Abstract: A rack for animal cages may comprise multiple levels stacked together in a vertical orientation, each level acts as a frame configured to support one or more tubs that serve as cages. An example rack for animal cages comprises a first enclosure, a first top panel, and two glides. The first enclosure having a floor, four exterior sidewalls, and a lip extending outwardly from a top surface of at least two of the four exterior sidewalls. Each of the two glides comprises a first longitudinal groove configured to receive an edge portion of the first top panel therein and a second longitudinal groove configured to removably receive a portion of the lip extending outwardly from the top surface of the first enclosure. The two glides are positioned to support the first top panel and the first enclosure therebetween, and configured to position the first top panel so that it covers the first enclosure when it is positioned therebetween.

Abstract: An electronic monitor can monitor experimental animals in a cage. The cage has one or more walls that enclose a living space for the experimental animals. The electronic monitor is coupled to the cage. The electronic monitor may include a housing adapted to be mechanically coupled to the cage in a predefined position relative to the cage. A substantially sterile barrier is provided between the living space and the external environment in this coupled state. The walls of the cage may include a signal-interface section. An electromagnetic detector may be coupled to the housing to have a line-of-sight through the signal-interface section and into the living space of the cage. The electromagnetic detector is adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation that is transmitted through the signal-interface section. A controller processes a signal received from the electromagnetic detector to determine a status of the experimental animals or the living space.

Abstract: A rack system having shelves configured to support a plurality of disposable animal cages may include a modular configuration that is adapted to easily provide a desired rack size during manufacturing. A rack system may also include shelves which are configured to receive disposable cages and which have spring biased rails configured to receive edges of the disposable cages and provide a spring bias pushing apertures of a cage against nozzles of the shelf to provide a seal therebetween. A rack system may also include shelves which are configured to receive disposable cages and which have resilient flexible lids configured to deflect for releasable engagement into the rack assembly and establish a seal between the nozzle and receptacle for a controllable flow of air therethrough.

Abstract: A rack apparatus for managing laboratory animals and is easy to clean includes plurality of animal cages (1) stored at intervals in a storage space (16) on a shelf plate (15) supported by frame structure (13). The rear of the storage space (16) is closed by a back plate (12b), the exhaust box (19) is installed at the top of the rear side, and a cage top cover (23) is installed at the top of the front side. A back stay (25) is demountably attached to the back plate (12b), a movement-restricting bar (27) is attached to the back stay (25), and spacers (29), which maintain intervals between the animal cages (1), are demountably attached to the back stay (25). The spacers (29) are selectively installed by mounting to/dismounting from the back stay (25) to maintain planned storage positions corresponding to sizes of the cages (1) in the width direction.

Abstract: A laboratory specimen sealed within a chamber on an animal holder may be injected or otherwise administered material such as drugs and radioactive imagining materials from the ambient, or outside the chamber, through a sealed catheter assembly. The animal holder can be mounted on imaging machines such as MRI, X-ray, PET, CT and like imaging machines. Biologically contaminated animals are isolated within the chamber from the ambient, yet may be injected from outside the chamber thereby protecting lab technicians from contamination and isolating the animal from additional contamination from an ambient environment, such as an imaging laboratory.

Abstract: A closure system for a cage containing laboratory animals, where in an upper edge of the base of the cage an U-shaped housing towards the outside of the edge hosts a gasket having a lip projecting out of the upper edge, and s bending in contact with a side rim of the top, the side rim overlapping the upper edge, and comprising at least two latches, connected on one side to the base, and having a bending line with a smaller thickness, and a projecting hook at the opposite side, to be restrained in a slot in the top, so that in operation the latch bends in the bending line and the projecting hook can be engaged to or disengaged from the slot.

Abstract: Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.

Abstract: Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.

Abstract: Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.

Abstract: A cage and cage cover combination includes at least a cage cover having a plurality of stacking lugs. The combination also includes at least an animal cage having a lower surface, where the upper surfaces of the stacking lugs, when in contact with the lower surface of an animal cage form a substantially even connection such that a cage stacked on top of a cover rests securely on the cage cover.

Abstract: The present invention has objectives of providing a low-cost, easy-to-handle individual isolation animal breeding unit and a system for using the same, significantly reducing costs of facilities and maintenance for animal experiments and saving on labor, and providing a new animal transportation form. For achieving the objectives, the present invention provides a system for maintaining an animal breeding environment, comprising A) an animal breeding unit capable of comprising an internal tray having a sufficient space for breeding an animal of interest, comprising an external tray capable of accommodating the internal tray, and capable of keeping a predetermined cleanliness degree; B) a method for providing the internal tray having the predetermined cleanliness degree; C) an internal tray exchange unit capable of accommodating the animal breeding unit and exchanging the internal tray while keeping the predetermined cleanliness degree; and D) a method for recovering the exchanged internal tray.

