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WO2008144430A1 - Cages de confinement d'animaux pour élevage et transport - Google Patents

Cages de confinement d'animaux pour élevage et transport Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008144430A1
WO2008144430A1 PCT/US2008/063766 US2008063766W WO2008144430A1 WO 2008144430 A1 WO2008144430 A1 WO 2008144430A1 US 2008063766 W US2008063766 W US 2008063766W WO 2008144430 A1 WO2008144430 A1 WO 2008144430A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
lid
base
cage
inches
cage assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2008/063766
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Dee L. Conger
Thomas M. Perazzo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Innovive Inc
Original Assignee
Innovive Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Innovive Inc filed Critical Innovive Inc
Publication of WO2008144430A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008144430A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
    • A01K1/02—Pigsties; Dog-kennels; Rabbit-hutches or the like
    • A01K1/03—Housing for domestic or laboratory animals
    • A01K1/031—Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
    • A01K1/02—Pigsties; Dog-kennels; Rabbit-hutches or the like
    • A01K1/0236—Transport boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses for animals; Fittings therefor
    • A01K1/0245—Boxes or cages

Definitions

  • This application also is related to U.S. Patent Application No. 1 1/300,664 filed on 13 December 2005, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2005/044977 filed on 13 December 2005, U.S. Patent Application No. 1 1/423,949 filed on June 13, 2006, and International Patent Application No.
  • Described herein are containment systems and components for housing and transporting animals. Such systems and components are useful in animal husbandry, for example, such as for maintaining, breeding, observing, studying and transporting or temporarily housing animals.
  • a thin wall containment cage for transportation and husbandry of small animals includes a base having four sides and a bottom formed together in a continuous rectangular structure and having an upper lid engagement member at a top edge of the base and a lid having a base engagement member on a perimeter of the lid and configured to releasably engage the lid engagement member of the base, a first large area filtered vent assembly and a second large area filtered vent assembly.
  • Each large area filtered vent assembly of the containment cage may have a total usable cross section vent area of about 10 percent of the surface area of lid to about 20 percent of the surface area of the lid.
  • a containment cage assembly include a base having four sides and a bottom formed together in a continuous rectangular structure and having an upper lid engagement member at a top edge of the base and an elongate transverse ridge disposed on a front flap extending substantially horizontally from a front edge of the base.
  • the containment cage may also include a lid having a base engagement member on a perimeter of the lid and configured to releasably engage the lid engagement member of the base, a first ventilation receptacle and a second ventilation receptacle.
  • the containment cage may also include a cardholder having a planar portion with a front surface, a rear surface and a folded edge at a top edge of the planar region that is configured to releasably engage the elongate transverse ridge on the flap of the base with the planar portion extending downward substantially parallel to a front wall of the base.
  • a containment cage assembly include a base having four sides, a bottom formed together in a continuous rectangular structure and an upper lid engagement member at a top edge of the base.
  • the containment cage assembly may also include a lid having a base engagement member on a perimeter of the lid configured to releasably engage the lid engagement member of the base, a first ventilation receptacle and a second ventilation receptacle.
  • the containment cage assembly may also include a food tray having a polymer body portion with an aperture and at least two downward oriented hooks at opposite ends of the tray which are engaged with slots formed adjacent the top edge of the base.
  • Some of these embodiments may include a food tray shield including a high strength material resistant to chewing by contained animals that includes at least one aperture for food access and connectors for securing the shield to the polymer body of the shield.
  • FIG 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a containment cage assembly.
  • FIG 2 is an exploded view of the containment cage assembly of FIG 1.
  • FIG 3 is a transverse cross sectional view of the containment cage assembly of
  • FIG 1 taken along lines 3-3 of FIG 1.
  • FIG 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of the containment cage assembly of FIG 1 taken along lines 4-4 of FIG 1.
  • FIG 5 is a tip view of a lid of the containment cage assembly of FIG 1.
  • FIG 6 is an elevation view of the lid of the containment cage assembly of FIG 1.
  • FIG 7 is a top view of the lid of the containment cage assembly of FIG 1.
  • FIG 8 is a top view of the base of the containment cage assembly.
  • FIG 9 is an elevation view of the base of the containment cage assembly of FIG 1.
  • FIG 10 is an enlarged view in section of a front wall of the containment cage assembly and a card holder secured to a front edge of the base indicated by the encircled portion 10 in FIG 9.
  • FIG 1 1 is a perspective view of the card holder which is shown in section in FIG 10 and which is configured to be releasably secured to the front edge of the base of the containment cage assembly.
  • FIG 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a containment cage configured for transportation of contained animals.
  • FIG 13 is a transverse cross sectional view of the containment cage assembly of FIG 12 taken along lines 13-13 of FIG 12.
  • FIG 14 is a perspective view of the base of the containment cage assembly of FIG.
  • FIG 15 is an elevation view of the lid of the containment cage assembly of FIG 12.
  • FIG 16 is a top view of the lid of the containment cage assembly of FIG 12.
  • FIG 17 is an exploded view of the lid of the containment cage assembly.
  • FIG 18 is a bottom view of the lid of the containment cage assembly.
  • Animal containment systems are utilized in a variety of applications, such as for animal transportation, breeding and maintenance.
  • Animals contained in the systems often are laboratory animals such as rodents, and such animals often are contained in a vivarium.
  • Containment systems often include animal cages in which the animals are housed and a rack unit onto which cages are mounted. Animals contained in such systems emit several gaseous and particulate contaminates that are health risks to housed animals and human personnel maintaining the systems. Accordingly, cages generally are designed for multiple uses, which requires they are washed and sterilized about every week for two years or more in an animal containment facility, for example, especially in a facility practicing Good Laboratory Procedures (GLPs).
  • GLPs Good Laboratory Procedures
  • Multiple-use cages generally have relatively thick walls and components often are constructed from resilient materials that can withstand multiple washes and sterilizations. Air often is delivered to cages by a low-pressure system (e.g., a pressure of less than 0.5 inches of water).
  • Typical rack units generally are not modular and are not readily disassembled. As a result, large pieces of equipment are required to cleanse the rack units.
  • Multiple-use cage designs also can present disadvantages with respect to contamination, such as requiring contaminated air filter handling or exposure of cage components to the environment when a cage impacts a surface (e.g., a cage is dropped by a user or falls from an elevation), for example, which bear especially on handling of animals in higher biosafety level animal facilities.
  • animal containment systems that include disposable, single- use components, which do not require washing and sterilization for re-use.
  • the animal containment systems and components may be used for transportation of animals and can be used for containment of animals for research and breeding, for example.
  • Cages of such systems often include relatively thin walls constructed from a polymer.
  • Features of these cages described herein substantially reduce or prevent the possibility contained animals damage the relatively thin polymeric material (e.g., gnawing damage).
  • the low weight and relative flexibility of single-use cages, as compared to thicker, rigid multiple-use cages, provide for cages less prone to breakage or disassembly upon impact. These features may reduce the likelihood that cage contents (e.g., animals, animal contaminants and any harmful substances in the cage) are exposed to the outside environment upon impact (e.g., cage bases and lids remain sealed after impact).
  • Some cage embodiments and associated components also may be efficiently nested, thereby advantageously reducing required storage space.
  • Ventilated systems provided herein efficiently exchange air in cages and efficiently maintain temperature. Such ventilated systems can be operated at relatively high air pressures and without adjustable valves, providing for airflow and air pressure uniformity and efficient airflow control across a range of air pressures.
  • animal containment systems that include modular components, often components that are readily disassembled.
  • rack units include one or more attachable and detachable rack modules that are readily disassembled for washing.
  • Some animal containment cage embodiments may include a containment cage base member, a cover or lid member, and an optional insertion member or device.
  • An animal cage base sometimes is provided separately from a lid, the lid often may be sealingly attached to the cage base and the lid may be readily detachable from the base such as by a snap fit or the like.
  • An animal, such as a rodent, and/or optional insertion member may be placed in a cage base before a lid is sealingly attached.
  • a variety of animals may be contained within cages described herein. Rodents often are contained within such units, including but not limited to mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas and rabbits.
  • the animal may be transgenic, inbred, immunodeficient, lack one or more functional genes (e.g., knock-out animal), and/or can include one or more xenografts.
  • immunodeficient mice include nude mice and severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice.
  • SCID mice Cells from cultured cell lines, cultured primary cells or directly from another animal or tissue (e.g., biopsy) may be utilized for xenografts (e.g., cancer cells from a human).
  • a cage base is of any geometry suitable for housing animals, such as cylindrical, substantially cylindrical, conical, rectangular, square, cubic, rhomboid and the like, for example.
  • a cage base may include a bottom member that supports a plurality of sidewall members (e.g., four sidewall members).
  • Opposing sidewall members sometimes are parallel, substantially parallel, not parallel, rhomboid, substantially rhomboid or a combination thereof.
  • opposing sidewalls are not parallel, and are not vertical with respect to the bottom.
  • a sidewall, and sometimes all sidewalls are at a non-90 degree angle with respect to the bottom, such as an angle between about 91 degrees and about 105 degrees, an angle of about 92 degrees to about 98 degrees or an angle of about 95 degrees, for example.
  • Each edge junction or corner junction of a wall or walls and/or the bottom may have a geometry convenient for manufacture and use, such as a sharp edge, smooth edge or rounded edge. It has been determined that certain corner and edge geometries in animal containment components reduce or eliminate the possibility of damage caused by animal residents (e.g., gnawing damage by rodents). This resistance to damage caused by contained animals is especially applicable to single- use containment components having thin polymer walls (e.g., about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches).
  • Damage resistant edge and corner orientations have been determined based upon a combination of (i) angle of edge or corner surfaces (in degrees) and (ii) edge or corner radius (in inches).
  • the angle alpha between two surfaces is measured from the side of the surfaces on which an animal resides.
  • the edge or corner minimum radius may be zero.
  • minimum edge and corner radii of 0.02, 0.04, 0.07, 0.09, 0.12, 0.14, 0.18, 0.21 , 0.25, 0.30, 0.36, 0.43, 0.54, 0.69, 0.93, 1.42, 2.86 and 5.73 inches often are incorporated when the corresponding angle alpha is 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, 300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350 and 355 degrees, respectively, in accordance with this relation.
  • edge and corner angle/minimum radius combinations in accordance with the above relation.
  • a cage base often includes rounded junctions of a suitable radius, which can minimize damage caused by gnawing or clawing of housed animals, for example.
  • bottom corners each formed at the junction of the bottom and two sidewalls, often are not sharp corners and often are smooth corners defined by a radius.
  • Each corner in some embodiments is effectively split into multiple edges which may improve crumple resistance to impact. Crumple resistance to impact provides benefits of maintaining nesting efficiency, reducing potential damage caused by animal gnawing (e.g., impact can crumple a corner and introduce a sharp edge on which an animal may gnaw), and maintaining cage integrity upon impact (e.g., not exposing the cage interior to the outside environment).
  • a corner is effectively split into 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 3 or 2 corners, each often defined by a radius.
