114 results about "Animal cage" patented technology

This invention pertains to a novel behavioral monitoring system useful for the analysis of complex behaviors in a number of animal species. The monitoring systems of this invention allow continuous monitoring of feeding, drinking and movement of animals with high temporal and spatial resolution. In certain embodiments, teh system comprises an enclosure comprising: an animal position indicator; a food consumption indicator; and a fluid consumption indicator, where the system reports behavioral data at a temporal resolution of 20 seconds or lower.

A ventilated rack system includes a frame having a plurality of cage bays, each for supporting an animal cage. At least two first and second vertical ventilation input ducts are disposed, one on either side of the frame. At least one air input cross-frame channel connects the first vertical ventilation input duct on one side of the frame to the second vertical ventilation input duct on the opposite side of the frame, where the air input cross-frame channel is configured to dispense ventilation air into the cages in the plurality of cage bays.

The present invention relates to an integrated RFID card holder, cage, lid or rack and system for collecting census, inventorying, and tracking of animal cages, lids, card holders, racks, and other related equipment. Preferably, the card holder is comprised of an RF transparent material such as plastic. During operation, a RFID reader reads each integrated RFID card holder attached to an animal cage for virtually linking the cage to an animal rack in effect assigning a parking spot to each animal cage within an animal cage rack system. The integrated RFID card holder can be determined to be in a room when the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is the highest comparing multiple reads from one or many antennas.

A multi-functional medium-sized animal breeding isolation system relates to an isolation system for breeding medium-sized animals in a controllable microenvironment. The isolation system comprises an isolator cover body (2), a ventilating equipment unit (1), a camera system (3), a television entertainment system (4) and an automatic control system which is composed of a control box (6), a rotatable support bar (7), a touch screen (8) and an alarm indicator light (9); and a transparent plate of a front door (41) is provided with a glove and oversleeve system (58), a cage orbit and a pulley (55) which are fixed on an inside base as well as an animal cage (54). The isolation system is characterized in that: the ventilating equipment unit (1) comprises two (one operation, one standby) air exhaust fans (22) and an air intake fan (25); one side of the cover body is provided with a DPTE350alfa transfer door (42) for transferring experimental supplies or animals; and the lowest step at the bottom is provided with a DPTE270alfa transfer door (44). The medium-sized animal breeding isolation system can breed different animals infected by pathogen or clean animals, and can also realize a plurality of functions such as disinfection effect evaluation and the like.

A system and method for illuminating individual animal cages secured in a multiple cage rack is described. A first lighting system makes use of LEDs secured on the frame of a multiple cage rack; or attached to or disposed in each individual cage. A second lighting system utilizes fiber optic cables connected to or adjacent each individual cage or disposed within. Clear observation of all animals at will is economically provided without interference with normal cleaning and sterilizing procedures, utilizing the virtually maintenance free lighting system.

A cage telemetry system includes a plurality of cage groups, first and second radio transponders, and a hub element. The plurality of cage groups are located within a space. Each cage group includes a plurality of animal cages, each cage associated with at least one telemetry module. The first radio transponder is operable to effect wireless communications with each telemetry module of a first cage group. The second radio transponder is operable to effect wireless communications with each telemetry module of a second cage group. The hub element is operable to communicate with the first radio transponder and the second radio transponder, and is further operably connected to a computer network.

The present invention relates to an integrated RFID card holder, cage, lid or rack and system for collecting census, inventorying, and tracking of animal cages, lids, card holders, racks, and other related equipment. Preferably, the card holder is comprised of an RF transparent material such as plastic. During operation, a RFID reader reads each integrated RFID card holder attached to an animal cage for virtually linking the cage to an animal rack in effect assigning a parking spot to each animal cage within an animal cage rack system. The integrated RFID card holder can be determined to be in a room when the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is the highest comparing multiple reads from one or many antennas.

A method and apparatus that detects a condition of a cage for housing laboratory animals includes providing an animal cage including a base part and a top and cage means for automatically detecting at leats one of at least one bedding condition corresponding to a humidity level or an occurring flooding condition. At least one of the resistance or the impedance of material between said pair of electrodes is determined using one of direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). At least one of the bedding condition or the flooding condition is measured based on a rate of oen or more changes of one of a resistance or an impedance of said material between said electrodes.

A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the fluid bag to facilitate the providing of the fluid to the caging system. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough, a base having a flange member and a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein the base is designed to be matingly coupled to the upper member. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a spring element disposed within the base fluid channel and a stem member disposed in part within the base fluid channel, wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the stem member to apply a biasing force.

