JP2008054756A - Retaining device and imaging device equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a retaining device which enables reliable positioning of a part of a body of an animal and reduces a burden on the animal, and an imaging device equipped with it. <P>SOLUTION: An MRI apparatus 10 is equipped with the retaining device 100 for retaining the animal O such as a mouse and a rat. The retaining device 100 includes a retaining member 104 having a retaining part 108 where the animal O is placed and an attaching part 110 where a clamper 124 is attached. A tapered part 112 forming a space S which has a shape of a semi-circular truncated cone and becomes narrower in a direction of an arrow A is provided on the retaining part 108. A pipe 116 is penetrated through the clamper 124, and a hooking member 118 is connected to an end part of the pipe 116 placed inside the retaining part 108. A head part H of the animal O is brought into pressure contact with the tapered part 112 by pulling the pipe 116 in the direction of the arrow A while a front tooth T of the animal O is hooked on the hooking member 118. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a holding device and an imaging device including the same, and more particularly to a holding device that holds an animal and an imaging device including the same.

Conventionally, in an imaging apparatus for experimental animals, a holding apparatus that holds an animal such as a mouse or a rat to be imaged is used. Usually, when imaging, the animal is put into a coma by anesthesia, but animals such as mice and rats may move even in a coma. Therefore, in the holding device disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, the head of the animal is positioned with respect to the holding member by hooking the engaging member connected to the rod-like member on the front teeth of the animal. In addition, in the holding device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the animal's head is moved by hooking the engaging member provided on the holding member on the front teeth of the animal and inserting the pins provided on the holding member into both ears of the animal. It is positioned with respect to the holding member.
BRUKER BIOSPIN, [online], 2005, BRUKER BIOSPIN GmBH, [searched August 29, 2006], Internet <URL: http://www.bruker-biospin.de/NMR/nmrsoftw/news/almanac2006/pdf /66-69.pdf> JP 2001-252292 A

  However, the holding device of Non-Patent Document 1 has a problem that the head of the animal is easily displaced because it only hooks the engaging member on the front teeth of the animal. In addition, the holding device of Patent Document 1 has a problem that the burden on the animal increases while the animal's head can be firmly fixed by inserting pins into both ears.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a holding device and an image pickup apparatus including the holding device that can reliably position a part of the animal's body and reduce the burden on the animal.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the holding device according to claim 1 is provided on a holding member for holding an animal, and on the holding member for positioning a part of the body of the animal with respect to the holding member. A positioning unit; and a pressing unit that presses a part of the animal body against the positioning unit.

  The holding device according to claim 2 is the holding device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the body of the animal is a head, and the positioning portion includes a tapered portion that forms a space narrowing in a predetermined direction, The pressure contact means is configured to press the taper portion with a hook member that is hooked to the mouth of the animal or a portion near the mouth, and the head disposed in the space by pulling the hook member in the predetermined direction. And a pulling member connected to the engaging member.

  The holding device according to claim 3 is the holding device according to claim 2, wherein the pulling member has flexibility.

  The holding device according to claim 4 is the holding device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pulling member is a pipe capable of circulating a fluid, and the engaging member has a through hole communicating with the pipe. Features.

  The holding device according to claim 5 is the holding device according to claim 4, further comprising a covering member that covers the vicinity of the mouth of the animal and in which the open end of the through hole is disposed. And

  A holding device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the holding device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising an elastic member provided in the positioning portion so as to contact a part of the body of the animal. And

  A holding device according to a seventh aspect includes the holding device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.

  In the holding apparatus according to the first aspect, the pressing means can reliably position the animal body part with respect to the holding member by pressing the animal body part against the positioning portion. By positioning a part of the animal's body by being pressed against the positioning portion in this manner, the burden on the animal can be reduced as compared with the case where pins are inserted into both ears of the animal as in Patent Document 1, for example.

  In the holding device according to claim 2, by pulling the engaging member that engages with the animal's mouth or a portion in the vicinity of the mouth in the predetermined direction through the pulling member, the animal disposed in the space narrowed in the predetermined direction within the tapered portion. The head can be pressed against the tapered portion, and the animal's head can be reliably positioned.

