JP2024037658A - Head fixation device, locking structure, and anesthetic gas supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an easier-to-use head fixing device. [Solution] A head fixing device for fixing the head of an animal, comprising: a tubular portion having a body portion that penetrates in the front-rear direction and has a guide groove on its approximately circular inner circumferential surface; and a rod-shaped portion that is inserted into the body portion and has a front teeth locking portion at its rear end for locking the front teeth of the animal, the rod-shaped portion having a protrusion on its outer circumferential surface that is movable along the guide groove, and the guide groove is provided so that the rod-shaped portion can move back-rear and rotate. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a head fixation device for fixing the head of an animal.

Small rodent animals (rats, mice, etc.) are often used in experiments, especially medical experiments. In such experiments, animals are generally immobilized using their front teeth (incisors) or external ear foramen.

Conventionally, animal restraints for this purpose have been known as ``Animal restraint devices for immobilizing animals, which include a base for immobilizing the animal, and are attached to the base and inserted into both ear holes of the animal. a first fixing member attached to the base, a second fixing member hooked on the front teeth of the animal, and for fixing the animal's head to the base together with the first fixing member. An animal restraint device has been proposed (see claim 1 of Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-252292

In the above-mentioned animal restraint device, fixation of the animal until imaging is performed is complicated. For example, in order to adjust the position of the hooking pin of the second fixing member hooked on the front teeth in the front-rear direction, the fixing screw must be loosened and closed, which is a complicated and time-consuming operation. Experiments often involve handling multiple animals, so it is desirable to shorten the time required for fixation.

Further, the above-mentioned animal restraint device does not take into account position adjustment in the circumferential direction, that is, rotation of the animal's head, and does not sufficiently meet the needs for position adjustment.

Further, in the animal retaining device, the pin portion of the hook pin of the second fixing member extends horizontally, and the anatomical characteristics of the animal's front teeth and upper jaw are not taken into consideration.

An easier-to-use head fixation device is desired for medical experiments and medical treatments on animals.

The present invention is intended to solve at least one of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a head fixing device that is easier to use.

One aspect of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems is a head fixing device for fixing the head of an animal, which includes a torso that penetrates in the front-rear direction and has a guide groove on a substantially circular inner peripheral surface. and a rod-shaped portion that is inserted into the body portion and has a front tooth locking portion at a rear end for locking the front teeth of an animal, and the rod-shaped portion has an outer circumference formed in the guide groove. The rod-shaped portion has a protrusion that is movable along the guide groove, and the rod-shaped portion is provided so as to be able to move back and forth and rotate.

Preferably, the guide groove has a portion that allows the protrusion to move back and forth while rotating by a predetermined angle.

Preferably, the guide groove includes a first part that allows the protrusion to move back and forth while rotating a predetermined angle, and a second part that allows the protrusion to move back and forth while rotating a predetermined angle, and a second portion having a rotation direction different from that of the second portion.

Preferably, the guide groove has a starting groove that extends substantially linearly in the front-rear direction and opens at the rear end of the body.

Preferably, the guide groove has an end groove that extends substantially linearly in the front-rear direction and has a closed end at the rear.

Preferably, the guide groove has a stop portion in which the protrusion can stay.

Preferably, the guide groove has two or more stopping parts, and the other stopping part is located at a position shifted by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction and by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction with respect to one of the stopping parts. be.

Preferably, the protrusion is provided such that the tip thereof forms a predetermined angle with respect to a reference plane passing through the base end.

Preferably, the front tooth locking portion is provided so that the rear end thereof is curved upward.

Preferably, the rod-shaped portion has a nose resting portion having a convex rear end in front of the front tooth locking portion.

Preferably, the cylindrical part includes an anesthetic gas supply path, an inlet of the anesthetic gas supply path is provided near the rear end of the trunk, and the rod part is provided in front of the front tooth locking part. , a guide section for guiding the anesthetic gas is provided.

Preferably, an animal bed is provided in which the cylindrical part and the rod part can slide together.

Preferably, it comprises a fixture for attaching to a laboratory device and a connection part for slidably connecting with the fixture.

Another aspect of the present invention that solves the above problems is a head fixing device for fixing the head of an animal, which includes a cylindrical part having a trunk, a cylindrical part inserted into the trunk, and a rear end. and a rod-shaped part having a front tooth locking part for locking the front teeth of an animal, and the front tooth locking part is provided so that the rear end thereof is curved upward.

Preferably, the rod-shaped portion has a nose resting portion having a convex rear end in front of the front tooth locking portion.

Preferably, the cylindrical part includes an anesthetic gas supply path, an inlet of the anesthetic gas supply path is provided near the rear end of the trunk, and the rod part is provided in front of the front tooth locking part. , a guide section for guiding the anesthetic gas is provided.

Preferably, the rod-shaped portion is provided with an anesthetic gas flow path penetrating in the front-rear direction in front of the front tooth locking portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a head fixture that is easier to use.

Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be made clear by the description of the embodiments below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a head fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view which shows an example of a cylindrical part, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a left view. It is a figure for explaining the guide groove of an example of a cylindrical part. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the guide groove in FIG. 3; It is a figure for explaining the guide groove of another example of a cylindrical part. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of an inner cylinder part in the example of the cylinder part of FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of a rod-shaped portion, and is (a) a plan view, (b) a front view, (c) a left side view (enlarged view), and (d) a right side view (enlarged view). It is an external view which shows another example of a rod-shaped part, (a) a left side view (enlarged view), (b) a right side view (enlarged view). It is a perspective view of an example of a rod-shaped part. It is a schematic diagram for explaining the locking part in an example of a rod-shaped part. It is a figure for explaining the locking of the front teeth of an animal. It is a figure for explaining operation of an example of a head fixture concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing an example of a head fixture concerning other embodiments of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing an example of a head fixture concerning other embodiments of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing an example of a head fixture concerning other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 16 is an external view showing an example of a portion other than the animal bed in FIG. 15, which is (a) a plan view and (b) a front view.

Examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that common constituent elements in the following embodiments (and modified examples) may be designated by the same reference numerals as those described above, and the description thereof may be omitted. In addition, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of constituent elements, etc., unless it is specifically specified or it is clearly considered that it is not the case in principle, etc., we refer to things that are substantially similar to or similar to the shape, etc. shall be included.

<Embodiment 1>
The head fixing device of this embodiment is for fixing the head of an animal. The head fixing device of this embodiment is for fixing the head of a small rodent (rat, mouse, etc.) for experiments or treatments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a head fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, X indicates the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction, depth direction), Y indicates the up-down direction (vertical direction), and Z indicates the lateral direction (left-right direction) (the same applies in each figure below).