The invention provides a system for respiratory pharmacology test and a chamber device that enables respiratory pharmacology test on particular large animals under unanesthetized, unrestrained state, with easy acclimatization and reduced effect of stress, and a method for conducting safety pharmacology studies on the same large animal individual. The chamber device of the invention includes animal cage 10 and transparent chamber 20, which includes first and second compartments 21 and 22 separated by partition plate 23. The compartment 21 has a door and ventilation connection port 26, and the compartments 21 and 22 are provided with communication pipe 29 having opening 29a for introducing ambient air. The device of the invention has ventilation connection port 26 in a side face of the chamber 20, and communication pipe 29 for introducing air on the top face of the chamber 20, so that, with the cage 10 placed in the compartment 21, air flow through the compartment 21 is maintained constantly and allowed to communicate through the cage 10.

An embodiment of a card holder system for retaining a card with an animal cage can comprise a card holder designed and dimensioned to selectively retain the card, and a retention member adapted for retaining the card holder to the cage. The retention member is adapted to be secured to a side wall of the cage. In certain embodiments, the card holder can be selectively retained in one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation. The card holder system can further comprise an adapter member, the adapter member being designed and dimensioned to be coupled with the card holder such that the card holder may be selectively positioned in one of a first orientation and a second orientation, the second orientation being substantially rotated ninety-degrees from the first position.

The present invention relates to a method of forming an enclosure assembly without using tools or fasteners to complete the assembly. The method includes forming a base from a side support, front support, and a plurality of casters. A door assembly and back wall are coupled to the base by aligning a plurality of pegs therefrom with corresponding openings defined in the base. A plurality of protruding wires of a bottom wall are aligned and inserted into corresponding openings defined in the door assembly and back wall. In addition, a plurality of pegs that protrude from a side wall are inserted into a plurality of corresponding openings defined in the door assembly and back wall such that the side wall couples to the door assembly and back wall. The method also includes coupling a top wall to the door assembly, side wall, and back wall. A shelf assembly can be coupled to the side wall and / or back wall, and a ramp can be pivotably coupled to the shelf assembly.

A floating cage system for containing and transporting animals over water is described. This is useful in flood conditions or when hunting to keep animals and pets out of the water. The cage system has a buoyant base equipped with towing and lifting hooks and handles for easy pulling. The cage system has a top that forms a watertight seal with the base. The top has a door that opens from the top, allowing easier access to the cage than a door that opens from the side.

An embodiment of a card holder system for retaining a card with an animal cage can comprise a card holder designed and dimensioned to selectively retain the card, and a retention member adapted for retaining the card holder to the cage. The retention member is adapted to be secured to a side wall of the cage. In certain embodiments, the card holder can be selectively retained in one of a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation. The card holder system can further comprise an adapter member, the adapter member being designed and dimensioned to be coupled with the card holder such that the card holder may be selectively positioned in one of a first orientation and a second orientation, the second orientation being substantially rotated ninety-degrees from the first position.

The invention provides a small animal prevention device and method, and belongs to the technical field of power cable maintenance. The small animal prevention device comprises an animal cage and an expelling mechanism; the animal cage comprises a front cage door and a rear cage door, and catching mechanisms are arranged on the inner sides of the two cage doors; each catching mechanism comprises aninclined pedal arranged at the bottom surface of the animal cage and a spring arranged at the lower part of the pedal, one ends of the pedals are provided with supporting rods supporting the open sides of the cage doors, the front and rear supporting rods are connected, and first magnets are arranged on the three sides of an opening of each cage door; second magnets opposite to the first magnetsin polarity are arranged at the positions, corresponding to the three sides of the openings of the cage doors, of the cage wall of the animal cage, and an alarm device is arranged in the animal cage;an outlet is formed in the animal cage, and a baffle is arranged at the outlet of the animal cage; the expelling mechanism comprises a mouse dispeller and an infrared emitter. According to the device,small animals close to a cable trench can be driven away, meanwhile, the small animals entering the cable trench can be captured, cables are prevented from being damaged by the small animals, and thepurpose of protecting the cables is achieved.

A disposable sheet of absorbent material including at least one adhesive element on a bottom surface to releasably secure the sheet to a floor or other surface. The sheet may be included in a pad or roll containing a plurality of such sheets adhesively and releasably connected together. A pad of such sheets may include a hole through the sheets to enable the pad to be stored on a hook. The sheets may be configured in a variety of different shapes to conform to different sized toilets and urinals and may include decorative graphics, writings, and various colors or textures to provide a means of advertising, concealing drips and stains, and improving the appearance of a restroom. The sheets may also be configured to be used at the bottom of bird cages, small animal cages, the floors of kitchens and foodservice areas of restaurants.