  • the top edge of one or more sidewall members often is contiguous with a flange or rim portion that extends, often vertically, from the outer surface of the sidewall member.
  • the flange sometimes forms a continuous surface around the top perimeter of the cage and its surface often is horizontal when the cage rests on its bottom member.
  • the flange can be any width, sometimes about 0.03 inches to about 1 inch.
  • the flange can increase cage base rigidity and sometimes is configured to mate with a portion of a lid member, described further herein.
  • the flange includes an optional downward extending lip member, which sometimes mates with a corresponding member of a lid to form a detachable seal.
  • the profile of the lip member of the base is of any shape to allow a fit with a corresponding structure on the lid, where the profile sometimes is curved, and sometimes is S-shaped, V-shaped or J-shaped.
  • the lip member and/or flange member of the cage base sometimes are shaped to deflect when mated with a lid member to form a seal between the cage base and the lid.
  • the seal between the cage base and the lid is of any convenient or useful type, including but not limited to an adhesive seal, compression fit or interference fit, for example. The seal sometimes results from an interference fit of any suitable configuration, an embodiment of which is described hereafter in greater detail.
  • a cage base sometimes includes one or more indents in a sidewall member that extends towards the interior of the cage base.
  • One, two, three, four or more sidewalls sometimes include one or more indents, which can increase sidewall rigidity.
  • Sidewall integrity enhancement can provide an advantage of increasing impact resistance to crumpling, advantages of which are described above.
  • the depressed surface area of an indent can be trapezoidal or rectangular.
  • the depressed distance of the indent vertical from a sidewall from which the indent extends often is continuous from the top of the indent to the bottom (e.g., the face is parallel to the side wall from which the indent is extended), and may be greater at the top of the indent, sometimes tapering from the top portion of the indent to the bottom portion.
  • a cage base may include one or more mounts located on an outside surface of a sidewall member or bottom member, which sometimes are referred to herein as “outer support members” or “outer guide members,” which allow for convenient mounting of the cage into a rack unit.
  • the outer support members or outer guide members are of any configuration allowing for mounting of the cage base into a rack unit member, and sometimes mate with or are supported by corresponding members in the rack unit.
  • a flange member contiguous with the top of one or more sidewall members serves as a guide member and/or support member.
  • a guide member and/or support member is a flange, projection, rib or groove located on the exterior surface of a bottom member and/or one or both cage sidewall members (e.g., sidewall member adjacent to the front sidewall and rear sidewall), and often is parallel with the top edges of the sidewall members.
  • Such guide members and support members sometimes extend from the front edge of a sidewall member, sometimes extend to the rear edge of a sidewall member, sometimes extend from a point in a sidewall member a distance from the front edge, and sometimes extend to a point in a sidewall member a distance from the rear edge.
  • Such members sometimes are oriented in the middle half of the vertical length of a sidewall member, and sometimes are oriented in the middle of the vertical length.
  • guides are low profile, and sometimes are grooves or depressions, that do not substantially interfere with nesting of cage bases.
  • Some cage base embodiments may be manufactured from any material suitable for housing an animal, such as a small rodent, for a time period of about one week or greater.
  • the material may be rigid, and often is a semi-rigid or flexible material.
  • the cage base sometimes is constructed entirely, or in part, from a translucent or transparent material.
  • a cage base or lid embodiments discussed herein examples include, but are not limited to, polypropylene (PE), high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylenefluoroethylene (PEFE), polystyrene (PS), high-density polystryrene, acrylnitrile butadiene styrene copolymers and the like.
  • PE polypropylene
  • PET polyethylene teraphthalate
  • PVC polyvinyl chloride
  • PEFE polyethylenefluoroethylene
  • PS polystyrene
  • a cage is constructed from PET or PS (e.g., high density PS).
  • Sidewall members and bottom members may be of any thickness for substantially maintaining cage integrity for about one, two, three or four or more weeks of animal containment, and the thickness sometimes is about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches.
  • the sidewalls often are of substantially uniform thickness.
  • a cage base often is manufactured as a single unit and by any convenient process, sometimes in an injection molding, thermoforming or vacuum forming process, for example.
  • a cage base often is packaged for shipment, sometimes as a single unit and sometimes with other like units (e.g., as a nested set described hereafter).
  • a cage base sometimes is washed and/or sterilized (e.g., U. V. irradiation, gamma irradiation) prior to packaging.
  • Cage bases can be packaged in any material, including but not limited to materials containing polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, low-density polyethylene and the like.
  • a cover or lid may be provided separately from a cage base, often reversibly mates with a cage base, sometimes in sealing attachment, and is of any suitable geometry allowing for attachment to the base.
  • Some lid embodiments may include one or more members that directly mate with and seal with one or more members of a base; sometimes has no side wall members; and sometimes is planar or substantially planar.
  • Some lid embodiments may be constructed from any material that allows for animal containment for about one week or greater. Materials for constructing a lid sometimes are selected to allow for sealing attachment to a cage base. Examples of materials from which lid embodiments may be constructed include those described above for cage base embodiments. Sometimes the lid and base are constructed from the same material and sometimes are of a similar or the same thickness as a thickness of a corresponding base.
  • a lid may be flexible or semi-rigid and include a substantially planar region and a flange region.
  • the substantially planar region may include one or more components described herein.
  • the flange region sometimes is embossed, can be raised, often comprises a region that extends downwards as a lip (referred to herein as a "Np").
  • a flange and optional lip region may extend continuously around the perimeter of the lid.
  • the profile of the flange and optional lip often correspond to a flange and optional lip on a cage base, and often allow the lid to seal with the base via an interference fit.
  • the flange and optional lip are of any shape to effect an interference fit with the base, and sometimes are S-shaped, V-shaped, J-shaped and U-shaped, upwards or inverted, for example.
  • Some lid embodiments may include one or more of a continuously solid surface, an imperforate surface region, and/or a perforated surface region (e.g., a region containing air holes or a grid structure).
  • a lid member sometimes comprises, sometimes within a substantially planar region, an aperture, a groove, a channel, a depressed or indented region, a bossed region, a rib (e.g., an embossed rib or solid rib), and sometimes a combination of the foregoing.
  • Such a structure or structures often are located near a heavier structure in the lid, such as around or near a water supply receptacle or a connector that receives a corresponding non-lid connector.
  • a lid member sometimes comprises other components, such as a filter, a baffle, a feeding structure, and/or a watering structure, holders of the foregoing, and combinations of the forgoing, where each structure is integral or provided as a component separate from the lid member. Edges or corners in a lid often are rounded, often defined by a radius and/or angle described herein for cage bases.
  • a lid in certain embodiments may be rigid.
  • a lid member may comprise a combination of a flexible region with a rigid or semi-rigid region, the rigid or semi-rigid region sometimes acting as a frame that allows a lid to be handled efficiently and conveniently when attaching it to a cage base, for example.
  • a lid or a portion of it sometimes is translucent or transparent.
  • a lid and base are adjoined in a "clamshell” arrangement, and share a common edge. There often is a seam or hinge of thinner material at the common edge such that the lid can "fold” onto the base.
  • the common side in such embodiments often is a longer side of the lid and base opening where each is rectangular. A flange edge in the lid and a corresponding flange edge in the base may be joined in such a clamshell orientation.
  • the lid member may be sealingly mated to the base unit in any suitable manner, configuration and material that allow for attachment and detachment.
  • a lid member can be attached and detached from a base unit member multiple times.
  • a lid often is directly mated to a base in any convenient manner, such as by compression fit or interference fit (e.g., a snap interference fit, friction interference fit and the like), for example.
  • the lid often comprises a flange, channel and/or a lip member (e.g., a lip having an S-shaped or U- shaped profile) adapted to mate with a corresponding member in the base, embodiments of which are described herein.
  • Some lid embodiments may be sealingly attached to the base unit by electrostatic pressure or by an adhesive.
  • An adhesive may be applied to the lid member, or to the top of the base member that joins with the lid member (e.g., a flange at the top of the base unit), and may be applied at the time of manufacture.
  • An adhesive may be mated with a removable backing that exposes the adhesive when removed before the lid is sealingly attached to the top of the base unit.
  • a lid sometimes comprises an air filter.
  • the air filter often is configured to filter components (e.g., particulates) in air exiting an interior volume of a cage.
  • Some filter embodiments may be composed of any filter material useful for housing animals, including but not limited to spunbonded polyester, pressed pulp (depth filter), a Reemay filter (e.g., Reemay 2024), high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and the like (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 6,571 ,738).
  • the filter sometimes excludes particles 1-5 microns in size or 0.3-1 microns in size.
  • the filter often is in effective connection with a portion of the surface area of a lid member, and often not the entire surface area of the lid member.
  • the filter is in effective connection with 80% or less, 70% or less, 60% or less, 50% or less, 40% or less, 30% or less, 25% or less, or 20% or less of the lid member surface area.
  • a filter sometimes is integrated with the lid (e.g., the filter is not reversibly mounted to the lid member), and may be provided separately from the lid. When provided separately from the lid, a filter often is placed in effective connection with a portion of the lid, often a perforated portion of the lid (e.g., a portion having air apertures or a grid structure).
  • a filter may be affixed to a lid in any manner, often by reversible attachment and/or sealing attachment, and in some embodiments, the filter comprises an adhesive, sometimes on the outer perimeter of the filter, sometimes across the entire surface area of the filter, and often on one side of the filter. Where the filter comprises an adhesive, it sometimes is provided with a peel-off backing that exposes the adhesive, and the adhesive often allows for reversible adhesion (e.g., the filter can be affixed, removed or partially peeled back from the lid, and then affixed again, which can be repeated multiple times).
  • a filter may be attached to a lid by a manufacturer of the lid, attached or detached by a user, or any combination thereof.
  • the filter is in connection with a flexible film, the latter of which is coated on a surface (e.g., the entire surface or a portion of the surface) with an adhesive.
  • an adhesive When an adhesive is utilized, it often is not substantially toxic to animals housed in the cage and sometimes is a food grade adhesive.
  • the filter and/or film often may be adjacent to or in effective connection with one or more apertures of the lid.
  • a filter is sandwiched between the lid and a holding member attached to the lid.
  • the holding member often includes one or more apertures through which air can flow, and holding member often is sealingly attached to the lid (e.g., attached by an adhesive).
  • a substantial surface area of the filter often is not in direct contact with the holding member, which can provide an advantage of reducing potential gnawing damage caused by a contained animal (such a holding member also is referred to herein as a "filter shield").
  • a filter may be connected directly to a lid member or shield member and often is not connected directly to a lid of shield member but effectively filters air into or from a cage.
  • a filter can be located in proximity to an aperture or apertures of a lid member or shield member, for example, and filter air entering or exiting the apertures.
  • Standing an air filter away from surfaces of the lid and optional filter shield(s) provides certain advantages, such as permitting efficient airflow and protecting filter material from possible damage caused by contained animals (e.g., animals cannot effectively contact the filter).