The head fixture 1 of this embodiment includes a cylindrical part 2 and a rod-shaped part 3. The cylindrical portion 2 has a body portion 22 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. The rod-shaped part 3 is formed separately from the cylindrical part 2 and is used by being inserted into the body part 22 of the cylindrical part 2. The rod-shaped part 3 has a front tooth locking part 311 for locking an animal's front teeth (front teeth of the upper jaw) at one rear end.

The head fixture 1 of this embodiment can move and adjust the position of an animal whose front teeth are locked in the front tooth locking portion 311. The head fixing device 1 has a guide groove 25 (see FIG. 3, etc. described later) provided on the substantially circular inner circumferential surface of the body portion 22 (approximately circular in cross section) as a moving mechanism, and a guide groove 25 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rod-shaped portion 3. A protrusion 35 is provided and movable along the guide groove 25 (see FIG. 7, etc. described later). With this moving mechanism, the rod-shaped part 3 can be moved relative to the cylindrical part 2, and its position can be adjusted.

The guide groove 25 of the head fixture 1 is provided to allow the rod-shaped portion 3 to move back and forth and rotate. Thereby, the head fixture 1 can be adjusted not only in the front-rear direction but also in the circumferential direction, making it easier to meet the needs for position adjustment.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of a cylindrical part, and is (a) a plan view, (b) a front view, and (c) a left side view. The cylindrical part 2 has a body part 22 and a head rest part 21 that is continuous to the rear end side of the body part 22. The cylindrical portion 2 preferably further includes an auxiliary cylindrical portion 23 continuous to the front end side of the body portion 22. The cylindrical portion 2 preferably further includes an anesthetic gas supply path 24.

The head rest 21 is a part on which the animal's head is placed. The upper surface of the head rest 21, which is the rest surface, preferably has a substantially curved shape with high left and right portions and low central portion.

As shown in FIG. 1, the head fixing device 1 may include a trunk rest 4 continuous to the rear end side of the head rest 21. As shown in FIG. The trunk rest 4 is a part for resting the animal's trunk, and may be formed integrally with the head rest 21, or may be formed separately and attached. The trunk placement section 4 may have a placement connection section 41 at the rear end of the main body. The placement connection portion 41 is a portion for placing the trunk of the animal and/or connecting it to other instruments, devices, and attachments as necessary (for slightly larger animals, etc.).

The trunk portion 22 is a portion for adjusting the position of the animal and fixing the animal together with the rod-shaped portion 3. The body portion 22 may have a base shaped to be easily placed on a part of its outer peripheral surface so that it can be easily placed on a workbench or the like during use. As shown in FIG. 1, the head fixture 1 may be provided with legs 5 on the body 22 for placement and/or for connection with other instruments, devices, fixtures, etc.

The body portion 22 is preferably formed in a concave shape (curved shape) with an upper rear end recessed forward when viewed from above. In other words, the body portion 22 preferably has a head accommodating portion 221 having left and right walls and a bottom wall on the rear end side, and having a portion of the upper wall missing in a curved shape. By forming it in this way, it becomes easier to accommodate or place the front of the animal's head in this part.

The body portion 22 preferably has a shape that gradually reduces in diameter at a portion closer to the front end.

The auxiliary cylindrical portion 23 is a portion that auxiliarily guides the back and forth movement of the rod-shaped portion 3 and supports its rotation. The auxiliary cylinder portion 23 is formed to have approximately the same diameter as the reduced diameter front end of the body portion 22 . The auxiliary cylinder part 23 penetrates in the front-rear direction similarly to the body part 22, and has a cylindrical shape with a substantially circular inner circumferential surface (substantially circular in cross-section). A gripping portion 33 of the rod-shaped portion 3, which will be described later, is inserted into the auxiliary cylinder portion 23.

The anesthetic gas supply path 24 is a part for causing the animal to inhale anesthetic gas. In the anesthetic gas supply path 24, for example, a tubular supply port 241 is formed in a reduced diameter portion on the front end side of the body portion 22. An anesthetic gas supply device (such as a vaporizer) is connected to the supply port 241 via a tube (hereinafter referred to as "supply tube"). The inlet 242 of the anesthetic gas supply path 24 is formed near the rear end of the trunk 22, for example. The flow path between the supply port 241 and the suction port 242 is, for example, formed between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface of the body portion 22, and extends from the front to the rear. The head fixture 1 enables stable inhalation anesthesia of animals with isoflurane or the like by the anesthetic gas supply path 24 integrally formed in the trunk 22 in this manner. Preferably, the supply port 241, the suction port 242, and the flow path between them are provided at the lower part of the body 22, so that the anesthetic gas injected from the front supply port 241 flows backward and is discharged from the suction port 242. be done.

As an example, the cylindrical part 2 has the above-mentioned structure, for example, the head rest part 21, the body part 22, the auxiliary cylinder part 23, the anesthetic gas supply path 24, and the guide groove 25, which are integrally formed. The cylindrical portion 2 is made of a non-magnetic material, such as a resin material. The cylindrical portion 2 may be made of other materials such as rubber or wood, as long as a predetermined performance such as strength can be obtained. The cylindrical portion 2 may be formed of metal or the like as long as it does not interfere with experiments, treatments, etc.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a guide groove of an example of a cylindrical part. The guide groove 25 is provided in the upper part of the body part 22. In the figure, the cylindrical portion 2 is in a state in which the body portion 22 is cut along the XZ plane, and the guide groove 25 is exposed on the cut surface. In this example, the guide groove 25 is a bottomed groove that is recessed from the inner peripheral surface side of the body portion 22 and has a bottom wall on the outer peripheral surface (surface) side.

The guide groove 25 is provided to allow the rod-shaped portion 3 to move back and forth and rotate. As an example, the guide groove 25 has a portion (first portion) that allows the protrusion 35 to move back and forth while rotating by a predetermined angle. As an example, the guide groove 25 further includes a portion (second portion) that allows the protrusion 35 to move back and forth while rotating at a predetermined angle in a direction different from the rotation direction of the portion (first portion).

By providing such a guide groove 25, the head fixture 1 can be easily adjusted in position not only in the front-back direction but also in the circumferential direction.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the guide groove of FIG. 3. An example of the guide groove 25 will be described in detail below.

The guide groove 25 has a starting groove 251 that is a portion that opens at the rear end of the body portion 22 . The starting end groove 251 is a portion for inserting and guiding the protrusion 35 into the guide groove 25. As will be described later, the rod-like portion 3 can take various forms depending on the target animal, including the angle of the protrusion 35, and the starting end groove 251 is a part for easily replacing the rod-like portion 3 in various forms. There is also. As an example, the starting end groove 251 is provided so as to extend substantially linearly in the front-back direction, and is provided along a reference plane (an XY plane passing through the left and right centers of the locking portion), which will be described later.