  For example, in the holding device of Patent Document 1, it is difficult to confirm the positional relationship between the engaging member fixed to the holding member and the mouth of the animal, and the operation of hooking the engaging member on the animal's teeth is difficult. On the other hand, in the holding device of Non-Patent Document 1, it is considered that the rod-shaped member can be detached from the holding member and the engaging member can be hooked on the animal's teeth. However, it is considered that the rod-shaped member is made of a hard material, and it is considered that the animal is forced to take an unreasonable posture in order to attach the rod-shaped member to the holding member in a state where the hook member is hooked on the animal's teeth. In the holding device according to claim 3, the engaging member connected to the traction member can be freely moved even when the traction member is attached to the holding member because the traction member has flexibility. . Therefore, it is possible to easily perform the operation of engaging the engaging member with the animal's mouth or a portion near the mouth. Further, when the animal to be engaged with the engaging member is arranged on the holding member, the animal can be moved freely, and the animal is not burdened.

  Usually, when an animal is imaged by an imaging device, it is necessary to place the animal in a coma and maintain that state. For this purpose, the holding device used in the imaging apparatus is provided with a supply means for supplying a fluid such as anesthetic gas to the animal. In the holding device according to the fourth aspect, the fluid can be supplied to the vicinity of the head of the animal by allowing the fluid flowing through the pipe to flow out to the tapered portion side through the through hole of the engaging member. Thus, the configuration can be simplified by the hook member and the pipe also serving as a supply means for supplying fluid to the animal.

  In the holding device according to claim 5, the covering member in which the opening end of the through hole of the engaging member is disposed covers the vicinity of the mouth of the animal, so that the fluid flowing out from the through hole of the engaging member is supplied to the animal. Can be supplied efficiently.

  The holding device according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member is elastically deformed along the part of the animal's body by pressing the part of the animal's body against the elastic member provided in the positioning portion. Envelop part of the body. Accordingly, a part of the animal body can be more reliably positioned with respect to the holding member while minimizing the burden on the animal.

  The holding device according to the present invention can position a part of the animal's body reliably and has a small burden on the animal. Used for.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably position a part of the animal's body and reduce the burden on the animal.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Here, the holding device 100 according to the present invention is applied to an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus 10 for capturing a tomographic image of an animal O such as a mouse, a rat, or a guinea pig (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. 2 and 4). The case where it does is demonstrated.

Referring to FIG. 1, an MRI apparatus 10 that is an example of an imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit 12 for capturing a tomographic image of an animal O that is an imaging target, and a holding device 100 that holds the animal O.
The imaging unit 12 includes a pair of permanent magnets 14a and 14b disposed to face each other with a gap, and an RF coil 16 disposed between the permanent magnets 14a and 14b. Magnetic poles having different polarities are formed on the facing surfaces of the permanent magnets 14a and 14b in order to generate a magnetic field in the gap between the facing surfaces. Specifically, for example, in FIG. 1, an N pole is formed on the facing surface side of the permanent magnet 14a, and an S pole is formed on the facing surface side of the permanent magnet 14b.

  The RF coil 16 disposed in the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets 14a and 14b has a through hole 16a extending in a predetermined direction (direction of arrow A). The RF coil 16 is used for applying an RF pulse to the animal O disposed in the through hole 16a and detecting a resonance signal from the animal O. The RF coil 16 is attached with a holding device 100 that holds the animal O so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the imaging space in the through hole 16a.

The holding device 100 includes a rectangular parallelepiped base 102 attached to the RF coil 16 and a holding member 104 arranged on the base 102 and holding the animal O.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a groove 106 is formed on the base 102 so that the upper surface is cut in the direction of arrow A and in a semi-cylindrical shape. Such a base 102 is made of a synthetic resin such as ABS (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene).

  The holding member 104 includes a holding portion 108 where the animal O is arranged and an attachment portion 110 for attaching a clamper 124 (described later), and is slidably arranged in the groove 106 of the base 102.

  The holding portion 108 is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape (a bowl shape) extending in the arrow A direction. A tapered portion 112 is provided on the upper surface (inner peripheral surface) 108a of the holding portion 108 and on the end portion on the mounting portion 110 side. On the upper surface 108 a of the holding unit 108, the animal O is placed face down so that the head H of the animal O is positioned in the space S of the tapered portion 112.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment portion 110 is formed in an annular shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the attachment portion 110 has a through hole 114 extending in the direction of arrow A.

