KR102060019B1 - Non-clinical animal experiment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-clinical animal experiment device for experimenting behavior of animals to be experimented, which comprises a main body having an upper part open and a space unit where the experimental animals move therein, and a cover coupled to the upper part of the main body and closing the open upper part of the main body, wherein a sensor means necessary for behavior experiments of the experimental animals, a feeding means and a feeding water means for survival of the experimental animals are installed in one side of the cover. According to the present invention, a general means for behavior experiments and survivals of experimental animals is installed in one side of the cover such that the present invention can be washed with the cover separated therefrom, thereby making washing easy. In addition, since any general means is not installed inside the main body, an activity area of the animals moving inside the space unit of the main body is not limited and thus, a reliable experiment environment can be provided while the animals are not crashed to the general means during activities not to be damaged. Particularly, the present invention can easily measure amounts of activities of the animals through an intake-pipe having a simple structure and providing a function of introducing exterior air into the space unit where the animals move, thereby not requiring an expensive analysis device unlike conventional methods for measuring amounts of activities of experimental animals through image analysis, and thus greatly reducing a cost.

Description

Non-clinical animal experiment apparatus

The present invention relates to a non-clinical animal testing apparatus, and more particularly, a means for behavioral experiments and survival of an experimental animal is installed on one side of a cover of the experimental device, and a function of introducing external air into the space where the laboratory animal is active. The present invention relates to a non-clinical animal testing device that can easily measure the amount of activity of a laboratory animal through a ventilation tube having a simple structure.

In general, when evaluating the efficacy of a drug or gene therapy, non-clinical experiments are conducted according to animal experiments before clinical evaluation.

Figure 1 schematically shows a conventional non-clinical animal experiment apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the conventional non-clinical animal testing apparatus, a space part in which an experimental animal is accommodated is formed and an upper portion of the conventional non-clinical animal testing apparatus is coupled to an upper portion of the main body 100 and the upper portion of the main body 100. Cover 200 to shield the, is provided with means necessary for behavioral experiments and survival of experimental animals.

However, in the conventional non-clinical animal testing apparatus as described above, the feeding means 300 and the water supply means 400 necessary for the survival of the experimental animal are usually installed on the inner wall of the main body 100. Accordingly, when a washing operation for maintenance of the feeding means 300 and the water supply means 400 is required, the washing operation is very inconvenient.

In addition, the feeding means 300 and the water supply means 400 is provided on the inner wall of the main body to provide a reliable experimental environment as the active area of the experiment animal in the space portion of the main body 100 is limited. Not only difficult to do, but the experimental animal hits the feeding means 300 and the water supply means 400 during the activity there is a problem that injuries occur.

In addition, the conventional non-clinical animal testing apparatuses typically have a PC installed with an expensive analysis program through a signal processing means 600 for performing an action experiment such as measuring an activity amount of an experimental animal. 700), and is performed through image analysis through an expensive analysis program.

Accordingly, as an expensive analysis program for analyzing the photographed image is required, a problem arises in that the cost of purchasing the expensive analysis program increases significantly.

Therefore, there is a need for a non-clinical animal testing apparatus that can easily perform behavioral experiments of experimental animals through a simple structure that is easy to clean for maintenance and does not require an expensive analysis program.

Japanese Patent No. 10-4598405

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the object of the present invention is to install the means necessary for the behavioral experiments and survival of the experimental animals on the cover side of the experimental apparatus and the outside air to the space where the experimental animals are active It is to provide a non-clinical animal experiment apparatus that can easily measure the activity of the experimental animal through the ventilation tube of the simple structure providing the inflow function.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, in the non-clinical animal experiment apparatus for experimenting the behavior of the experimental animal, the upper part is open, the inner body is formed with a space portion in which the laboratory animal is active and coupled to the upper body And a cover for shielding the open top of the main body, wherein the sensor means necessary for behavioral experiments of the test animal and the feeding means and water supply means for survival of the test animal are installed on one side of the cover. Non-clinical animal testing apparatus is provided.

Here, the method further comprises an activity measuring unit for measuring the amount of activity of the laboratory animal, the activity measuring unit is installed so that the upper end of the suction port is formed to be exposed to the upper cover, the lower end formed with a supply port is formed to extend downward And a contact sensor disposed inside the ventilation pipe between the ventilation pipe disposed below the space part and adjacent to the supply port, and in contact with a part of the body of the test animal introduced into the supply port.

