wrapping material, 3. Anesthesia mask, 301. Mask body, 302. Support rod, 303. Air nozzle, 304. Knob, 4. Mask adjustment mechanism, 401. Adjustment beam, 401a. Long hole, 401b. Mounting hole, 402. U-shaped seat, 403. Locking shaft, 404. Handle, 5. Small animal, 6. Photoacoustic pool, 7. Water surface, 8. Displacement platform. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In order to facilitate understanding of the present application, the present application will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. Embodiments of the present application are provided in the drawings. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive.

[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application.

[0043] It will be appreciated that spatial relationship terms such as "under", "beneath", "below", "under", "above", "above", etc., may be used herein to describe the relationship of an element or feature shown in the figures to other elements or features. It should be understood that in addition to the orientations shown in the figures, spatial relationship terms also include different orientations of the device in use and operation. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is flipped, the element or feature described as "under other elements" or "under it" or "under it" will be oriented as "on" the other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary terms "under" and "under" may include both upper and lower orientations. In addition, the device may also include additional orientations (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatial descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0044] It should be noted that when an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or connected to the other element through an intermediate element. The "connection" in the following embodiments should be understood as "electrical connection", "communication connection", etc. if the connected circuits, modules, units, etc. have electrical signals or data transmission between each other.

[0045] When used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "said / the" may also include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "include / comprise" or "have" etc. specify the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0046] Please refer to the attached figure, Figure 1 The figure is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of a small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment provided by an embodiment of the utility model. Figure 2 The figure shows the decomposition diagram of the application scenario of the fixture. Figure 3 The figure shows the overall structural decomposition diagram of the fixing device. Figure 4 The diagram shows the process of wrapping small animals. Figure 5 The figure shows the installation diagram of the fixture.

[0047] Combination Figure 1~Figure 5 This embodiment provides a small animal fixing device for a photoacoustic imaging device, comprising an adjustment bracket 1, a wrapping material 2, an anesthesia mask 3 and a mask adjustment mechanism 4, wherein:

[0048] The adjusting bracket 1 is provided with an arc-shaped groove 102a, and the angle of the adjusting bracket 1 is adjustable;

[0049] The wrapping material 2 is detachably arranged outside the arc-shaped groove 102a, and together with the arc-shaped groove 102a forms a cylindrical accommodation space with an open end;

[0050] The opening end of the anesthesia mask 3 faces one end of the cylindrical accommodating space. The anesthesia mask 3 is movably connected to the adjustment bracket 1 through a mask adjustment mechanism 4. The mask adjustment mechanism 4 is used to adjust the angle and position of the anesthesia mask 3 relative to the cylindrical accommodating space. The anesthesia mask 3 is connected to the anesthetic gas circulation pipeline.

[0051] It can be understood that, as shown in the application scenarios 1 to 2, the small animal fixing device for the photoacoustic imaging device provided in this embodiment is used to fix the small animal 5 to be tested during the photoacoustic imaging test, so that during the test, the head of the small animal 5 is kept on the coupling agent liquid surface (for example, water surface 7, hereinafter, water is used as the coupling agent for example) of the photoacoustic pool 6 of the photoacoustic imaging device, and the body of the small animal 5 is located below the water surface 7 of the photoacoustic pool 6 of the photoacoustic imaging device. The photoacoustic pool 6 of the photoacoustic imaging device emits a laser to irradiate the body of the small animal 5, and the body tissue of the small animal 5 generates an ultrasonic signal after being irradiated by the laser. The ultrasonic transducer group in the photoacoustic pool 6 of the photoacoustic imaging device detects the ultrasonic signal received under the water surface 7, and performs image reconstruction to achieve photoacoustic imaging.

