Plethysmograph with animal restraint
Inventors
Lomask, Joseph • Shemesh, Yuval • Nguyen, Hai Dang • Le, Chau Hong • Shafer, Richard A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8827921-B2
Publication Date
2014-09-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A plethysmograph is described that includes a test chamber having an opening; a sealing member including an annular flexible seal to receive at least a part of the head of the test animal mounted across the opening whereby the animal breathes air outside the test chamber, while the animal's body is within the test chamber; and a restraining member attachable to the sealing member, the restraining member including a clamp positionable behind the test animal's head, to prevent the animal from withdrawing its head from the restraining member. The animal is positioned in the restraining member and the sealing member is attached to the restraining member before insertion of the animal and assembly into the test chamber, avoiding previous difficulties in simultaneously placing an animal into the chamber while inserting the animal's nose into the seal. The plethysmograph also eliminates the necessity for a plunger to prevent rearward movement of the animal.
Core Innovation
A plethysmograph is provided for transmitting test animal pulmonary data to a differential pressure transducer. The plethysmograph includes a test chamber with an opening and a sealing member mountable across the opening, the sealing member including a barrier seal with an opening to receive the head of the test animal, whereby the animal breathes air on one side of the seal while the animal’s body is positioned on the other side of the seal.
A restraining member is attachable to one side of the sealing member and includes a clamp positionable behind the test animal’s head. The clamp prevents the animal from withdrawing its head from the restraining member, and the animal is positioned in the restraining member before the sealing member is attached to the restraining member and mounted across the test chamber opening.
The described structure uses an annular flexible seal with a head opening mounted across a chamber opening, and positions the restraining member with the clamp behind the animal’s head. The combined seal-and-clamp assembly is inserted into the chamber while avoiding simultaneous restraint and seal placement, and it eliminates the need for a conventional plunger to prevent rearward movement.
Claims Coverage
The document contains one independent claim (clm-00001). It defines three main inventive aspects: a barrier seal on a sealing member across a chamber opening, a restraining member with a clamp positioned behind the animal’s head to prevent head withdrawal, and a pre-attachment arrangement where the sealing member is attached to the restraining member before mounting across the opening.
Barrier seal mounted across a chamber opening for head reception
A test chamber having an opening and a sealing member mountable across the opening, the sealing member including a barrier seal with an opening to receive the head of the test animal so that the animal breathes air on one side of the seal while the animal’s body is positioned on the other side of the seal.
Clamp positionable behind the animal’s head to prevent head withdrawal
A restraining member attachable to one side of the sealing member, the restraining member including a clamp positionable behind the test animal’s head, thereby preventing the animal from withdrawing its head from the restraining member.
Pre-attached seal and restraining member before mounting across the opening
The animal being positioned in the restraining member and the sealing member being attached to the restraining member before mounting of the sealing member across the opening of the test chamber.
Thoracic and nasal test chamber arrangements
The plethysmograph of the independent claim is refined with a thoracic test chamber arrangement in which the animal’s body is sealed inside and the animal’s head remains outside, and/or with a nasal chamber arrangement in which the animal’s head is inside and the animal’s body is outside.
Specific clamp geometries and mechanisms
Further refinements specify clamp structures that prevent withdrawal, including a clamp having a U-shaped neck-receiving opening, and a clamp made from two spaced, pivoting clamping pins that move from an open position to a clamped position preventing withdrawal.
Overall, claim coverage centers on coupling pulmonary data transmission to a barrier-seal plethysmograph interface while using a restraining clamp behind the animal’s head, with the sealing member attached to the restraining member before mounting across the test chamber opening.
Stated Advantages
Avoids simultaneous restraint/seal placement.
Eliminates the need for a conventional plunger to prevent rearward movement.
Provides noise reduction as described in connection with pneumotachs/manifolds and pressure-transducer ports.
Documented Applications
Pulmonary measurements for a test animal (mouse) using a differential pressure transducer, including arrangements associated with pressure-transducer ports/manifolds/pneumotachs and reference chambers.
A dual-chamber interface connected to the use of an aerosol/nebulized compound is mentioned in the disclosed context.
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