In addition, the activity amount measuring means is installed on one side of the ventilation pipe, characterized in that it further comprises a suction fan for introducing external air from the suction port to the supply port.

In addition, the activity measuring unit is installed on one side of the cover corresponding to the upper portion perpendicular to the supply port, and further comprises a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the laboratory animal, the laboratory animal is detected by the sensor While it is characterized in that it further comprises a control means for controlling not to count the number of times of contact of the touch sensor more than once.

In addition, the control means controls to stop the driving of the suction fan when the test animal is detected by the sensor and the contact of the test animal is detected by the touch sensor, the test animal by the sensor If it is not detected and the contact of the laboratory animal is not detected by the contact sensor, characterized in that the suction fan is controlled to drive.

In addition, it is installed on the other side of the cover, characterized in that it further comprises a speaker means for testing the animal through sound.

The sensor means may include at least one selected from a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an ammonia sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, and an infrared temperature sensor.

According to the present invention as described above, as the means necessary for behavioral experiments and survival of the experimental animal is installed on one side of the cover, it is possible to more easily wash operation in the state of removing the cover.

In addition, since the means necessary for behavioral experiments and survival of the experimental animals are not installed inside the main body, the active area of the experimental animals active in the space part of the main body is not limited, thus providing a more reliable experimental environment. Animals do not suffer from injuries due to the behavioral tests and means necessary for survival.

In particular, the present invention is a conventional method for measuring the amount of activity of the experimental animal through the image analysis because it is easy to measure the amount of activity of the laboratory animal through the ventilation pipe of a simple structure that provides a function of introducing external air into the space portion in which the laboratory animal is active In contrast, expensive analysis equipment is not required, which can significantly reduce the cost.

Figure 1 schematically shows a conventional non-clinical animal experiment apparatus.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the combined state of the non-clinical animal testing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an exploded state of the non-clinical animal testing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described the present invention in more detail. It should be noted that like elements in the figures are denoted by the same numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the combined state of the non-clinical animal testing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an exploded state of the non-clinical animal testing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3, the non-clinical animal experiment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is for testing the behavior of the experimental animal (A), the body 10, the cover 20 and fastening Including the means 25, but the active amount required for the behavior experiment of the experimental animal (A) 31, the speaker means 32, the sensor means 33 and the imaging means 34 and the survival of the experimental animal (A) Feeding means 35 and the water supply means 36 required for is characterized in that the cover 20 is installed on one side.

The main body 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, the upper portion of which is opened, and a space S in which the test animal A is active is formed.

The main body 10 has a pair of side grippers 10a protruding from one side and the other side of the main body 10 for easy gripping of the main body 10.

The cover 20 is coupled to the upper portion of the main body 10 as a rectangular plate shape, and serves to shield the open upper portion of the main body 10.

The cover 20 has a top surface gripper 20a for easy gripping of the cover 10 on the top surface, and at the center of the bottom surface of the speaker means 32, the sensor means 33 and the image capturing means 34. An installation block 20b providing an installation area protrudes downward.

And, one side of the bottom surface of the installation block 20b is formed with an exhaust port 20c for discharging the air inside the main body 10 to the outside, one side surface of the installation block 20b, luminous material for easy identification at night This coated identification means 20d is provided.

Meanwhile, a fastening means 25 for fastening the cover 20 to the main body 10 is further formed at a corresponding side of the main body 10 and the cover 20.

The fastening means 25 is the upper end is rotatably coupled to the opposite side of the main body, the locking clip (25a) protruding to the lower end projection 25aa, the main body 10 corresponding to the fastening clip (25a) Is formed protruding on one side of the engaging projection (25aa) includes a locking jaw (25b) is engaged.

Activity measuring means 31 is for measuring the amount of activity of the laboratory animal (A), and includes a ventilation tube (31a), a contact sensor (31b), a suction fan (31c) and a detection sensor (31d).

The ventilation pipe 31a is installed to expose the upper end of the inlet port 31aa formed above the cover 20, and the lower end extends downward so that the supply port 31ab is disposed below the space S.

The ventilation pipe (31a) is bent horizontally formed with the lower end formed with the supply port (31a) so that the experimental animal (A) can easily enter the head into the supply port (31a).

The contact sensor 31b is installed inside the ventilation pipe 31a adjacent to the supply port 31a, and when the experiment animal A introduces a head into the supply port 31a, it detects the contact with the experiment animal and counts it. It plays a role.