[0052] Based on the above application scenarios, the small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment provided in this embodiment is used to efficiently and comfortably wrap the pre-anesthetized small animal 5 through the cylindrical accommodation space formed by the wrapping material 2 and the arc-shaped groove 102a during the photoacoustic imaging test; the position and angle of the anesthesia mask 3 relative to the head of the small animal 5 are flexibly adjusted by the mask adjustment mechanism 4, so that the anesthesia mask 3 and the head of the small animal 5 are closely matched to ensure the anesthesia effect during the test and prevent the leakage of anesthetic gas; the angle of the body of the small animal 5 relative to the photoacoustic pool 6 is adjusted by adjusting the bracket 1, so that the body of the small animal 5 is located below the coupling agent liquid surface and the head is located above the coupling agent liquid surface during the test, ensuring the life safety of the small animal 5 and preventing drowning. The small animal fixing device of the utility model can ensure high-quality imaging results, improve the efficiency and repeatability of the experiment, and protect animal welfare in accordance with ethical requirements during the photoacoustic imaging process.

[0053] Based on the above technical solution, this embodiment can also be improved as follows.

[0054] As a preferred embodiment, the wrapping material 2 is flexible and has strong laser and ultrasonic penetration.

[0055] It is understandable that the flexible wrapping material 2 provides flexible support for the body of the small animal 5, improves the comfort of the small animal 5 during the test, and avoids accidental injury. The wrapping material 2 should be composed of a material that has no obvious absorption and reflection of laser and ultrasound, such as silicone, nylon mesh or fabric, to ensure that the wrapping material 2 does not interfere with the photoacoustic signal of the small animal 5 itself during the photoacoustic imaging of the small animal 5. Specifically, the strong penetration of laser improves the efficiency of laser irradiation of the tissue of the small animal 5 during the test, and the strong penetration of ultrasound improves the penetration efficiency of the ultrasound signal generated by laser irradiation of the tissue of the small animal 5, thereby improving the photoacoustic imaging effect.

[0056] In one possible implementation, Figures 1 to 3As shown, the adjustment bracket 1 includes a turntable 102 and a support seat 101, and the support seat 101 is used to connect with the displacement platform 8 to move the position of the fixed small animal 5. The turntable 102 is hinged to the support seat 101 and can rotate along the hinge point, so that the turntable 102 rotates in a certain plane with the hinge point as the rotation center. The arc groove 102a is arranged on the outer edge of the turntable 102. When the turntable 102 rotates, the arc groove 102a and the turntable 102 are synchronously displaced along the circumference of the turntable 102 to adjust the angle of the arc groove 102a relative to the rotation center of the turntable 102. A plurality of clamps 103 are respectively arranged on the two side surfaces of the turntable 102 (i.e., the two side surfaces parallel to the rotation plane of the turntable 102), and the plurality of clamps 103 are arranged adjacent to the arc groove 102a, and the wrapping material 2 cooperates with the clamps 103. For example, when the small animal 5 is being fixed, the wrapping material 2 wraps the small animal 5 inside, and the plurality of clamps 103 fix the wrapping material 2 at multiple points, thereby efficiently and accurately fixing the small animal 5 in the cylindrical accommodation space.

[0057] Figure 4 The process of wrapping and fixing the small animal 5 by the cooperation of the wrapping material 2 and the clamp 103 is shown. Figure 1 The direction of adjusting bracket 1 is shown as positive direction. The operation process is as follows: Figure 4 As shown, first, place the support base 101 of the adjustment bracket 1 upside down, with the arc-shaped groove 102a of the turntable 102 facing upward, and then gently place the pre-anesthetized small animal 5 on the arc-shaped groove 102a of the turntable 102, so that the body of the small animal 5 fits the arc-shaped groove 102a and stretches naturally. Adjust the mask adjustment mechanism 4 to make the anesthesia mask 3 match the head of the small animal 5, and lock the position of the anesthesia mask 3. The multiple clamps 103 arranged along the arc-shaped groove 102a clamp the extended part of the wrapping material 2 that wraps the small animal 5 in place, so that the small animal 5 is effectively and safely fixed on the adjustment bracket 1. The convenient design of the clamp 103 makes the process of fixing the small animal easier. Then as shown in the figure Figure 5 As shown, the support base 101 is rotated back to Figure 1 As shown in the angle of the normal test, the support seat 101 is installed on the displacement platform 8 and locked with a buckle, so that the small animal 5 can be moved to the upper part of the photoacoustic pool 6 and immersed in water for testing. The support seat 101 and the displacement platform 8 are designed as separate parts, which is convenient for experimenters to operate and maintain. Before the test, the turntable 102 can be rotated along the hinge point between the turntable 102 and the support seat 101 to flexibly adjust the angle and position of the small animal 5 relative to the photoacoustic pool 6, so that the head of the small animal 5 is located on the surface of the coupling agent liquid and the body is as underwater as possible, ensuring the test effect while protecting the life safety of the small animal 5 and preventing the small animal 5 from suffocating and drowning.