  • some filter embodiments may have a pore size of about 0.5 microns and there may be approximately 1000 pores per inch. The corresponding percentage of open area for this type of filter may be about 2%.
  • a relatively large filter surface therefore sometimes is utilized to permit airflow through the filter without significant restriction or pressure drop. Filter dimensions in the lid sometimes are about six (6) inches by about two (2) inches.
  • the resulting area available to airflow for a filter of these dimensions may be about 12 square inches multiplied by 2%.
  • the area available to airflow would be significantly limited by exhaust apertures in the lid if the filter paper were in direct contact with the lid (e.g., the area available to flow is that of the area of the apertures, which can be (the square of 0.125/4 multiplied by 27 holes multiplied by 2%).
  • the area available to flow is that of the area of the apertures, which can be (the square of 0.125/4 multiplied by 27 holes multiplied by 2%).
  • standing a filter away from apertures in the lid and optional filter shield(s) can significantly enhance airflow by allowing the entire filter paper to breathe.
  • Characteristics of cages provided herein advantageously contain cage components when the cages are exposed to physical impact.
  • combinations of (i) sealing attachment of a cage base to a lid, (ii) light weight of the cage base and lid resulting from thin walls, (iii) flexibility of the semi-rigid base and lid, and (iv) base corner geometry (e.g., effectively split into more than one corner), reduce the possibility that cage contents (e.g., animals, animal waste and cage additives) are exposed to the outside environment as compared to reusable, rigid cages.
  • cage contents e.g., animals, animal waste and cage additives
  • these features advantageously protect contained animals from the exterior environment and protect personnel from cage contents.
  • These features may be desirable for application in higher biosafety level environments , for example.
  • a lid sometimes comprises a substance that scavenges emissions from an animal in the cage.
  • Emissions sometimes are gaseous or particulate compositions, such as those resulting from exhalation (e.g., water vapor, carbon dioxide), urination and defecation (e.g., ammonia, microbes), and exfoliation (e.g., dander, hair follicles, allergens, fomites, microbes (e.g., bacteria, fungi and viruses)), for example.
  • the scavenging substance sometimes is a catalyst or is utilized in combination with a catalyst that breaks down an emission from an animal into innocuous substances (e.g., biocatalyst).
  • a scavenging substance sometimes is included in a filter or is located adjacent to a filter, and sometimes is located in another portion of a cage
  • Any scavenging substance suitable for use with animals can be used, such as charcoal or other form of carbon.
  • a lid member sometimes comprises a delivery component for delivering a consumable element to a housed animal, such as air, water or food.
  • the delivery component sometimes is integral with the lid, sometimes the lid is in contact with a separate delivery component (e.g., a surface of the lid is in contact with a flange member of a food trough), sometimes the lid comprises a holder or receptacle for the delivery component, and sometimes the lid includes an aperture adapted to receive the delivery component.
  • the lid comprises one or more connectors adapted to receive an air supply or air exhaust component or water supply component (e.g., a nozzle or nozzle receptacle).
  • a connector can be of any geometry to receive a corresponding connector from an air supply, air exhaust or water supply component.
  • the cage lid connector often mates with the air supply, air exhaust or water supply connector by a sealing attachment, and often by a reversible connection, and the connectors are of any suitable type.
  • the connection may be defined by cylindrical, square, rectangular or conical side geometry, and flat, rounded, tip or point geometry for the top or bottom, for example.
  • the connecting member in the lid may be a protrusion or a void (e.g., concave or convex, respectively) that receives a corresponding mating void or protrusion, respectively.
  • the connector structure in the lid is a void that comprises two apertures, a larger aperture and a smaller aperture, where the larger aperture is spaced above the smaller aperture.
  • the mating nozzle connector is seated, often reversibly, in the void, thereby forming a substantially air- tight seal.
  • the connector structure in the lid comprises a protrusion having an aperture, where the aperture is at the apex of the protrusion.
  • a void in the mating nozzle connector fits over the protrusion in the lid, often reversibly, and forms a substantially air-tight seal.
  • Connection geometry in the latter described embodiments can provide advantages of (a) expanding air exiting an air supply connector along inner walls of the lid connector and other lid and cage surfaces, which expansion cools air in the cage and compensates for thermal load of a contained animal, and (b) substantially reducing or preventing the possibility of damage caused by contained animals (e.g., gnawing, clawing).
  • Some embodiments of a containment cage have a conical receptacle in the lid, and the connection member may be conical concave in certain embodiments.
  • the nozzle connector of the air supply component can be seated in the lid by hand or by any other method, and connection may be a gravity fit, pressure fit, screw fit, spring bias engagement or another suitable fit.
  • the conical connector is held in a carriage that guides the connector into the lid. Such carriages sometimes are connected to a rack unit, often to a shelf thereon, embodiments of which are described hereafter.
  • the conical void sometimes is located in an embossed region of the lid, where the top surface of the embossed region sometimes is substantially elliptical. Where the lid comprises a flange, the height of the embossed region sometimes is equal to or substantially equal to the highest point of the flange.
  • a connector such as an air supply and/or air exhaust or water supply connector, sometimes is in contact with a channel.
  • the channel is formed within the lid in some embodiments, and may be formed by raised corresponding raised portions on each side of the lid.
  • the channel in some embodiments is formed by the mating of (a) a bossed portion of the lid and (b) a corresponding bossed portion in a filter barrier member.
  • the channel often includes one or more apertures on the side opposite the connector, such that air introduced through the connector may enter the cage.
  • the filter shield may comprise one or more apertures.
  • two or more apertures are distributed across the length of the channel, which can provide an advantage of distributing or exhausting airflow across the width of the cage, or a portion thereof.
  • the channel may be of any suitable shape for permitting airflow: the channel cross section may be circular, ovular, semi-circular, semi-ovular, rectangular, square, rhomboid or trapezoidal, for example, and the length of the channel may comprise or consist of a linear, circular, triangular, rectangular, ellipsoid, arc, sinusoidal or zig-zag geometry, for example.
  • the length of the channel sometimes is not entirely linear and sometimes it is non-linear.
  • a lid or base of a containment cage may be in connection with an airflow baffle.
  • a baffle often extends downwards from the inner surface of the lid into a portion of the cage interior.
  • a baffle often is located between an air inlet aperture and an air exit aperture, thereby directing airflow around the baffle.
  • Sides of a baffle often are in close contact or substantially contacted with sidewalls of a cage base so that airflow is directed towards the bottom of the cage base and does not bypass the baffle along cage sidewalls.
  • a feed tray is configured such that a wall of the tray acts as a baffle. Directing airflow towards the bottom of the cage and then up through the top of the lid is advantageous for purging gaseous waste from bedding material located at the cage bottom and for reducing airflow required for maintaining the animals.
  • the baffle is formed by a food trough in connection with a lid and a base that projects towards the bottom of the cage base. The food trough in such embodiments often is a member separate from the lid and the base and rests on a cradle (i.e., mount) formed in an indent within the cage base.
  • the lid may comprise a water supply component.
  • the lid sometimes comprises an integral water supply reservoir to which an emitter is connected or integrated.
  • the lid comprises a water supply receptacle or holder into which a water supply that includes an optional emitter is seated, and in certain embodiments, the lid comprises an aperture through which a water reservoir is fixed and/or suspended. Water supplies are described herein.
  • the lid is in connection with or comprises a feed supply component, often referred to herein as a "feeder,” “food trough,” or “food tray.”
  • the lid sometimes comprises an integral food tray, and sometimes is in connection with a member of a separate food tray module when the lid is mated with a cage base.
  • the lid comprises a food tray holder into which a food tray is seated, and in certain embodiments, the lid comprises an aperture through which a food tray is fixed and/or suspended. Food trays are described herein.
  • a lid member may comprise a semi-rigid member, flexible member and/or a filter member.
  • a semi-rigid member sometimes forms a continuous perimeter around the lid member and sometimes includes one or more cross support members continuous with and extending perpendicularly from one side to another side of the lid member.
  • a semi-rigid member sometimes comprises a cellulose composition (e.g., cardboard) that provides a framework for the lid member allowing for convenient handling by human personnel, and sometimes comprises a material that imparts moisture resistance.
  • the flexible member sometimes is fixed to the semi-rigid member, sometimes by an adhesive, sometimes has elastic properties, sometimes forms an air-tight seal if punctured by an air outlet member of an airflow system, and sometimes deforms when positive air pressure is introduced to a cage comprising the lid.
  • the filter member often is fixed to the semi-rigid member, sometimes by an adhesive.
  • the lid member comprises a multilayered region, or sometimes an entire lid member is multilayered.
  • One layer often comprises a material that can be punctured by a tube structure (e.g., the material sometimes is elastic and provides an air-tight seal around the tube structure), and another layer sometimes is constructed from a thicker material.
  • the lid sometimes is a multilayered flexible assembly.
  • the material sometimes is elastic.
  • An elastic material utilized sometimes is punctured by a tube structure, such as a needle, and has an elasticity sufficient to form a seal around the tube structure after it is punctured.
  • the seal is air-tight.
  • a lid member includes a region of elastic material that is readily punctured by a tube structure or acicular structure, such as a needle.
  • a lid member comprises a breakaway member, that can be adapted to receive a watering component, feeding component, air supply or air exhaust component, for example.
  • a lid member sometimes does not comprise an air exhaust connector and sometimes does not comprise an air inlet connector. Accordingly, in some lid member embodiments: the lid member sometimes is rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible, or comprises a flexible region; the lid member sometimes comprises a flexible material and a semirigid material, and sometimes a filter; a filter in a lid often lids a portion of the surface area of a lid member and not the entire surface area of the lid member; the lid member sometimes comprises a continuously solid surface area and a filter, where the solid surface area is rigid, semi-rigid, flexible or a combination thereof; the lid member sometimes comprises a continuously solid surface area and a filter, where the continuously solid surface area is imperforate and not a grid.
  • cage members in addition to a cage base and lid include watering devices and feeding structures separate from a cage base or cage lid or integrated with the foregoing. These additional members are referred to herein as "insert or insertion members.”
  • a cage insert member sometimes is placed in a cage base or cage lid before a lid is sealingly attached to the top of the base.
  • an insert member is located near the top of a cage base in proximity to the lid, such as in food trough embodiments described herein.
  • the insert member defines a top portion of a containment space for one or more animals housed in the cage.
  • An insert member, such as a food tray sometimes rests on or is positioned by one or more mounts or cradles extending from an inner surface of one or more sidewall members of a cage base.
  • an insert is a substantially flat, planar member, where the surface of the insert is parallel to the surface of the cage base bottom member.
  • One or more edges of the insert member often substantially mate, sometimes are substantially flush, sometimes are in close proximity, and sometimes are sealingly contacted with the inner surface of one or more sidewall members.
  • each edge of the insert substantially mates, is substantially flush, is in close proximity, or is sealingly contacted with the inner surface of each corresponding sidewall member.
  • An edge of an insert member is of any thickness appropriate for the material from which it is constructed for housing an animal, and sometimes is about 0.010 inches to about 0.080 inches.