The guide groove 25 has a first intermediate groove 252 that is continuous with the starting groove 251 . The first intermediate groove 252 is a portion that allows the protrusion 35 to move back and forth while rotating by a predetermined angle. For example, the first intermediate groove 252 is provided such that the front end is offset from the rear end by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction (eg, clockwise) and by a predetermined distance forward. Thereby, when the protrusion 35 advances from one end of the first intermediate groove 252 to the other end, it means that the protrusion 35 has rotated by a predetermined angle as it moves forward or backward.

The work (locking work) of fitting (locking) the animal's front teeth into the rod-shaped portion 3, which will be described later, is preferably performed obliquely so that it can be visually confirmed. By having the first intermediate groove 252, the head fixing device 1 allows the rod-like portion 3 to rotate appropriately as it moves back and forth, thereby making it possible to easily perform a locking operation in an oblique position.

The guide groove 25 has a second intermediate groove 253 that is continuous with the first intermediate groove 252 . The second intermediate groove 253 is a portion that allows the protrusion 35 to move back and forth while rotating by a predetermined angle. As an example, the second intermediate groove 253 has a rotation direction different from that of the first intermediate groove 252. For example, the second intermediate groove 253 is provided such that the front end is offset from the rear end by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction (eg, counterclockwise) and by a predetermined distance forward. Thereby, when the protrusion 35 advances from one end of the second intermediate groove 253 to the other end, it means that the protrusion 35 has rotated by a predetermined angle as it moves forward or backward.

Work such as imaging or observing animals (observation work) is often performed in the midline prone position (face down). Therefore, it is desirable that the rod-shaped portion 3, which has been rotated to the oblique position, be returned to the substantially horizontal initial position by the first intermediate groove 252. By having the second intermediate groove 253, the head fixture 1 can rotate the rod-shaped portion 3 in the opposite direction and lead it to a desirable posture for observation work.

The guide groove 25 has a terminal groove 254 that is continuous with the second intermediate groove 253 . The terminal groove 254 is a portion having a closed end at the rear. The terminal groove 254 has a front end located side by side with the second intermediate groove 253 and a closed end, which is a rear end, located behind the front end of the second intermediate groove 253 . The terminal groove 254 is provided, for example, in a substantially linear shape extending in the front-rear direction.

The guide groove 25 has a stop portion in which the protrusion 35 can stay. In the head fixture 1, a predetermined operation is performed when the protrusion 35 is stopped at the stop portion. The head fixture 1 can be positioned simply by stopping the protrusion 35 in the stop portion, so no tools are required and the operation is simple. Further, when changing the position, it is only necessary to move the protrusion 35 from the stop portion, so the position can be changed easily.

As an example, the guide groove 25 has two or more stop portions, and one stop portion is provided at a position shifted by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction and by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction with respect to one stop portion. . For example, the guide groove 25 has two stopping parts, a first stopping part P1 and a second stopping part P2. The second stop part P2 is located at a position shifted from the first stop part P1 by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction and by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction. With this arrangement, the animal's longitudinal position and circumferential position (body position) can be easily and simultaneously changed depending on the work content.

In the illustrated example, the first stop portion P1 of the guide groove 25 is formed by a corner between the first intermediate groove 252 and the second intermediate groove 253. This corner is closed at least on the rear and one side, and the protrusion 35 can stay there. Since the animal is locked on the rear end side of the rod-shaped part 3, the rod-shaped part 3 tends to be pulled backward, and since the lower side is blocked, the rod-shaped part 3 This is because it is thought that there is a tendency to remain at . As illustrated, the corner portion may be formed to have a generally U-shaped portion when viewed from above, and may also be provided so that the other side is partially closed. In the head fixture 1, the front tooth locking operation is performed when the protrusion 35 is stopped at the first stop portion P1.

In the guide groove 25, for example, the second stop portion P2 is formed by the closed end of the terminal groove 254. The closed end is closed at the rear and both sides, and the protrusion 35 can be retained therein. In the head fixture 1, the head observation work is performed when the protrusion 35 is stopped at the second stop portion P2.

Note that the guide groove 25 is not limited to the above example. The guide groove 25 may have only some of the above configurations, or may have a plurality of some of the above configurations. For example, the number of stopping parts may be one, or three or more. The number of groove portions constituting the guide groove 25 may be three or less, or may be five or more. The groove portion may have a different shape and angle from those described above depending on the content of observation or treatment.

For example, the first intermediate groove 252 is provided at a position where the front end is shifted by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction from the rear end, and the protrusion 35 is provided so that it rotates in the circumferential direction but is not displaced in the front-rear direction. Good too.

For example, the end groove 254 may be provided to extend in the circumferential direction. In other words, the end groove 254 may be provided so that the protrusion 35 rotates in the circumferential direction but is not displaced in the front-rear direction. A third intermediate groove may be provided between the end groove 254 and the second intermediate groove 253, and this third intermediate groove may extend in the circumferential direction. With this configuration, it is easy to position the animal, such as midline prone position (prone), left recumbent position, right recumbent position, or midline supine position (supine, back), depending on the content of the observation or treatment. can be obtained. Note that by rotating the second intermediate groove 253 in a direction opposite to that shown in the figure, for example, the front end is shifted by a predetermined angle clockwise and a predetermined distance forward with respect to the rear end, so that the median supine position ( It may also be possible to easily obtain the position (on your back).

The guide groove 25 may be provided depending on the dominant hand of the operator. Although the illustration is suitable for a right-handed operator (who holds a small animal with the right hand), the guide groove 25 may be provided symmetrically to the one shown in the illustration for a left-handed operator. Both the illustrated guide groove 25 and a guide groove symmetrical thereto may be provided. The groove portion of the guide groove 25 may be changed or added to make the guide groove 25 easy to use for both parties.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the guide groove of another example of the cylindrical part. In the figure, the cylindrical portion 2 is in a state in which the body portion 22 is cut along the XZ plane, and the guide groove 25 is exposed on the cut surface.

The cylindrical portion 2 may be constructed by overlapping two separately formed parts on the inside and outside. As an example, the cylindrical portion 2 may have an outer cylindrical portion 2a and an inner cylindrical portion 2b formed separately, and the inner cylindrical portion 2b may be attached to the inner peripheral portion of the outer cylindrical portion 2a so as to be relatively immovable. For example, the outer periphery of the inner cylindrical portion 2b of the cylindrical portion 2 is connected and fixed to the inner periphery of the outer cylindrical portion 2a at the rear end side.