A novel apparatus for remotely controlling the local environment of an animal cage at least includes: a housing unit; a display carried by the housing unit adapted to display animal cage environment information; an input device carried by the housing unit adapted to receive user input signals; a plurality of sensor inputs for receiving environment condition sensor information from environmental condition sensors; a power input carried by the housing unit; a controller subsumed by the housing unit; and a plurality of power receptacles carried by the housing, the power receptacles adapted to supply power to remotely located environment altering devices in a manner dictated by user input. The apparatus is adapted to control the local animal cage environment of a plurality of animal cages.

An animal cage is described suitable for automated use in a vivarium. The cage comprises a study animal; bedding; pathogens; a wireless, a sterilizable scale comprising a sterile case comprising a flexible, penetrated membrane; and a penetrating fastener penetrating the membrane. The comprises four internal volume areas with respect to pathogen content: (1) volume between the membrane and a weighing platform, free of bedding; (2) a sterile volume inside the scale case below the membrane; (3) a vertical channel fluidly connecting the inside of the cage with the first volume; and (4) the inside of the cage outside of the above three volumes. These four volumes are sterilely isolated from air outside the cage. Electronics in the scale communicate wirelessly, through the cage, to cage-associated electronics outside the cage, using narrow beam communications free of device-ID specific protocol. The scale may be disassembled, sterilized in a fluid, re-assembled, and re-used in a different cage.

The invention provides an animal cage. The animal cage comprises a bottom plate, a cage body and a food and drink bowl. The cage body comprises an outer screen frame, an inner screen frame, isolation screen frames, a screen frame cover and a base. The base is mounted on the bottom plate and provided with multiple grooves. Animal excrements fall into the bottom plate through the grooves. The isolation screen frames divide the cage body into multiple small cages, so multiple animals can be raised simultaneously. The food and drink bowl comprises a food inlet, a water inlet, bubblers, food outlets and a food and drink bowl body. The food and drink bowl body is of a double-layer structure, food is placed in the inner layer, and water is placed in the outer layer, so feeding of the animals is facilitated; the food and drink bowl is detachable and convenient to clean. The animal cage is simple in structure, attractive in appearance and capable of raising multiple animals simultaneously.

An animal enrichment device for use in an animal cage having a cage bottom, the cage bottom having a peripheral lip with recesses defined therein. The enrichment device can comprise a floor on which the animal may perch, a first set of opposing walls extending up from the floor and a second set of opposing walls extending up from the floor. A flange portion can be disposed at the top of each of the first set of opposing walls, each flange portion having a top surface. The flange portions are dimensioned and shaped so that when the animal enrichment device is disposed in the cage bottom, the flange portions can be received in the recesses defined in the peripheral lip of the cage bottom such that the top surface of each of the flange portions is flush with the peripheral lip of the cage bottom, and wherein the floor of the enrichment device is positioned above the floor of the cage bottom.

An animal monitoring device and method comprising an animal cage and associated electronics slab is described. The device is suitable for use in a modular vivarium implemented in one or two racks adjacent to walls in a holding pod. There is a one-to-one relationship between fixed slabs and removable cages. A single camera provides range of functions: its field of view includes the entire area of the cage accessible to an animal; it may observe water level in a water bottle; it may observe food level in a food tray; it may view activity on an exercise device; it may read the rear of cage card. The shape of the food tray is specialized to meet these requirements. An inner-cage frame holds elements in fixed locations within the cage. The cage is free of electronic penetrations. Supply and return air for the cage passes through the slab.

A sterile scale is described suitable for automated use in animal cages. A case is covered by a flexible membrane that provides both sealing against pathogens and mechanical compliance for transfer of weight on an above weighing platform through a single sealed penetration in the membrane to a load cell in the case. The membrane comprises a perimeter that is attached and sealed to the case with a membrane frame, a penetration area, penetrated by a rigid weight-bearing element, and an isolating compliance area. A skirt on the weighing platform surrounds the case, protecting detritus from entering from below onto the membrane, while providing open-air movement. The weighing platform and case are easily separated permitting fluid-based sterilization of both. The weight-bearing element may contain an electrical connection from the case to the platform, through the membrane.

Heat exchanger assemblies and methods are provided for cooling the interior of an enclosure (e.g., electrical cabinets, computer server racks, chemical chambers, and animal cages). Heat is transferred via thermal conduction from a first plurality of surfaces positioned inside the enclosure to a second plurality of surfaces positioned outside the enclosure. The first and second plurality of surfaces remain in thermal contact with one another during use. Heat is dissipated from the second plurality of surfaces to the ambient air outside the isolated environment without the ambient outside air mixing together with the air inside the enclosure. This, in turn, inexpensively removes heat from the air inside the enclosure and prevents contaminants from entering the enclosure.