[0058] In one possible implementation, Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the anesthesia mask 3 includes a mask body 301 and a support rod 302. An opening is provided on one end of the mask body 301 facing the arc groove 102a. The support rod 302 is fixedly arranged on the end of the mask body 301 away from the arc groove 102a. The support rod 302 is connected to the turntable 102 through the mask adjustment mechanism 4; the open end of the mask body 301 is adapted to the head of the small animal 5, and the mask body 301 is provided with a gas nozzle 303 that runs through the inside and outside of the mask body 301 and is used to communicate with the anesthesia gas circulation pipeline; a head fixing module (not shown in the figure) is provided in the mask body 301, and the head fixing module is used to cooperate with the head of the small animal 5.

[0059] It is understandable that the cover body 301 is connected to the external anesthetic gas circulation pipeline through the gas nozzle 303, so that the small animal 5 is kept in an anesthetized state during the test to ensure the normal progress of the test. The support rod 302 provides structural support for the cover body 301, and the position of the support rod 302 can be adjusted by the mask adjustment mechanism 4 to adjust the degree of cooperation between the cover body 301 and the head of the small animal 5, increase the airtightness between the cover body 301 and the head of the small animal 5, and avoid the leakage of anesthetic gas to pollute the environment. Further, a flexible sealing structure, such as a silicone gasket or a rubber gasket, can also be set at the open end of the cover body 301 to improve the comfort of the small animal 5 and the airtightness between the cover body 301 and the head of the small animal 5, to prevent the anesthetic gas from escaping and polluting the environment. The head fixing module keeps the head of the small animal 5 in a fixed posture during the test, which is conducive to ensuring that the body posture of the small animal 5 remains unchanged during the test, and avoiding the interference of posture changes on the photoacoustic imaging effect. The head fixing module can be set to a shape that matches the shape of the head of the small animal 5, or it can be set to a columnar structure that can extend into the mouth of the small animal 5, such as a tooth stick (which can be used to fix the mouth and teeth of the small animal). When the anesthesia mask 3 is worn on the face of the small animal, first fit the head fixing module to the head of the small animal 5, or insert the tooth stick into the mouth of the small animal 5 and fix the teeth of the small animal 5 through the small holes on the tooth stick, and then slowly adjust the matching position and angle of the anesthesia mask 3 and the head of the small animal 5 until a satisfactory positioning effect and sealing effect are achieved, and then fix the position of the support rod 302 to lock the anesthesia mask 3.

[0060] In one possible implementation, Figures 1 to 3As shown, the mask adjustment mechanism 4 includes an axial locking module and an adjustment beam 401, the axial locking module is installed on the turntable 102, and the adjustment beam 401 is provided with an elongated hole 401a (for example, an elongated circular hole or a rectangular hole), the axial locking module passes through the elongated hole 401a of the adjustment beam 401, and can slide along the elongated hole 401a or rotate circumferentially in the elongated hole 401a; when the axial locking module is in an unlocked state, the elongated hole 401a of the adjustment beam 401 is slidably matched and / or rotationally matched with the axial locking module; when the axial locking module is in a locked state, the axial locking module locks and positions the adjustment beam 401; the support rod 302 of the anesthesia mask 3 is detachably mounted on one end of the adjustment beam 401.