The suction fan 31c is installed at one side of the ventilation pipe 31a and serves to introduce external air from the suction port 31aa to the supply port 31ab.

The detection sensor 31d is installed at one side of the bottom surface of the cover 20 corresponding to the upper part perpendicular to the supply port 31ab of the ventilation pipe 31a, and detects the presence or absence of the experiment animal A in the region adjacent to the supply port 31ab. It serves to sense, and infrared sensors can be used.

The speaker means 32 is installed on the other side of the bottom of the installation block 21b, and serves to send out a sound for experimenting the behavior of the experimental animal (a).

Sensor means 33 is installed on the side or bottom of the installation block (20b), for sensing the internal environment of the space (S) in which the experimental animal (A) is active, the temperature sensor (33a), humidity sensor ( 33b), an ammonia sensor 33c, a carbon dioxide sensor 33d and an infrared temperature sensor 33e.

The temperature sensor 33a measures the temperature of the space S in which the test animal A is active.

The humidity sensor 33b measures the humidity of the space S in which the experiment animal A is active.

The ammonia sensor 33c measures the ammonia concentration of the space S in which the test animal A is active.

The carbon dioxide sensor 33d measures the carbon dioxide concentration of the space S in which the experiment animal A is active.

The infrared temperature sensor 33e measures the temperature of the body of the laboratory animal A by irradiating a laser-type infrared ray with the laboratory animal A when the laboratory animal A is located at a lower portion corresponding thereto.

The image capturing means 34 is installed at the center of the bottom surface of the installation block 21b, and serves to monitor the experimental animal A in real time by capturing an image of the experimental animal A and providing the image to the user. Image cameras can be used.

Feeding means 35 is installed so that the upper end of the inlet (35a) is formed to be exposed to the upper portion of the cover 20, the lower end extends downward to be disposed below the space (S).

The feeding means 35 is a transparent window 35c is formed in the vertical direction on one side of the outer surface so as to check the remaining amount of food accommodated therein.

The water supply means 36 is formed in the interior of the water supply means 35 is a reservoir containing water, the nipple for discharging water when the experimental animal (A) in contact with the outer surface side of the feed means (35) 36a) is formed to protrude.

In addition, at one side of the installation block 20b, the measurement information measured by the activity measuring means 31, the measurement information measured by the sensor means 33, and the image information photographed by the image photographing means 34 are stored. The storage memory 40 may be further installed.

In addition, a control means 50 for controlling the activity measuring means 31, the speaker means 32, the sensor means 33 and the image photographing means 34 is further formed on the other side of the installation block 20b.

On the other hand, the present invention by controlling the amount of activity measuring means 31 in a variety of ways through the control means 50, it is possible to induce the activity of the experimental animal (A) while measuring the activity amount of the experimental animal (A) simply and accurately. And, the control method of the activity measuring means will be described in more detail below.

The control means 50 is a laboratory animal (A) is detected by the detection sensor (31d) of the activity measuring means 31 and the contact of the experimental animal (A) to the contact sensor (31b), the experimental animal (A) Judging that the activity amount of the) is generated and counts the number of times of contact of the experimental animal (A) detected by the contact sensor (31b) once.

However, when the detection state of the test animal A by the sensor 31d is maintained after the counting of the contact sensor 31b, the test animal A remains in a position adjacent to the supply port 31ab. It is determined that the amount of activity of the animal (A) does not occur so that even if the contact of the test animal (A) is detected in the contact sensor (31b) is not counted more than once.

Specifically, the above-described activity measuring means 31 is developed by focusing on the habit of introducing a head into a hole, such as a supply port 31ab, in which a rodent, such as a rat, which is usually mainly used as an experimental animal (A). , If the experimental animal (A) is active in the space (S) and the head into the hole, such as the supply port (31ab) during the activity, by counting it through the contact sensor (31b), of the experimental animal (A) It is a simple measure of activity.

Further, the activity amount measuring means 31 of the present invention is a test animal (a) in the contact sensor 31b when the state in which the test animal A stays at a position adjacent to the supply port 31ab through the sensor 31d is detected. Even if the contact of A) is not counted more than once, it is possible to more accurately measure the activity of the experimental animal (A).

In addition, the control means 50 of the present invention drives the suction fan 31c when the test animal A is detected by the sensor 31d and the contact of the test animal A is detected by the contact sensor 31b. The control unit is stopped so that the suction fan 31c is driven when the test animal A is not detected by the sensor 31d and the contact of the test animal A is not detected by the contact sensor 31b. .

