Non-contact laboratory mouse rearing cage
The automated design of the contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage solves the problems of cross-infection and escape in traditional rearing cages, enabling the safe transfer of laboratory mice and ensuring data accuracy, thereby improving the reliability and safety of the experimental environment.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423184102.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-23
AI Technical Summary
Traditional laboratory mouse cages require manual handling, leading to cross-infection and stress responses. Furthermore, their structural design is not robust enough, making it easy for mice to escape and affecting the accuracy and safety of experimental data.
Design a contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage that uses an automated sealing door and transfer channel. The opening and closing of the transfer door is controlled by a drive gear and motor, enabling the transfer of laboratory mice without manual contact. Combined with multi-stage telescopic pipes and guides, the sealing and safety of the transfer process are ensured.
This effectively avoids cross-infection and stress response, improves the accuracy and reliability of experimental data, reduces equipment failure rate, and ensures the safety and controllability of the experimental environment.
Smart Images
Figure CN223541132U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of laboratory animal husbandry equipment, and in particular to a non-contact laboratory mouse husbandry cage. Background Technology
[0002] In many scientific research fields such as biomedicine and drug development, laboratory mice are crucial experimental animal models. However, traditional laboratory mouse cages have many shortcomings in practical applications, which seriously restrict the efficient conduct of scientific research and the accuracy and reliability of experimental data.
[0003] Traditional laboratory mouse rearing cages often require manual contact with the mice during routine management, such as feeding, cleaning, and transferring. This manual contact presents a series of serious problems. First, researchers' hands may carry various microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Even with routine cleaning and disinfection measures, the risk of cross-infection cannot be completely eliminated. Once these pathogens are transmitted to the mice, they can cause illness, affecting their physiological state and behavior, leading to biased experimental results, interfering with researchers' accurate analysis and judgment of experimental data, and in severe cases, even causing the entire experimental project to fail, resulting in a huge waste of human, material, and time resources. For example, in some immune-related experimental studies, after mice are infected with foreign pathogens, their immune systems may react abnormally, rendering experimental data on specific immune drugs or treatments unreliable.
[0004] Secondly, laboratory mice are naturally timid and agile, making them highly susceptible to stress from manual handling. They may attempt to escape, struggle, or bite researchers. Escaping mice not only disrupt the laboratory's normal operations but may also carry pathogens, contaminating the environment and increasing the risk of infection for other laboratory animals. Furthermore, stress causes significant changes in the hormone levels of mice, such as increased adrenaline secretion. This affects physiological indicators like blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar, potentially leading to errors in experimental data. For example, in cardiovascular disease experiments, an abnormally high blood pressure caused by stress in mice can mislead researchers in assessing the efficacy of experimental drugs.
[0005] Furthermore, traditional cages are not adequately designed to prevent mouse escape. Some cages have poorly sealed doors and windows, or their locking mechanisms are easily opened by the mice. When researchers are performing tasks, such as opening the cage door for feeding or cleaning, the mice may escape. If a mouse successfully escapes, it not only results in the loss of laboratory animals, but if it enters other experimental areas or laboratory facilities, it may interfere with or contaminate ongoing experiments, affecting the entire laboratory's research progress.
[0006] In conclusion, as scientific research demands increasingly higher accuracy of experimental data and safety of experimental procedures, there is an urgent need for a new type of cage that can eliminate the need for manual contact with laboratory mice. This cage would ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of the mice, prevent cross-infection and stress reactions, and effectively reduce the chances of mice escaping, thereby providing a more reliable and efficient environment for the breeding of laboratory animals in scientific research experiments. Utility Model Content
[0007] To address the safety concerns of cross-infection and stress responses in laboratory mice caused by manual contact, this application provides a contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage.
[0008] The contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage provided in this application adopts the following technical solution:
[0009] A contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage includes a cage body with a cage cover on top and ventilation mesh openings on the cover. A perforated perching platform is located inside the cage body, and a slidable waste collection trough is slidably disposed at the bottom of the cage body, directly below the perching platform. A transfer opening is located on one side wall of the cage body near the perching platform. A transfer door is provided on the outer side wall of the cage body covering the transfer opening, and a transfer channel is connected to the side of the transfer door facing away from the cage body. The transfer door connects the transfer opening and the transfer channel. The interior of the transfer door is hollow. Several sealing door panels are slidably disposed on the side wall of the transfer door near the transfer opening. The sealing door panels are arranged in a ring around the center of the transfer opening, and a driving component is provided on the transfer door to drive the sealing door panels to slide back and forth synchronously towards the transfer opening. When the sealing door panels slide synchronously towards the transfer opening until they collide with each other, the sealing door panels completely seal the transfer opening.