  • An insert member is constructed of any material suitable for containing an animal using materials and manufacturing process such as those described for manufacturing cage bases, for example.
  • An example of an insert member is a food tray.
  • a food tray often comprises a bottom integrated with four wall members, and optionally comprises a lid adapted to sealing attach to the food tray.
  • One or more sidewall members and/or the bottom can include one or more openings or slots that expose food in the feeding structure to a housed animal.
  • Opposing sidewalls sometimes are parallel, non-parallel, curved, elliptical or rhomboid, where two or more of the sidewall members may taper downwards to a bottom member having a surface area less than the surface area of the top opening or lid member.
  • Edge and corner junctions between the sidewalls and bottom often are curved and have a radius convenient for manufacture and animal feeding.
  • Some food tray embodiments may include a flange member surrounding the top edge of the food tray.
  • the food tray bottom is curved and not flat, and in certain embodiments the food tray is constructed from a plurality of vertically arranged tubular structures (e.g., wire).
  • Some food tray embodiments may be constructed of any material suitable for feeding animals, examples of which include but are not limited to: a metal alloy, stainless steel, steel, nickel, nickel alloy, zinc, zinc alloy, aluminum, a polymer, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene teraphthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylenefluoroethylene, polystyrene, high-density polystyrene, acrylnitrile butadiene styrene copolymers and the like, and combinations of the foregoing.
  • a metal alloy stainless steel, steel, nickel, nickel alloy, zinc, zinc alloy, aluminum
  • a polymer polypropylene
  • high-density polyethylene low-density polyethylene
  • polyethylene teraphthalate polyvinyl chloride
  • polyethylenefluoroethylene polystyrene
  • high-density polystyrene high-density polystyrene
  • a food tray is constructed from a polymer, such as the same polymer from which the lid is manufactured, in certain embodiments the food tray is a metal alloy and in some embodiments the food tray is a combination of a metal structure and a polymer coating. In certain embodiments, the tray is constructed from polyethylene teraphthalate or polystyrene (e.g., high-density polystyrene). In some embodiments, the food tray, and sometimes the cage and/or lid, is constructed from a substantially hard polymer.
  • Such polymers are known and measures of hardness include Rockwell (e.g., Rockwell M or R), Brinell, Shore, Izod (e.g., Izod impact, notched), Charpy (e.g., Charpy impact, notched) and Vickers measures.
  • Substantially hard polymers, as opposed to softer polymers, may reduce the possibility of gnawing damage caused by contained animals without increasing or substantially increasing material thickness.
  • a water supply which also is referred to herein as a "reservoir.” Water or another suitable hydrating liquid is emitted to contained animals via the water supply.
  • the water supply or reservoir, and corresponding reservoir holder or aperture for receiving a reservoir in a cage component is of any geometry convenient for dispensing water.
  • a reservoir can be a box-shaped structure, sometimes is a substantially cylindrical structure, and sometimes is a substantially cylindrical structure with gently tapered side walls (slightly conical) and a chamfer.
  • a reservoir sometimes is geometrically configured to reduce the potential of abrasions caused by housed animals (e.g., reduce abrasions caused by animals gnawing on the watering structure), and in some embodiments, a reservoir comprises rounded corners (e.g., a rounded junction between a bottom edge and a sidewall member edge) and/or edges (e.g., rounded junction between two sidewall member edges).
  • a reservoir sometimes is adapted to mate with a sealingly attachable lid or cap located in a convenient location of the bottle (e.g., the top or bottom), such as a screw-on lid or snap on lid, for example, such that the reservoir can be filled with water and then sealed with the lid.
  • a reservoir often includes male or female threads adapted to receive threads from a screw-on lid or a fitting for a snap-on lid.
  • a portion of the reservoir exposed to the inside of a cage e.g., the bottom of the reservoir, cap or lid
  • a small aperture that can retain water by surface tension until contacted by an animal.
  • a side wall region of the reservoir may be chamfered and sometimes can mate with a corresponding chamfer in a receptacle of the lid. Such a chamfer can function as a key that ensures alignment of the reservoir in the lid.
  • a step in a radius of the aperture also may generate an interference fit with the reservoir receptacle, ensuring a tight seal between the reservoir and the lid and thereby reducing and substantially preventing air leakage.
  • a reservoir is constructed of any material suitable for containing a fluid for hydrating animals (e.g., water) including but not limited to: polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene teraphthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylenefluoroethylene, acrylnitrile butadiene styrene copolymers, cellulose, cellulose lined with a polymer or metallic foil, and the like.
  • a fluid for hydrating animals e.g., water
  • the reservoir holder sometimes is substantially cylindrical with slightly tapered sidewalls and a chamber located in the side and bottom.
  • a geometry of the holder can key a similarly shaped reservoir, where the chamfers of the holder and the reservoir mate.
  • Such holders often include an aperture, often in the chamfer region, adapted to receive an emitter from the reservoir, such that the emitter is accessible to a housed animal.
  • Such holders often are adapted to receive a reservoir that includes a step in the radius such that the top portion of the reservoir has a larger diameter than the lower portion, which provides an interference fit with the inner wall of the holder and a substantially air tight fit.
  • an emitter contains a valve sometimes located in the emitter and sometimes located at the junction of the emitter and the reservoir. In some embodiments, the emitter contains no valve.
  • a quick release coupling sometimes connects the emitter to the reservoir.
  • the emitter is conical with the larger cross sectional area connected to the reservoir and a small aperture on the opposite end accessible to a housed animal. In such embodiments, the aperture is sized to retain water in the reservoir by surface tension and to emit water when contacted by a housed animal.
  • a water bottle for use in conjunction with a lid which comprises a cap having an aperture that retains water via the inherent surface tension of water within the cap face, the latter of which is defined by a flat surface. In the latter embodiments, the cape face is not conical and does not include a projection.
  • the water supply comprises an aperture or emitter, and water sometimes is retained at the aperture or emitter by surface tension.
  • the aperture often is located in a cap in connection with the water supply.
  • the cap sometimes is reversibly attached to the water supply, or may be integrated with the water supply.
  • the cap comprises a removable barrier over the aperture, which sometimes is an adhesive tab that prevents water spillage during shipping. The removable barrier can be removed by a user before use.
  • the cap sometimes comprises a planar or substantially planar surface.
  • the planar surface often comprises a centered aperture, and often does not comprise a raised member, and may contain an emitter that retains water by surface tension.
  • the water supply sometimes is a water bottle, which can be mounted in a receptacle in the lid.
  • Fluid supply designs described herein can advantageously reduce the likelihood that an animal resident can damage the supply structure (e.g., gnawing damage).
  • rodent containment cage bottles comprising three walls, a top, a bottom an aperture and a barrier in effective connection with the aperture, where: the bottle is constructed from a polymer; two of the walls are about perpendicular (e.g., 85 degrees to 95 degrees or 90 degrees) and the third wall is curved; and the bottle can retain fluid at the aperture when inverted.
  • the top, bottom and walls of the bottle generally form a substantially semi-spherical structure, whereby the curved wall has a radius of about 5 inches to about 9 inches (e.g., about 7 inches).
  • wall junctions and corners often are rounded, and the rounded junctions and corners sometimes are defined by a radius of about 0.25 inches or greater.
  • the aperture is located in a cap in connection with the bottle (e.g., a screw cap).
  • the bottle can contain a fluid comprising water, and the barrier often is a removable barrier such as an adhesive tab over the aperture.
  • the barrier is inside the cap. The barrier can prevent spillage of a fluid contained in the bottle during shipping, and when the barrier is removed or modified to expose the aperture to fluid contents in the bottle, the bottle can maintain pressure equilibrium of a fluid when inverted.
  • the bottles may be constructed from a polymer described herein (e.g., polyethylene teraphthalate).
  • a bottle may have a capacity of about 13 ounces and weigh (when empty) about 10 grams to about 25 grams (e.g., about 17 grams), and in some embodiments, a bottle may have a capacity of about 26 ounces and weigh (when empty) about 20 grams to about 50 grams (e.g., about 34 grams).
  • the bottles sometimes are single-use bottles (e.g., the walls often are about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches thick), and in certain embodiments, the bottles are multi-use bottles (e.g., the walls often are thicker than 0.08 inches).
  • insert members may be in association with a cage assembly, such as a shelter structure, bedding material, and/or a sub-floor, for example.
  • a shelter structure is of any shape or geometry that allows an animal to enter the structure and become covered or partially covered by the structure. Any convenient structure for housing animals can be used, and in some embodiments, a shelter is a perforated pipe structure. An example of a combined feeding and shelter structure is described in U.S. Patent No. 6,571 ,738.
  • a bedding material often is placed in a cage. Any bedding material suitable for housing animals can be used, such as wood chips are newspaper, for example.
  • a removable sub-floor sometimes is positioned in association with a cage base.
  • a sub-floor is constructed from any material and is of a geometry that allows foodstuffs, liquid emissions and/or solid emissions from a housed animal to pass through the sub-floor to the cage base bottom member, and in some embodiments, a sub-floor member or a portion thereof is reticulated or perforated (e.g., http address www.ssponline.com/bed.html).
  • a scavenging substance described previously may be placed under the sub-floor in certain embodiments.
  • an insert member comprises two or more connected planar members, where each planar member has a surface parallel to a surface of another planar member and the bottom surface of one planar member is elevated with respect to the top surface of another planar member.
  • each planar member is connected by a riser member, where a surface of the riser member sometimes is perpendicular to surfaces of the connected planar members and sometimes connects the planar members at a non-perpendicular angle (e.g., about 10 degrees to about 95 degrees).
  • the planar members and one or more riser members often are contiguous, often with seamless junctions.
  • An insert member often is manufactured by a process that renders a unit having no seams or disconnections between the planar and riser members.
  • An insert member sometimes comprises an aperture or a combination of an aperture and a recessed flange adapted to receive a component useful for meeting requirements of a housed animal, such as a feeding structure, watering structure and/or shelter structure, for example.
  • An insert member sometimes comprises one or a plurality of sidewall members (e.g., two, three or four sidewall members) extending downwards into the interior of a cage base member also adapted to support a component useful for meeting requirements of a housed animal.
  • the outer surface of a sidewall member often is perpendicular to the bottom surface of an insert planar member from which it extends and often are contiguous with the bottom surface of an insert member.
  • a bottom edge of a sidewall member is not parallel to the bottom surface of an insert planar member, and sometimes a side edge of a sidewall member is not perpendicular to the bottom surface of an insert planar member.
  • An insert may comprise one or more apertures allowing air to enter and/or exit the cage.
  • the one or more apertures sometimes referred to as "vents,” diffuse air entering a cage at the top surface of the insert.
  • one or more vents are in the front portion of the insert so that air flows from the front of the cage to the back of the cage, sometimes by laminar flow (e.g., downward near the front to upward near the rear).
  • the apertures are of any geometry allowing for air flow, such as circular, rectangular, square, rhombus and/or reticulated, for example.
