An animal supporting device having a having three primary dimensions of unequal lengths for engaging the abdomen or other body part of an animal at various support elevations. The device may have one or more trough-shaped channels for engaging the abdomen or other body part of the animal at alternative support elevations. The device may have a dog-bone-shaped outline. Other embodiments are described and shown.

A test device is disclosed. The test device includes a supporter providing a seating surface for an experimental animal, and a chair formed on the supporter and configured to induce a drug inhalation posture in which a head of the experimental animal is directed downward. Thus, a mecca position may be induced by a simple operation of seating an unconscious experimental animal on the chair. As a result, nose-to-brain drug delivery may be performed.

A test device is disclosed. The test device includes a supporter providing a seating surface for an experimental animal, and a chair formed on the supporter and configured to induce a drug inhalation posture in which a head of the experimental animal is directed downward. Thus, a mecca position may be induced by a simple operation of seating an unconscious experimental animal on the chair. As a result, nose-to-brain drug delivery may be performed.

A system is disclosed that includes a holder having a pressurized chamber and configured to secure an aerosol delivery device at least partially within the pressurized chamber. A test chamber is connected to the holder, the test chamber having an inlet allowing an aerosol from the aerosol delivery device to enter the test chamber.

A system is disclosed that includes a holder having a pressurized chamber and configured to secure an aerosol delivery device at least partially within the pressurized chamber. A test chamber is connected to the holder, the test chamber having an inlet allowing an aerosol from the aerosol delivery device to enter the test chamber.

Described herein is an animal handling device in the form of a cattle crush with automated headbail capture, back bar operation and positional sensing along with methods of use thereof. The crush and method offer automation for functions that in the art have been largely manual and inherently labour intensive, physical and even potentially dangerous for the operator and/or animal.

Disclosed are instruments and methods for acquiring co-registered orthogonal fluorescence and photoacoustic volumetric projections of an interrogated object. In an embodiment, an instrument includes a rotary mechanism configured to rotate an interrogated object relative to an array of photoacoustic transducers and an optical detector. An optical excitation unit is configured to irradiate the interrogated object with pulses of light, inducing both fluorescence and photoacoustic responses inside the interrogated object at each of a plurality of rotational positions. The array of photoacoustic transducers includes unfocused elements arranged in a pattern along an axis of rotation, the elements configured to detect photoacoustic signals generated inside the volume of the interrogated object. The optical detector is arranged opposite to the array of photoacoustic transducers with respect to the axis of rotation and is configured to register sources of fluorescence excited inside the interrogated object. Each of the optical excitation axes form with each of the optical detection axes, and with each of the photoacoustic detection axes, angles that are between 60 and 90 so as to enable acquisition of co-registered orthogonal fluorescence and photoacoustic volumetric projections of the interrogated object.

Disclosed are instruments and methods for acquiring co-registered orthogonal fluorescence and photoacoustic volumetric projections of an interrogated object. In an embodiment, an instrument includes a rotary mechanism configured to rotate an interrogated object relative to an array of photoacoustic transducers and an optical detector. An optical excitation unit is configured to irradiate the interrogated object with pulses of light, inducing both fluorescence and photoacoustic responses inside the interrogated object at each of a plurality of rotational positions. The array of photoacoustic transducers includes unfocused elements arranged in a pattern along an axis of rotation, the elements configured to detect photoacoustic signals generated inside the volume of the interrogated object. The optical detector is arranged opposite to the array of photoacoustic transducers with respect to the axis of rotation and is configured to register sources of fluorescence excited inside the interrogated object. Each of the optical excitation axes form with each of the optical detection axes, and with each of the photoacoustic detection axes, angles that are between 60 and 90 so as to enable acquisition of co-registered orthogonal fluorescence and photoacoustic volumetric projections of the interrogated object.

Systems for delivering material through an open beak to a digestive tract of a bird and methods of using the same are described herein. Beak opening apparatus and methods of using the same are also described herein.

Systems for delivering material through an open beak to a digestive tract of a bird and methods of using the same are described herein. Beak opening apparatus and methods of using the same are also described herein.