[0010] By adopting the above technical solution, when transferring laboratory mice, it is only necessary to connect the transfer channel to the device to be transferred and open the transfer door to attract the mice from the transfer channel to the device. This cage allows for operation without manual contact with the mice, effectively preventing the transmission of pathogens carried by the experimenter's hands to the mice, reducing the risk of cross-infection, ensuring the stable health of the mice, and improving the accuracy and reliability of experimental data. At the same time, the unique sealing door design ensures the airtightness of the transfer process, preventing the mice from escaping during transfer and enhancing the controllability of the experimental environment.
[0011] Optionally, each of the sealing gate panels is provided with a drive rack on the side wall parallel to its own sliding direction. The drive rack is located on the side wall of the sealing gate panel away from the transfer port. The drive assembly includes a transmission gear meshing with the drive rack, an external gear ring meshing with several transmission gears, and a drive component that drives the external gear ring to rotate. The transmission gears correspond one-to-one with the drive gears and are rotatably disposed on the side wall of the transfer gate near the transfer port. The external gear ring is rotatably disposed on the side wall of the transfer gate away from the transfer port.
[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, multiple sealing gates can slide synchronously through the meshing of the drive rack and transmission gear, and the rotation of the external gear ring. This ensures that the sealing gates can accurately close or open the transfer port, improving the coordination and stability of the sealing gates' movements and effectively preventing experimental mice from escaping during transfer. At the same time, this mechanical structure is simple and reliable, easy to maintain, reduces the equipment failure rate, and improves the operational safety and reliability of the experimental mouse rearing cages.
[0013] Optionally, the driving component includes a transmission rack disposed on the outer ring of the outer gear ring, a driving gear meshing with the transmission rack, and a reciprocating motor that drives the driving gear to reciprocate. The driving gear is rotatably disposed on the side wall inside the transfer door away from the transfer opening.
[0014] By employing the above technical solution, the reciprocating rotation of the reciprocating motor drives the drive gear to rotate, which in turn, through the meshing of the transmission rack and external gear ring, causes multiple sealing gates to slide synchronously toward or away from the transfer port, thereby precisely controlling the opening and closing of the transfer port. This automated control method not only improves the convenience and efficiency of operation but also effectively avoids the risk of cross-infection and stress response caused by manual contact between laboratory personnel and laboratory mice, ensuring a clean and safe experimental environment.
[0015] Optionally, the transfer channel is a multi-stage telescopic pipe.
[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the transfer channel is designed as a multi-stage telescopic tube, which can flexibly adjust its length to meet the needs of different usage scenarios. In particular, when laboratory mice need to be transferred to other locations, the transfer channel can be stretched to the required length, ensuring the safety and comfort of the mice during the transfer process, while reducing the operational difficulty and time cost for laboratory personnel.
[0017] Optionally, the top wall of the transfer channel near the transfer door and the top wall of the transfer channel away from the transfer door are both provided with an insertion interface for communicating with the transfer channel. The transfer channel is provided with a guide component that is inserted and matched with the insertion interface. The guide component includes a support block overlapping the top wall of the transfer channel, a connecting strip located in the insertion interface, and a guide plate located inside the transfer channel. The connecting strip is fixedly set on the bottom wall of the support block. The guide plate is rotatably connected to the bottom wall of the connecting strip, and the rotation direction of the guide plate and the connecting strip is matched with the length direction of the transfer channel. The guide plate is equipped with a spice tablet that attracts experimental mice.
[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the support block and connecting strip structure in the guide plate ensures the stability and flexibility of the guide plate, allowing it to move smoothly within the transfer channel. Simultaneously, the spice tablets on the guide plate attract the mice, stimulating their exploration desire and further improving transfer efficiency. Furthermore, the connector design facilitates the disassembly and maintenance of the guide plate. When it is necessary to lead the mice out of the enclosure, the guide plate can be connected to the connector on the side away from the enclosure; when it is necessary to lead the mice into the enclosure, the guide plate can be connected to the connector on the side closer to the enclosure. This not only improves the success rate of mouse transfer but also simplifies the experimental procedure and reduces the workload of the experimental personnel.
