Mask for analyzed mammals

Abstract

An encapsulatable life support mechanism (ELSM) for an analyzed animal, including: a cradle or bed adapted by means of size and shape to accommodate the animal; an anesthetization gas mask (AGM) characterized by a cup with conic cross section, comprising a plurality of apertures located at the outer circumference of the cup; a fluid supplying mechanism (FSM) in which the AGM is placed, the FSM is in a continuous fluid communication with (i) an anesthetization gas inlet positioned outside the ELSM and an outlet located within the ELSM; (ii) an air suction scavenging device positioned outside the ELSM and a mask and an air suction outlet located within the ELSM; and a plurality of (iii) air conditioning tubes; and an airtight shell enveloping the same. The airtight ELSM prevent leakage of anesthetization gas.

Claims

1. A mouse handling system (MHS) for anesthetizing and accurately positioning a laboratory animal inside a magnetic resonance device (MRD) while preventing leakage of anesthetization gas and/or accidental spillage of hazardous materials to ambient atmosphere, the MHS comprising: a distal portion that is insertable into said MRD, the distal portion comprises: a) a cradle to accommodate said animal, b) an anesthetization gas mask that can be adjustably placed relative to animal, c) a gas inlet in fluid communication with the anesthetization gas mask and capable of being in fluid communication with a gas supply, d) a gas outlet in fluid communication with the anesthetization gas mask and capable of being in fluid communication with an air suction outlet, and e) an air tight shell to encapsulate the cradle, the anesthetization gas mask, the gas inlet and the gas outlet; and a proximal portion positioned outside said MRD when the distal portion is within said MRD and a shaft, the proximal portion incrementally rotatable about and slidable along said shaft to translate and rotate the laboratory animal when the laboratory animal is positioned within said distal end and said distal end is within said MRD.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said shaft comprises indicia indicating the relative angular and translational position of said distal portion with respect to said MRD.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of levers and handles for locking said angular and translational position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said cradle comprises a heating/cooling mechanism.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mask maneuvering mechanism comprising an adjustment rod in connection with said mask, said adjustment rod adapted to ensure that said mask is located in a predefined location within said housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an MRD device including at least one port for use inserting therein a Mouse Handling System (MHS), in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows the MHS including sealing flanges and a mouse holding portion, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 shows the details of the proximal portion of the MHS, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 shows the location of the mouse within the MHS, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 shows the details of the distal portion of the MHS, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIGS. 6a and 6b show the flushing air device, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

(7) FIG. 7 shows a conic mask 32, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The following description is provided in order to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention. Various modifications, however, will remain apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined specifically to provide a mask for analyzed mammals and methods using the same.

(9) The term ‘Magnetic Resonance Device’ (MRD) specifically applies hereinafter to any Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device, any Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscope, any Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscope, any Nuclear Quadruple Resonance (NQR) spectroscope or any combination thereof. The MRD hereby disclosed is optionally a portable MRI device, such as the ASPECT Magnet Technologies Ltd commercially available devices, or a commercially available non-portable device. Moreover, the term ‘MRD’ generally refers in this patent to any medical device, at least temporary accommodating an anesthetized animal.

(10) The term ‘about’ refers herein to a value of ±25% of the defined measure.

(11) Reference is now made to FIG. 1, schematically illustrating, not to scale, an MRI device, such as an MRD 10, comprising at least one port 110. A mouse handling system (MHS, 100), which is a maneuverable elongated device, is inserted through the port 10. In preferred embodiments, the MHS 100 is characterized by a substantially circular cross-section and a proximal portion 20, which is located outside the MRD 10. The MHS 100 further includes a shaft 21, and a distal portion 30 (see FIG. 2). The maneuverable MHS 100 is rotatable about longitudinal axis of the shaft 21 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and is translationally maneuverable parallel to the shaft 21. The proximal end 20 is slideable over the shaft 21, providing a telescopic mechanism of variable length.

