RU2547719C1 - Device for locking laboratory animals at radiological studies - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: veterinary medicine.SUBSTANCE: device comprises a base, a rear, front and side walls forming a box. And on the side walls inside the box there are vertical and horizontal slots. In the vertical slots a movable partition is placed, which provides the ability to change the length of the box. In the horizontal slots a movable cover of the box is placed, which enables to change the height of the box. The rear wall is made in the form of a hingedly mounted door. The front wall has an opening for the head of the animal and consists of two parts, at that the upper part of the wall is movable and has an opening. In the side walls there are openings for ventilation. In the rear part of the box base there are holes for toilet. On the surface of the base of the device from the outside of the front wall a movable table is mounted with the arcuate flaps fixed on it and the movement mechanism. The flaps from the side of the box have tapered petals providing coverage tightness of the head of the animal from the side of the neck. On the base of the device on either side of the movable table there are platforms for the collimator. They have the ability to change the height and inclination of the collimator.EFFECT: use of the invention enables to lock reliably and conveniently the body and head of the animal in a certain position for the local exposure of ionising radiation on a certain part of the body.3 cl, 2 dwg

Description

The device relates to experimental medical equipment as an auxiliary technical tool for conducting research and other manipulations on animals, namely, devices for limiting the mobility of an experimental animal when exposed to ionizing radiation locally, as well as to methods and devices providing irradiation conditions and conditions. It can be used in the study and identification of toxicological, immunological, radiological and other effects on large laboratory animals.

Known utility model "Device for fixing laboratory animals" according to patent RU 14722, comprising a worktop, a semi-cylindrical body with a flat base, the head of which is made in the form of a truncated cone with an opening, and the tail is equipped with a removable valve with an opening for the tail and a screw, with which fix the valve through the slot in the body. In addition, on the countertop there are two parallel plates with grooves into which the flat base of the semi-cylindrical body is inserted.

The disadvantage of this device is the inability to fix separately both the body and the head of the animal.

Known "Device for limiting the mobility of an animal" according to the patent for invention RU 2171656. It contains a base with holes, windows and cutouts, side walls and fasteners. Additionally, it has a block for limiting the mobility of the head and fixing the neck, consisting of a lodgement, headrest, slide, bracket and carriage.

The disadvantages of this device are the presence of metal parts that adversely affect the purity of the radiological experiment.

Known fixing machines for animals according to utility models RU 111425 and RU 111426. They contain a floor, a lid and walls, one of which has an entrance. Inside the machine, made as a closed room, a longitudinal wall with holes is mounted with the possibility of movement. It provides fixation of the animal and the possibility of introducing him an injection. There is a mechanism for moving and fixing the wall. The roof has a mechanism for opening it and providing access to the animal. The named mechanisms are placed on the outside of the machine wall.

The presented machine-clamps for the animal have a simple design, but do not provide rigid fixation of the animal in the longitudinal direction and its head in the required position.

Known devices for fixing the animal during veterinary treatment according to patents for inventions SU 1064948 and RU 2015691. They contain side rails and an end frame in which the mechanism for fixing the animal, its head and neck is located. The locking mechanism is mounted on a rotary axis in the form of a neck grip and drive.

This device does not provide rigid fixation of the animal's head and the ability to change its position in the longitudinal direction.

In radiological studies using external radiation sources, the need arises for the purposeful organization of particle flux using collimators.

The collimator prototype is taken from the textbook for medical students of medical universities "Medical Radiology" L.D. Lindenbraten F.M. and Lyassa 1986 (third edition). This tutorial presents different types of collimators. For the present invention, the lead collimator with a hole in the form of a truncated cone or pyramid tapering outward is of most interest.

As a prototype of the device can be considered "Machine for fixing animals" according to the patent for invention RU 2388431. It contains a rectangular frame with front, rear and side walls. The fixation element of the animal’s head with the platform is made on the front wall. The fixation element is located in the upper part of the front wall in the form of an oval cut. The platform for the head of the animal is made in the form of a L-shaped stand and is installed on the outside under an oval neckline. The upper wall is made in the form of a door mounted on the side wall. Soft fiber is rigidly fixed along the contour of the oval cutout, and at the base in contact with the back wall there is a hole for the toilet.

The disadvantages of the machine in question - there is no possibility of longitudinal fixation of the body of the animal (rabbit) and its head in the required angular and horizontal position.

The technical result of the invention is to provide a device that provides reliability and ease of fixation of the body and head of a laboratory animal in a specific position for local exposure to ionizing radiation on a specific area of the body. In this case, the rest of it should be protected as much as possible. The use of inert materials in the design should ensure maximum purity of the experiment.

The objective of the proposed technical solution is to ensure the correctness of radiological studies while reducing the total radiation load on the animal.

The essence of the proposed technical solution

In the device having a base, rear, front and side walls forming the box, additionally vertical and horizontal grooves are made on the side walls inside the box. In the vertical grooves a movable partition is placed, providing the ability to change the length of the box. A movable box cover is introduced into the horizontal grooves, which allows changing the height of the box. The back wall is made in the form of a door. The front wall has an opening for the animal’s head and consists of two parts, the upper part of the wall being movable. There are ventilation holes in the side walls, and toilet holes are made in the rear of the base of the box. On the surface of the base of the device, on the outer side of the front wall, a movable table is installed with arcuate sashes fixed on it and a movement mechanism. The flaps on the side of the box have cone-shaped petals, providing a density of coverage of the head of the animal from the neck. On the basis of the device, on both sides of the movable table, plots for the collimator are placed. They have the ability to change the height and tilt of the collimator.

