Animal Test Device for Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test devices face challenges in delivering drugs directly to the brain through the nose due to the complexity of paths through olfactory bulb neurons and trigeminal neurons, making it difficult and skill-dependent.
Innovation Solution
A test device with a supporter and chair configuration that induces a drug inhalation posture with the animal's head directed downward, combined with a warm pad for temperature maintenance and a belt for fixation, allowing for effective nose-to-brain drug delivery regardless of operator skill.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual drug injection through the nose is performed, then drug delivery to the brain is achieved, but the process is highly skill-dependent and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables self-alignment of the animal's head in the correct posture through gravity when placed in the downward-facing position, eliminating the need for operator skill to manually position the head. The animal's own weight and gravity perform the positioning function automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The device creates a gravitational field configuration where the downward-facing position naturally equalizes the potential energy state, causing the head to automatically align in the correct orientation for drug delivery without requiring active operator intervention or skill.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex fixation methods are used to maintain animal posture, then drug delivery precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the animal's own weight as a counterbalance to maintain the downward-facing posture. The gravitational force acting on the animal's body creates a stable equilibrium position that naturally maintains the required head orientation without additional fixation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The animal's body weight automatically performs the fixation function by maintaining pressure against the support surface, eliminating the need for complex external fixation devices. The system uses the subject's own physical properties to achieve stable positioning.
3Manufacturing precision
If the animal is restrained tightly for precise drug delivery, then delivery accuracy is improved, but animal survival rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device distributes the animal's weight across a broad support surface, creating gentle pressure that maintains posture without concentrated restraint forces. The gravitational counterbalance provides stability without requiring tight binding or compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the pressure distribution parameter from concentrated high pressure (tight restraint) to distributed low pressure (broad support), maintaining positional accuracy while reducing harmful effects on the animal's body and survival rate.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device simplifies the drug delivery process, improves the survival rate of experimental animals, and ensures consistent delivery to the brain without affecting other internal organs, regardless of operator skill or environment.
Implementation Method 1
a warm pad may be formed on the supporter, and the warm pad may be configured to maintain a body temperature of the experimental animal
Implementation Method 2
a chair formed on the supporter and configured to induce a drug inhalation posture in which a head of the experimental animal is directed downward
Data Source
AI summary
A test device is disclosed. The test device includes a supporter providing a seating surface for an experimental animal, and a chair formed on the supporter and configured to induce a drug inhalation posture in which a head of the experimental animal is directed downward. Thus, a mecca position may be induced by a simple operation of seating an unconscious experimental animal on the chair. As a result, nose-to-brain drug delivery may be performed.