MRI-Compatible Animal Restraint Device with Cam-Actuated Side Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional restraining devices for small animals during medical imaging are often too large or magnetic for MRI machines, uncomfortable, or overly invasive, making it difficult to perform accurate neuroimaging on awake animals due to stress and movement issues.
Innovation Solution
A restraining device with a body, side restraining members, and an overhead member, featuring a tightening mechanism with rotatable rods and handles, designed to securely hold animals in place within an MRI machine, allowing for precise positioning and minimizing animal movement during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional restraining devices are used to hold awake animals during imaging, then animal movement is restricted, but the devices are too large or magnetic for MRI machines and cause stress to the animal
Solution Approach 1:
The restraining device is divided into multiple independent components: a head restraint portion with bite bars, a body restraint portion with side walls, and a fastening system with ratchet straps. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall compactness for MRI compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using rigid, invasive surgical head posts that cause stress, the invention uses a soft, comfortable bite bar that the animal voluntarily grips. The restraint is applied through compression by adjustable straps rather than rigid fixation, inverting the traditional approach to reduce stress while maintaining effectiveness.
2Reliability
If conventional restraining devices are used to hold awake animals, then movement is controlled, but the devices are uncomfortable and require pain management
Solution Approach 1:
The bite bar is designed with a curved surface that matches the animal's dental anatomy, providing comfort at the contact point. The side walls of the body restraint are positioned to avoid pressing on sensitive areas, applying restraint forces only where necessary for stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet strap system allows for dynamic adjustment of restraint tightness. The straps can be gradually tightened to the minimum necessary level for stability, and can be easily released if discomfort occurs, providing adaptability rather than fixed rigid restraint.
3Reliability
If conventional restraining devices are used during MRI imaging, then animal positioning is achieved, but the devices are too large for the MRI machine bore
Solution Approach 1:
The head restraint portion with bite bars nests within the body restraint portion, which in turn nests within the MRI machine bore. This nested configuration minimizes the overall volume of the restraint system while maintaining all necessary positioning functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint device is designed with a streamlined, elongated shape that optimizes the distribution of volume along the longitudinal axis rather than expanding uniformly in all directions. This dimensional optimization allows the device to fit within the constrained cylindrical bore of the MRI machine.
4Reliability
If conventional restraining devices are used for neuroimaging, then animal immobilization is achieved, but the devices are unnecessarily invasive requiring surgical installation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential immobilization function from complex surgical head posts and replaces it with a simple, non-invasive bite bar and strap system. This removes the need for surgical installation while maintaining the core function of preventing head and body movement during imaging.
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 effectively restrains awake animals, reducing stress and movement, thereby obtaining reliable brain activity measurements and usable imaging data without the need for anesthesia, while being compatible with existing MRI equipment.
Implementation Method 1
the second end having a cam engaging one of the side restraining members, the handle being rotatable to rotate the cam and displace the side restraining members into the cavity to restrain the animal
Data Source
AI summary
A restraining device for an animal. A body having a base and two spaced-apart walls define a cavity to receive the animal. At least one pair of side restraining members is mounted to one of the walls of the body. Each restraining member is displaceable away from the wall and into the cavity to engage a side of the animal. An overhead restraining member is mounted to the body above the base. The overhead restraining member is displaceable toward and away from the base to engage the animal. A tightening mechanism is mounted to the body and has at least one rotatable rod. The first end of the rod has a rotatable handle to rotate the rod and the second end has a cam engaging one of the side restraining members. The handle rotates the cam and displaces the side restraining members into the cavity.