  • An insert member often is not connected to a filter.
  • An insert member may comprise one or more openings, apertures or recesses for receiving other structures, and sometimes is integrated with one or more other structures. Such structures sometimes are utilized for feeding, watering and/or sheltering animals housed in the cage. Two or more of such structures sometimes are integral, such as an integrated feeding/shelter structure.
  • the other structure often is in removable association with the insert, and in some embodiments, the other structure is sealingly mated with the insert member.
  • animal containment cages comprising a wall or walls and a bottom, where the cage is constructed from a polymer, and the thickness of each wall is about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches. Examples of suitable polymers are described above.
  • the thickness of the bottom is about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches.
  • the wall or walls and bottom often are of a substantially uniform thickness. The thickness of the wall or walls or bottom sometimes is about 0.01 inches to about 0.05 inches, at times is about 0.02 inches to about 0.06 inches, and can be about 0.02 inches to about 0.03 inches.
  • the cage is semi-rigid and can flex.
  • the single-use cages provided herein generally are flexible or semi-rigid in comparison to multiple-use plastic cages (e.g., U.S. Patent 5,894,816).
  • the cages provided herein can weigh about 250 grams or less or about 225 grams or less, and they sometimes weigh about 150 grams or less or 125 grams or less (e.g., about 1 15 grams) due to the relatively thin plastic walls and bottom. Sidewalls of a cage often are coextensive with the bottom.
  • the cage sometimes includes three walls (e.g., the cage bottom having a triangle or generally pie-slice geometry) or is cylindrical (e.g., the cage bottom is circular or oval and coextensive with a wall).
  • a cage often comprises four walls, and the interior surface of the bottom sometimes is a square, rectangular, rhombus, trapezoid or parallelogram.
  • at least one set of opposing walls taper inwards towards the cage bottom, and often all walls taper inwards towards the bottom.
  • One or more walls, and sometimes all walls often are at an angle of greater than 90 degrees with respect to the bottom. In the latter embodiments, the angle sometimes is about 91 degrees to about 105 degrees, and can be about 92 degrees to about 98 degrees, or about 95 degrees.
  • one or more of the wall or walls, bottom and lid comprise an indent or boss that increases cage rigidity.
  • a wall comprises an indent extending from the junction of the bottom and the wall.
  • a cage base often has no aperture.
  • a cage base comprises in certain embodiments an indent on each of two sidewalls and a mount in connection with each indent in which a feeding tray may be or is nested (e.g., a food tray cradle).
  • a cage base often comprises a flange, and optional lip, surrounding the top edge of the base capable of an interference fit with a corresponding structure in a cage lid.
  • one or more or all edges of an indent or boss are rounded edges.
  • Rounded edges sometimes are defined by a radius of about 0.25 inches or greater, and the radius can be about 0.30 inches or greater or about 0.25 inches to about 0.50 inches.
  • one or more wall to wall junctions or wall to bottom junctions are rounded junctions. The rounded junctions sometimes are defined by a radius of about 0.25 inches or greater, and the radius can be about 0.30 inches or greater or about 0.25 inches to about 0.50 inches.
  • one or more junctions between the bottom and two walls comprise two or more corners, and sometimes the one or more junctions comprise three or more corners or three corners. These features can improve impact resistance of relatively thin-walled cages.
  • corners of the cage are rounded corners, and the rounded corners sometimes are defined by a radius of about 0.25 inches or greater, a radius of about 0.30 inches or greater, or a radius of about 0.25 inches to about 0.50 inches.
  • Certain embodiments are directed to an animal containment cage comprising a wall or walls and a bottom, where the wall or walls and bottom are constructed from a polymer, the thickness of each wall is about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches, wall junction edges and corners are rounded and have a radius of about 0.25 inches or greater, and one or more of the walls and bottom comprise one or more bosses or indents. The radius sometimes is about 0.30 inches or greater.
  • Other features described herein with regard to cage bases are applicable to such embodiments.
  • a cage base member generally does not comprise an air filter, and a cage base often comprises a continuously solid and imperforate bottom and sidewalls. While a cage generally does not comprises an air exhaust or air inlet aperture, in some embodiments a cage base may comprise one or more apertures in one or more sidewalls or bottom, often the rear sidewall, adapted to receive or connect to a structure that removes or supplies air, water, food or other material to the cage, such as an air supply component, air exhaust component, and/or water supply component. In the latter embodiments, one or more apertures in a sidewall sometimes are in connection with a seal (e.g., an elastic ring seal) integrated with the cage base or applied to it by a user.
  • a seal e.g., an elastic ring seal
  • the rear wall of a cage base includes one or more apertures adapted to receive or connect to an air supply component, air exhaust component, and/or central water supply component.
  • a base unit may comprise a break-away member that can expose an aperture for receiving a component such as a sensing probe, water delivery structure or air delivery structure, for example.
  • a break-away member sometimes referred to as a "punch out" member, sometimes breaks away entirely and sometimes remains attached to the cage by a portion after being broken.
  • a cage base may comprise a filter member and one or more optional exhaust ports.
  • a cage provided herein often is a single-use cage, and sometimes is in combination with a rack, an airflow unit, an airflow controller or a combination thereof.
  • a cage described herein can comprise one or more animals.
  • the animal sometimes is transgenic, immunodeficient, inbred, contains one or more xenografts and/or lacks one or more functional genes (knock-out animal).
  • the animal often is a rodent, such as a rodent selected from the group consisting of mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas and rabbits, for example.
  • a contained mouse sometimes is a nude mouse or a severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mouse.
  • SCID severe combined immune deficiency
  • a cage base floor may be about 60 square inches to about 90 square inches, and sometimes about 75 square inches, for some embodiments.
  • the height of such cages sometimes is about 4 inches to about 6 inches and sometimes about 5 inches.
  • wall junction radii are about 1 inch, and sometimes 1 .06 inches.
  • the cage is constructed from PET and weighs about 1 10 grams to about 150 grams, and sometimes is about 130 grams (e.g., 130.4 grams).
  • the cage floor sometimes is about 130 square inches to about 150 square inches, and sometimes is about 140 square inches.
  • the height of such cages sometimes is about 5 inches to about 9 inches, and sometimes is about 7 inches.
  • Rack units sometimes are referred to herein as "cage mounting platforms” or “cage mounting systems.”
  • the racks sometimes are modular and can be assembled from reversibly connected rack modules.
  • a rack module is of any configuration that allows for reversible stacking in a vertical or horizontal configuration.
  • a rack module sometimes comprises a bottom member, two sidewall members a top member, and sometimes a back member and front member (e.g., a skin), where the sidewall members often are parallel or substantially parallel and the top and bottom members often are parallel or substantially parallel.
  • rack modules are connected by two connection members, one on each side of the module, where the connection member is a post that inserts into an aperture in a rack module.
  • a rack module comprises four horizontal posts vertically extended from each corner of a rectangular bottom member, and connected to a rectangular top member.
  • a rack module is constructed from any material of sufficient resilience to allow for repeated assembly and disassembly of rack units. Examples of materials used to construct a rack unit module include metal alloys (e.g., sheet metal) or polymers and the like and combinations of the foregoing.
  • a rack module often comprises airflow components, often located internally, such as plenums, cage supply tubes, and exhaust ports, which are described hereafter.
  • An animal containment cage and/or rack is ventilated in certain embodiments. The cage and/or rack sometimes is ventilated by a positive pressure only, a negative pressure only or a combination of a positive pressure and negative pressure.
  • the pressure is 0.3 inches of water or greater, and the pressure can be about 0.4 inches of water or greater, about 0.5 inches of water or greater, about 0.6 inches of water or greater, about 0.7 inches of water or greater, about 0.8 inches of water or greater, about 0.9 inches of water or greater or about 1.0 inches of water or greater. In some embodiments, the pressure is up to 5 inches of water.
  • an animal containment system sometimes operates in a positive pressure mode, meaning the pressure in the cage is higher than the outside environment. An advantage of this mode is no or negligible outside contamination can leak into the cage and harm an animal resident. If a disease breakout occurs, a negative pressure mode may be desirable and can be employed. Pressure in each cage is lower than the outside environment pressure in a negative pressure mode.
  • Negative cage pressure reduces the possibility a disease spreads outside the cage.
  • a containment system often includes one supply blower that generates positive pressure and sometimes includes one exhaust blower that generates negative pressure. The speed of each blower is adjustable to allow for a selection of full positive pressure, full negative pressure, or any differential pressure between.
  • An airflow unit generally comprises a blower and sometimes comprises a conduit, a filter, a heater, air cooler, humidifier, de-humidifier, deodorizer and/or one or more control devices. Any blower suitable for providing air to animals is utilized.
  • a conduit system delivers air from a blower member to one or more cages in an animal containment system.
  • ventilated cages may be configured to flush contaminated air and heat that accumulates in the cage due to one or more contained animals.
  • One approach is introducing large flow rates in hopes to keep the cage bedding dry and to evacuate ammonia and other gases.
  • Some approaches allow for large areas of recirculation or bypass. The latter approaches can allow dirty air to re- circulate without exiting the cage for several minutes.
  • an animal containment cage comprising a lid and a base, where the lid comprises an air inlet and an air exit, a baffle between the air inlet and air exit that extends downwards into the interior of the cage, and air flows downward from the inlet, through the cage interior and out the exhaust exit.
  • air flows in a substantially U-shaped pattern and sometimes the cage comprises nesting material for an animal and air flows in proximity to or through the nesting material.
  • the air inlet sometimes is at substantially one end of the lid and the air exhaust exit is at substantially the end of the lid.
  • the air inlet sometimes comprises an air supply connector
  • the air exhaust exit sometimes comprises an array of apertures and/or one or more air exhaust connectors.
  • the baffle sometimes extends from one wall of the cage to the opposite wall, and sometimes is one or more surfaces of a feeding tray.
  • the baffle often is in effective sealing connection with two walls of a cage (e.g., a feeding trough resting on two cradles, one in each of two opposing sidewalls) to prevent or substantially reduce airflow around baffle sides and permit airflow under the baffle.
  • Any of the components described herein may be combined with one or more other components described herein and/or with one or more other components utilized in an animal containment facility.
  • an animal containment system sometimes includes one or more of the following: one or more cages (e.g., cage base member, lid member and insert member); one or more rack units each comprising one or more rack modules; one or more airflow assemblies (e.g., an air supply blower and/or an air exhaust blower); and one or more detection, monitoring or sensing devices.
  • air is provided to cages by a central airflow system in an animal containment facility, and sometimes air is provided by an airflow system described herein (e.g., an airflow assembly joined to the top of a rack).
  • Some embodiments of a process for replacing a cage in an animal containment system includes: (a) removing a used cage that contains an animal from an animal containment system comprising one or more cages, (b) transferring the animal to an unused cage, or placing an animal not formerly housed in the system in an unused cage, (c) placing the unused cage in the containment system, and (d) repeating steps (a) to (c) within a period of time.