(12) Reference is now made to FIG. 2, schematically illustrating, not to scale, the MHS 100 includes the flange 11a and a flange 11b, located at a distal opposite end of the MHS 100. The MHS 100 is inserted into port 110 of the MRD 10. The proximal portion 20 of MHS 100 comprises a plurality of levers and handles (22a and 22b) which lock the location of the maneuverable MHS 100, within the MRD 10 and a connection mechanism adapted to communicate the encapsulated environment of the distal portion 30 with the proximal portion 20, by means of a plurality of fluid-connecting pipes (not shown here). The proximal end 20 of MHS 100 comprises a plurality of indicia, such as a rotation indication 23b, positioned on the shaft 21 indicates the angular and translational relative position of the MHS 100 with respect to MRD 10. According to one embodiment of the invention, the proximal portion 20 of the MHS 100 includes an airtight capsule 30 comprising a shell 22, an animal bed or cradle 31, for locating an animal I to be studied as well as a fluid supplying mechanism 33. The role of shell 22, inter alis, is (i) to form an airtight capsule to prevent leakage of anesthetization gas from the gas supply inlets to the laboratory environment; (ii) to provide thermal isolation between the laboratory environment the air-conditioned environment surrounding the animal in the shell 22 and the laboratory environment; and (iii) to prevent accidental spillage of hazardous materials, e.g. radioactive agents outside the shell 22 surrounding the animal.

(13) Reference is now made to FIG. 3, schematically illustrating, not to scale, the proximal portion 20 of MHS 100, which comprises the shaft 21 upon which a translational scale 22a and a rotation scale 23b are positioned, and a distal portion 30 (here without shell 20), where mouse I is lying thereon the cradle 31.

(14) Reference is now made to FIG. 4, schematically illustrating, not to scale, the distal portion 30. The mouse I is immobilized on the cradle 31 and its head is placed within a mask 32. The position of the mask 32 within a housing 33 is determined by means of rotatable rod 34.

(15) Reference is now made to FIG. 5, schematically illustrating, not to scale, the distal portion 30. According to one embodiment of the invention, the cradle 31 comprises a heating/cooling mechanism 38. Mask 32 may comprise mouthpiece 35 and anesthetization gas outlet 35a in fluid communication with anesthetization gas inlet 35b. Mask 32 is located within a housing of fluid supply mechanism 33, and its position is accurately determined by rod 34.

(16) Anesthetization gas is supplied to the animal via outlet 35a with flow f (cm.sup.3/sec). Air suction is provided from the mask 32 and apertures thereon (not shown) via inner portion of the housing 33 to suction outlet 37 with flow F, wherein F>>f. Hence, leakage of anesthetization gas from outlet 35a and the inner portion of capsule 22 to the external environment of the laboratory is avoided.

(17) Reference is now made to FIGS. 6a and 6b, schematically illustrating, not to scale, the facilitated flow of flushing air device. The flow begins from the behind anesthetization gas inlet 35b and passes around the animal's head via mask 32 and plurality of apertures 32a into the Bernoulli-type orifice 32b (orifice 32b is narrow relative to the widest diameter of the mask), via a hollow chamber 33a of the housing 33, to an outlet 37 and to a gas scavenger located outside the MRD.

(18) Reference is finally made to FIG. 7, schematically illustrating, not to scale, a conic mask 32 and its plurality of apertures 32a, a Bernoulli-type orifice 32b (orifice 32b is narrow relative to the widest diameter of mask), and adapter 32c which couples the mask 32 to the housing 33 in a maneuverable manner. The role of apertures 32a located in the outer circumference of the mask is to ensure effective flushing of air due to the irregular geometry of the animal's head I, and to avoid blocking of air suction by the animal's body parts and fur.

(19) Examples of various features/aspects/components/operations have been provided to facilitate understanding of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention. In addition, various preferences have been discussed to facilitate understanding of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that all examples and preferences disclosed herein are intended to be non-limiting.

(20) Although selected embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described individually, it is to be understood that at least aspects of the described embodiments may be combined.

(21) Although selected embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it is to be appreciated that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.