In the cylindrical part 2, for example, the head rest part 21 is formed in the outer cylindrical part 2a. A part of the head rest part 21 may also be formed in the inner cylinder part 2b. The body portion 22 is composed of an outer cylinder portion 2a and an inner cylinder portion 2b. The auxiliary cylinder part 23 may be formed by the outer cylinder part 2a and the inner cylinder part 2b jointly, or may be formed in either one of them. In the anesthetic gas supply path 24, the supply port 241 may be formed jointly by the outer cylinder part 2a and the inner cylinder part 2b, or may be formed by either one of them. The suction port 242 is formed in the inner cylinder portion 2b. A flow path between the supply port 241 and the suction port 242 is provided between the outer cylinder part 2a and the inner cylinder part 2b. The guide groove 25 is configured as a bottomed groove whose side surfaces are both sides of a through groove (inner guide groove) provided in the inner cylinder part 2b, and whose bottom face is the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder part 2a. In addition, in the cylindrical part 2, the head rest part 21 and the part (for example, the head accommodating part 221) near the rear end of the body part 22 are arranged so that the cross-sectional area of the accommodating part is directed forward to match the shape of the animal's head. It may be formed into a tapered shape that gradually becomes narrower. When the cylindrical part 2 is configured with an outer cylindrical part 2a and an inner cylindrical part 2b, which overlap on the inside and outside, one or both of the outer cylindrical part 2a and the inner cylindrical part 2b (see FIG. 6) have such a tapered shape. may be formed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the inner cylinder part in the example of the cylindrical part of FIG. 5. FIG. In the illustration, for convenience of explanation, the inner cylinder portion 2b is shown with the rod-shaped portion 3 inserted therein. The inner guide groove 25b is provided as a penetrating groove in the inner body part 22b, and for example, corresponding to the configuration of the guide groove 25 described above, in order from the rear end, an inner starting end groove 251b, a first inner intermediate groove 252b, an inner second groove, etc. It has an intermediate groove 253b and an inner terminal groove 254b.

As described above, the guide groove 25 may have a rotation groove connected to the front end of the terminal groove 254. Taking the illustrated inner guide groove 25b as an example, it has an inner rotation groove 255b that is continuous with the front end of the inner end groove 254b and the front end of the inner second intermediate groove 253b. The inner rotation groove 255b is provided so that the protrusion 35 can rotate by a predetermined angle (for example, about 50 degrees) to the left or right from the front end of the inner end groove 254b or the front end of the inner second intermediate groove 253b.

By configuring the guide groove 25 in this way, the head fixing device 1 can change the animal's body position to a midline prone position (prone position) in the inner terminal groove 254b portion (terminal groove 254) and a midline prone position (prone position) in the inner rotation groove 255b portion. (Rotation groove) allows the patient to be in the left lateral or right lateral decubitus position. In this case, both end portions of the internal rotation groove 255b (rotation groove) serve as stopping portions when the patient is in the left lateral decubitus position or the right lateral decubitus position. Further, although not shown, the guide groove 25 (inner guide groove 25b) may be configured so that the animal can be placed in a midline supine position (supine position, back).

FIG. 7 is an external view showing an example of a rod-shaped part, and is (a) a plan view, (b) a front view, (c) a left side view (enlarged view), and (d) a right side view (enlarged view). FIG. 8 is an external view showing another example of the rod-shaped part, and is (a) a left side view (enlarged view) and (b) a right side view (enlarged view). FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an example of a rod-shaped portion. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a locking part in an example of a rod-shaped part. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the locking of the front teeth of an animal. The rod-shaped portion 3 can be configured in various ways depending on the target animal, and one example will be described below.

The rod-shaped portion 3 has a locking portion 31 on the rear end side, a middle rod portion 32 following the locking portion 31, and a gripping portion 33 on the front end side following the middle rod portion 32. The rod-shaped part 3 preferably has a guide part 34 for guiding the anesthetic gas. The protrusion 35 is arranged on the middle rod part 32.

The rod-shaped portion 3 is integrally formed with a locking portion 31, a middle rod portion 32, a grip portion 33, a guide portion 34, and a protrusion 35. The rod-shaped portion 3 is made of a non-magnetic material, such as a resin material. The rod-shaped portion 3 may be made of other materials such as rubber or wood, as long as a predetermined performance such as strength can be obtained. The rod-shaped portion 3 may be formed of metal, etc., as long as it does not interfere with experiments, treatments, etc.

The locking portion 31 is formed to have a slightly flat shape, and is preferably formed laterally symmetrically. The locking portion 31 has a front tooth locking portion 311 at the rear end. The front tooth locking portion 311 is formed in the shape of an upper visible band, and a front tooth accommodating space S is formed inside. As shown in FIG. 10, the front tooth accommodating space S is preferably formed in a shape like a flat arrowhead when viewed from above. When the animal is large and the front teeth are large (wide at the root), the front tooth accommodation space S is preferably formed in a shape with a slightly wide and rounded rear end (tip apex).

As shown in FIGS. 7(b), (d), and 11, the front tooth locking portion 311 has a rear end located at a higher position than a front end. More specifically, the front tooth locking portion 311 has a rear end curved upward, and an upper surface and a lower surface when viewed from the side are curved. By having such a shape, the front tooth locking part 311 can be easily attached to the front teeth of the animal, and can reliably hold the roots of the front teeth along the upper jaw. Furthermore, by hooking the front teeth to the front tooth locking portion 311, the animal is properly fixed.

In experimental research, especially in basic medical (animal experiment) research, it is important to immobilize animals in appropriate positions. Rats and other animals can freely change the position and angle of their heads by bending and rotating their necks, so in stereotactic brain surgery that uses a standard brain atlas (a precise map of the brain), The skull is fixed at three points, including the ear canal, and the inclination of the plane connecting them is adjusted so that the parietal bones are horizontal. In the head fixing device 1, the head is fixed by the cylindrical part 2 (outer cylindrical part 2a), the rod-shaped part 3, or the front tooth locking part 311 at an angle where the parietal bone is approximately horizontal, so the head can be fixed in a short time. It is possible to achieve both accurate positioning of the part and appropriate fixation required in experimental research. For this reason, in normal brain imaging, it is considered that it is sufficient to fix the front teeth in the head fixture 1, but if necessary, a mechanism for holding the external ear holes on both sides may be provided in the cylindrical part 2 (outer cylindrical part 2a). Needless to say, in addition to the front teeth, both external auditory foramina may also be fixed.

The shape and position of the front teeth are approximately as shown in FIG. 11 when shown in the rat head skeleton A1. Since the front tooth locking part 311 has a curved rear end (in a curved shape like a ship's tip), it fits the slope of the jaw at the top of the back side base of the front tooth A2, suppresses wobbling, and allows the front tooth A2 to It becomes difficult to come out from the front tooth accommodation space S. By forming the front tooth locking portion 311 or the front tooth accommodation space S in this way, the root of the front tooth A2 can be reliably held along the upper jaw of the animal A. In this way, the front tooth locking portions 311 and 31 are shaped in consideration of the anatomical characteristics of the front teeth and the upper jaw.

The locking portion 31 has a nose resting portion 312 located in front of the front tooth locking portion 311 and facing the front tooth locking portion 311 . The nose rest 312 has a rear end formed in a convex shape rearward. Since the animal's snout is located in front of the roots of the front teeth A2 in FIG. stabilize the part. Further, since the nose resting part 312 is provided at the edge of the front tooth accommodation space S, and the tip of the animal's nose rests thereon, unintentional removal of the front tooth locking part 311 can be prevented.

