WO2022069391A1 - Modular system and process for individualized accommodation, feeding and monitoring of arthropods - Google Patents
Modular system and process for individualized accommodation, feeding and monitoring of arthropods Download PDFInfo
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- WO2022069391A1 WO2022069391A1 PCT/EP2021/076458 EP2021076458W WO2022069391A1 WO 2022069391 A1 WO2022069391 A1 WO 2022069391A1 EP 2021076458 W EP2021076458 W EP 2021076458W WO 2022069391 A1 WO2022069391 A1 WO 2022069391A1
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- accommodation
- module
- feeding
- cell
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K67/00—Rearing or breeding animals, not otherwise provided for; New breeds of animals
- A01K67/033—Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K1/00—Housing animals; Equipment therefor
- A01K1/02—Pigsties; Dog-kennels; Rabbit-hutches or the like
- A01K1/03—Housing for domestic or laboratory animals
- A01K1/031—Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals
Definitions
- TITLE Modular system and process for individualized accommodation, feeding and monitoring of arthropods
- This invention relates to the field of accommodation and individual feeding of arthropods, in particular for the purpose of observing and monitoring their development and their ability to regurgitate any components, under any conditions, including infection, for instance.
- the known devices do not allow (i) individual feeding using individual meal and (ii) easy observation of each of the arthropods housed and fed by these devices.
- the present invention provides a modular system configured for separately accommodating, and/or feeding and/or monitoring at least one individual among an arthropod population, the modular system comprising:
- a multi-cellular accommodation module comprising a main body and a ventilation hood, the main body comprising a plurality of adjacent accommodation cells, at least one accommodation cell from the plurality of adjacent accommodation cells being separated from another adjacent accommodation cell by a wall partially defining a volume of the at least one accommodation cell, the at least one accommodation cell comprising a feeding opening on a first side of the main body, and a ventilation opening on a second side of the main body, the feeding opening and the ventilation opening being configured to both contribute to the ventilation of the accommodation cell, the ventilation hood being configured to cover the main body on the second side, the ventilation hood partially closing the ventilation opening of the at least one accommodation cell;
- a food cover configured to be, removably or not, attached to the main body, a first surface of the food cover being in contact with and covering the first side of the main body when the food cover is removably attached to the main body, the food cover partially closing the feeding opening of the at least one accommodation cell when the food cover is removably attached to the main body.
- the at least one arthropod housed inside at least one accommodation cell of the accommodation module may be individually fed or individually monitored by a camera, through the feeding opening and the food cover, which is partially transparent because it is only partially closing the feeding opening of the at least one accommodation cell when the food cover is removably attached to the main body.
- the invention comprises one or more of the following features, alone or in any combination technically compatible.
- the ventilation hood is attached to the main body so that it forms with the main body one integrated accommodation module.
- the ventilation hood is removably attached to the main body.
- At least one marker is positioned on the main body and at least one corresponding marker, corresponding to the at least one marker of the main body, is positioned on the food cover, the at least one marker and the at least one corresponding marker being configured to determine a single food cover position relative to the main body for attaching the food cover to the main body.
- the ventilation hood is removably attached to the main body
- at least one other marker is positioned on the ventilation hood, corresponding to the at least one corresponding marker of the main body, the at least one corresponding marker and the at least one other marker being configured to determine a single position of the ventilation hood relative to the main body for removably attaching the ventilation hood to the main body.
- the modular system further comprises a feeding module, the feeding module comprising a plurality of adjacent feeding cells, at least one feeding cell, from the plurality of adjacent feeding cells, forming a hollow volume, the plurality of feeding cells being distributed over the feeding module so that, when a surface of the feeding module is covering a second surface of the food cover opposite to the first surface of the food cover , in a determined position relative to the cover, the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell can access the at least one feeding cell corresponding only to said at least one accommodation cell.
- a feeding module comprising a plurality of adjacent feeding cells, at least one feeding cell, from the plurality of adjacent feeding cells, forming a hollow volume, the plurality of feeding cells being distributed over the feeding module so that, when a surface of the feeding module is covering a second surface of the food cover opposite to the first surface of the food cover , in a determined position relative to the cover, the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell can access the at least one feeding cell corresponding
- only the arthropod hosted in said at least one accommodation cell can feed at said at least one feeding cell; feeding is thus individualized for each arthropod.
- the determined position of the individualized feeding module in contact with the cover is identified by at least one marker on the feeding module corresponding to at least one corresponding marker on the main body and/or on the food cover.
- the main body and the feeding module and the food cover are provided with external attaching members , such as any kind of pliers set.
- At least one other marker is positioned on the feeding module, corresponding to the at least one corresponding marker of the main body, the at least one corresponding marker and the at least one other marker being configured to determine a single position of the feeding module relative to the main body so that an arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell of the main body can access the at least one feeding cell corresponding only to said at least one accommodation cell. According to these dispositions, the determination of the correct position of the feeding module relative to the main body is made easier.
- the food cover comprises a plurality of meshes, at least one mesh, from the plurality of meshes, forming an opening whose diameter is comprised between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter, the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter being determined according to the hosted population of arthropods.
- the diameter of the at least one mesh is too small for an arthropod hosted in an accommodation cell to be able to leave said accommodation cell via the feeding opening on the first side of the main body of the accommodation module, and large enough for said arthropod to access the feeding module, via the feeding opening, and through the mesh of the cover.
- the cover is made of a fabric, preferably nylon.
- the diameter of each mesh depends on the arthropod which is accommodated and fed in the modular system; the diameter of each mesh is typically between 10 pm and 500 pm, in particular between 10 pm and 100 pm, or between 200 pm and 400 pm, more preferably between 250 pm and 350 pm.
- the food cover has a maximum thickness separating the first and the second surface of the cover, the maximum thickness being determined according to the species of arthropods.
