Disposable Drawer Cage Sliding Lid Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal containment systems require frequent washing and sterilization, leading to resource inefficiency and potential contamination risks, especially in high biosafety level facilities, and pose challenges in accessing animals for maintenance and research.
Innovation Solution
The development of disposable, single-use drawer containment cage assemblies with a sliding lid mechanism and ventilated systems that reduce the need for regular cleaning, featuring lightweight, flexible materials resistant to animal damage and easy access for laboratory personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent or multiple-use cages are designed for multiple uses with thick walls and resilient materials, then the cages can withstand multiple washes and sterilizations, but the cages become heavy and inconvenient to remove for cleaning and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The cage system is divided into two separate components: a reusable rack structure and disposable cage inserts. The rack remains stationary and is easily accessible for cleaning, while the cage inserts are removed as complete units for sterilization. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the reusable portion to be easily handled while the disposable portion handles the contamination burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage inserts are designed as disposable, single-use components that are discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need to repeatedly clean and sterilize the cage structure itself, resolving the contradiction by transferring the cleaning burden from the reusable cage body to a disposable component that is replaced rather than cleaned.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If multiple-use cages are designed for multiple uses, then they can be reused for extended periods, but they require frequent washing and sterilization which consumes significant resources
Solution Approach 1:
The cage inserts are designed as disposable components that are discarded after single use, eliminating the need for repeated washing and sterilization cycles. This resolves the contradiction by replacing the energy-intensive process of repeated sterilization with a simple disposal and replacement process, significantly reducing resource consumption while maintaining cage functionality through the reusable rack structure.
3Strength
If multiple-use cages are designed with thick walls and resilient materials, then they can withstand multiple washes and sterilizations, but they present contamination risks when impacting surfaces or requiring air filter handling
Solution Approach 1:
The cage inserts are designed as disposable components with optimized wall thickness that is sufficient for animal containment but not excessive for impact resistance. Since they are discarded after single use, the design prioritizes animal safety and containment integrity over repeated durability, reducing contamination risks associated with handling and impact while maintaining adequate strength through the disposable nature of the component.
4Productivity
If disposable drawer containment cage assemblies with sliding lid mechanisms are used, then access to animals is facilitated and resource consumption is reduced, but the cage structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cage insert incorporates a sliding lid mechanism that transitions from a closed to an open state, enabling easy animal access without removing the entire cage from the rack. This dynamic component allows the cage to maintain its containment function when closed while providing rapid access when opened, improving productivity with a relatively simple mechanical addition that does not significantly increase overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are slidable “drawer” animal containment systems that allow for ready access to contained animals. In certain embodiments, the animal containment systems include disposable cages, and the systems are ventilated in some embodiments.