The nose rest 312 is preferably provided horizontally on the XZ plane and formed in the shape of a substantially circular island that is sunk below the surrounding area. This provides a better fit to the animal's nose tip and makes the animal's head more stable.

The locking portion 31 has an abutting portion 313 that protrudes downward, approximately in the middle between the front and rear ends. The contact portion 313 is a portion of the cylindrical portion 2 that comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the body portion 22 . The locking part 31 is formed in a slightly flat shape, and the front tooth locking part 311, the nose resting part 312, etc. are arranged above the inner peripheral surface of the trunk 22, and are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the trunk 22. do not. Therefore, here, the abutment part 313 is provided to suppress wobbling of the locking part 31 or the rod-shaped part 3 and to make the movement smooth.

The middle rod portion 32 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape and is inserted into the body portion 22 of the cylindrical portion 2 . The middle rod portion 32 has a shape in which the diameter of the portion on the front end side gradually decreases so as to correspond to the diameter reduction portion on the front end side of the body portion 22 .

The grip part 33 is a part for operating the head fixture 1. The grip portion 33 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has approximately the same diameter as the front end of the reduced diameter portion of the middle rod portion 32 . As an example, the grip portion 33 has a non-slip portion 331 on at least a portion of its outer peripheral surface to prevent slipping during operation. The anti-slip portion 331 may have a spiral shape as shown in the figure, or may include a plurality of regular or irregular concave portions and/or convex portions. The grip part 33 is inserted into the auxiliary cylinder part 23 of the cylinder part 2.

The guiding part 34 is a part for guiding anesthetic gas to the snout of the animal locked in the locking part 31. The guiding portion 34 includes a guiding hole 341 provided in front of the front tooth locking portion 311, for example, near the front end of the locking portion 31. The guide hole 341 is a through hole that passes through the locking portion 31 in the vertical direction. The guide part 34 preferably further includes a guide groove 342 extending in the front-rear direction between the rear end of the guide hole 341 and the front end of the nose rest part 312. The bottom surface of the guide groove 342 is on substantially the same plane as the top surface of the nose rest 312 .

The head fixture 1 may have two or more suction ports provided in the body portion 22. As an example, in addition to the suction port 242, a preliminary suction port may be provided in front of the suction port 242 (for example, at a portion corresponding to a substantially intermediate position of the starting end groove 251). Depending on the body shape of the animal (for example, a rather large animal), the suction port 242 may be blocked, so this is to be able to deal with such a situation.

The protrusion 35 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the middle rod portion 32 so that its base end is on an XY plane (hereinafter referred to as “reference plane”) passing through the left and right centers of the locking portion 31. The protrusion 35 is approximately cylindrical, has a rounded tip, and has a base end that is slightly larger in diameter than the tip. The outer circumferential surface portion of the middle rod portion 32 on which the protrusion 35 is provided may be a narrow and slightly flat surface.

As shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 35 is provided, for example, so as to extend along the reference plane. Preferably, the protrusion 35 is provided obliquely so that the tip forms a predetermined angle with respect to a reference plane passing through the base end, as shown in FIGS. 7(c) and 7(d). In the illustration, the protrusion 35 is provided so as to form a predetermined acute angle in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the rear. By providing it in this way, the movement in the guide groove 25 becomes smoother, and it becomes easier to stop at the stop portion.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an example of a head fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the same figure, the cylindrical part is shown in a state where the body part is cut along the XZ plane and the guide groove is exposed on the cut surface. For convenience of explanation, the protrusion 35 is shown in black. Hereinafter, the operation of the head fixture 1 will be explained in order from (1) below.

In (1), the rod-shaped part 3 is not yet inserted into the cylindrical part 2. In this state, the rod-shaped part 3 is inserted into the cylindrical part 2 from the rear toward the front.

In (2), although the rod-shaped portion 3 has been inserted into the cylindrical portion 2, the protrusion 35 has not yet been inserted into the guide groove 25. The front end of the gripping part 33 has already passed through the auxiliary cylinder part 23 and protrudes to the outside. The protrusion 35 coincides with the opening of the start end groove 251 in the left-right direction, and is located at the rear in the front-rear direction. Hereinafter, the position and posture in (2) will be referred to as the initial position and initial posture. In this state, the rod-shaped part 3 is drawn into the cylindrical part 2.

In (3), the protrusion 35 has already passed through the start end groove 251 and is in a state where it is stopped at the first stop portion (the corner between the first intermediate groove 252 and the second intermediate groove 253). The protrusion 35 has already rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle from the initial state. The front tooth locking portion 311 is inclined to the lower right and is in an oblique posture suitable for front tooth locking work. In this state, the animal's front teeth are locked to the front tooth locking portion 311. Hereinafter, the position and posture of (3) will be referred to as the locking position and the locking posture. With the animal locked, the bar 3 is pulled further into the tubular part 2 and the projection 35 leaves the first stop. Note that illustration of animals is omitted.

In (4), the protrusion 35 is in a state passing through the second intermediate groove 253. The protrusion 35 moves forward from the locked position while rotating counterclockwise. The front tooth locking portion 311 is returning from the locked position to the initial position. Note that illustration of animals is omitted.

In (5), the protrusion 35 has reached the end groove 254 and is in a state where it is stopped at the second stop portion. The front tooth locking portion 311 has returned to its substantially initial position, and the locked animal A3 is, for example, in a midline prone position (face down) and in a head observation position. Let the position and posture in (5) be the observation (imaging) position and observation (imaging) posture.

In this way, the head fixing device 1 of the present embodiment allows the head of a locked animal to be properly fixed (positioned) while rotating by simply pulling the rod-shaped part 3 into the cylindrical part 2. Ru. Further, by providing two or more stop sections, it is possible to work in different body positions, and a simple configuration can meet various needs. Note that the locking position and observation position (fixed position) of the head fixture 1 can be set as appropriate depending on the type and size of the animal. That is, the position of the protrusion 35 in the rod-shaped part 3 in the front-rear direction (depth direction), the position of each stopping part of the guide groove 25 in the cylindrical part 2, and the length of each groove part in the front-rear direction are determined by It can be set as appropriate depending on the type and size of the animal so that it is properly fixed at the observation position.

In addition, although the example in which the guide groove 25 is a bottomed groove has been described above, it may be a bottomless groove. In other words, when the cylindrical portion 2 is integrally formed, the guide groove 25 may penetrate the outer peripheral surface. When the cylindrical portion 2 is composed of an outer cylindrical portion 2a and an inner cylindrical portion 2b that are formed separately, an outer through groove may be provided in the outer cylindrical portion 2a corresponding to an inner guide groove of the inner cylindrical portion 2b. good. The cylindrical portion 2 may be comprised only of the inner cylindrical portion 2b. In this case, other configurations, such as the anesthetic gas supply path 24, may be modified as appropriate.