Abstract: Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.

Abstract: Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages, modular rack units and controllers. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems. The single-use animal containment cages contain controllers that regulate airflow or air pressure and have a user interface and processor.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for respiratory pharmacology test and a chamber device that enables respiratory pharmacology test on particular large animals under unanesthetized, unrestrained state, with easy acclimatization and reduced effect of stress, and a method for conducting safety pharmacology studies on the same large animal individual. The chamber device of the invention includes animal cage 10 and transparent chamber 20, which includes first and second compartments 21 and 22 separated by partition plate 23. The compartment 21 has a door and ventilation connection port 26, and the compartments 21 and 22 are provided with communication pipe 29 having opening 29a for introducing ambient air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the presence of an infectious agent in one or more test animals. The method includes providing a cage housing a sentinel animal, the cage including a plurality of inlets to allow flow of air into the cage through each of the inlets; providing a plurality of cages each housing a test animal, each cage including an outlet to allow air to flow from the cage; connecting the plurality of cages each housing a test animal to the cage housing a sentinel animal so as to allow air to flow via the outlet of each cage housing a test animal into the cage housing a sentinel animal via an inlet on the cage housing a sentinel animal; and screening the sentinel animal for infection by the infectious agent after a period of time sufficient for the sentinel animal to be infected from one of the test animals, wherein infection of the sentinel animal is indicative of the presence of the infectious agent in one or more of the test animals.

Abstract: This system provides an air-ventilating and cleaning element positioned within a housing. The housing contains multiple vents in the housing walls. The vents serve as channels that enable air to flow into and out of the air-ventilating device. The air-ventilating and cleaning element can vary and can range from a simple air ventilator to and an air purifier. The cleaning element can contain a filter element to further facilitate cleaning of the air. The cleaning element can be positioned in the housing on a track or pin to allow for movement of the cleaning element within the housing. Movement of the cleaning element may be desired in order to more efficiently clean air channeled through the device. Because of the ability to move the cleaning element, air flow through the device can be adjusted depending on a particular cleaning application.

Abstract: An animal caging system has a plurality of stackable support trays with integral water supply conduits to supply water sequentially to each cage and eliminate any channels of stagnant water. Each support tray includes a vertical support member that engages the vertical support members of adjacent support trays in a stacked relationship, and a number of cage docking stations arranged around the vertical support member. The vertical support member includes a water supply conduit that extends to each cage docking station of the support tray and has openings in fluid communication with corresponding openings in the water supply conduits of adjacent support trays. In this manner, the water supply conduits of the stacked vertical support members combine to supply water in a single flow path to the cage docking stations on each support tray.

Abstract: A keeping cage for laboratory animals, specifically rodents, is characterized in that it provides for a large floor surface on several levels, the transit of animals from one level to the higher or lower level being ensured by the presence of appropriate openings in the partitioning floors. The keeping cage allows for the provision of a space available to animals, which is sufficiently large in terms of floor surface and in terms of height between the floors to ensure a good level of wellbeing for the animals, which do not therefore suffer from behavioral disturbances. Cage for keeping laboratory animals, specifically adapted to keep laboratory animals, particularly rodents, including a base body to which an openable lid is connected, characterized in that the lid features a port for accessing the inside without removing the lid.

Abstract: A ventilated cage and rack system. An embodiment of the invention may comprise a ventilated rack, the rack including at least one air exhaust plenum and at least one canopy disposed within the rack, the canopy being adapted to position a cage assembly below the canopy while maintaining a gap between the top of the cage assembly so as to permit air to be drawn into the air exhaust plenum from the interior of the cage assembly through the top of the cage assembly and to also permit ambient air to be drawn across the top of the cage assembly into the air exhaust plenum. The cage assembly comprises one of a first cage having a first width and a plurality of second cages having a second width, the second width being less than the first width.