  Such a holding member 104 is made of a synthetic resin such as ABS, for example. The holding member 104 is connected to a driving mechanism (not shown) provided on the base 102 and is moved in the direction of the arrow A or the direction opposite to the arrow A direction without being displaced in the radial direction by the driving mechanism. As a result, the animal O arranged in the holding unit 108 moves forward and backward with respect to the imaging space in the through hole 16a (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 4, a pipe 116 is inserted through the through hole 114. The pipe 116 as a pulling member is made of a flexible material such as a fluororesin. An engagement member (tooth hook) 118 that engages with the front teeth T of the animal O is connected to one end of the pipe 116 disposed in the holding unit 108. On the other hand, a pump (not shown) for supplying anesthetic gas into the pipe 116 is connected to the other end of the pipe 116.

  The hook member 118 includes a hook portion 120 that is hooked (hooked) on the front teeth T of the animal O and a connection portion 122 that is connected to the pipe 116. The engaging portion 120 is formed in a plate shape extending from the connecting portion 122 in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction, and has a through hole 120 a at the end opposite to the connecting portion 122. The hook member 118 is hooked on the front teeth T by inserting the front teeth T of the animal O through the through holes 120a of the hook portion 120. The connecting portion 122 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a through hole 122 a extending in the direction of arrow A, and a part thereof is fitted into the pipe 116. The through hole 122a communicates with the pipe 116 and opens to the tapered portion 112 side. Anesthesia gas flowing through the pipe 116 in accordance with driving of a pump (not shown) flows out from the opening end 122b to the tapered portion 112 side through the through hole 122a of the connecting portion 122. Such an engaging member 118 is made of a synthetic resin such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone).

  A clamper 124 for fixing the pipe 116 is attached to the attachment portion 110. As shown in FIG. 4, the clamper 124 that is a fixing means has a nipple 126 whose one end is screwed into the through hole 114 of the mounting portion 110, a cylindrical shape that is fitted into the nipple 126 and into which the pipe 116 is fitted. It includes a rubber bush 128 and a cap 130 that is screwed onto the other end of the nipple 126.

  In the clamper 124, by tightening the cap 130 on the nipple 126, the plurality of claw portions 126 a of the nipple 126 are pressed against the inner surface of the cap 130, and the plurality of claw portions 126 a press the outer peripheral surface of the rubber bush 128. As a result, the rubber bush 128 tightens the pipe 116. As a result, the pipe 116 that passes through the nipple 126, the rubber bush 128, and the cap 130 is fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pipe 116 is provided with a covering member (mask) 132 for covering the vicinity of the mouth of the animal O. The covering member 132 into which the pipe 116 is inserted is formed in a cylindrical shape that expands in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction, and is disposed in the holding portion 108.

Next, the positioning operation of the animal O in such a holding device 100 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 5, the flexible pipe 116 is manually pulled in a direction opposite to the arrow A direction, and the hooking member 118 is pulled out from the holding portion 108. At this time, the covering member 132 is slid on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 116 so as to be separated from the engaging member 118. Subsequently, the engaging member 118 is hooked on the front teeth T by inserting the front teeth T (see FIG. 4) of the animal O through the through holes 120 a of the engaging portions 120. Then, the animal O is disposed on the upper surface 108a of the holding unit 108 so that the head H is positioned in the space S of the tapered portion 112, and the pipe 116 is pulled in the direction of arrow A. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the head H (specifically, near the cheek) is pressed against the tapered portion 112, and the head H is positioned with respect to the holding member 104. Thereafter, the pipe 116 pulled in the direction of the arrow A by the clamper 124 is fixed, so that the head H is positioned. As shown in FIG. 4, when the head H is pressed against the tapered portion 112, the covering member 132 covers the vicinity of the mouth of the animal O, and the opening end 122 b of the through hole 122 a is disposed in the covering member 132. The In practice, with the head H positioned, the tape is wound around the holding member 104 so as to wind the head H. As a result, the upward movement of the head H of the animal O can be more reliably regulated.

  According to such a holding device 100, by pulling the engaging member 118 hooked on the front tooth T of the animal O in the direction of the arrow A through the pipe 116, the head H can be pressed against the tapered portion 112, and the animal The head H of O can be reliably positioned with respect to the holding member 104. Thus, by positioning the head H of the animal O in pressure contact with the tapered portion 112, the burden on the animal O can be reduced as compared with, for example, inserting pins into both ears of the animal O.

  Since the pipe 116 is flexible, the engaging member 118 connected to the pipe 116 can be freely moved even when the pipe 116 is attached to the holding member 104. Thereby, the operation of hooking the engaging member 118 on the front teeth T of the animal O can be easily performed. In addition, the animal O can be moved freely when placed on the holding unit 108, and the animal O can be placed on the holding member 104 without imposing a burden on the animal O.

