Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61D—VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS
  • A61D7/00—Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals
  • A61D7/04—Devices for anaesthetising animals by gases or vapours; Inhaling devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for handling heavy gas.
• heavy gas is meant according to the present invention, a gas heavier than ambient air.
• Laboratory apparatus currently permitting the manipulation of gases for the purpose of anesthesia of animals, preferably of a series of animals, does not have sufficient reliability in terms of gas emissions, for personnel who manipulates them. They require a large consumption of gas, because filling an anesthesia chamber with heavy gas and then purging it are required for each anesthesia of an animal. In short, this results in an unfavorable slowness of this program, with a high consumption of gas and a risk of endangering the health of the operating personnel.
• the object of the present invention is to develop a process and an apparatus for handling gases heavier than air, which overcome the abovementioned drawbacks.
• This process and apparatus must be safe for operators and be cost effective economically favorable use, while allowing speed of execution.
• the invention does not aim at an animal anesthesia process, the anesthesia conditions being able to be variable according to the requirements of the specific case, whether it is the nature or the concentrations of the gas , the number of animals to be anesthetized in succession, the animal species to be treated, their weight, etc.
• the object of the invention is a process for manipulating the gas which protects the operating personnel, and this while allowing in particular the application of any method of therapeutic treatment, involving animal anesthesia in a box. .
• a method of handling gas heavier than air in a box comprising - a successive closing and opening of the box, at the top of it, - a introduction of said heavy gas into the box in the closed position thereof and a stop of said introduction in the open position of the box, and - establishment of a depression peripherally at the top of the box with suction of heavy gas escaping from the top of the box to a confined enclosure.
• any heavy gas overflowing beyond the upper edges of the box open from the top is immediately entrained in a confined enclosure, protected from the atmosphere breathed by operators.
• the vacuum is continued throughout the process, whether the box is open or closed.
• after each closing of said series of closings and openings from above it comprises an additional introduction of heavy gas into the closed box. Indeed, during the deposition and then the removal of an animal, the movement caused by its volume as well as the gas entrained by its fleece has the effect of a loss of gas in the box, which can thus be quickly compensated for during the next closing of the caisson.
• the method comprises, at the bottom of the box, around it, a recovery of heavy gas flowing along the box from top to bottom.
• this gas which, by its weight, will be deposited by licking the walls of the box, will also be collected towards an enclosure confined to the operator's shelter, preferably the same enclosure.
• a source of heavy gas which can be in communication with the box and allow introduction of the heavy gas into its cavity
• the box comprises an opening upwards and shutter means which can be moved between a closed position in which they close said opening upwards, and an open position, in which the latter is released, and said control means are capable of passing from a stop state to a release state of said communication and vice versa, said control means being in a stop state when the aforementioned shutter means are in a position d opening, and said closure means being in the closed position when said control means are in their aforesaid release state, the apparatus further comprising a source of vacuum and means for establishing a vacuum in an area peripheral at the top of the box, which are supplied by the vacuum source and which suck heavy gas escaping from the box from above in a confined enclosure.
• said control means comprise a stop valve arranged in a conduit connecting the source of heavy gas and the cavity of the box, and a control element of the valve which is mechanically blocked in the above-mentioned stop state when the aforementioned closure means are in the open position and which mechanically blocks the closure means in the closed position when it is in the release.
• a mechanical blocking of this kind it is also possible to provide a blocking by transmission of electrical or electronic signals, by connection systems or by remote transmissions.
• control means comprise a stop valve arranged in a conduit connecting the source of heavy gas and the cavity of the box, and a control member which automatically blocks the valve in a stopped state when it detects an output signal from the shutter means out of their closed position and which automatically blocks the shutter means in the closed position when the valve is in the released state.
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view, partially broken, of a heavy gas handling device according to the invention, in the closed position of the box.
• 2 shows a view of a detail of the device according to Figure 1, in the open position of the box.
• FIG. 3 represents a view in longitudinal section of a part of the apparatus according to FIG. 1.
• the apparatus comprises a box 1 having a cavity 2 which can be closed in the example illustrated by a cover 3 capable of sliding between a closed position, represented in FIG. 1, and a open position shown in FIG. 2.
• the box 1 is open upwards and therefore, even in the open position, the heavy gas introduced into the box tends to remain there by gravity.
• a source 4 of heavy gas for example narcotic gas, known per se and shown only schematically, is capable of supplying the casing with gas via a conduit 5 in which is arranged a shut-off valve 6 also known per se.
• This valve is controlled by a control element in the form of a bent lever 7, which is shown in the release position of the pipe 5 in FIG. 1 and in the stop position of the pipe 5 in FIG. 2.
• the box 1 is supported on a support plate 8 provided with lateral spacing lugs 9.
• the support plate 8 can be supported and possibly fixed on the flanges 10 d 'A bowl 11 open upwards, so that the edge of the plate 8 is located peripherally at a small distance from the bowl 11, leaving a gap between them 12.
• the plate 8 is supported by the flanges 10 of the bowl so as to be in a plane slightly lower than these.
• the support plate 8 carries guide bars 13, 14 which are shaped to receive the box, without allowing it to move horizontally during its use.
