A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from an automatic water source to animals housed in cages in high density caging systems may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the automatic water source to facilitate the provision of fluid to animals housed in the cages. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a valve body and end cap, which may be joined together, that define a fluid channel. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise sealing elements, a spring element, and an interior stem disposed at least in part in the fluid channel to open and close the fluid channel.

Disclosed herein is a rodent and human behavioral test for evaluating visual dysfunctions associated with the retinal changes in Alzheimer disease progression. In one example, the inventors developed a maze that tests rodent's ability to identify (1) specific contrasts, (2) specific colors, (3) certain items in the visual field, and (4) other ‘non-typical’ peripheral and night vision functions associated with AD. For instance, the inventors developed a maze the tests the rodents ability to avoid certain colors or contrasts gradients. The maze may include certain rooms with specific visual markers (e.g., colors, contrasts, objects or other visual features) that also contain shock plates.

A cage-mounted fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a water source, such as a fluid bag or an automatic water system, to animals housed in cages in high density caging systems may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the water source to facilitate the provision of fluid to animals housed in the cages. The cage-mounted fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a valve body and end cap, which may be joined together, that define a fluid channel. The cage-mounted fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise sealing elements, a spring element, and an interior stem disposed at least in part in the fluid channel to open and close the fluid channel.

The present invention concerns an electronic device, particularly for detecting and control the environment of an animal housing, such as a cage, thus being able to automatically detect and control animal's immediate environment. Furthermore, the present invention also concerns a system comprising such device or a plurality of devices, and a method for automatic detection of cage condition and presence. The device, the system and the method according to the present invention allow to detect the presence and several parameters of the cage environment without interfering with the inside of the cage.

A pet enclosure that is coupleable to a wall structure of a home adjacent to a window, where the window provides a first access point to a pet can include a frame structure coupled to the wall structure of the home, the frame structure having an opening which is located adjacent to the window, the frame structure including a second access point; and a corbel assembly coupled to the frame structure and the wall structure of the home. Related methods are also provided.

A method of identifying and classifying social complex behaviors among a group of model organisms, comprising implanting at least one RFID transponder in each model organism in said group of model organisms; enclosing said group of model organisms in a monitored space divided into RFID monitored segments; RFID tracking a position of each model organism by reading said at least one RFID transponder in each model organism over a period of time; capturing a sequence of images of each model organism over said period of time; and calculating at least one spatiotemporal model of each model organism based on time synchronization of said RFID tracked position of said model organism with said sequence of images.

A method for facilitating the delivery of water to a plurality of cage level barrier-type cages, for housing animals for an animal study, the method including; providing a plurality of cage level barrier-type cages for an animal study at a laboratory facility site, and disposing a bag forming apparatus at a clean side of a laboratory washroom at the laboratory facility site, wherein the bag forming apparatus is capable of providing sealed bags of water for use in the cage level barrier-type cages. The method can further include providing bag material to the laboratory facility site.

Apparatus for real-time in vivo bioluminescence monitoring in a conscious small animal, comprising a light-tight enclosure (4) with a base (16), side wall (19) and cover (20) configured for housing the small animal such that it may move freely, a bioluminescence detector system (6) comprising a light detector (22) for detecting the light emitted by said small animal connected to a data processing system, and a life-sustaining system (8) configured for maintaining the small animal alive for a prolonged period of time spanning from a few days to a few weeks.

A stalling cage having a box suitable for containing an animal, a receptacle that contains a liquid to be administered to the animal in the box, and a monitoring device suitable for continuously monitoring the consumption of liquid from the receptacle. The monitoring device has a level condenser with two electrodes in co-planar configuration in contact with the receptacle in order to measure the capacitance variation caused by the variation of the level of liquid relative to the air in the receptacle.

A base for supporting a piezoelectric sensor which includes a generally planar support frame having an opening and a housing mounted in the opening. The housing has an upper portion including a sensor and a lower portion including a biasing member in contact with the sensor. The sensor is biased by the biasing force of the biasing member against the upper portion of the housing, whereby the upper portion is in turn biased by the biasing force against a floor of a cage positioned on the upper side of the support frame.