  The anesthetic gas can be supplied to the animal O by causing the anesthetic gas flowing through the pipe 116 to flow out to the tapered portion 112 side through the through hole 122a of the connection portion 122. As described above, the engagement member 118 and the pipe 116 also serve as a supply unit for supplying the anesthetic gas to the animal O, whereby the configuration can be simplified.

  The covering member 132 in which the opening end 122b of the through hole 122a is disposed covers the vicinity of the mouth of the animal O, so that the anesthetic gas flowing out from the opening end 122b can be efficiently supplied to the animal O.

  Since the holding device 100 can reliably position the head H of the animal O and the burden on the animal O is small, the holding device 100 is preferably used for the MRI apparatus 10 that repeatedly captures tomographic images of the head H of the animal O.

  In addition, although the case where the engaging member 118 hooked on the front tooth T of the animal O was used in the holding device 100 has been described, the engaging member is not limited thereto. For example, an engaging member that engages with the animal's mouth by inflating the inflatable portion in the animal's mouth may be used, or an engaging member that engages with the animal's nostril may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the permanent magnets 14a and 14b are used as the magnetic field generation source of the MRI apparatus 10 has been described. However, the magnetic field generation source may be an electromagnet.

  Next, a holding device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the holding device 200, a holding member 202 that also functions as a base is used in place of the holding member 104 of the holding device 100 described above. Other than that, since it is configured in substantially the same manner as the above-described holding device 100, overlapping portions are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the holding device 100 and description thereof is omitted.

  The holding member 202 includes a holding portion 204 where the animal O is disposed and an attachment portion 206 to which the clamper 124 is attached. The holding part 204 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the arrow A direction. A groove 204a is formed in the holding portion 204 so as to cut the upper surface in the direction of arrow A and in a semi-cylindrical shape. A tapered portion 208 that forms a semi-conical space S1 that narrows in the direction of arrow A is provided at the end of the holding portion 204 on the groove 204a and the mounting portion 206 side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the holding portion 204 includes semi-cylindrical portions 210 and 212 extending from both side surfaces in a direction orthogonal to the arrow A direction. The semi-cylindrical portion 210 is provided at a position corresponding to the limb (front foot) L1 of the animal O that extends in a direction orthogonal to the arrow A direction in a state where the head H of the animal O is pressed against the tapered portion 208. In addition, the semi-cylindrical portion 212 is provided at a position corresponding to the limb (hind leg) L2 of the animal O that extends in a direction orthogonal to the arrow A direction with the head H of the animal O pressed against the tapered portion 208. It is done. An elastic member 214 formed in a substantially semi-columnar shape is disposed on the upper surface (inner peripheral surface) of the semi-cylindrical portion 210. Similarly, an elastic member 216 formed in a substantially semi-columnar shape is disposed on the upper surface (inner peripheral surface) of the semi-cylindrical portion 212. The elastic members 214 and 216 are made of, for example, low-resilience urethane.

  In such a groove 204 a of the holding portion 204, the animal O is disposed on its back so that the head H is positioned in the space S <b> 1 of the tapered portion 208. The limbs L1 of the animal O disposed on the back in the groove 204a are respectively disposed on the elastic member 214 of the semi-cylindrical portion 210. Similarly, each limb L2 of the animal O is disposed on the elastic member 216 of the semi-cylindrical portion 212.

  In this embodiment, the tapered portion 208 corresponds to a positioning portion for positioning the head H of the animal O, and the semi-cylindrical portions 210 and 212 are positioning portions for positioning the limbs L1 and L2 of the animal O of the animal O. It corresponds to.

  In such a holding device 200, the tape 218 is wound around the semi-cylindrical part 210 so as to wind the limb L1 and the elastic member 214 in a state where the head H of the animal O is in pressure contact with the tapered part 208. Thereby, the limb body L1 is pressed against the elastic member 214, and the elastic member 214 is elastically deformed along the limb body L1 to wrap the limb body L1. Similarly, when the tape 218 is wound around the semi-cylindrical portion 212 so as to wind the limb L2 and the elastic member 216, the limb L2 is pressed against the elastic member 216, and the elastic member 216 is elastically deformed along the limb L2, and the limb. Envelop L2.

  In this embodiment, the tape 218 corresponds to a pressure contact means for pressing the limb L1 of the animal O against the elastic member 214 and a pressure contact means for pressing the limb L2 of the animal O against the elastic member 216.