[0061] It is understandable that when the turntable 102 rotates, the mask adjustment mechanism 4 is linked with the turntable 102. The turntable 102 provides structural support for the axial locking module, and the adjustment beam 401 provides structural support for the support rod 302 of the anesthesia mask 3. When the axial locking module is in the unlocked state, the elongated hole 401a of the adjustment beam 401 can slide along the axial locking module to adjust the position of the anesthesia mask 3 relative to the head of the small animal 5, and the adjustment beam 401 rotates around the axial locking module to adjust the angle of the anesthesia mask 3 relative to the head of the small animal 5. By adjusting the position and angle of the adjustment beam 401, the best position for the anesthesia mask 3 to cooperate with the head of the small animal 5 is found, and then the locking shaft 403 is moved to the locking module to fix the adjustment beam 401, and then the anesthesia mask 3 is fine-tuned through the support rod 302 of the anesthesia mask 3, and the effective positioning of the anesthesia mask 3 can be completed. The adjustment range of the anesthesia mask 3 is related to the size of the elongated hole 401 a of the adjustment beam 401 . The longer the elongated hole 401 a is, the larger the position adjustment range between the anesthesia mask 3 and the small animal 5 is.

[0062] In one possible implementation, Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the axial locking module includes a U-shaped seat 402 and a locking shaft 403, the U-shaped seat 402 is fixedly mounted on the turntable 102, the adjusting beam 401 extends into the open end of the U-shaped seat 402, the locking shaft 403 passes through the open end of the U-shaped seat 402 and the elongated hole 401a of the adjusting beam 401, the locking shaft 403 is hinged to the open end of the U-shaped seat 402, the locking shaft 403 and the elongated hole 401a are slidably matched and / or rotatably matched, and the two can slide or rotate relative to each other; when the locking shaft 403 is rotated to a certain extreme position, the adjusting beam 401 is locked by the locking shaft 403.

[0063] It can be understood that the U-shaped seat 402 provides structural support for the locking shaft 403, and the locking shaft 403 provides structural support for the adjustment beam 401, that is, the adjustment beam 401 is hinged to the U-shaped seat 402 through the locking shaft 403 and can rotate around the axial direction of the locking shaft 403. When the locking shaft 403 is in the unlocked state, the relative position / angle of the anesthesia mask 3 and the small animal 5 can be adjusted by adjusting the position and angle of the adjustment beam 401. When the anesthesia mask 3 is adjusted in place, the adjustment beam 401 can be locked by the locking shaft 403 to fix the relative position / angle of the anesthesia mask 3 and the small animal 5.

[0064] More specifically, the principle of the axial locking module locking the adjustment beam 401 is now described by way of example. For example, the open end of the U-shaped seat 402 has a first support arm and a second support arm that are approximately parallel, and the first support arm and the second support arm are elastic. A through hole is provided on the first support arm, and a threaded hole is provided on the second support arm. The adjustment beam 401 extends into the open end of the U-shaped seat 402, and the elongated hole 401a of the adjustment beam 401 is aligned with the through hole of the first support arm and the threaded hole of the second support arm, and the locking shaft 403 passes through the through hole of the first support arm, the elongated hole 401a of the adjustment beam 401, and the threaded hole of the second support arm. A snap ring is provided at one end of the locking shaft 403 that matches the first support arm, and the snap ring is fixedly arranged on the outer periphery of the locking shaft 403 to axially position the locking shaft 403. An external thread is provided at one end of the locking shaft 403 that matches the second support arm, and the external thread of the locking shaft 403 is meshed with the threaded hole of the second support arm. When the locking shaft 403 is rotated, due to the axial positioning effect of the retaining ring, the locking shaft 403 only rotates relative to the first support arm without axial displacement; however, due to the threaded engagement between the second support arm and the locking shaft 403, the locking shaft 403 simultaneously rotates relative to the second support arm and axially displaces; and because the first support arm and the second support arm are elastic, the first support arm and the second support arm move toward each other (approaching) or move away from each other (moving away) during the rotation of the locking shaft 403. When the opposite movements reach a certain distance, the first support arm and the second support arm clamp the adjustment beam 401 between them, thereby achieving the locking and positioning of the adjustment beam 401. On the contrary, the adjustment beam 401 is unlocked. Of course, the axial locking module can be used to lock / unlock the adjustment beam 401, and many other methods can also be used, which will not be repeated here.