- the surface of the feeding module which is configured to cover the second surface of the cover, is covered with a first waterproof membrane, the hollow volume of the at least one feeding cell of the feeding module being closed on one side by the first waterproof membrane.
- the first waterproof membrane is a skin, preferably a mouse skin.
- the first waterproof membrane is a synthetic membrane, in particular a parafilm.
- the hollow volume of each feeding cell is configured to be partially or completely filled with meal for arthropods, the meal being in particular blood.
- the first permeable membrane is configured to be removably attached to the surface of the feeding module with at least one fixing element provided with at least two pins.
- the volume of the at least one accommodation cell is determined as a function of a minimum living space of the at least one arthropod from the hosted population of arthropods.
- the modular system further comprises a rod and each member of the group of the main body, the cover, the ventilation hood, the feeding module comprises a traversing hole, the rod being configured to pass through the traversing hole of any member of said group when said member is removably attached to another member of said group.
- the modular system further comprises a temperature regulating module configured to regulate temperature and keep the meal at a temperature setpoint in the feeding module.
- the modular system further comprises an anesthesia module, configured to circulate an anesthetic gas or to generate cold inside the at least one accommodation cell when the multi-cellular accommodation module is placed inside the anesthesia module.
- the arthropods are put to sleep before detaching the food cover from the main body, for example before the transfer of arthropods from one accomodation module to another accomodation module.
- the modular system further comprises an observation module and a multi-cellular studio accommodation module, the observation module comprising a camera and/or video camera and a supporting member configured to receive the multi-cellular accommodation module or the multi-cellular studio accommodation module so that an image of the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell is formed by the camera on an imaging plane of the camera.
- the observation module comprising a camera and/or video camera and a supporting member configured to receive the multi-cellular accommodation module or the multi-cellular studio accommodation module so that an image of the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell is formed by the camera on an imaging plane of the camera.
- the multi-cellular studio accommodation module comprises a plurality of adjacent studio accommodation cells configured so that each studio accommodation cell is corresponding to only one accommodation cell of the main body when the studio accommodation module and the main body are superposed.
- the transfer of the arthropods from the accommodation module to the studio accommodation module may be performed by superposing the accommodation module on the studio accommodation module, preferably after having put to sleep the arthropods inside the accommodation module, and after having removed the food cover from over the main body.
- internal dimensions of the cells of the multi-cellular studio accommodation module may be smaller a depth of the cells of the accommodation module, in order to improve the quality of individual arthropod images.
- a length and/or a width between opposite walls of the cells of the studio accommodation module may be larger than corresponding dimensions of the cells of the accommodation module, to ensure better positioning of the arthropods in their respective cells during their observation with the camera.
- the invention provides a method for accommodating, feeding and individually monitoring at least one arthropod in an arthropod population with a modular system according to one embodiment described hereinabove, the method comprising the following steps :
- the feeding module on the multi-cellular accommodation module so that the at least one arthropod placed in the at least one accommodation cell of the multi-cellular accommodation module has access to the meal placed in the at least one feeding cell of the multicellular feeding module; then, optionally, collect meal from the at least one feeding cell of feeding module for analysis, or collect blood from the at least one accommodation cell of the multi-cellular accommodation module for analysis.
- the method for individually accommodating, feeding and monitoring arthropods further comprises a step of putting asleep the at least one arthropod using the anesthesia module placed on top of the accommodation module before the step of transferring the at least one arthropod, so that the athropods do not escape during the step of transferring.
- the step of capturing images may comprise a sub-step of capturing images while the arthropods are illuminated with light comprising different colours, and/or a substep of capturing images with no external light to detect light emitted by the at least one arthropod;
- the at least one parameter characterizing the at least one arthropod is one of a group comprising species, and subspecies and strains of the at least one arthropod, a vital state, and a physical aspect, such as sex and size, of the at least one arthropod, a feeding state of the arthropod, an infection state of the at least one arthropod.
- FIG. 1 represents a perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a modular system according to the invention
- FIG. 2 represents another perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a modular system according to the invention
- FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of an observation module of the modular system according to the invention
- FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of a supporting member belonging to an observation module and configured to receive an accommodation module of a modular system according to the invention
- FIG. 5 represents a perspective view of a supporting member belonging to an observation module and configured to receive a studio accommodation module of a modular system according to the invention
- FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram to illustrate the steps of an embodiment of the process according to an aspect of the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a second schematic representation of the steps of other embodiments of the process according to an aspect of the invention.
- the modular system 1 comprises a plurality of different modules, which are configured to be assembled together in order to accommodate, feed, and monitor individually a set of arthropods, from a population of arthropods.
- the modular system 1 comprises a multi-cellular accommodation module 4, comprising a main body 2 and a ventilation hood 3.
- the main body 2 can be compared to a kind of “hotel” for arthropods and comprises a plurality of adjacent accommodation cells; the accommodation cells are separated from each/other by a wall, partially defining the volume of the accommodation cells, with one first opening on one side, which will be called the bottom side, of the volume, and one second opening on another side, which will be called the top side, of the volume; the volume is further defined by a first cover 15, covering the top of the main body 2 and by a second cover 3 covering the bottom of the main body.
- top and the bottom are defined here with respect to figure 1 .
- each accommodation cell is defined with respect to the specific type of arthropod which is to be accommodated within the accommodation cells.
- the volume of each individual accommodation cells may be determined as a function of a minimum living space of the type of arthropods hosted in the main body 2.
- the second cover 3 covering the bottom of the main body is a ventilation hood 3; the ventilation hood 3 being configured to close partially a first opening of the accommodation cells, which will be called here a ventilation opening because it is configured to enable ventilation of the accommodation cell to provide fresh air to the arthropod being accommodated within said accommodation cell. Therefore the ventilation opening at the bottom of the accommodation cell is only partially closed by the ventilation hood 3, to let fresh air enter the cell, but still closed enough not to let the arthropod get out of the cell when it is inside.
