Flexible Fish Holder Groove for Stable Non-Anesthetic Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for administering test substances to test fish, such as zebrafish, are inefficient and cause damage, making it difficult to accurately measure substance intake and compare with mammalian experiments, and repeated administration is hindered by anesthesia effects.

Innovation Solution

A flexible, water-permeable holder with a posture maintaining groove and guiding means that gently holds the fish in a predetermined position, allowing for direct oral or parenteral administration without anesthesia, reducing damage and enabling repeated handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a flexible material such as sponge or nonwoven fabric is affixed to the inner surface of the fish holder, then the test fish can be held gently without causing damage to the body surface, but when the test fish violently acts, the test fish is inevitably held with a strong force which may cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to test fish body surfaceVSAvoidholding stability when test fish acts violently

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fish holder is divided into a hard outer frame structure and a separate flexible material layer. The hard frame provides structural stability and prevents deformation when the test fish acts violently, while the flexible material layer affixed to the inner surface provides gentle contact with the test fish body, preventing surface damage. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fish holder combines hard materials (such as plastic or metal frame) with flexible materials (such as sponge or nonwoven fabric) to create a composite structure. The hard material provides structural integrity and resistance to violent movement, while the flexible material provides cushioning and gentle contact, resolving the contradiction between holding stability and prevention of body surface damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If anesthesia is performed to prevent the test fish from violently acting, then the test fish can be held stably, but it is unclear whether experimental results show effects of the test substance or anesthesia, and repeated administration cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding stability for administrationVSAvoiduncertainty in experimental results

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The fish holder is designed with a modular structure that can be divided into separable parts. This allows the holder to be easily assembled and disassembled, enabling rapid handling of the test fish without requiring anesthesia. The segmented design facilitates quick positioning and release, maintaining holding stability while avoiding the confounding effects of anesthesia on experimental results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the test fish is scooped with a net and held by the fish holder as is, then the handling process is simple, but there is a high possibility that the test fish may be considerably damaged during the holding process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of holding processVSAvoiddamage to test fish during handling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fish holder is designed with a pre-formed groove structure that guides the test fish into the correct position before holding. The groove shape is optimized to receive the test fish body, ensuring proper positioning and distribution of holding force. This preliminary structural preparation allows simple net scooping to transition smoothly into gentle holding, preventing damage during the transfer process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inner surface of the fish holder is covered with flexible material such as sponge or nonwoven fabric. This flexible layer conforms to the test fish body shape, distributing holding force evenly and preventing concentration of stress that could cause damage. The flexibility allows the holder to adapt to the test fish form while maintaining secure holding, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and damage prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12558209B2Test fish handling equipment and test fish handling method using test fish handling equipment thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 KOBELCO ECO SOLUTIONS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is test fish handling equipment capable of reliably holding a test fish by preventing damage to the test fish, and a test fish handling method using the test fish handling equipment. The test fish handling equipment includes a holder for holding the test fish, and guiding means for guiding the test fish to the holder together with water. The holder includes a posture maintaining groove for maintaining the test fish in a predetermined posture. At least an inner surface of the posture maintaining groove is made of a flexible material. One end of the guiding means includes a supply port, and the other end includes a discharge port.