Such a head fixture 1 is suitable when there is a restriction in the installation space in the longitudinal direction (depth direction). When the guide groove is a bottomed groove, the operator operates the grip part 33 that protrudes forward from the cylindrical part 2, but if the guide groove 25 is a through groove, the projection 35 itself can be operated with a handle. Become. In this case, the portion of the gripping portion 33 that protrudes from the cylindrical portion 2 becomes unnecessary, so that the entire length of the rod-like portion 3 can be shortened and the installation space can be saved.

The head fixture 1 of this embodiment may be provided with a surplus anesthetic gas discharge path. For example, an inlet for a surplus anesthetic gas discharge path is provided at the upper part near the rear end of the trunk 22, an outlet is provided at the upper part near the front end, and the surplus anesthetic gas is discharged through the discharge path penetrating from the rear to the front.

In imaging experimental animals using CT, MRI, etc., it is necessary to hold the target animal in an appropriate position and posture for a long period of time, and stable anesthesia maintenance is essential for living animals. The head fixing device 1 of this embodiment can hold the head with high reproducibility, and is therefore particularly useful for brain imaging in which the same animal is imaged over time.

Although the above description assumes an anesthetized animal, the head fixation device 1 can be used in an experiment in which the depth of anesthesia is shallowed by gradually reducing the amount of isoflurane, etc., and the animal is finally awakened (in an awake animal). It can also be applied to experiments such as In this case, since even stronger fixation is required, preferably a mechanism for holding the external ear holes on both sides is provided in the cylindrical portion 2 (outer cylindrical portion 2a). The head fixture 1 can be applied to various experiments and treatments by adding a holding mechanism as necessary.

In addition, the above assumes that the animal breathes naturally, and uses a cylindrical shape to have a similar effect to the conventional method known as "mask anesthesia" (an anesthesia method in which the anesthetic gas is inhaled). Although the anesthetic gas supply path 24 is provided in the section 2 to achieve stable supply of anesthetic gas such as isoflurane, the present invention is not limited thereto. The head fixture 1 of this embodiment has a configuration that does not include the anesthetic gas supply path 24, and may be applied to experiments on animals sedated by an anesthesia method that does not assume natural breathing. In this case, the rod-shaped portion 3 may be configured without the guide portion 34. As an example, there is an anesthesia method using endotracheal intubation in which a tube is directly inserted into the trachea of an animal. However, the head fixation device 1 of this embodiment has a structure that does not have an anesthetic gas supply path, and experiments using such a method are possible. May be applied to As an example, there is an injection anesthesia method in which an anesthetic is administered intraperitoneally or intravenously, but the head fixation device 1 of this embodiment has a configuration that does not have an anesthetic gas supply path, and is applicable to experiments using such a method. You may. It goes without saying that the common head fixture 1 is provided with an anesthetic gas supply path 24, and that the anesthetic gas supply path 24 may or may not be used depending on the anesthesia method.

Since the head fixation device 1 of this embodiment can appropriately fix the front teeth even in the midline supine position, it may be configured without the anesthetic gas supply path 24 and may be applied to the endotracheal intubation procedure itself. It goes without saying that the common head fixing device 1 is provided with an anesthetic gas supply channel 24, and that the anesthetic gas supply channel 24 may or may not be used depending on the treatment content and anesthesia method. .

<Modification 1 of Embodiment 1>
The head fixture 1 of this example differs from the first embodiment described above in that the anesthetic gas supply path 24 is not provided in the cylindrical portion 2, but the anesthetic gas supply path is provided in the rod-shaped portion 3. That is, in this example, an anesthetic gas flow path extending in the front-rear direction is provided in front of the front tooth locking part 311 of the rod-shaped part 3. Although not shown, the rod-shaped portion 3 has, for example, a through hole that axially passes through the portion other than the locking portion 31, that is, the grip portion 33 and the middle rod portion 32, and has a supply port connected to the supply tube. The front end of the grip part 33 also serves as an inlet for inhaling anesthetic gas, and the rear end of the middle rod part 32 serves as an inlet for inhaling anesthetic gas. As a result, the anesthetic gas injected from the front supply port flows rearward and is discharged from the inhalation port. In this example, the rod-shaped portion 3 may be configured without the guide portion 34.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a head fixture according to another embodiment of the present invention. The head fixing device 1 of this embodiment includes an animal bed 6 as illustrated. In this application, an animal bed refers to a dedicated platform on which animals are placed for experiments and treatments.

Treatments such as tail vein puncture are sometimes performed on mice and rats. Tail veins are located on the left and right sides of the tail, and when performing venipuncture to secure blood vessels or administer drugs, it is necessary to hold the animal in a lateral position. As described above, the animal's head is properly and reliably fixed to the cylindrical part 2 by the rotation and retraction of the rod-shaped part 3. It can be used as a treatment table. The lateral recumbent position of the animal can be easily obtained, for example, by providing the rotation groove 255 or the internal rotation groove 255b.

As shown in the figure, the animal bed 6 is formed into a generally L-shape when viewed from the side, and includes a base portion and a rear support portion that is approximately perpendicular to the base portion. The animal bed 6 has a base portion supported in a forward-inclined posture by a rear support portion.

The animal bed 6 has a slide portion 61 near the rear end of the platform that is connected to the placement connection portion 41 of the trunk placement portion 4 so as to accommodate the animal bed 6 . The cylindrical part 2, the rod-shaped part 3, and the trunk mounting part 4 (hereinafter referred to as the "fixing device main body" in this embodiment) are attached to the animal bed 6 by inserting the mounting connection part 41 into the sliding part 61.

The animal bed 6 has, for example, a handle 62 for sliding the fixture main body back and forth along a slide portion 61. By operating the handle 62, the animal bed 6 can shift from the state shown in FIG. 13(a) to the rearward sliding state shown in FIG. 13(b), for example. The animal bed 6 may not be provided with a handle 62, and the fixture main body may be slid back and forth along the sliding portion 61 by moving the cylindrical portion 2 (outer cylindrical portion 2a) etc. by hand.

In other words, the animal bed 6 is formed so that the cylindrical part 2 and the rod-shaped part 3 are slidable together. With this configuration, the tail vein puncture position can be adjusted by moving the animal held in the lateral position by these parts back and forth while maintaining the same body position.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of a head fixture according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the head fixing device 1 of this embodiment includes a fixture 8 for attachment to an experimental device, for example, an imaging device, and is slidably connected to the fixture 8 instead of the trunk rest 4. A connecting portion 7 is provided.

The connecting portion 7 has two rod-shaped portions extending in the front-rear direction, and is provided so as to be continuous with the rear end of the cylindrical portion 2 . The connecting portion 7 may be formed integrally with the head rest portion 21, or may be formed separately and attached.