- the ventilation hood 3 may be made of a fabric, preferably a nylon fabric, the fabric being configured to provide meshes, the dimensions of which are determined to prevent arthropods getting through the mesh. For example, for some specific arthropod, the typical size of the meshes of the ventilation hood 3 may be 50 pm.
- the cover 15 covering the top of the main body is configured to close partially the second opening, or top opening, according to figure 1 , of the cell.
- the cover 15 covering the top of the main body is configured to provide openings to the arthropod accommodated in each accommodation cell of the main body 2.
- the arthropod must have access to its food through the openings provided in the cover 15, which will therefore be called hereinafter food cover 15; the so called food cover 15 partially closes the top openings of the accommodation cells of the hotel main body 2, so that each arthropod accommodated in each accommodation cell of the main body 2 cannot get out of its accommodation cell through the openings provided in the food cover 15.
- the food cover 15 also contributes to the ventilation of the accommodation cell, when no food is available through the openings of the food cover 15.
- the modular system 1 for accommodating and feeding further comprises a feeding module 6 placed on the top of the main body 2, as illustrated in figure 1 , over the food cover 15 which is itself on top of the main body 2.
- the feeding module 6 comprises a plurality of adjacent feeding cells, each forming a hollow volume, the plurality of feeding cells being dispatched over the individualized feeding module 6 so that, an arthropod housed in anyone of the accommodation cells can access the feeding cell(s) corresponding only to its accommodation cell;
- the arthropods hosted in a given accommodation cell can feed only at the feeding cell(s) corresponding to its given accommodation cell; feeding is thus individualized for each arthropod, so that food reached by one arthropod may not be reached by any other arthropod accommodated in any other accommodation cell of the same main body 2.
- a determined position of the feeding module 6, relative to the main body 2 and to the food cover 15 on top of which the feeding module 6 is laid is identified by at least one marker 16 on the feeding module 6 corresponding to at least one corresponding marker 16’ on the main body 2, and possibly also on the food cover 15.
- finding the determined position of the feeding module 6 with respect to the main body 2, and possibly to the food cover 15 is facilitated, and the individualization of feeding of the arthropods is secured.
- the marker 16 and the corresponding marker 16’ may be a specific notch, or snick or nick, on one of the four corners of respectively the square shape feeding module 6 and the square shape main body 2 and possibly food cover 15.
- the notch and the corresponding notch is apparent on the leftmost corner of respectively the square shape feeding module 6 and the square shape main body 2.
- the food cover 15 being configured to let the arthropod in an accommodation cell of the main body 2 access to the feeding module 6, the food cover 15 may be a fabric, preferably a nylon fabric, the fabric providing meshes, the dimensions of which are determined to be wide enough to let a feeding part of the arthropod to go through the mesh, and narrow enough to prevent the whole arthropod getting through the mesh.
- the typical size of the meshes of the cover 5 may be 100 pm.
- the diameter of each mesh may typically be comprised between 100 pm and 500 pm, preferably between 200 pm and 400 pm, more preferably between 250 pm and 350 pm.
- the diameter of each mesh may be comprised between 10 pm and 100 pm.
- the ventilation hood 3 may be configured to be removably attached and detachable from the main body 2.
- a marker 16” is positioned on the ventilation hood 3, corresponding to the corresponding marker 16’ on the main body 2, the marker 16” on the ventilation hood 3 and the corresponding marker 16’ of the main body 2 being configured to determine a single position of the ventilation hood 3 relative to the main body 2 when removably attaching the ventilation hood 3 to the main body 2. According to these provisions, the correct positioning of the ventilation hood 3 with respect to the main body 2 is facilitated.
- the food cover 15, covering the top of the main body 2, is configured to be removably attached to the main body 2, so that it can be easily detached when appropriate, such as, for example when arthropods should be transferred from the accomodation module 4 to another accomodation module, for example to a so-called studio accomodation module 13, as will be described hereinafter.
- the different modules of the modular system provided by the invention are clipsed one to the other or attached altogether by some external attaching member, such as any kind of pliers set.
- a first surface of the feeding module 6, which is configured to be placed on a surface of the food cover 15, is covered with a first waterproof membrane 17.
- Theother surface of the feeding module 6, opposite to said first surface may also be covered with a second membrane, not represented on figure 1 ; said second membrane may also be waterproof, or may not be waterproof.
- the hollow volume of the at least one feeding cell of the feeding module 6 is closed on one side by the first waterproof membrane 17 and may be closed on the other side by the second membrane.
- the first waterproof membrane is a skin, preferably a mouse skin. According to these provisions, an environment close to a usual environment for arthropods is created to favour the feeding of arthropods.
- the first waterproof membrane may be an artificial or synthetic membrane, in particular parafilm, which may be appropriate for certain specific arthropods.
- the hollow volume of each feeding cell is configured to be partially filled with food, or more generally with some meal, provided in appropriate quantity, for arthropods; the food or meal may be based on blood for example, or vegetables, depending on the kind of arthropods being hosted.
- the first waterproof membrane is configured to be removably attached to the surface of the feeding module with at least one fixing element 5 provided with at least two pins, so that the membrane is stretched all over the main body 2.
- the modular system 1 further comprises at least one rod 9 and each module of the modular system described herein, i.e. the main body 2, the food cover 15, the ventilation hood 3, the feeding module 6, comprises at least one traversing hole, the at least one rod being configured to pass through the at least one traversing hole of any module of said modular system 1 when said member is removably attached to another member of said group. According to these provisions, the assembly of members of the group is guided and facilitated.