[0019] Optionally, the top wall of the support block is provided with a handle for easy lifting.
[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, the handle design provides convenience for experimental personnel to lift and guide the device.
[0021] Optionally, a mounting bracket is provided on the side wall of the cage away from the transfer channel, and a counterweight is inserted into the mounting bracket.
[0022] By adopting the above technical solutions, the design of the mounting frame and counterweights effectively enhances the stability of the cage. In addition to the weight of the counterweight transfer channel and transfer door, it also prevents the cage from tipping over when the mice are moving, improving the safety and stability of the experimental process. Furthermore, the weight of the counterweights can be flexibly adjusted according to actual needs, adapting to different experimental requirements and expanding the applicability of the breeding cage.
[0023] Optionally, the side wall of the cage is provided with a viewing window and a curtain to cover the viewing window.
[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, the viewing window allows researchers to easily observe the behavior and health status of the mice at any time, while the blindfold can be opened as needed to reduce stress reactions caused by researchers moving around during the mice's normal life, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of experimental data.
[0025] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:
[0026] 1. When transferring laboratory mice, simply connect the transfer channel to the device to be transferred and open the transfer door to draw the mouse from the transfer channel into the device. This cage allows for operation without manual contact with the mice, effectively preventing the transmission of pathogens carried by laboratory personnel to the mice, reducing the risk of cross-infection, ensuring stable health of the mice, and improving the accuracy and reliability of experimental data. Simultaneously, the unique sealing door design ensures a tight seal during the transfer process, preventing the mice from escaping and enhancing the controllability of the experimental environment.
[0027] 2. Multiple sealing gates can slide synchronously through the meshing of a drive rack and pinion and a transmission gear, driven by the rotation of an external gear ring. This ensures that the sealing gates can accurately close or open the transfer opening, improving the coordination and stability of the sealing gates and effectively preventing the laboratory mice from escaping during transfer. At the same time, this mechanical structure is simple and reliable, easy to maintain, reduces the equipment failure rate, and enhances the operational safety and reliability of the laboratory mouse rearing cages.
[0028] 3. The reciprocating rotation of the motor drives the drive gear to rotate, which in turn, through the meshing of the transmission rack and external gear ring, causes multiple sealing gates to slide synchronously toward or away from the transfer port, thereby precisely controlling the opening and closing of the transfer port. This automated control method not only improves the convenience and efficiency of operation, but also effectively avoids the risk of cross-infection and stress response caused by manual contact between laboratory personnel and laboratory mice, ensuring a clean and safe experimental environment. Attached Figure Description
[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of this application.
[0030] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the overall structure of an embodiment of this application.
[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of the transfer door in an embodiment of this application.
[0032] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0033] 1. Cage body; 11. Transfer port; 12. Mounting frame; 121. Counterweight; 2. Cage cover; 21. Ventilation mesh; 3. Perching platform; 4. Sludge collection trough; 5. Transfer door; 51. Sealing door panel; 511. Drive rack; 6. Transfer passage; 61. Insertion interface; 7. Viewing window; 71. Screen curtain; 8. Drive assembly; 81. Transmission gear; 82. External gear ring; 83. Drive component; 831. Transmission rack; 832. Drive gear; 833. Reciprocating motor; 9. Guide component; 91. Support block; 911. Handle; 92. Connecting strip; 93. Guide plate; 931. Spice tablet. Detailed Implementation
[0034] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-3 This application will be described in further detail.
[0035] This application discloses a contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage.
[0036] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 A contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage includes a cage body 1, a cage cover 2 installed on the top of the cage body 1, and a ventilation mesh 21 on the cage cover 2. A perforated perching platform 3 is fixedly installed inside the cage body 1. A slidable waste collection trough 4 is installed at the bottom of the cage body 1, located directly below the perching platform 3. A transfer port 11 is opened on one side wall of the cage body 1 on one side of the perching platform 3. A transfer door 5 is fixedly installed on the outer side wall of the cage body 1 covering the transfer port 11. A transfer channel 6 is connected to the side of the transfer door 5 away from the cage body 1. The transfer door 5 is electrically controlled and connects the transfer port 11 and the transfer channel 6. A viewing window 7 and a curtain 71 that covers the viewing window 7 are installed on the side wall of the cage body 1 adjacent to the side wall where the transfer port 11 is located.