List of figures

Figure 1. General view of the device: 1 - base, 2 - back wall, 3 - screed, 4 - side walls, 5 - horizontal grooves, 6 - vertical grooves, 7 - movable partition, 8 - cover, 9 - front wall with a removable upper part, 10 - guides, 11 - hole for the head of the animal, 12 - holes for ventilation, 13 - holes for the toilet, 14 - retainer for the ears of the rabbit, 15 - retainer for the head of the animal, 16 - movable table, 17 - screw for moving the table, 18 - guides , 19 - arched flaps, 20 - clamp, 21 - cone-shaped petals, 22 - platform for the collimator, 23 - regulating mechanism height and tilt.

Figure 2. View from the front wall: 1 - base, 9 - front wall with removable upper part, 11 - hole for the head of the animal, 14 - retainer of the ears of the rabbit, 15 - retainer of the head of the animal, 16 - movable table, 17 - screw for moving the table, 18 - guides, 19 - arched flaps, 20 - clamp, 22 - platforms for the collimator, 23 - mechanism for adjusting the height and tilt, 24 - the collimator, 25 - the collimation channel.

Description of device design

A device for fixing large laboratory animals contains a base 1, on which are fixedly fixed: side walls 4, the lower part of the front wall 9 and the guides 10. The rear wall 2 is made in the form of a door with hinges, over which there is a screed 3 connecting the side walls 4. All the walls make up the box to house the animal. In the side walls 4 there are horizontal 5 and vertical 6 grooves. In the vertical grooves 6, on the side walls 4, a movable partition 7 is placed, providing the ability to change the length of the box. In the horizontal grooves 5 in the upper part of the side walls 4 there is a lid 8, providing the ability to change the height of the box. The front wall has guides 10 and a hole 11 (with a diameter of approximately 5-7 cm) for the head of the animal. The wall 9 consists of a lower fixed part and an upper removable part, on which a retainer for the ears of the rabbit is fixed 14. The contour of the hole has a rounded edge to prevent injury to the animal. In the side walls there are holes for ventilation 12. At the base of the rear of the box there are holes for the toilet 13.

On the surface of the base 1 of the device, on the outside of the front wall 9, there is an animal head lock 15 mounted on the surface of the movable table 16. The table 16 has a longitudinal movement mechanism by means of screws 17 and guides 18. The animal head lock 15 has arcuate sashes 19 and a clip 20 The flaps 19 from the side of the box have cone-shaped petals 21, providing a density of coverage of the head of the animal from the side of the neck. On the sides of the movable table on the base 1, platforms 22 with a mechanism for adjusting the height and tilt 23 of the position of the collimator 24 are installed. Figure 1 shows the platform only from the visible side.

The collimator 24 is a lead block with one collimation channel 25. The collimation channel 25 is made in the form of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid, has geometric dimensions of the inlet and outlet openings along the beam, respectively 22 mm and 18 mm. The collimator provides the ability to concentrate the flow of ionizing radiation and to act locally on the tissues of the animal with reliable protection against radiation exposure on the entire body of the animal.

The principle of operation of the device

To conduct research with the rear wall 2 open, the cover 8 removed and the upper part of the wall 9, an animal, such as a rabbit, is placed in a box. Close the back wall 2 and using a movable partition 7 by selecting vertical grooves 6 fix the rabbit in a longitudinal position. Then, when the arched flaps 19 are opened, the animal’s head is laid in the window of the front wall 9, along the guides 10 the upper part of the wall with the hole 11 is lowered and thereby the animal’s mobility is limited. The usual size of the diameter of the window is from 5 to 7 cm. Using the cover 8 and horizontal grooves 5, the height necessary for vertical fixation of the animal is selected.

After fixing the animal with the help of arcuate flaps 19, they cover the head, fix it with a clamp 20, then the device with the fixed animal is placed in front of the radiation source so that using the collimator 24 it is possible to direct the beam at the required angle to the desired part of the head. At the same time, with the help of screws 17 and guides 18, the position of the movable table 16 is clarified. The elastic petals 21 and a special pad on them provide protection of the animal's neck from injury. The necessary angle of the beam direction is set using the mechanism for regulating the height and tilt 23 of the platform 22 with the collimator 24 placed on it. After the animal calms down, the necessary laboratory tests are carried out.

Confirmation of the achievement of the technical result

The proposed technical solution in comparison with the prototype and other known technical solutions has the following advantages:

- provides reliable fixation of large laboratory animals with various sizes;

- provides maximum fixation of the head in a certain position while maintaining access to it and eliminates the possibility of trauma to the animal;

- provides sufficient positioning accuracy with local exposure to animal tissue, reducing radiation exposure to the entire body, which is extremely important to obtain the purity of the experiment;

- the use of inert materials eliminates the effect of scattered radiation.

Claims (3)

1. A device for fixing laboratory animals during radiological studies, including a base, rear, front and side walls forming a box, characterized in that vertical and horizontal grooves are made on the side walls inside the box, a movable partition is placed in the vertical grooves, which allows changing the length box, a horizontal box cover is introduced into the horizontal grooves, which allows changing the box height, the rear wall is made in the form of a door mounted on hinges, the front wall has an opening It is for the animal’s head and consists of two parts, the upper part of the wall being movable and having an opening, there are ventilation holes in the side walls, and toilet openings are made in the rear part of the box base, a movable table is installed on the surface of the device base from the outside of the front wall with arcuate sashes fixed on it and a movement mechanism, platforms with a mechanism for changing the height and inclination of the collimator are placed on both sides of the movable table. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the arched flaps on the side of the box have cone-shaped petals. 3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that for fixing the head of the laboratory animal, the arcuate flaps have a clip.

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