- each module of the modular system 1 may have a main extension plan, said main extension plan of a module being parallel to the main extension plan of any other module when the modules are assembled, one over the other, into an operational assembly of the modular system 1 ; the at least one rod passing through each module transversally to the main extension plan of said module. More specifically, the at least one rod 9 is fixed transversally on a stand 20, so that the modules of the assembled modular system lies on the stand 20, maintained together by the at least one rod 9.
- the modular system 1 may further comprise a temperature regulating module 7 configured to heat or refresh and keep the meal at desired temperature in the feeding module 6.
- the modular system 1 may further comprise an anesthesia module 8, configured to circulate an anesthetic gas inside the at least one accommodation cell when the multi-cellular accommodation module 4 is fluidly connected to the anesthesia module 8.
- the anesthesia module may also be based on a temperature regulating module configured as a cold generator. According to these provisions, the arthropods are put to sleep, before transferring the arthropods from the main body 2 to another accommodation module 13, such as a studio accommodation module 13, so that the arthropods do not escape during the step of transferring, when the main body 2 is temporarily not covered by the ventilation hood 3.
- the modular system 1 further comprises an observation module 10, an example of which is represented on figure 3, the observation module 10 comprising a camera, not represented on figure 3, and a supporting member 11 configured to receive either the multi-cellular accommodation module 4, or a studio accommodation module 13, so that an image of the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell is formed by the camera on an imaging plane of the camera.
- the camera, not represented on figure 3, should be imagined, for example, to be placed underneath the supporting member 11 , to observe from below either the multi-cellular accommodation module 4, or a multi-cellular studio accommodation module 13.
- the studio accommodation module 13 may be, for example, almost a replication of the main body 2, configured to receive individual arthropods into essentially the same kind of accommodation cells as in the main body 2, with accommodation cells dispatched according to a same grid over a same bi-dimensional extension, such as a square or a rectangular planar extension; nevertheless, internal dimensions of the cells, such as a depth measured transversally to the bi-dimensional extension may be smaller for the studio accommodation module 13 than for the basic accommodation module 4, to improve the quality of individual arthropod images, and to ensure better positioning of the arthropods in their respective cells during their observation with the camera.
- Similarity between the multi-cellular accommodation module 13 and the basic multicellular accommodation module 4 should be such that a transfer of arthropods from one accommodation module 4,13 to the other accommodation module 13,4 can be performed easily by superposing one on the other after having removed the detachable food cover.
- the studio accommodation module 13 is configured to be covered with a detachable cover 18 on the side which is superposed to the corresponding side of the basic accommodation module 4; this detachable cover may be transparent or not, since the arthropods are observed by the camera after they have been transferred, inside their cells of the studio accommodation module 13, through the opposite side of the studio accommodation module 13, which is therefore covered by a transparent film or glass 19, which may be detachable or not.
- markers may be positioned on the main body 2 and corresponding markers, corresponding to the markers of the main body 2, may be positioned on the detachable food cover 15, the markers and the corresponding markers being configured to determine a single food cover 15 position relative to the main body 2, for attaching the food cover 15 to the main body 2.
- the repositioning of the food cover back onto the main body 2, after the arthropods have been transferred back from the studio accommodation module 13, is made even easier.
- the marker and the corresponding marker may be, for example, a specific notch, or snick or nick on one of the four corners of respectively the square shape main body 2 and the square shape food cover 15.
- the invention relates to a method 100 for individually accommodating, feeding and monitoring arthropods in an arthropod population with a modular system 1 according to anyone of the embodiments described hereinabove.
- the method 100 will now be described; the method comprises some of the following steps :
- the accommodation module 4 in an environment maintained at determined environmental conditions, such as in a climatic chamber - process 108 captured images in order to extract at least one parameter characterizing the at least one arthropod
- the method 100 for individually accommodating, feeding and monitoring arthropods further comprises a step of putting asleep 104bis the at least one arthropod using the anesthesia module 8 placed on top of the accommodation module 4 before the step of transferring 105 the at least one arthropod, so that the arthropods do not escape during the step of transferring 105.
- the step of capturing images 107, 107bis may comprise a substep of capturing images while the arthropods are illuminated with light comprising different colours, and/or a substep of capturing images with no external light to detect light emitted by the at least one arthropod;
- the at least one parameter characterizing the at least one arthropod is one of a group comprising species, and subspecies and strains of the at least one arthropod, a vital state, and a physical aspect, such as sex and size, of the at least one arthropod, a feeding state of the arthropod, an infection state of the at least one arthropod.
Abstract
Modular system (1) configured for separately accommodating, and/or feeding and/or monitoring at least one individual among an arthropod population, the modular system comprising: - a multi-cellular accommodation module (4), comprising a main body (2) and a ventilation hood (3), the main body (2) comprising a plurality of adjacent accommodation cells, at least one accommodation cell from the plurality of adjacent accommodation cells being separated from another adjacent accommodation cell by a wall partially defining a volume of the at least one accommodation cell, the at least one accommodation cell comprising a feeding opening on a first side of the main body (2), and a ventilation opening on a second side of the main body (2), the feeding opening and the ventilation opening being configured to both contribute to the ventilation of the accommodation cell, the ventilation hood (3) being configured to cover the main body (2) on the second side, the ventilation hood (3) partially closing the ventilation opening of the at least one accommodation cell; - a food cover configured to be, removably or not, attached to the main body, a first surface of the food cover being in contact with and covering the first side of the main body (2) when the food cover is attached to the main body, the food cover partially closing the feeding opening of the at least one accommodation cell when the food cover is attached to the main body (2).
Description
DESCRIPTION
TITLE : Modular system and process for individualized accommodation, feeding and monitoring of arthropods
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of accommodation and individual feeding of arthropods, in particular for the purpose of observing and monitoring their development and their ability to regurgitate any components, under any conditions, including infection, for instance.