The fitting 8 includes a holding part 81 through which the connecting part 7 is inserted and slidably held therein, and a substantially C-shaped mounting part 82 having a pair of mounting holes on the left and right sides. The attachment part 82 is provided on the front end side of the holding part 81 so as to support the holding part 81 from below. The holding portion 81 and the attachment portion 82 may be formed integrally, or may be formed separately and fitted into one body.

When imaging an animal's head, the imaging range is narrow, and it is desirable to be able to slide and adjust the position of the head relative to the imaging device. The head fixing device 1 of this embodiment includes the connecting portion 7 and the attachment 8, so that the head of the animal, which is appropriately held by the cylindrical portion 2 and the rod portion 3, can be positioned in the front-back direction with respect to the imaging device. You can change it by sliding.

<Embodiment 4>
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an example of a head fixture according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The head fixture 1 of this embodiment does not have a moving mechanism (guide groove 25 and protrusion 35), and the rod-shaped part 3 cannot move relative to the cylindrical part 2, mainly in the above-described embodiment. This is different from 1 to 3 and their variations. Although the head fixture 1 does not have a position adjustment function using a moving mechanism, other functions are provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, differences from the first embodiment described above will be mainly explained.

In the head fixture 1 of this embodiment, the rod-shaped part 3 is inserted into the cylindrical part 2 and fixed. In the head fixture 1, the cylindrical portion 2 and the rod-shaped portion 3 may be integrally formed.

As an example, the structure of the head fixture 1 other than the guide groove 25 and the protrusion 35 in the cylindrical part 2 and the rod-shaped part 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

As another example, as shown in the illustrated example, the head fixing device 1 is configured such that the cylindrical portion 2 and the rod portion 3 are shorter in length in the front-rear direction than in the first embodiment, and have a shortened shape. The illustrated example will be described in detail below, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an external view showing an example of a portion other than the animal bed in FIG. 15, and is (a) a plan view and (b) a front view.

The rod-shaped portion 3 has a locking portion 31 at the rear end, which is one end, as in the first embodiment, but does not have the middle rod portion 32 and the grip portion 33 in the first embodiment, and is different from the first embodiment. formed short.

The locking portion 31 may have a structure having a front tooth locking portion 311, a nose resting portion 312, and a contact portion 313 as in the first embodiment, or may have only a front tooth locking portion 311 and a nose resting portion 312. It can also be a configuration.

Although not shown, the rod-shaped portion 3 has a substantially cylindrical front rod portion at the other end. That is, in this example, the rod-shaped portion 3 has a front rod portion and a locking portion 31. The rod-shaped portion 3 may have a guide portion 34 similar to that of the first embodiment.

The cylindrical part 2 has the function of placing or inserting the animal's face or head and holding or enclosing most or part of it depending on its shape, and the rod-shaped part 3 is inserted and fixed. The structure is not particularly limited as long as it has the function of fixing the animal's head together with the rod-shaped part 3.

As an example, the cylindrical part 2 includes a body part 22 and a head rest part 21 similar to that of the first embodiment described above, which is connected to the rear end side of the body part 22. Here, as an example, the cylindrical portion 2 has a front wall portion 26 and has a closed front end. The cylindrical part 2 may not have the front wall part 26, or may have a through hole in the front wall part 26 and penetrate in the front-rear direction. The cylindrical portion 2 may have an anesthetic gas supply path 24 similar to the above embodiment. The outer peripheral surface of the supply port 241 of the anesthetic gas supply path 24 has a bellows shape or a bellows pattern to prevent the supply tube from coming off.

The body portion 22 has a head accommodating portion 221 similar to that of the first embodiment. The body portion 22 is formed shorter than that of the first embodiment.

The body portion 22 has a shape in which the diameter of the portion near the front end gradually decreases as in the first embodiment, and the supply port 241 of the anesthetic gas supply path 24 is formed in this diameter decrease portion. The inlet of the anesthetic gas supply path 24 is formed near the rear end of the trunk 22 as in the first embodiment, and the anesthetic gas injected from the front supply port 241 is provided at the lower part of the trunk 22. It flows backwards through the channel and is released from the inlet.

The cylindrical part 2 may have a head rest part 21, a body part 22, and an anesthetic gas supply path 24 formed integrally, as in the first embodiment, or may include an outer cylindrical part and an anesthetic gas supply path 24 formed separately. The inner cylinder parts may be fixed to each other so as not to be relatively movable.

One or both of the cylindrical part 2 and the rod-shaped part 3 has an attachment part for attaching and fixing the rod-shaped part 3 to the cylindrical part 2. The attachment part is not particularly limited as long as it can fix the rod-shaped part 3 in a state where it is inserted into the cylindrical part 2. This attachment part may be used with a member formed separately from the cylindrical part 2 and the rod-shaped part 3.

Similar to Embodiment 1, the head fixing device 1 of this embodiment has a front tooth locking part 311 that takes into consideration the anatomical characteristics of the front teeth and the upper jaw, so it can be easily attached to the front teeth of the animal, and The roots of the front teeth can be held securely along the The functions and effects of the front tooth locking portion 311 and the locking portion 31 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In the head fixing device 1 of this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 2 may be provided with foot portions 5 for placement and/or connection with other instruments, devices, fixtures, etc.

As shown in FIG. 15, the head fixing device 1 of this embodiment includes an animal bed 91, a mounting portion 92 near the front end of the animal bed 91, and a connecting portion 93 at the rear end of the cylindrical portion 2. You may prepare. The connecting portion 93 has two rod-shaped portions extending in the front-rear direction, and these portions are inserted into and attached to the attachment portion 92. The illustrated head fixing device 1 is, for example, for imaging the head of an animal.

<Modification 1 of Embodiment 4>
The head fixture 1 of this example differs from the fourth embodiment in that the anesthetic gas supply path 24 is not provided in the cylindrical portion 2 and the anesthetic gas supply path is formed in the rod-shaped portion 3. That is, in this example, an anesthetic gas flow path extending in the front-rear direction is provided in front of the front tooth locking part 311 of the rod-shaped part 3.

Although not shown, as an example, a through hole is provided in the front wall portion 26 of the cylindrical portion 2, and the front end portion of the front rod portion of the rod portion 3 is inserted through the through hole in the front wall portion 26. The rod-shaped portion 3 has a through hole that passes through the front rod in the axial direction, and the front end of the front rod also serves as a supply port for connecting the supply tube, and the front end serves as an inlet for inhaling anesthetic gas. The rear end of the Thereby, the anesthetic gas injected from the front supply port flows rearward and is discharged from the inhalation port. In this example, the rod-shaped portion 3 may be configured without the guiding portion 34.

Similarly to Embodiment 4, the head fixation device 1 of this example also supplies and releases an anesthetic gas such as isoflurane to the vicinity of the animal's face, and can appropriately and reliably fix the head with a stable anesthetic effect. .