That is, the present invention stops the driving of the suction fan 31c when the experimental animal A is detected by the detection sensor 31d and the contact sensor 31b so that the experimental animal A is far from the activity measuring unit 31. Induce the activity of the experimental animal (A) to move to the position, and if the experimental animal (A) is not detected by the detection sensor (31d) and the contact sensor (31b) so that the suction fan (31c) is driven to the experimental animal (A) By inducing the activity of the experimental animal (A) to move toward the active amount measuring means 31, it is possible to more smoothly measure the active amount of the experimental animal (A).

As described above, according to the present invention, since the means necessary for behavioral experiments and survival of the experimental animal A are installed at one side of the cover 20, the washing 20 can be more easily washed in a state in which the cover 20 is removed.

In addition, since the means necessary for behavioral experiments and survival of the experimental animals A are not installed inside the main body 10, the active area of the experimental animals A active in the space S of the main body 10 is not limited. Not only can this provide a more reliable experimental environment but also prevent the injuries of experimental animals (A) during the activity by hitting the means necessary for behavioral experiments and survival.

In particular, the amount of activity of the experimental animal (A) can be easily measured through the ventilation tube of a simple structure that provides a function of introducing external air into the space (S) in which the experimental animal (A) is active. Unlike the conventional method of measuring the amount of activity, expensive analysis equipment is not required, and thus the cost can be significantly reduced.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the above preferred embodiments, it is possible to make various modifications or variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the appended claims will cover such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the invention.

1: non-clinical animal testing apparatus 10: main body
10a: side grip region 20: cover
20a: Top wave district 20b: Installation block
20c: exhaust port 20d: identification means
25: fastening means 25a: fastening clip
25aa: Jamming protrusion 25b: Jamming jaw
31: Activity measuring means 31a: Ventilation pipe
31aa: suction port 31ab: supply port
31b: contact sensor 31c: suction fan
31d: sensor 32: speaker means
33: sensor means 33a: temperature sensor
33b: humidity sensor 33c: ammonia sensor
33d: carbon dioxide sensor 33e: infrared temperature sensor
34: video recording means 35: feeding means
35a: Inlet 35b: Outlet
36: water supply means 36a: nipple
40: storage memory 50: control means
S: Space A: Experiment Animal

Claims (7)

In the non-clinical animal experiment apparatus for testing the behavior of the experimental animal,
A main body having an upper part open and having a space part inside the laboratory animal active;
Is coupled to the upper body, including a cover for shielding the open top of the body,
The sensor means necessary for behavioral experiments of the experimental animal and the feeding means and water supply means necessary for the survival of the experimental animal is installed on one side of the cover,
Further comprising an active amount measuring means for measuring the active amount of the experimental animal,
The activity measuring means
A ventilation pipe installed at an upper end of which an intake port is formed to be exposed to an upper portion of the cover, and having a lower end formed on a supply hole extending downward, and disposed below the space part;
And a contact sensor installed inside the ventilation tube adjacent to the supply port and in contact with a portion of the body of the test animal introduced into the supply port. delete The method of claim 1,
The activity measuring means
Is installed on one side of the ventilation pipe, the non-clinical animal experiment apparatus further comprises a suction fan for introducing external air from the suction port to the supply port. The method of claim 3, wherein
The activity measuring means
It is installed on one side of the cover corresponding to the upper portion perpendicular to the supply port, further comprising a detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the experimental animal,
And non-clinical animal experiment apparatus further comprising a control means for controlling the number of times of contact of the touch sensor not to be counted more than once while the test animal is detected by the sensor. The method of claim 4, wherein
The control means
When the test animal is detected by the sensor and the contact of the test animal is detected by the contact sensor, the driving of the suction fan is controlled to stop,
Non-clinical animal experiment apparatus, characterized in that for controlling the suction fan is driven when the test animal is not detected by the sensor, the contact sensor is not detected by the contact sensor. The method of claim 1,
Is installed on the other side of the cover, non-clinical animal experiment apparatus further comprises a speaker means for testing the animal through the sound. The method of claim 1,
The sensor means is a non-clinical animal experiment apparatus comprising at least one selected from the temperature sensor, humidity sensor, ammonia sensor, carbon dioxide sensor and infrared temperature sensor.

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