BACKGROUND
It is known to house and feed individual arthropods of an arthropod population, especially for the purpose of breeding arthropods.
However, the known devices do not allow (i) individual feeding using individual meal and (ii) easy observation of each of the arthropods housed and fed by these devices. In particular, there is a need to find ways of automating the process of individually monitoring and analyzing arthropods development.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to propose a solution to all or part of these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To that end, the present invention provides a modular system configured for separately accommodating, and/or feeding and/or monitoring at least one individual among an arthropod population, the modular system comprising:
- a multi-cellular accommodation module, comprising a main body and a ventilation hood, the main body comprising a plurality of adjacent accommodation cells, at least one accommodation cell from the plurality of adjacent accommodation cells being separated from another adjacent accommodation cell by a wall partially defining a volume of the at least one accommodation cell, the at least one accommodation cell comprising a feeding opening on a first side of the main body, and a ventilation opening on a second side of the main body, the feeding opening and the ventilation opening being configured to both contribute to the ventilation of the accommodation cell, the
ventilation hood being configured to cover the main body on the second side, the ventilation hood partially closing the ventilation opening of the at least one accommodation cell;
- a food cover configured to be, removably or not, attached to the main body, a first surface of the food cover being in contact with and covering the first side of the main body when the food cover is removably attached to the main body, the food cover partially closing the feeding opening of the at least one accommodation cell when the food cover is removably attached to the main body.
According to these provisions, the at least one arthropod housed inside at least one accommodation cell of the accommodation module may be individually fed or individually monitored by a camera, through the feeding opening and the food cover, which is partially transparent because it is only partially closing the feeding opening of the at least one accommodation cell when the food cover is removably attached to the main body.
According to an embodiment, the invention comprises one or more of the following features, alone or in any combination technically compatible.
According to one embodiment, the ventilation hood is attached to the main body so that it forms with the main body one integrated accommodation module.
According to one embodiment, the ventilation hood is removably attached to the main body.
According to one embodiment, at least one marker is positioned on the main body and at least one corresponding marker, corresponding to the at least one marker of the main body, is positioned on the food cover, the at least one marker and the at least one corresponding marker being configured to determine a single food cover position relative to the main body for attaching the food cover to the main body.
According to these provisions, when the food cover has been detached, the correct positioning of the food cover back onto the main body, is made easier.
According to one embodiment, wherein the ventilation hood is removably attached to the main body, at least one other marker is positioned on the ventilation hood, corresponding to the at least one corresponding marker of the main body, the at least one corresponding marker and the at least one other marker being configured to
determine a single position of the ventilation hood relative to the main body for removably attaching the ventilation hood to the main body.
According to these provisions, the replacement of the ventilation hood is facilitated.
According to one embodiment, the modular system further comprises a feeding module, the feeding module comprising a plurality of adjacent feeding cells, at least one feeding cell, from the plurality of adjacent feeding cells, forming a hollow volume, the plurality of feeding cells being distributed over the feeding module so that, when a surface of the feeding module is covering a second surface of the food cover opposite to the first surface of the food cover , in a determined position relative to the cover, the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell can access the at least one feeding cell corresponding only to said at least one accommodation cell.
According to these provisions, only the arthropod hosted in said at least one accommodation cell can feed at said at least one feeding cell; feeding is thus individualized for each arthropod.
According to one embodiment, the determined position of the individualized feeding module in contact with the cover is identified by at least one marker on the feeding module corresponding to at least one corresponding marker on the main body and/or on the food cover.
According to these provisions, finding the determined position of the feeding module in contact with the food cover is facilitated, and the individualization of feeding of the arthropods is secured.
According to one embodiment, the main body and the feeding module and the food cover are provided with external attaching members , such as any kind of pliers set.
According to one embodiment, at least one other marker is positioned on the feeding module, corresponding to the at least one corresponding marker of the main body, the at least one corresponding marker and the at least one other marker being configured to determine a single position of the feeding module relative to the main body so that an arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell of the main body can access the at least one feeding cell corresponding only to said at least one accommodation cell.
According to these dispositions, the determination of the correct position of the feeding module relative to the main body is made easier.
According to one embodiment, the food cover comprises a plurality of meshes, at least one mesh, from the plurality of meshes, forming an opening whose diameter is comprised between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter, the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter being determined according to the hosted population of arthropods.
According to these provisions, the diameter of the at least one mesh is too small for an arthropod hosted in an accommodation cell to be able to leave said accommodation cell via the feeding opening on the first side of the main body of the accommodation module, and large enough for said arthropod to access the feeding module, via the feeding opening, and through the mesh of the cover.
According to one embodiment, the cover is made of a fabric, preferably nylon.
According to one embodiment, the diameter of each mesh depends on the arthropod which is accommodated and fed in the modular system; the diameter of each mesh is typically between 10 pm and 500 pm, in particular between 10 pm and 100 pm, or between 200 pm and 400 pm, more preferably between 250 pm and 350 pm.
According to one embodiment, the food cover has a maximum thickness separating the first and the second surface of the cover, the maximum thickness being determined according to the species of arthropods.
According to one embodiment, the surface of the feeding module, which is configured to cover the second surface of the cover, is covered with a first waterproof membrane, the hollow volume of the at least one feeding cell of the feeding module being closed on one side by the first waterproof membrane.
According to one embodiment, another surface of the feeding module, opposite to said surface of the feeding module, is covered with a second membrane, the second membrane being optionally waterproof, the hollow volume of the at least one feeding cell of the feeding module being closed on the other side by the second membrane.
According to one embodiment, the first waterproof membrane is a skin, preferably a mouse skin.
According to these provisions, an environment close to a usual environment for arthropods is created to favour the feeding of arthropods.