[0037] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 When it is necessary to transfer the experimental mouse, simply connect the end of the transfer channel 6 to the device to be transferred and open the transfer door 5 to attract the experimental mouse from the transfer channel 6 to the device to be transferred.
[0038] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The interior of the transfer door 5 is hollow. Several sealing door panels 51 are slidably arranged on the side wall of the transfer door 5 near the transfer port 11. In this embodiment, four are used as an example. The four sealing door panels 51 are arranged in a ring around the center of the transfer port 11. When the four sealing door panels 51 slide towards the transfer port 11 at the same time until they touch each other, the four sealing door panels 51 completely seal the transfer port 11.
[0039] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3Each blocking door 51 has a drive rack 511 fixedly installed on the side wall parallel to its own sliding direction. The drive rack 511 is located on the side wall of the blocking door 51 away from the transfer port 11. The transfer door 5 is provided with a drive assembly 8, which includes a transmission gear 81, an outer gear ring 82 and a drive component 83. The transmission gear 81 corresponds to and meshes with the drive rack 511. The outer gear ring 82 is rotatably installed on the side wall of the transfer door 5 away from the transfer port 11 and is meshed with the four transmission gears 81.
[0040] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The driving component 83 includes a transmission rack 831, a driving gear 832, and a reciprocating motor 833. The transmission rack 831 is fixedly mounted on the outer ring of the outer gear ring 82. The reciprocating motor 833 is fixedly mounted on the outer side wall of the transfer door 5 away from the cage 1. Its output shaft rotates through the side wall of the transfer door 5 and extends into the transfer door 5. The driving gear 832 is located inside the transfer door 5 and meshes with the transmission rack 831. It is also fixedly sleeved on the end of the output shaft of the reciprocating motor 833.
[0041] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the transfer channel 6 is a multi-stage telescopic pipe. The top wall of the transfer channel 6 near the transfer door 5 and the top wall of the transfer channel 6 away from the transfer door 5 are provided with an insertion interface 61 that connects to the transfer channel 6. The transfer channel 6 is provided with a guide 9 that is inserted and cooperates with the insertion interface 61.
[0042] Reference Figure 2 The guide component 9 includes a support block 91, a connecting strip 92, and a guide plate 93. The support block 91 overlaps the top wall of the transfer channel 6, and a handle 911 is fixedly installed on the top wall of the support block 91. The connecting strip 92 is fixedly installed on the bottom wall of the support block 91, and its size is matched with the insertion interface 61, which is inserted into the interface 61. The guide plate 93 is equipped with a spice tablet 931 for attracting laboratory mice and is located inside the transfer channel 6. The top of the guide plate 93 is rotatably connected to the bottom wall of the connecting strip 92, and the rotation direction of the guide plate 93 and the connecting strip 92 is matched with the length direction of the transfer channel 6.
[0043] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 To improve the stability of the breeding cage, a mounting frame 12 is fixedly installed on the side wall of the cage body 1 away from the transfer channel 6, and a counterweight 121 is inserted into the mounting frame 12.
[0044] The implementation principle of a contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage according to this application embodiment is as follows: When it is necessary to transfer the laboratory mouse, the transfer channel 6 is stretched as needed according to the distance of the device to be transferred. Then, the end of the transfer channel 6 is connected to the device to be transferred. Then, the handle 911 is used to insert the guide 9 into the insertion interface 61 at the end of the transfer channel 6. At this time, the reciprocating motor 833 is driven to work. The rotation of the reciprocating motor 833 drives the drive gear 832 to rotate. Then, through the meshing of the transmission rack 831 and the external gear ring 82, multiple sealing door plates 51 slide synchronously away from the transfer port 11, thereby opening the transfer door 5 and attracting the laboratory mouse from the transfer channel 6 to the device to be transferred. Finally, the reciprocating motor 833 is driven to rotate in the opposite direction to close the transfer door 5.