  • processes for replacing a cage in an animal containment system comprise: (a) removing a cage that contains an animal from an animal containment system comprising one or more cages, (b) transferring the animal to a single-use cage, or placing an animal not formerly housed in the system in a single-use cage, (c) placing the single-use cage in the containment system, and (d) repeating steps (a) to (c) within a period of time.
  • FIG 1 is a perspective view of a containment cage assembly embodiment 100 with a cage base 102 mated to a cage lid 104.
  • the cage base 102 may include four sides and a bottom formed together in a continuous rectangular structure with an upper lid engagement member at a top edge of the base 102.
  • the cage lid 104 houses a water bottle 106 in a water bottle receptacle 107 and includes an air inlet aperture 108 disposed approximately in the center of a conical receptacle 1 10.
  • An air exhaust aperture 1 12 is disposed approximately in the center of a conical receptacle 1 14.
  • apertures 1 12 and 108 may serve as inlet and exhaust ports, respectively.
  • the base 102 and lid 104 may be made from polymers such as thermoplastics, polyesters, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene teraphthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, high-impact or high density polystyrene, polyethylenefluoroethylene, acrylnitrile butadiene styrene copolymers and the like.
  • Such lids sometimes are in combination with a cage base having a wall or walls and a bottom, and sometimes in combination with other components, such as a rack, airflow unit, airflow controller, or combination thereof.
  • Such lid embodiments 104 may be utilized in higher biosafety level environments.
  • An extended corner 1 16 of the lid 104 may be grasped by a user for easy lid removal from the cage base 102.
  • One method of removing the lid 104 is for a user to rest a palm over the water bottle 106 or raised boss and pry the corner upwards with fingers.
  • An alternate method for removing the lid 104 is to grab extended corner 1 16 and flap 1 18 extending from the cage base 102, and separate the base 102 and lid 104.
  • the front flap 1 18 of the base may also include an elongate transverse abutment or ridge 120 that may be used to grasp the flap 1 18.
  • the ridge 120 may also be configured for securing a connector in the form of a folded edge 122 of an optional card holder 124 thereto.
  • Card holder 124 may also be attached to cage base 102 by a snap fit of a boss member of the card holder 124 and indent of the cage base 102, ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding for some embodiments.
  • the base 102 and lid 104 may be constructed from a polymer, and have a thickness of is about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches. As described in embodiments above, the lid may be coextensive with a wall edge (e.g., clamshell), or the lid may be separate from the wall or walls and bottom of the cage base 102.
  • the receptacles 108 and 1 12 may be convex with respect to an outer surface of the lid 104, and may be protrusions that do not extend into the interior of the cage assembly 100 when the lid 104 is attached to the base 102.
  • An outer configuration of receptacles 108 and 1 12 may be substantially conical in shape.
  • FIG 2 is an exploded view of the cage assembly 100, and shows a water bottle cap 126 that is configured to be releasably secured to water bottle 106.
  • Food tray 128 may be configured to allow young smaller animal residents (e.g., mice) to easily reach food disposed within an interior volume of the tray 128.
  • the shield 132 may be made from a metal such as aluminum for some embodiments.
  • the lid 104 has a substantially planar configuration with the level of the plane being substantially parallel to a bottom portion of the base and disposed at a level that is substantially at or slightly above a level of the rim 145 of the base 102. Extending slightly above the nominal planar surface of the lid 104 are the water bottle 106, conical receptacle 1 10 and a bossed portion 138, including conical receptacle 1 14.
  • the lid 104 includes a boss portion 138 and one or more dimples 137 in the boss portion 138, a filter shield 136 in connection with the underside of the lid 104, and a filter 134 between the lid and the shield 136.
  • the shield includes one or more connectors in connection with corresponding connectors in the lid 104.
  • One or more connectors in the filter shield 136 may include extensions or tabs 139 and corresponding connectors in the lid 104 sometimes are indents 140, and the tabs 139 and the indents 140 often form a snap connection.
  • the filter shield 136 includes a substantially planar body and apertures 135, one or more ridges 141 and one or more tabs 139 in the body.
  • the one or more ridges 141 may be in sealing connection with the filter 134, and mating of the filter 134 with one or more ridges 141 of the shield 136 may result in the filter 134 following a tortuous path that reduces the possibility of contaminates or air bypassing the filter media 134.
  • the lid 104 may include a nozzle receptacle 1 12 which is concave with respect to the filter 134 and the shield 136 includes a raised portion (not shown) in about the same profile and direction as the nozzle receptacle 1 12, which in part can facilitate nesting of lids 104 in combination with a grid or shield 136.
  • the filter shield 136 may be formed by a process such as injection molding. Shield 136 retains and protects filter paper 134 and firmly snaps into the lid 104 to prevent contained animals from accessing the filter media 134 and damaging the filter media or escaping. Filter shield 136 may be made from a tough resilient polymer that is difficult for contained animals to chew. The injection molded process allows for a high percentage of open or ventilated area in the shield 136. Filter media 134 may be affixed to the cage lid 104 between the bottom side of bossed region 138 of the lid 104 and the ridges 141 of the filter shield 136.
  • filter shield 136 may be permanently adhered around its perimeter to the bossed region 138 of lid 104 with adhesive, welding or any other suitable method.
  • Apertures 135 in the shield 136 often are of a small enough diameter to substantially reduce or prevent gnawing by animal residents and allow for airflow. Apertures 135 sometimes are of a maximum diameter of about 0.1 to about 0.2 inches and sometimes a diameter of about 0.125 inches.
  • Filter shield embodiments 136 may be constructed from any suitable material, and often is constructed from a substantially hard polymer such as PET or polystyrene (e.g., high density or low density polystyrene), and sometimes is about 0.03 to about 0.08 inches thick.
  • elements of the filter shield 136 may be about 0.05 inches thick, and thicker regions, such as ridges, may be about 0.06 inches thick. In some embodiments, the height of a ridge 141 on a filter shield 136 may be about 0.05 inches above a surface of the filter shield 136. Some filter shield embodiments 136 may weigh about 10 grams to about 20 grams, more specifically, about 14 grams to about 16 grams, and even more specifically, about 14.7 grams.
  • An inside surface of the bossed region 138 may include dimples 137 and strengthening ribs or other raised structures such as dimples that may allow the filter media 134 to be positioned away from the nominal inside surface of the bossed region 138.
  • Filter media may be located directly below exhaust receptacle 1 14 and airflow aperture 1 12. This geometry ensures air exiting the interior volume of the cage assembly 100 is filtered which may serve to prevent dust and debris from clogging downstream plumbing of an exhaust ventilation system. Ridges 141 and dimples 135 in the bossed portion 138 of the lid 104 prevent filter media 134 from deforming and adhering to an inside surface of the bossed portion 138 and shield surface, a feature which maintains airflow and decreases the possibility of airflow blockages by a deformed filter medium. Filter 134 generally is single use and is replaced each time the lid 104 and base 102 are replaced.
  • a surface of the filter 134 (e.g., the surface closest to a surface of a lid 104 or shield member) sometimes is separated from a surface of the lid 104 or shield 136 by about 0.05 inches to about one inch, sometimes about 0.1 inches to about 0.2 inches, and sometimes about 0.125 inches, which can facilitate airflow and/or reduce the possibility of filter damage caused by a contained animal.
  • Some lid embodiments 104 may be provided is an animal containment cage lid constructed from a polymer having a thickness of about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches.
  • the thickness of the lid sometimes is about 0.01 inches to about 0.05 inches, and may be about 0.02 inches to about 0.06 inches or about 0.02 inches to about 0.03 inches.
  • the lid 104 often is semi-rigid and relatively flexible due to its relative thinness.
  • a lid 104 sometimes weighs about 175 grams or less or 150 grams or less, and often weighs about 125 grams or less or about 100 grams or less (e.g., about 75 grams).
  • a lid 104 may include one or more filters 134, the filters 134 sometimes weighing about 5 grams (each or in total), and one or more optional filter shields 136, sometimes weighing about 25 grams or less.
  • the lid 104 sometimes is constructed from the same polymer as the cage base 102 (e.g., a lid
  • lid 104 and base 102 sometimes are constructed from PET), although the lid 104 may be constructed from one polymer and cage base 102 can be constructed from another polymer (e.g., a cage base 102 may be constructed from a polystyrene and a cage lid 104 may be constructed from low density polyethylene).
  • the water bottle receptacle embodiment 107 shown on lid 104 has an interior profile which may be configured to accept an exterior profile of a water bottle, such as water bottle 106 discussed below.
  • all apertures 108 and 1 12 of the cage assembly 100 may be in effective connection with one or more filters 134, and other airflow components may also be in effective connection with one or more filters 134.
  • one or more of the following containment cage components may be in effective connection with one or more filters 134 (i.e., filtration occurs by direct or indirect connection): air exhaust aperture 1 12, air exhaust receptacle 1 14, air supply receptacle 1 10, air supply aperture 108, air supply blower and air exhaust blower.
  • apertures 108 and 1 12 sometimes are located on a bossed region 138 of the lid 104, and two or more of these may be located on the same or different bossed region 138 (e.g., the air inlet aperture(s) may be located one boss and the air exit aperture(s) may be located on another boss).
  • air may expand as it flows through air supply receptacle 1 10 into an interior volume of the cage assembly 100, which may reduce the temperature of the air and offset thermal load from an animal.
  • the lid 104 may include a channel (not shown) in connection with an air exhaust receptacle 1 14 and/or air inlet receptacle 1 10.
  • the length of the channel may extend across the cage lid width and sometimes extends part of the length of the lid 104, sometimes the entire length of the lid 104 or sometimes substantially the entire length of the channel (e.g., terminates within about 2 to 3 inches independently from either edge of the lid).
  • the channel length sometimes is non-linear, and sometimes it is sinusoidal.
  • a channel can comprise apertures on the bottom side of the lid, and the apertures may be distributed across the length of the channel (e.g., evenly distributed or unevenly distributed), which can facilitate uniform air distribution within the cage.
  • the channel in the lid 104 may be open along the bottom of its length, and sometimes the channel is formed by a channel in the lid 104 and another channel in a filter shield joined to the underside of the lid 104.
  • lid 104, or cage assembly 100 generally, includes a water supply or is joined with a water supply.
  • a water supply provides a hydrating liquid suitable for containing animals, which often is water.
  • the lid or cage sometimes is joined to a central watering system.
  • the water supply sometimes connects to the cage lid by an interference fit, which can be a friction fit or snap fit.
  • the water supply generally comprises an aperture, and water often is retained at the aperture by surface tension.
  • the aperture may be located in a cap in connection with the water supply.
  • the cap can comprise a removable barrier over the aperture, and the cap sometimes comprises a substantially planar surface that generally does not comprise a raised member.
  • FIG 3 is a cross sectional view of the containment cage assembly 100 through the water bottle 106.
  • a radius 142 at an inner corner of a water bottle receptacle 107 may be sufficiently large to prevent chewing by an animal resident, and may be about 0.25 inches or greater, sometimes about 0.30 inches or greater, and sometimes is about 0.25 inches to about 0.50 inches for some embodiments.