According to one embodiment, the first waterproof membrane is a synthetic membrane, in particular a parafilm.
According to one embodiment, the hollow volume of each feeding cell is configured to be partially or completely filled with meal for arthropods, the meal being in particular blood.
According to one embodiment, the first permeable membrane is configured to be removably attached to the surface of the feeding module with at least one fixing element provided with at least two pins.
According to these provisions, rapid attaching of the first permeable membrane is facilitated.
According to one embodiment, the volume of the at least one accommodation cell is determined as a function of a minimum living space of the at least one arthropod from the hosted population of arthropods.
According to an embodiment, the modular system further comprises a rod and each member of the group of the main body, the cover, the ventilation hood, the feeding module comprises a traversing hole, the rod being configured to pass through the traversing hole of any member of said group when said member is removably attached to another member of said group.
According to these provisions, the assembly of members of the group is guided and facilitated.
According to one embodiment, the modular system further comprises a temperature regulating module configured to regulate temperature and keep the meal at a temperature setpoint in the feeding module.
According to one embodiment, the modular system further comprises an anesthesia module, configured to circulate an anesthetic gas or to generate cold inside the at least one accommodation cell when the multi-cellular accommodation module is placed inside the anesthesia module.
According to these provisions, the arthropods are put to sleep before detaching the food cover from the main body, for example before the transfer of arthropods from one accomodation module to another accomodation module.
According to one embodiment, the modular system further comprises an observation module and a multi-cellular studio accommodation module, the observation module comprising a camera and/or video camera and a supporting member configured to receive the multi-cellular accommodation module or the multi-cellular studio accommodation module so that an image of the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell is formed by the camera on an imaging plane of the camera.
According to one embodiment the multi-cellular studio accommodation module comprises a plurality of adjacent studio accommodation cells configured so that each studio accommodation cell is corresponding to only one accommodation cell of the main body when the studio accommodation module and the main body are superposed.
According to these dispositions, the transfer of the arthropods from the accommodation module to the studio accommodation module may be performed by superposing the accommodation module on the studio accommodation module, preferably after having put to sleep the arthropods inside the accommodation module, and after having removed the food cover from over the main body.
According to an embodiment, internal dimensions of the cells of the multi-cellular studio accommodation module, such as a depth measured transversally to a bi-dimensional extension of the studio accommodation module, may be smaller a depth of the cells of the accommodation module, in order to improve the quality of individual arthropod images.
According to an embodiment, a length and/or a width between opposite walls of the cells of the studio accommodation module may be larger than corresponding dimensions of
the cells of the accommodation module, to ensure better positioning of the arthropods in their respective cells during their observation with the camera.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a method for accommodating, feeding and individually monitoring at least one arthropod in an arthropod population with a modular system according to one embodiment described hereinabove, the method comprising the following steps :
- place at least one arthropod in the at least one accommodation cell of the multi-cellular accommodation module, so that only one arthropod is in the at least one accommodation cell;
- place at least one meal for the at least one arthropod in at least one feeding cell of the multicellular feeding module;
- place the feeding module on the multi-cellular accommodation module so that the at least one arthropod placed in the at least one accommodation cell of the multi-cellular accommodation module has access to the meal placed in the at least one feeding cell of the multicellular feeding module; then, optionally, collect meal from the at least one feeding cell of feeding module for analysis, or collect blood from the at least one accommodation cell of the multi-cellular accommodation module for analysis.
- place the accommodation module on the supporting member of the observation module to capture images of the arthropods housed in the accommodation cells of the multi-cellular accommodation module, or
- transfer the at least one arthropod from the at least one accommodation cell of the accommodation module to a studio accommodation cell of a studio accommodation module, then place the studio accommodation module on the supporting member of the observation module to capture images of the arthropods housed in the studio accommodation cells of the multi-cellular studio accommodation module;
- process captured images in order to extract at least one parameter characterizing the at least one arthropod.
According to one embodiment, the method for individually accommodating, feeding and monitoring arthropods further comprises a step of putting asleep the at least one arthropod using the anesthesia module placed on top of the accommodation module before the step of transferring the at least one arthropod, so that the athropods do not escape during the step of transferring.
According to one embodiment, the step of capturing images may comprise a sub-step of capturing images while the arthropods are illuminated with light comprising different colours, and/or a substep of capturing images with no external light to detect light emitted by the at least one arthropod;
According to one embodiment, the at least one parameter characterizing the at least one arthropod is one of a group comprising species, and subspecies and strains of the at least one arthropod, a vital state, and a physical aspect, such as sex and size, of the at least one arthropod, a feeding state of the arthropod, an infection state of the at least one arthropod.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other purposes, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments, given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference refer to similar elements or to elements having similar functions, and in which:
[Fig. 1] represents a perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a modular system according to the invention,
[Fig. 2] represents another perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a modular system according to the invention,
[Fig. 3] represents a perspective view of an observation module of the modular system according to the invention,
[Fig. 4] represents a perspective view of a supporting member belonging to an observation module and configured to receive an accommodation module of a modular system according to the invention,
[Fig. 5] represents a perspective view of a supporting member belonging to an observation module and configured to receive a studio accommodation module of a modular system according to the invention,
[Fig. 6] is a schematic block diagram to illustrate the steps of an embodiment of the process according to an aspect of the invention.
[Fig. 7] is a second schematic representation of the steps of other embodiments of the process according to an aspect of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ACCORDING TO AN EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of a modular system according to the invention will be described in reference to figure 1 and 2.
As illustrated in figure 1 the modular system 1 comprises a plurality of different modules, which are configured to be assembled together in order to accommodate, feed, and monitor individually a set of arthropods, from a population of arthropods.
To that end, the modular system 1 comprises a multi-cellular accommodation module 4, comprising a main body 2 and a ventilation hood 3.