[0045] Conversely, when it is necessary to transfer the laboratory mice into the feeding cage, pull out the transfer channel 6 on the feeding cage and insert it into the transfer device where the laboratory mice are located. Open the transfer door 5, and hold the handle 911 to insert the guide 9 into the insertion interface 61 near the transfer door 5 of the transfer channel 6. Guide the laboratory mice into the feeding cage through the transfer channel 6, and then close the transfer door 5. This contactless operation avoids manual contact between the laboratory personnel and the laboratory mice, reducing the stress response of the laboratory mice and the risk of cross-infection.
[0046] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.
Claims
1. A contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage, characterized in that... The cage includes a cage body (1), a cage cover (2) on the top of the cage body (1), and a ventilation mesh (21) on the cage cover (2). A perforated perching platform (3) is provided inside the cage body (1). A slidable sludge collection trough (4) is provided at the bottom of the cage body (1). The sludge collection trough (4) is located directly below the perching platform (3). A transfer port (11) is provided on the side wall of the cage body (1) on one side of the perching platform (3). A transfer door (5) is provided on the outer side wall of the cage body (1) covering the transfer port (11). A transfer channel (6) is connected to the side of the transfer door (5) away from the cage body (1). The transfer door (5) connects the transfer port (11) and the transfer channel (6). The interior of the transfer door (5) is hollow. Several blocking door panels (51) are slidably arranged on the side wall of the transfer door (5) near the transfer port (11). The blocking door panels (51) are arranged in a ring around the center of the transfer port (11). The transfer door (5) is provided with a driving component (8) that drives the blocking door panels (51) to slide back and forth synchronously toward the transfer port (11). When the blocking door panels (51) slide synchronously toward the transfer port (11) until they collide with each other, the blocking door panels (51) completely close the transfer port (11).
2. The contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage according to claim 1, characterized in that... Each of the blocking gate panels (51) is provided with a drive rack (511) on the side wall parallel to its own sliding direction. The drive rack (511) is located on the side wall of the blocking gate panel (51) away from the transfer port (11). The drive assembly (8) includes a transmission gear (81) meshing with the drive rack (511), an outer gear ring (82) meshing with several transmission gears (81), and a drive member (83) that drives the outer gear ring (82) to rotate. The transmission gear (81) corresponds one-to-one with the drive gear (832) and is rotatably disposed on the side wall of the transfer gate (5) near the transfer port (11). The outer gear ring (82) is rotatably disposed on the side wall of the transfer gate (5) away from the transfer port (11).
3. The contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage according to claim 2, characterized in that... The drive unit (83) includes a transmission rack (831) disposed on the outer ring of the outer gear ring (82), a drive gear (832) meshing with the transmission rack (831), and a reciprocating motor (833) that drives the drive gear (832) to reciprocate. The drive gear (832) is rotatably disposed on the side wall of the transfer door (5) away from the transfer port (11).
4. The contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage according to claim 1, characterized in that... The transfer channel (6) is a multi-stage telescopic pipe.
5. The contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage according to claim 4, characterized in that... The top wall of the transfer channel (6) near the transfer door (5) and the top wall of the transfer channel (6) away from the transfer door (5) are provided with an insertion interface (61) for communicating with the transfer channel (6). The transfer channel (6) is provided with a guide (9) that is inserted and matched with the insertion interface (61). The guide (9) includes a support block (91) overlapping the top wall of the transfer channel (6), a connecting strip (92) located in the insertion interface (61), and a guide plate (93) located inside the transfer channel (6). The connecting strip (92) is fixedly set on the bottom wall of the support block (91). The guide plate (93) is rotatably connected to the bottom wall of the connecting strip (92), and the rotation direction of the guide plate (93) and the connecting strip (92) is matched with the length direction of the transfer channel (6). The guide plate (93) is equipped with a spice tablet (931) to attract experimental mice.
6. The contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage according to claim 5, characterized in that... The top wall of the support block (91) is provided with a handle (911) for easy lifting.
7. The contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage according to claim 1, characterized in that... The cage (1) is provided with a mounting frame (12) on the side wall away from the transfer channel (6), and a counterweight (121) is inserted into the mounting frame (12).
8. The contactless laboratory mouse rearing cage according to claim 1, characterized in that... The cage (1) is provided with a viewing window (7) and a curtain (71) that covers the viewing window (7) on its side wall.