  In an MRI apparatus in which such a holding device 200 is used, the holding member 202 is attached to the RF coil 18 (see FIG. 6) so that the semi-cylindrical portion 210 or 212 is inserted. In the MRI apparatus in which the holding apparatus 200 is used, the RF coil 18 through which the semi-cylindrical part 210 or 212 is inserted is sandwiched between a pair of permanent magnets, and a tomographic image of the limb body L1 or L2 of the animal O is captured. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the semi-cylindrical portion 212 is inserted through the RF coil 18.

  According to such a holding device 200, the elastic members 214 and 216 wrap the limbs L <b> 1 and L <b> 2 of the animal O, so that the limbs L <b> 1 and L <b> 2 are held with respect to the holding member 202 while minimizing the burden on the animal O. Can be positioned reliably. In addition to positioning the limbs L <b> 1 and L <b> 2 in addition to the head H, the animal O can be more reliably positioned with respect to the holding member 202.

  In the holding device 200 as well, the covering member 132 may be provided in the same manner as the holding device 100 described above.

  In the holding device 200, the case where the head H of the animal O and the limbs L1 and L2 (four limbs) are positioned has been described. However, only the limbs L1 and L2 of the animal O may be positioned. Further, in the holding device 200, the case where the limbs L1 and L2 of the animal O are positioned has been described, but only one of the limbs of the animal O may be positioned.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the head of the animal is directly pressed against the tapered portion has been described. However, an elastic member that contacts the head of the animal may be provided at the tapered portion. This can minimize the burden on the animal's head.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the tapered portion is provided integrally with the holding member has been described. However, the cartridge-type tapered portion may be arranged on the holding member.

  Further, any pressing means can be used as long as a part of the animal body can be pressed against the positioning portion. For example, when the animal head is brought into pressure contact with the tapered portion, pressure contact means for pressing the animal's buttocks in a predetermined direction may be used.

  Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the case of holding a small animal such as a mouse or a rat has been described. However, the animal held by the holding device of the present invention is not limited to a small animal, and may be a dog or a cat, for example. . The animals held by the holding device of the present invention are not limited to mammals, and may be reptiles, amphibians or birds.

  In addition, the part of the animal imaged by the MRI apparatus to which the holding apparatus of the present invention is applied is not limited to the part positioned in the holding apparatus. An arbitrary part of an animal can be imaged by the MRI apparatus to which the holding device of the present invention is applied. For example, a tomographic image of the trunk other than the head and limbs may be imaged.

  Furthermore, the imaging apparatus to which the holding apparatus of the present invention is applied is not limited to the MRI apparatus, and can be applied to any imaging apparatus such as a CT apparatus or a PET apparatus.

It is an illustration figure which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view solution figure of the holding | maintenance apparatus used for embodiment of FIG. It is a rear view of the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG. It is XX (FIG. 3) sectional drawing of the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG. It is a top view which shows the state which pulled out the engaging member in the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG. It is a top view solution figure which shows the other example of the holding | maintenance apparatus of this invention. It is a side view of the holding | maintenance apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 MRI apparatus 16a, 114,120a, 122a Through-hole 100,200 Holding apparatus 102 Base 104,202 Holding member 108,204 Holding part 112,208 Taper part 116 Pipe 118 Engagement member 120 Engagement part 122 Connection part 122b Open end 132 Cover member 210, 212 Semi-cylindrical portion 214, 216 Elastic member 218 Tape O Animal H Head T Teeth L1, L2 Limb S, S1 Space

Claims (7)

A holding member for holding the animal,
A holding apparatus comprising: a positioning portion provided on the holding member for positioning a part of the animal body with respect to the holding member; and a pressure contact means for pressing the part of the animal body against the positioning portion. A part of the animal's body is the head;
The positioning portion includes a tapered portion that forms a space narrowing in a predetermined direction,
The pressure contact means is configured to press the taper portion with a hook member that is hooked to the mouth of the animal or a portion near the mouth, and the head disposed in the space by pulling the hook member in the predetermined direction. The holding device according to claim 1, comprising a pulling member connected to the engaging member.   The holding device according to claim 2, wherein the pulling member has flexibility. The traction member is a pipe capable of circulating fluid,
The holding device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the engagement member has a through hole communicating with the pipe.   The holding device according to claim 4, further comprising a covering member that covers a vicinity of the mouth of the animal and in which an open end of the through hole is disposed.   The holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an elastic member provided in the positioning portion so as to be in contact with a part of the animal body. An imaging device comprising the holding device according to claim 1.

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