• the cover 3 In the upper zone of the box 1, the latter is provided with a slide 15 in which the cover 3 can slide, which is preferably made of a transparent or translucent material. In the closed position, as shown in Figure 1, the cover 3 extends beyond the upper front edge 16 of the box, sliding over the latter.
• the apparatus according to the invention also comprises an upper frame 17 which is formed from a hollow profile and which is simply placed on the longitudinal upper edges 18 and 19 and rear 20 of the box. This frame is thus supported at the periphery of the upward opening of the box 1.
• the frame 17 has the shape of a U, the two branches 21 and 22 as well as the part central 23 protrude inwards, thus overhanging the cavity 2.
• the branches 21 and 22 and the central part 23 of the U are perforated downward at preferably regular intervals.
• the perforations 24 allow communication between the box and the cavity 29 of the frame 17.
• the fourth side 25 of the frame, located at the front, is arranged below the front part of the cover in the closed position (see FIG. 3) .
• a plate 26 provided with an upper bead 27 projects from the front side 25 of the frame through a slot 28 provided in the upper face of the latter.
• a gap is left between the front edge of the slot 28 and the plate 26 so as to allow communication between the hollow 29 of the frame 17 and the space between the cover 3 and the front side 25 of the frame, in front of the front edge 16 of the box 1.
• a narrow passage 39 is left free between the front edge 16 of the box and the cover 3.
• the front side 25 of the hollow frame 17 is, in the example illustrated provided with a suction duct 30, provided with a flange 31 which can be attached to a corresponding flange 32 with a connector 33 provided on a flange 10 of the bowl.
• This connector can be placed in communication with a hose 34 which leads to a suction device 35, known per se.
• This central plate 37 can be used to support another bowl or any other body capable of carrying narcotic gas.
• that of the bowl 36 can be connected in a known manner, not shown, to the suction device 35.
• the box 1 is placed on the support plate 8 of the bowl 11, between the guide bars 13, 14.
• the frame 17 is then placed on the upper edges of the box by placing the flange 31 on the flange 32.
• the cover 3 is slid into the closed position of the box 1, then the valve 6 is then mounted.
• control lever 7 bears against the front edge of the cover 3 and locks the cover in the closed position and the valve 6 is in the open position , that is to say that it releases the communication between the source of heavy gas 4 and the box 1, and authorizes an introduction of heavy gas into the box.
• the suction device 35 It is also possible to simultaneously implement, or even before or even soon after, the suction device 35. This creates a slight depression at the upper periphery of the box 1, above the sides 21 to 23 of the frame 17 and below the cover along the side 25 thereof.
• the box is vented through the passage 39, which channels the gas to the suction slot 28, which avoids any possible gas leakage in the closed position of the cover.
• the lever 7 of the valve 6 can then be turned to the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the communication between the gas source 4 and the box 1 is stopped. In addition, the lever 7 no longer mechanically blocks the cover 3, and on the contrary it has passed into a lateral position which allows the opening of the box 1.
• FIG. 2 shows the box 1 during this operation opening. The lever 7 is then blocked by the cover 3 in the stop position shown.
• the heavy gas present in the box has a normal tendency to remain in the box, due to its heavier weight than air.
• the movement of the cover and the introduction of an additional volume into the box have the effect that heavy gas inevitably overflows out of the box, in particular through passage 39.
• This gas is however immediately sucked into the confined enclosure formed by the frame 17, which offers the great advantage of keeping operators out of contact with potentially harmful heavy gas.
• the box is opened again and the anesthetized animal is removed, while another can be immediately introduced.
• the box remains filled with heavy gas during the whole series of anesthesia and it is only necessary to regularly supplement this quantity of gas, for example at each closure, with an amount of heavy gas equivalent to that which has been aspirated. This results in a great saving in heavy gas.
• the anesthetized animals which carry in their hairs narcotic gas, are advantageously deposited on the deposit plate
• a control member which automatically blocks the valve in the stopped state when it detects an output signal from the means for closing the box outside their closed position and which automatically blocks the latter in the closing when the valve is open.
• a limit switch which detects the position of the cover 3 in the closed position and which transmits a signal for example to a computer as soon as the cover leaves this closed position, the computer then controlling the closing of valve 6, which is in the form of a solenoid valve, without control element 7. It is therefore no longer in this case a mechanical blocking, but a blocking by electrical or electronic signals and the the cover itself can serve as a valve control trigger, for example triggering the introduction of gas as soon as the abovementioned limit switch makes it possible to detect the closed position of the cover.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Anesthesiology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Housing For Livestock And Birds (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Crystals, And After-Treatments Of Crystals (AREA)
• Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
• Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
• Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=32686678

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2003
  • 2003-01-09 BE BE2003/0019A patent/BE1015298A3/fr not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-12-24 US US10/541,770 patent/US7533702B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-12-24 EP EP03795722A patent/EP1583481B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-12-24 DE DE60324469T patent/DE60324469D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-12-24 WO PCT/BE2003/000231 patent/WO2004062523A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-12-24 AT AT03795722T patent/ATE412380T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-12-24 AU AU2003298045A patent/AU2003298045A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events