[0065] In one possible implementation, a mounting hole 401b is provided at the end of the adjustment beam 401, and the support rod 302 of the anesthesia mask 3 is installed in the mounting hole 401b and can rotate along the circumference of the mounting hole 401b. For example, the mounting hole 401b is set as a through hole, the support rod 302 of the anesthesia mask 3 passes through the mounting hole 401b, and a knob 304 is set on the end of the support rod 302 away from the mask body 301. The circumferential angle of the anesthesia mask 3 can be adjusted by rotating the knob 304.

[0066] It can be understood that the mounting hole 401b at the end of the adjustment beam 401 provides structural support for the anesthesia mask 3 and also enables it to rotate circumferentially to adjust the angle of the anesthesia mask 3 relative to the head of the small animal 5, further improving the matching degree between the anesthesia mask 3 and the head of the small animal 5 and preventing leakage of anesthetic gas.

[0067] In one possible embodiment, the support rod 302 of the anesthesia mask 3 is matched with the mounting hole 401b through threads. For example, an external thread is set on the surface of the support rod 302, and an internal thread is set in the mounting hole 401b, and the external thread of the support rod 302 is meshed with the internal thread of the mounting hole 401b.

[0068] It is understandable that, by means of threaded engagement, the support rod 302 and the mounting hole 401b can rotate relative to each other, and at the same time, there is an effective axial fixing effect between the support rod 302 and the mounting hole 401b, which can prevent the anesthesia mask 3 from falling off during the test. When it is necessary to replace an anesthesia mask 3 of a different specification, the anesthesia mask 3 can be disassembled and replaced by rotating the support rod 302, which is easy to operate.

[0069] In one possible implementation manner, the support rod 302 of the anesthesia mask 3 is transitionally matched with the mounting hole 401b, that is, by setting a suitable size, the support rod 302 and the mounting hole 401b are matched through friction.

[0070] It can be understood that the transition fit ensures that the support rod 302 and the mounting hole 401b are stable, and relative rotation can occur when a certain circumferential force is applied, and the axial position of the support rod 302 can be adjusted when a certain axial force is applied, which can meet the needs of fine-tuning the anesthesia mask 3.

[0071] In one possible implementation, Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in order to facilitate the operator to rotate and adjust the locking shaft 403, a handle 404 is fixedly provided at one end of the locking shaft 403, and the handle 404 is arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking shaft 403. The handle 404 increases the torque when the locking shaft 403 is adjusted, and the operator can complete the rotation adjustment of the locking shaft 403 by providing a smaller torque.

[0072] Working principle:

[0073] The support base 101 is placed upside down so that the arc groove 102a faces upward, and the pre-anesthetized small animal 5, such as a mouse, is placed in the arc groove 102a, and the body of the small animal 5 is stretched. The adjustment beam 401 is rotated and / or slid to adjust the position and angle of the anesthesia mask 3 so that the head of the small animal 5 extends into the cover body 301, and at the same time, the degree of cooperation between the head fixing module in the cover body 301 and the head of the small animal 5 is adjusted so that the head of the small animal 5 is effectively fixed until the cover body 301 and the head of the small animal 5 achieve a better cooperation effect, and then the position of the adjustment beam 401 is locked by the handle 404 and the locking shaft 403. The support rod 302 is adjusted slightly by the knob 304 to fine-tune the degree of cooperation between the cover body 301 and the head of the small animal 5. The wrapping material 2 is wrapped on the body of the small animal 5, and the wrapping material 2 is clamped and fixed using the clamp 103. It should be noted that the small animal 5 should not be squeezed when fixing the wrapping material 2, causing discomfort to the small animal 5. The support base 101 is turned over and mounted on the displacement platform 8, and locked with a buckle. The displacement platform 8 is controlled to move so that the small animal fixing device is displaced as a whole to the water surface 7 in the photoacoustic pool 6 of the photoacoustic imaging device, and the angle of the turntable 102 is adjusted to keep the head of the small animal 5 above the water surface 7 and the body immersed in the water, and then the photoacoustic imaging device can be turned on for testing.