  • An aperture 144 in a bottom surface of the water bottle receptacle 107 allows access to an aperture 146 disposed through the water bottle cap 126 that allows water to pass from an interior volume of the water bottle 106 to a contained animal when the cap 126 is secured to the water bottle 106.
  • Aperture 144 may be sufficiently small enough to prevent contained animals from escaping when the water bottle 106 is removed from the water bottle receptacle 107 to be filled or replaced.
  • Water bottle cap 126 may be removably secured to the water bottle 106 by a press-on fit or may include a bonded foil lid, thereby obviating mating threads in water bottle 106.
  • Water bottle embodiments 106 may include one or more walls, a bottom, a cap opposite the bottom, and an aperture in the cap, where: the bottle is constructed from a polymer; the walls are of a thickness of about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches; and the bottle maintains pressure equilibrium of a fluid contained therein when inverted.
  • the aperture 146 in the cap 126 often retains water by surface tension when the bottle 106 is inverted (i.e., the cap is oriented downward).
  • the aperture 146 in the cap 126 may be about 0.04 inches to about 0.06 inches in diameter, and sometimes is about 0.05 inches in diameter (e.g., 0.055 inches in diameter) for some embodiments.
  • Embodiments of water bottle receptacle 107 may be configured to house the water bottle 106 in a close fitting arrangement.
  • Embodiments of the water bottle receptacle 107 may include four walls, a bottom and aperture 146 in the bottom.
  • the walls may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the receptacle 107 and plane of the lid 104 (e.g., 85 degrees to 95 degrees or 90 degrees).
  • the walls may also be substantially linear and flat.
  • one or two walls of the receptacle 107 in the lid 104 may be about 0.01 inches or less from one or more of the cage base walls, and sometimes, one or more walls of the receptacle 107 in the lid 104 are in substantial contact with one or more of the cage base walls (e.g., a receptacle wall is about 0.03 inches or less from a cage base wall).
  • the bottom and walls of the receptacle 107 in the lid 104 form a substantially semi-spherical void, and sometimes the radius of the curved wall is about 5 inches to about 9 inches (e.g., about 7 inches). Also, edges or corners between walls or a wall and a bottom of the receptacle 107 in the lid 104 often are rounded, where the radius of such rounded corners and edges can be about 0.25 inches or greater in certain regions or about 0.09 inches or less (e.g., about 0.06 inches) in other regions.
  • Such configurations can minimize occurrences of, or prevent, a contained rodent accessing a receptacle edge or corner, thereby reducing the possibility of a rodent damaging a receptacle edge or corner (e.g., reducing the possibility of gnawing damage).
  • the aperture 146 in the cap 126 may be about 2 inches to about 3 inches from the cage bottom, and sometimes about 2.5 inches from the cage bottom (e.g., 2.6 inches from the cage bottom). These measurements are for cage embodiments without bedding disposed within an interior volume of the cage assembly 100.
  • Embodiments of the water bottle cap 126 may be constructed from any suitable material, such as HDPE or LDPE.
  • the bottle in certain embodiments is constructed from a polymer such as PET and sometimes weighs about 10 grams to 30 grams, or about 15 grams (e.g., 17 grams).
  • the bottle volume is about 300 milliliters to about 360 milliliters, and sometimes is about 330 milliliters.
  • FIG 3 also illustrates the cage assembly 100 in a closed state with lid 104 releasably secured to the base 102.
  • a lid engagement member in the form of a rim 145 which is disposed around an upper edge of the base 102 may be removably secured to a base engagement member in the form of channel 147 which is disposed around a perimeter of the lid 104.
  • a rim portion 145 of a cage base 102 positioned to mate with a corresponding channel portion 147 of a lid 104 by a snap interference fit. Surfaces of the channel portion 147 the lid 104 fit over surfaces of the rim portion 145 of the base 102.
  • the angle between adjacent surfaces of either potion may be about 80 degrees in the relaxed position, and a snap interference fit is formed by deflecting that angle to about 90 degrees by fitting the lid 104 over the cage base 102, and then allowing the angle to revert back to the about 80 degree relaxed position when the surfaces of the lid and the cage are fully engaged.
  • cage base 102 includes a pair of slots 148 disposed on an upper edge of the base 102 adjacent the rim 145 of the base which are configured to accept hooks 130 of the food tray 128.
  • the food tray 128 transversely spans an interior of the cage assembly 100 with hooks 130 resting in slots 148 disposed in the middle of the base 102 adjacent the rim of the base 102.
  • the lid 104 prevents the hooks 130 of the food tray 128 from being lifted in the upwards direction and disengaged from the slots 148 in the base 102 due to the proximity of the top of the food tray 128 with a bottom surface of the lid 104.
  • the proximity of the slots 148 to a bottom surface of the lid 104 engaged with the base 102 may also be useful to prevent chewing of the slots 148 and adjacent base structure by contained animals when no food tray is disposed in the slots 148, such as when the base 102 is used for transportation as discussed below.
  • Elongate apertures 150 in the shield 132 of the food tray 128 allow animal residents to access food disposed within an interior volume of the tray 128.
  • An additional buildup or abutment of material (not shown) of the shield 132 may be located around the perimeter of the elongate apertures 150 of the shield 132 of the food tray 128 to present rounded edges through which animal residents are less likely to chew.
  • Food tray 128, or components thereof may be constructed of any suitable material for animal containment, such as a polymer (e.g., a substantially hard polymer) in single-use embodiments, or high strength materials such as metals like steel, stainless steel or aluminum if the user wishes to minimize chewing by animal residents or wishes to re-use this part.
  • the food tray shield 132 which may be made from any suitable high strength materials resistant to chewing, such as metals including steel, stainless steel and aluminum, may snap into place on a polymer body of the food tray 128 with one or more tabs 154 disposed adjacent upper edges of the shield 132.
  • the tabs 154 may be pointed in an inward direction and arranged to mate with slits 156 in the polymer food tray body.
  • the shield 132 may have upper ends biased inwardly towards each other so as to create a "C" clip arrangement wherein the resilient restorative force of the inwardly directed upper ends grips the polymer body member of the food tray 128 and engages the clips 154 with the recesses or slits 156, holding the shield 132 mechanically in place, but allowing easy removal and replacement by a technician.
  • FIG 5 shows composite food tray embodiment 128. Continuous flange or edge
  • Food tray shield 132 may be a formed metal plate having metal tabs 154 that snap into corresponding slots 156 in plastic food tray body. Shield 132 also includes food access apertures 150 through which a contained animal or animals may access food, such as food pellets, disposed in the food tray 128.
  • Tabs 154 may be aligned to the slits 156 so that the tabs 154 do not prevent nesting of multiple shields 132 or trays 128 or cause damage to the metal plate of the food tray shield 132. Sloped bottom portion 160 transitions into horizontal bottom portion 162, the latter of which includes an aperture in the polymer body portion of the tray covered by the shield 132. Junctions between wall 164 and the bottom are rounded 166.
  • the capacity of some food tray embodiments 128 may be about 10 ounces to about 30 ounces (e.g., about 20 ounces or 21.7 ounces).
  • air entering the cage from a receptacle 1 10 in the lid 104 may be directed towards the cage bottom by the food tray 128, which may function as a baffle that directs the air entering the cage from the lid towards the cage bottom.
  • air flows into an interior volume of the cage from one location of the lid, e.g., receptacle 1 10, and flows under the feeding tray 128 and exhausts through another location of the lid, such as receptacle 1 14.
  • the food tray embodiment 128 has sides, a bottom, apertures 150 in the bottom and optionally extending in one or more sides, and an open top.
  • a bottom 160 of the food tray 128 may be disposed at an angle of about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees from horizontal when the hooks 130 of the food tray 128 are disposed in slots 148 of the base 102.
  • An open top 152 of the food tray 128 may generally be horizontal when the food tray is viewed from a side view of a longer wall of the food tray 128.
  • the food tray 128 may include two longer sides of equal length and two shorter sides of different lengths.
  • the bottom axis along the longer sides often is at an angle of about 5 degrees to about 10 degrees from horizontal (e.g., the top axis along the longer sides is horizontal), and the bottom axis along the shorter sides often is about perpendicular to the longer sides.
  • the bottom of the food tray 128 may be about 2 inches to about 3 inches from the cage floor (without bedding), and sometimes may be about 2.5 inches from the cage bottom (e.g., 2.48 inches from the cage bottom).
  • FIG 8 shows a top view of a cage base embodiment 102. This view shows slots 148 configured to receive the hooks 130 of the food tray 128. Rim 145 is adapted to receive channels 147 of lid 104.
  • FIG 9 shows a side view of cage base embodiment 102. Radius 168 is located between the bottom 170 and the sides 172. Radius 168 is a rounded corner effectively having one edge, and radius 174 is effectively divided into three corners.
  • card holder 124 may include forward surface 176 and rear surface 178, strengthening ribs 180, and tab or folded edge 122, the latter of which provides a means of securing and removal of the card holder 124 from the cage base 102.
  • the flap 1 18 of the base 102 and connector in the form of a folded edge 122 of the cardholder 124 may be configured to allow the cardholder 124 to be grasped by a user and pulled out, up and away from the base 102 of the cage assembly 100 in order to better view the interior volume of the cage assembly 100.
  • Some embodiments of cage card holders 124 discussed herein may be tilted upwards, for example around a hinge, and a user can view contained animals.
  • This functionality may result from forming the plastic of the flap 1 18 so it functions as a plastic hinge.
  • the cardholder 124 may be pivoted at the flap 1 18 up to about 80 degrees to about 120 degrees with respect to the front wall of the cage base 102.
  • the card holder 124 may include two overlapping portions 182 and 184 of different surface area and a connector portion 122 in association with one of the portions 184.
  • portions 182, 184 and connector portion 122 may be constructed from a polymer having a thickness of about 0.005 inches to about 0.08 inches, more specifically, about 0.02 inches to about to about 0.05 inches, even more specifically, about 0.03 inches to about 0.04 inches, and may be constructed from materials such as PVC, polystyrene or PET.
  • the connector portion 122 may be configured to connect the card holder 124 to a an animal containment cage by engaging a groove 188 within folded edge 122 over and laterally onto the ridge 120 on flap 1 18 of the base 102.
  • the card holder 124 may be removed by reversing this process. Endpoints of ridge 120 may have raised abutment members to serve as detents to prevent the card holder 124 from sliding off the flap 1 18 of the base 102.
  • the abutments on ridge 120 may be shaped with ramped or gradual lead-in portions to facilitate the mounting of the card holder 124 onto the flap 1 18 and ridge 120.
  • the cage card holder 124 described herein may be in combination with a card comprising information for one or more contained animals. Transportation of small animals such as rodents presents a variety of difficulties due to the movement and perturbation incident of the containment cage and occupants of the cage that is inevitable with travel by motor vehicle, airplane or other means of travel.