<Modification 2 of Embodiment 4>
The head fixture 1 of this example differs from the above-mentioned Embodiment 4 mainly in that anesthetic gas is supplied and the entire head fixture 1 is held using a dock adapter.

The head fixture 1 of this example includes a dock adapter for connection. Although not shown, as an example, the front wall portion 26 of the cylindrical portion 2 has an insertion portion that projects forward, and this insertion portion is inserted into the dock adapter. As another example, the front wall portion 26 of the cylindrical portion 2 has a through hole, and the front end portion of the front rod portion of the rod portion 3 is inserted into the through hole and inserted into the dock adapter.

A supply tube is connected to the dock adapter, and when the insertion portion of the cylindrical portion 2 or the front rod portion of the rod-shaped portion 3 is inserted into the dock adapter, the supply port 241 is inserted into the supply end of the supply tube. Preferably, the dock adapter is provided with a device (such as a medical plug-in valve that allows injection of an injection solution at will) to allow anesthetic gas to flow only when the dock adapter is plugged in.

The anesthetic gas supply method for the head fixation device 1 in this example can be called dock connection using a dock adapter, and appropriate induction anesthesia (initial stage anesthesia using relatively high concentration isoflurane, etc.) and retention (immobilization) This has the advantage that the target animal can be moved while still in the animal bed. The head fixation device 1 of this example can be easily moved throughout the animal bed, including preparations and treatments, and can be easily connected to an imaging device or the like to continue anesthesia. Furthermore, even when capturing images of multiple animals at once, the dock adapters can be arranged in parallel within the allowable space to streamline the work.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be incorporated into animal beds for imaging in various experimental animal imaging devices (e.g., an anesthesia supply method using a dock adapter or imaging multiple animals at the same time). (including applications for). INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a device for holding (fixing) an animal in order to perform various treatments on the animal (drug administration, blood vessel securing, stereotactic brain surgery, endotracheal intubation, etc.) (combined with a dock adapter). (including anesthesia delivery methods and applications for treating multiple animals simultaneously).

In animal experiments, not only animals of different sizes such as mice and rats are used as subjects, but even subjects of the same species are set so that their ages in weeks and months are distributed. In some cases, the size of the animals varies accordingly, or in other cases, only animals of a specific age in weeks or months are targeted, such as a young group or an old group. The head fixing device 1 of the present invention is equipped with a cylindrical portion 2 and a rod-like portion 3, and by making these into appropriate sizes and shapes, it can be used for all such experiments. Particularly, due to the degree of freedom of the rod-shaped portion 3, by appropriately setting the position of the protrusion 35 in the front-rear direction, the shape of the front tooth accommodating space S, etc., it is possible to achieve appropriate fixation for various animals. The head fixture 1 of the present invention may include one cylindrical portion 2 and two or more rod-shaped portions 3 having different positions of the protrusions 35 and different shapes of the front tooth accommodating spaces S.

In addition, in the description of the above embodiment, the application to small rodents was explained as an example, but it goes without saying that the invention may be applied to other animals.

Although the embodiments of the head fixture according to the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention includes combinations of the above embodiments and their modifications, as well as various modifications. Various additions, changes, and partial deletions are possible without departing from the conceptual idea and gist of the present invention derived from the content defined in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Head fixture, 2... Cylindrical part, 21... Head rest part, 22... Body part, 23... Auxiliary cylinder part, 24... Anesthetic gas supply path, 25... Guide groove, 251... Starting end groove, 252 ...First intermediate groove, 253...Second intermediate groove, 254...Terminal groove, 3...Bar-shaped part, 31...Locking part, 311...Front tooth locking part, 312...Nose resting part, 313...Abutment part, 32 ... Middle rod part, 33... Grip part, 331... Non-slip part, 34... Guide part, 341... Guide hole, 342... Guide groove, 35... Protrusion, 4... Trunk resting part.

The present invention relates to a head fixture , a locking structure, and an anesthetic gas supply system for fixing an animal's head.

Claims (17)

A head fixing device for fixing the head of an animal,
a cylindrical portion having a body portion penetrating in the front-rear direction and having a guide groove on a substantially circular inner circumferential surface;
a rod-shaped part that is inserted into the trunk and has a front tooth locking part for locking the animal's front teeth at the rear end;
The rod-shaped portion has a protrusion movable along the guide groove on the outer peripheral surface,
The head fixing device is characterized in that the guide groove is provided so that the rod-shaped portion can move back and forth and rotate. The head fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the guide groove has a portion that allows the protrusion to move back and forth while rotating by a predetermined angle. The guide groove is
a first portion that allows the protrusion to move back and forth while rotating at a predetermined angle;
The head according to claim 1, further comprising a second portion that allows the protrusion to move back and forth while rotating by a predetermined angle, the second portion having a rotation direction different from that of the first portion. Part fixing tool. The head fixing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the guide groove has a starting groove that extends substantially linearly in the front-rear direction and opens at the rear end of the trunk. Ingredients. 4. The head fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the guide groove has an end groove that extends substantially linearly in the front-rear direction and has a closed end at the rear. The head fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the guide groove has a stop portion in which the protrusion can stay. The guide groove has two or more stopping parts, and the other stopping part is located at a position shifted by a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction and by a predetermined angle in the circumferential direction with respect to one of the stopping parts. The head fixture according to claim 6, characterized in that: The head fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is provided so that a tip thereof forms a predetermined angle with respect to a reference plane passing through the base end. The head fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the front tooth locking portion is provided so that a rear end thereof is curved upward. The head fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped portion has a nose resting portion having a convex rear end in front of the front tooth locking portion. The cylindrical part includes an anesthetic gas supply path,
The inlet of the anesthetic gas supply path is provided near the rear end of the torso,
2. The head fixation device according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped part is provided with a guiding part for guiding anesthetic gas in front of the front tooth locking part. The head fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising an animal bed on which the cylindrical part and the rod-like part can be slid together. a fixture for attaching to experimental equipment;
The head fixture according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting portion for slidably connecting to the fixture. A head fixing device for fixing the head of an animal,
a cylindrical part having a trunk;
a rod-shaped part that is inserted into the trunk and has a front tooth locking part for locking the animal's front teeth at the rear end;
The head fixing device is characterized in that the front tooth locking portion is provided so that a rear end thereof is curved upward. 15. The head fixing device according to claim 14, wherein the rod-shaped part has a nose rest part having a convex rear end in front of the front tooth locking part. The cylindrical part includes an anesthetic gas supply path,
The inlet of the anesthetic gas supply path is provided near the rear end of the torso,
15. The head fixation device according to claim 14, wherein the rod-shaped part is provided with a guiding part for guiding anesthetic gas in front of the front tooth locking part. 15. The head fixation device according to claim 14, wherein the rod-shaped part is provided with an anesthetic gas flow path penetrating in the front-rear direction in front of the front tooth locking part.

Images