Abstract: A containment and test system for extremely toxic substances includes a fume hood, a containment compartment such as glove bag or box, positioned within the fume hood, a source of a non-reactive gas to provide a stable environment within the containment compartment, an inline moisture trap coupled to the source of non-reactive gas to dry the non-reactive gas, an ion neutralizer coupled to the source of non-reactive gas to reduce static charges within the containment compartment, a staging area for preparing test samples, a balance positioned within the containment compartment, a stanchion positioned within the fume hood for holding a test animal, and decontaminating apparatus for safely disposing of any toxic substance residue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for anesthetizing one or more laboratory animals is provided. An anesthetic component is introduced into a pressurized gas stream for delivery to laboratory animals. In one embodiment of the invention, a solo apparatus is used to administer anesthetic component to a single animal. The apparatus may also contain a host cage providing a group apparatus connected to the pressurized gas stream that permits administration of anesthesia to one or a group of animals simultaneously. One or more solo and/or group apparatuses may be used to administer anesthetic components to different animals at various dosages. The apparatus may also include a thermoregulatory system that transfers heat to animals as they receive anesthesia to control the animals' body temperature. In addition, the apparatus may include an exhaust system to remove contaminants from exhaust gases and to withdraw exhaust gases from the apparatus or apparatuses.

Abstract: The present invention is an animal cage adapted for providing supply air to the cage by either static or forced ventilation, comprising, a cage receptacle and ventilation distribution means integral to said cage receptacle for distributing supply air to an interior space of said cage receptacle. A ventilation air supply system that provides air to the entire cage receptacle and allows the air to leave the cage receptacle in the same manner without the need for a filter cap or bonnet. The ventilation system creates an even flow of air along the side of the cage receptacle thus providing an even air flow across the bottom of the cage, and therefore providing a better environment for the animal. The present invention also provides a an animal cage with biological barrier means integral to said cage receptacle for precipitating microparticles and/or contaminants in the supply air out of suspension due to the low velocity of the supply air during static ventilation.

Abstract: A method of determining the weight of animals and the development of plants in a controlled environment. The method includes measuring the increase in CO2 production over a test period. CO2 production is a measure of the metabolic rate and this is related to weight of animals and development of crops which can often be determined by weight. There is illustrated a poultry rearing house having vents, lights and an air heater. CO2 sensors are connected to a CO2 controller and in turn to a central controller. To test the increase in CO2 production over time, the birds are settled into a passive state with no feed and the lights turned off. The level of CO2 produced is measured. The vents are closed. After a time, the rate of Co2 produced is measured and the increase calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for displaying a condition of air flow to or from a ventilated rack of animal cages in which a damper is coupled between the ventilated rack and an air inlet or exhaust outlet. Air pressure is measured within the damper. A condition of the measured pressure is visually displayed. The display can include a plurality of color coded portions for indicating that the condition is within or outside of a preferred operating range, thereby providing a visual assurance that the ventilated rack of animal cages is maintaining a barrier condition. In addition, the display can indicate a value of the measured pressure or a flow rate. When the display indicates that the condition of the air flow is outside of the preferred operating range, the damper can be manually or automatically adjusted to enable the preferred operating range to be obtained. A barrier condition of the rack is maintained when the preferred operating range is maintained.

Abstract: A small animal breeding apparatus has a frame structure in which a number of breeding spaces are defined. Each breeding space is provided with a pair of parallel guide rails fixed to the opposite inner sides of the breeding space and extending from the front side to the rear side. A breeding box provided in each breeding space has on opposite outer sides protrusions which are supported on the guide rails, respectively, for guided sliding movement. A breeding cage having an upper opening is placed on the bottom floor of the breeding box. An air supply pipe and an air exhaust pipe extend forward from the rear of the frame structure. When the breeding box is pushed rearward into the breeding space in guided movement along the guide rails, the air supply and exhaust pipes are caused to extend into the breeding box through insertion holes formed in a rear wall of the breeding box.

Abstract: A rodent cage including a cage bottom having a plurality of integral side walls, a floor and an open top end. A peripheral lip extends continuously around the top end. A pair of recesses are disposed on the peripheral lip. A feeder assembly has a frame and at least one section descending therefrom. The frame has pair of flanges extending therefrom so that when the feeder assembly is disposed in the cage bottom the pair of flanges are mated with the pair of recesses, respectively. A bonnet is dimensioned in size for sealing the top end of the cage bottom. A lock is disposed on the bonnet for preventing rodents housed in the cage from displacing the bonnet from the cage bottom.

Abstract: A filter change station is provided having a base board. A first guide support and a second guide support are mounted on the base board in facing relationship. A separator is mounted on at least the first guide support along a slide path of a cage top for separating a filter retainer from the cage top as the cage top moves along the guide support within the slide path.