[0074] The utility model relates to a small animal fixation device suitable for small animal photoacoustic imaging equipment, which is a key component for realizing accurate, efficient and ethical photoacoustic imaging, and can achieve a long-term safe, comfortable and stable fixation effect for small animals, thereby improving the overall imaging quality, protecting animal welfare and complying with ethical requirements.

[0075] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment, characterized in that: It comprises an adjustment bracket (1), a wrapping material (2), an anesthesia mask (3) and a mask adjustment mechanism (4), wherein: The adjusting bracket (1) is provided with an arc-shaped groove (102a), and the angle of the adjusting bracket (1) is adjustable; The wrapping material (2) is detachably arranged outside the arc-shaped groove (102a), and together with the arc-shaped groove (102a) forms a cylindrical accommodating space with an open end; The open end of the anesthesia mask (3) faces one end of the cylindrical accommodation space. The anesthesia mask (3) is movably connected to the adjustment bracket (1) via a mask adjustment mechanism (4). The mask adjustment mechanism (4) is used to adjust the angle and position of the anesthesia mask (3) relative to the cylindrical accommodation space. The anesthesia mask (3) is connected to an anesthesia gas circulation pipeline.

2. A small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjustment bracket (1) comprises a rotating disk (102) and a support seat (101); the rotating disk (102) is hinged to the support seat (101) and can rotate along the hinge point; the arc-shaped groove (102a) is arranged on the outer edge of the rotating disk (102); clamps (103) are respectively provided on both side surfaces of the rotating disk (102); the clamps (103) are arranged adjacent to the arc-shaped groove (102a); and the wrapping material (2) cooperates with the clamps (103).

3. A small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The anesthesia mask (3) comprises a mask body (301) and a support rod (302); an opening is provided on one end of the mask body (301) facing the arc-shaped groove (102a); the support rod (302) is fixedly arranged on one end of the mask body (301) away from the arc-shaped groove (102a); the support rod (302) is connected to the turntable (102) via a mask adjustment mechanism (4); the open end of the mask body (301) is adapted to fit the head of the small animal (5); the mask body (301) is provided with a gas nozzle (303) connected to an anesthesia gas circulation pipeline; a head fixing module is provided inside the mask body (301); the head fixing module is used to fit the head of the small animal (5).

4. The small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mask adjustment mechanism (4) comprises an axial locking module and an adjustment beam (401); the axial locking module is mounted on the rotating disk (102); the adjustment beam (401) is provided with an elongated hole (401a); the axial locking module penetrates the elongated hole (401a) of the adjustment beam (401); when the axial locking module is in an unlocked state, the elongated hole (401a) of the adjustment beam (401) is slidably matched and / or rotationally matched with the axial locking module; when the axial locking module is in a locked state, the axial locking module locks the adjustment beam (401); and the support rod (302) of the anesthesia mask (3) is mounted on one end of the adjustment beam (401).

5. The small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The axial locking module comprises a U-shaped seat (402) and a locking shaft (403); the U-shaped seat (402) is fixedly mounted on the rotating disk (102); the adjusting beam (401) extends into the opening end of the U-shaped seat (402); the locking shaft (403) passes through the opening end of the U-shaped seat (402) and the elongated hole (401a) of the adjusting beam (401); the locking shaft (403) is hinged to the opening end of the U-shaped seat (402); the locking shaft (403) and the elongated hole (401a) can slide or rotate relative to each other; when the locking shaft (403) is rotated to a certain extreme position, the adjusting beam (401) is locked.

6. The small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: A handle (404) is provided at one end of the locking shaft (403), and the handle (404) is arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the locking shaft (403).

7. A small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that: The end of the adjustment beam (401) is provided with a mounting hole (401b), and the support rod (302) of the anesthesia mask (3) is mounted in the mounting hole (401b) and can rotate along the circumference of the mounting hole (401b).

8. The small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The support rod (302) of the anesthesia mask (3) is threadably matched with the mounting hole (401b).

9. The small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The support rod (302) of the anesthesia mask (3) is transitionally matched with the mounting hole (401b).

10. The small animal fixing device for photoacoustic imaging equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wrapping material (2) has flexibility, strong laser penetrability and strong ultrasonic penetrability.

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