  • the contained animals may need to have a stable environment with an adequate supply of food, water, ventilation and be maintained at an acceptable temperature.
  • devices such as gel packs may be placed in a cage for hydration due to the temporary nature of the transportation process.
  • a water bottle or other type of liquid reservoir may not be necessary.
  • Food may also not be necessary for short trips, but solid food pellets may be added to the bottom of a cage without the need for an elaborate food tray system for short term transportation arrangements of less than about 5 days.
  • containment cage embodiments that may be simpler than some of the containment cage assemblies discussed above, such as containment cage assembly 100, may be used for transportation of small animals.
  • a containment cage system or kit that includes components that may be interchanged in order to reuse or maintain use of some components while providing containment for different purposes.
  • a base such as base 102 discussed above
  • a containment cage system wherein a transportation containment cage assembly uses a base, such as base 102 discussed above, and a lid that is suitable for transportation.
  • the lid of transportation cage assembly embodiment may be exchanged with a lid configured for a more permanent housing arrangement, such as lid 104 discussed above.
  • a lid configured for a more permanent housing arrangement
  • the transportation containment cage assembly may be readily converted to a more permanent containment cage assembly without the handling and disturbance of the contained animals.
  • the user saves the cost of a new base 102.
  • the base 102, lid 104 and transportation lid may all be used as single use components.
  • the containment cage assembly 200 shown in FIGS 12-18 may be used to provide a stable and secure containment cage for use during transport of contained animals.
  • the base of the containment cage assembly 200 may be the same base 102 discussed above and used for containment cage assembly 100.
  • containment cage assembly 200 may be readily converted to a more permanent containment embodiment by simply changing the transport lid 202 of the transportation containment cage assembly 200 to a lid, such as lid 104 discussed above with the optional provision of a water bottle 106 and food tray 128.
  • embodiments of the transport lid 202 may have any or all of the features, dimensions, and materials as those of the lid embodiment 104 discussed above.
  • containment cage base 102 is shown releasably secured to the transport lid 202.
  • Embodiments of containment cage base 102 shown in FIGS 12-14 may have any of the same features, dimensions and materials as those discussed above with regard to base 102 in the context of containment cage assembly embodiments 100.
  • the slots 148 may be used to mount a food tray, such as food tray 128, once the cage assembly reaches a destination and may serve as a more permanent housing for the contained animals.
  • the slots 148 are laterally recessed from an interior of the cage assembly 200 and protected by base structure adjacent the slots 148 which is disposed in close proximity to a bottom surface of the lid 202.
  • a lid engagement member or rim member 145 of the base 102 may be configured to be releasably secured to a base engagement member or channel 147 of lid embodiments 104 and channel member 204 of transport lid embodiments 202.
  • Lid 202 may also be releasably secured to base 102 by any other suitable mechanism or method discussed or incorporated herein.
  • the channel embodiments 204 may include the same features, angles, dimensions and materials as channel embodiments 147.
  • Transport lid 202 is configured as a substantially planar body and includes a first vent assembly 206 and a second vent assembly 208, each having a relatively large surface area suitable for static ventilation during shipment of animals.
  • the planar body of the lid 202 may have a level that is substantially parallel to a bottom portion of base 102 at a level that is substantially at or slightly above a level of the upper edge of the base 102.
  • each vent assembly 206 and 208 may have a usable air flow area or cross section that is about 8 percent to about 20 percent of the total area of the lid 202, more specifically, about 10 percent to about 20 percent of the total area of the lid 202.
  • the vent assemblies 206 and 208 include a first bossed portion 210 and a second bossed portion 212, respectively, that extend upward from a nominal upper surface of the lid 202.
  • the boss portions 210 and 212 may extend about 0.2 inches to about 1 inch above the nominal upper surface of the lid 202, for some embodiments.
  • a first filter element 214 may be sized and configured to be disposed between an aperture 215 of the first bossed portion 210 and a first filter shield 216.
  • a flange member 218 may be disposed in the aperture 215 of the first bossed portion 210 and provides a surface upon which the first filter 214 element may be seated, sealed or both.
  • the first filter shield 216 may include connectors in the form of tabs or extensions 220 that may be configured to engage mating connectors in the form of recesses or indents 222 of the bossed portion.
  • the tabs 220 of the first filter shield may engage the indents 222 of the first bossed portion with a snap fit.
  • the first filter shield 216 includes a substantially planar body and apertures 224, one or more ridges (not shown) and one or more tabs 220 in the body.
  • the total area of the apertures 224 for a single shield 216 may comprise the usable flow area cross section, and thus, the total area of the apertures of the first filter shield may be about 2 square inches to about 5 square inches, and may comprise about 4 percent to about 10 percent of the total nominal surface area of the lid 202.
  • the one or more ridges may be in sealing connection with the first filter element 214, and mating of the filter with one or more ridges of the shield 216 may result in the filter following a tortuous path that reduces the possibility of contaminates or air bypassing the filter media.
  • the first filter shield 216 may be formed by a process such as injection molding.
  • Shield 216 retains and protects first filter element 214 and firmly snaps into the first bossed portion 210 the lid 202 to prevent contained animals from accessing the first filter media 214 and damaging the filter media or escaping.
  • First filter shield 216 may be made from a tough resilient polymer that is difficult for contained animals to chew. The injection molded process may allow for a high percentage of open or ventilated area in the shield 216.
  • First filter element 214 may be affixed to the cage lid 202 between the bottom side of the first bossed region 210 of the lid 202 and the filter shield 216.
  • filter shield 216 may be permanently adhered around its perimeter to the bossed region 210 of lid 202 with adhesive, welding or any other suitable method.
  • Apertures in the shield 224 often are of a small enough diameter to substantially reduce or prevent gnawing by animal residents and allow for airflow. Some embodiments of apertures 224 may have a maximum diameter or transverse dimension of about 0.1 to about 0.2 inches and sometimes a diameter of about 0.125 inches.
  • Filter shield embodiments 216 may be constructed from any suitable material, and often is constructed from a substantially hard polymer such as PET or polystyrene (e.g., high density or low density polystyrene), and sometimes is about 0.03 to about 0.08 inches thick.
  • elements of the filter shield 136 may be about 0.05 inches thick, and thicker regions, such as ridges, may be about 0.06 inches thick.
  • the height of a ridge on a filter shield 136 may be about 0.05 inches above a surface of the first filter shield 216.
  • Some filter shield embodiments 216 may weigh about 10 grams to about 20 grams, more specifically, about 14 grams to about 15 grams.
  • An inside surface of the bossed region 210 may include multiple apertures 215 and strengthening ribs or other raised structures such as dimples that may allow the filter media 214 to be positioned away from the nominal inside surface of the bossed region 210 to allow more surface area exposure of the filter media 214 for less resistance to ventilation flow.
  • Filter element 214 generally is configured as a single use element and may be replaced each time the lid 202 and base 102, which may also be used as single use components, are replaced.
  • the first filter element 214 may be separated from a surface of the bossed portion 210 or shield 216 by about 0.05 inches to about one inch, sometimes about 0.1 inches to about 0.2 inches, and sometimes about 0.125 inches, which can facilitate airflow and/or reduce the possibility of filter damage caused by a contained animal.
  • Some lid embodiments 202 may be constructed from a polymer having a thickness of about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches.
  • the thickness of the lid sometimes is about 0.01 inches to about 0.05 inches, and may be about 0.02 inches to about 0.06 inches or about 0.02 inches to about 0.03 inches.
  • the lid 202 often is semi-rigid and relatively flexible due to its relative thinness.
  • a lid 202 sometimes weighs about 175 grams or less or 150 grams or less, and often weighs about 125 grams or less or about 100 grams or less (e.g., about 75 grams).
  • the second vent assembly 208 may have the same construction, materials, dimensions and performance as those of the first vent assembly 206.
  • the second vent assembly 208 includes the second bossed portion 212 having a flange member 226 disposed about an aperture 228.
  • a second filter element 230 is disposed between the flange member 226 and second filter shield 232.
  • the second filter shield 232 may include a plurality of apertures 234 disposed therein and connectors in the form of tabs 236 configured to provide a snap fit with indents 238 of the second bossed portion 212.
  • a or “an” can refer to one of or a plurality of the elements it modifies (e.g., "a device” can mean one or more devices) unless it is contextually clear either one of the elements or more than one of the elements is described.
  • the term “about” as used herein refers to a value sometimes within 10% of the underlying parameter (i.e., plus or minus 10%), a value sometimes within 5% of the underlying parameter (i.e., plus or minus 5%), a value sometimes within 2.5% of the underlying parameter (i.e., plus or minus 2.5%), or a value sometimes within 1 % of the underlying parameter (i.e., plus or minus 1 %), and sometimes refers to the parameter with no variation.
  • a weight of "about 100 grams” can include weights between 90 grams and 1 10 grams.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des systèmes et des composants de confinement d'animaux, y compris des cages de confinement d'animal à usage unique, des unités de bâtis modulaires et des composants de ceux-ci. L'invention concerne également des procédés d'assemblage et d'utilisation de composants des systèmes de confinement d'animaux.
PCT/US2008/063766 2007-05-17 2008-05-15 Cages de confinement d'animaux pour élevage et transport Ceased WO2008144430A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US93861807P 2007-05-17 2007-05-17
US60/938,618 2007-05-17
US97967207P 2007-10-12 2007-10-12
US60/979,672 2007-10-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008144430A1 true WO2008144430A1 (fr) 2008-11-27

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PCT/US2008/063766 Ceased WO2008144430A1 (fr) 2007-05-17 2008-05-15 Cages de confinement d'animaux pour élevage et transport

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WO (1) WO2008144430A1 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108184685A (zh) * 2018-03-19 2018-06-22 王长江 生产坑装置及生产坑系统
IT202300012708A1 (it) * 2023-06-20 2024-12-20 Tecniplast Spa Gabbia da laboratorio con coperchio e mangiatoia

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US4907536A (en) * 1987-03-03 1990-03-13 Chrisler Tanner S Isolating container for live animals
US5471950A (en) * 1993-10-25 1995-12-05 White; Elizabeth S. Animal carrier with detachable litter box
US6729266B1 (en) * 2000-11-03 2004-05-04 Lab Products, Inc. Animal isolation and caging system

Patent Citations (3)

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US4907536A (en) * 1987-03-03 1990-03-13 Chrisler Tanner S Isolating container for live animals
US5471950A (en) * 1993-10-25 1995-12-05 White; Elizabeth S. Animal carrier with detachable litter box
US6729266B1 (en) * 2000-11-03 2004-05-04 Lab Products, Inc. Animal isolation and caging system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108184685A (zh) * 2018-03-19 2018-06-22 王长江 生产坑装置及生产坑系统
IT202300012708A1 (it) * 2023-06-20 2024-12-20 Tecniplast Spa Gabbia da laboratorio con coperchio e mangiatoia
WO2024261650A1 (fr) * 2023-06-20 2024-12-26 Tecniplast S.P.A. Cage de laboratoire avec couvercle et dispositif d'alimentation

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