Cage Wall Electrical Feedthrough for Sterile Animal Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring and providing power to experimental animals in cages often result in physical perturbations, contamination, and inefficiencies due to the need for frequent battery changes and exposed wiring, which can compromise data quality and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of electrical feedthroughs with internal and external contacts that provide secure, sterile, and efficient power and data connections through cage walls, minimizing physical contact and reducing the need for battery changes, while using materials like plated copper or steel alloys for durability and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If batteries are used to power electronic devices inside cages, then portability and ease of installation are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to drained batteries requiring changes and potential data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source and data storage functions from portable battery-powered devices and relocates them to external stationary units. The cage-mounted electronic devices are connected via wired connections to external power supplies and data storage systems, eliminating the need for internal batteries while maintaining ease of installation.
2Ease of operation
If exposed wiring is used to provide power and data connections, then ease of installation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to animals chewing on wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs protective coverings and enclosed routing for electrical wiring. The wiring is contained within protective channels or conduits that prevent direct access by animals, eliminating the hazard of exposed wiring while maintaining installation feasibility.
3Ease of operation
If conventional power and data connections are provided to in-cage devices, then ease of installation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to difficulty in providing sterile connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sterile barrier system at the cage wall penetration points. Feedthroughs with sterile seals and isolated connection chambers allow electrical connections to be made outside the sterile cage environment while maintaining sterility inside, thus enabling both ease of installation and reliability.
4Measurement precision
If physical contact methods are used to check animals, then measurement capability is improved, but harmful factors increase due to perturbations and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical physical contact methods with electronic sensing systems. Sensors, cameras, and other electronic devices mounted in or near the cages automatically monitor animal behavior, physiology, and environment, eliminating the need for technicians to physically handle or approach animals, thus maintaining measurement capability while removing perturbations and contamination risks.
Data Source
AI summary
A cage for housing at least one experimental animal is disclosed. The cage may include one or more walls that enclose a living space for at least one experimental animal with at least one wall comprising a plastic material. At least one electrical feedthrough may traverse the wall. The electrical feedthrough may include an internal electrical contact located inside the living space and an external electrical contact located outside the living space. The internal and external electrical contacts may be electrically connected. A system for monitoring at least one experimental animal and an electrical feedthrough for providing electrical continuity through a wall of a cage for housing an experimental animal is also disclosed.