The main body 2 can be compared to a kind of “hotel” for arthropods and comprises a plurality of adjacent accommodation cells; the accommodation cells are separated from each/other by a wall, partially defining the volume of the accommodation cells, with one first opening on one side, which will be called the bottom side, of the volume, and one second opening on another side, which will be called the top side, of the volume; the volume is further defined by a first cover 15, covering the top of the main body 2 and by a second cover 3 covering the bottom of the main body.
The top and the bottom are defined here with respect to figure 1 .
The volume of each accommodation cell is defined with respect to the specific type of arthropod which is to be accommodated within the accommodation cells. Typically, the volume of each individual accommodation cells may be determined as a function of a minimum living space of the type of arthropods hosted in the main body 2.
Thus, in figure 1 , the second cover 3 covering the bottom of the main body is a ventilation hood 3; the ventilation hood 3 being configured to close partially a first opening of the accommodation cells, which will be called here a ventilation opening because it is configured to enable ventilation of the accommodation cell to provide fresh air to the arthropod being accommodated within said accommodation cell. Therefore the ventilation opening at the bottom of the accommodation cell is only partially closed by the ventilation hood 3, to let fresh air enter the cell, but still closed enough not to let the arthropod get out of the cell when it is inside. To that end the ventilation hood 3 may be
made of a fabric, preferably a nylon fabric, the fabric being configured to provide meshes, the dimensions of which are determined to prevent arthropods getting through the mesh. For example, for some specific arthropod, the typical size of the meshes of the ventilation hood 3 may be 50 pm.
In figure 1 , the cover 15 covering the top of the main body is configured to close partially the second opening, or top opening, according to figure 1 , of the cell. The cover 15 covering the top of the main body is configured to provide openings to the arthropod accommodated in each accommodation cell of the main body 2. The arthropod must have access to its food through the openings provided in the cover 15, which will therefore be called hereinafter food cover 15; the so called food cover 15 partially closes the top openings of the accommodation cells of the hotel main body 2, so that each arthropod accommodated in each accommodation cell of the main body 2 cannot get out of its accommodation cell through the openings provided in the food cover 15.
Together with the ventilation hood 3, the food cover 15 also contributes to the ventilation of the accommodation cell, when no food is available through the openings of the food cover 15.
The modular system 1 for accommodating and feeding, further comprises a feeding module 6 placed on the top of the main body 2, as illustrated in figure 1 , over the food cover 15 which is itself on top of the main body 2. The feeding module 6 comprises a plurality of adjacent feeding cells, each forming a hollow volume, the plurality of feeding cells being dispatched over the individualized feeding module 6 so that, an arthropod housed in anyone of the accommodation cells can access the feeding cell(s) corresponding only to its accommodation cell;
According to these provisions, the arthropods hosted in a given accommodation cell can feed only at the feeding cell(s) corresponding to its given accommodation cell; feeding is thus individualized for each arthropod, so that food reached by one arthropod may not be reached by any other arthropod accommodated in any other accommodation cell of the same main body 2.
According to one embodiment, a determined position of the feeding module 6, relative to the main body 2 and to the food cover 15 on top of which the feeding module 6 is laid, is identified by at least one marker 16 on the feeding module 6 corresponding to at least one corresponding marker 16’ on the main body 2, and possibly also on the food cover
15. According to these provisions, finding the determined position of the feeding module 6 with respect to the main body 2, and possibly to the food cover 15 is facilitated, and the individualization of feeding of the arthropods is secured. For example, as illustrated in figure 1 , the marker 16 and the corresponding marker 16’ may be a specific notch, or snick or nick, on one of the four corners of respectively the square shape feeding module 6 and the square shape main body 2 and possibly food cover 15. On figure 1 , the notch and the corresponding notch is apparent on the leftmost corner of respectively the square shape feeding module 6 and the square shape main body 2.
The food cover 15 being configured to let the arthropod in an accommodation cell of the main body 2 access to the feeding module 6, the food cover 15 may be a fabric, preferably a nylon fabric, the fabric providing meshes, the dimensions of which are determined to be wide enough to let a feeding part of the arthropod to go through the mesh, and narrow enough to prevent the whole arthropod getting through the mesh. For example, for some specific arthropod, the typical size of the meshes of the cover 5 may be 100 pm. For other types of arthropods, the diameter of each mesh may typically be comprised between 100 pm and 500 pm, preferably between 200 pm and 400 pm, more preferably between 250 pm and 350 pm. For example again, for some other kind of arthropods, the diameter of each mesh may be comprised between 10 pm and 100 pm.
According to one embodiment, the ventilation hood 3 may be configured to be removably attached and detachable from the main body 2. When the ventilation hood 3 is detachable, similar to the marker positioned on other modules of the modular system, a marker 16” is positioned on the ventilation hood 3, corresponding to the corresponding marker 16’ on the main body 2, the marker 16” on the ventilation hood 3 and the corresponding marker 16’ of the main body 2 being configured to determine a single position of the ventilation hood 3 relative to the main body 2 when removably attaching the ventilation hood 3 to the main body 2. According to these provisions, the correct positioning of the ventilation hood 3 with respect to the main body 2 is facilitated.
The food cover 15, covering the top of the main body 2, is configured to be removably attached to the main body 2, so that it can be easily detached when appropriate, such as, for example when arthropods should be transferred from the accomodation module 4 to another accomodation module, for example to a so-called studio accomodation module 13, as will be described hereinafter.
According to one embodiment, the different modules of the modular system provided by the invention are clipsed one to the other or attached altogether by some external attaching member, such as any kind of pliers set.
According to one embodiment, a first surface of the feeding module 6, which is configured to be placed on a surface of the food cover 15, is covered with a first waterproof membrane 17.Theother surface of the feeding module 6, opposite to said first surface, may also be covered with a second membrane, not represented on figure 1 ; said second membrane may also be waterproof, or may not be waterproof. Thus, the hollow volume of the at least one feeding cell of the feeding module 6 is closed on one side by the first waterproof membrane 17 and may be closed on the other side by the second membrane. According to one embodiment, the first waterproof membrane is a skin, preferably a mouse skin. According to these provisions, an environment close to a usual environment for arthropods is created to favour the feeding of arthropods. According to one other embodiment, the first waterproof membrane may be an artificial or synthetic membrane, in particular parafilm, which may be appropriate for certain specific arthropods.
According to one embodiment, the hollow volume of each feeding cell is configured to be partially filled with food, or more generally with some meal, provided in appropriate quantity, for arthropods; the food or meal may be based on blood for example, or vegetables, depending on the kind of arthropods being hosted.
According to one embodiment, the first waterproof membrane is configured to be removably attached to the surface of the feeding module with at least one fixing element 5 provided with at least two pins, so that the membrane is stretched all over the main body 2.
According to these provisions, rapid attaching of the first permeable membrane is facilitated.
According to an embodiment, the modular system 1 further comprises at least one rod 9 and each module of the modular system described herein, i.e. the main body 2, the food cover 15, the ventilation hood 3, the feeding module 6, comprises at least one traversing hole, the at least one rod being configured to pass through the at least one
traversing hole of any module of said modular system 1 when said member is removably attached to another member of said group. According to these provisions, the assembly of members of the group is guided and facilitated. Moreover, each module of the modular system 1 may have a main extension plan, said main extension plan of a module being parallel to the main extension plan of any other module when the modules are assembled, one over the other, into an operational assembly of the modular system 1 ; the at least one rod passing through each module transversally to the main extension plan of said module. More specifically, the at least one rod 9 is fixed transversally on a stand 20, so that the modules of the assembled modular system lies on the stand 20, maintained together by the at least one rod 9.
As illustrated in figure 1 , the modular system 1 may further comprise a temperature regulating module 7 configured to heat or refresh and keep the meal at desired temperature in the feeding module 6.
As illustrated in figure 2, the modular system 1 may further comprise an anesthesia module 8, configured to circulate an anesthetic gas inside the at least one accommodation cell when the multi-cellular accommodation module 4 is fluidly connected to the anesthesia module 8. The anesthesia module may also be based on a temperature regulating module configured as a cold generator. According to these provisions, the arthropods are put to sleep, before transferring the arthropods from the main body 2 to another accommodation module 13, such as a studio accommodation module 13, so that the arthropods do not escape during the step of transferring, when the main body 2 is temporarily not covered by the ventilation hood 3.
According to another embodiment, the modular system 1 further comprises an observation module 10, an example of which is represented on figure 3, the observation module 10 comprising a camera, not represented on figure 3, and a supporting member 11 configured to receive either the multi-cellular accommodation module 4, or a studio accommodation module 13, so that an image of the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell is formed by the camera on an imaging plane of the camera. The camera, not represented on figure 3, should be imagined, for example, to be placed underneath the supporting member 11 , to observe from below either the multi-cellular accommodation module 4, or a multi-cellular studio accommodation module 13.
The studio accommodation module 13 may be, for example, almost a replication of the main body 2, configured to receive individual arthropods into essentially the same kind of accommodation cells as in the main body 2, with accommodation cells dispatched according to a same grid over a same bi-dimensional extension, such as a square or a rectangular planar extension; nevertheless, internal dimensions of the cells, such as a depth measured transversally to the bi-dimensional extension may be smaller for the studio accommodation module 13 than for the basic accommodation module 4, to improve the quality of individual arthropod images, and to ensure better positioning of the arthropods in their respective cells during their observation with the camera.
Similarity between the multi-cellular accommodation module 13 and the basic multicellular accommodation module 4 should be such that a transfer of arthropods from one accommodation module 4,13 to the other accommodation module 13,4 can be performed easily by superposing one on the other after having removed the detachable food cover.
The studio accommodation module 13 is configured to be covered with a detachable cover 18 on the side which is superposed to the corresponding side of the basic accommodation module 4; this detachable cover may be transparent or not, since the arthropods are observed by the camera after they have been transferred, inside their cells of the studio accommodation module 13, through the opposite side of the studio accommodation module 13, which is therefore covered by a transparent film or glass 19, which may be detachable or not.
According to one embodiment, markers may be positioned on the main body 2 and corresponding markers, corresponding to the markers of the main body 2, may be positioned on the detachable food cover 15, the markers and the corresponding markers being configured to determine a single food cover 15 position relative to the main body 2, for attaching the food cover 15 to the main body 2. According to these provisions, the repositioning of the food cover back onto the main body 2, after the arthropods have been transferred back from the studio accommodation module 13, is made even easier. As indicated hereinabove, the marker and the corresponding marker may be, for example, a specific notch, or snick or nick on one of the four corners of respectively the square shape main body 2 and the square shape food cover 15.
According to an aspect, the invention relates to a method 100 for individually accommodating, feeding and monitoring arthropods in an arthropod population with a modular system 1 according to anyone of the embodiments described hereinabove. In reference to figure 6, the method 100 will now be described; the method comprises some of the following steps :
- place 101 at least one arthropod in the at least one accommodation cell of the multicellular accommodation module 4, so that only one arthropod is in the at least one accommodation cell and place the accommodation module 4 on a stand 20 either in an environment maintained at determined environmental conditions, such as in a climatic chamber, or to be prepared 101 bis to receive the feeding module 6; optionally, place 104 the accommodation module 4 on the supporting member 11 of the observation module 10 to capture images 107 of the arthropods housed in the accommodation cells of the multi-cellular accommodation module 4, before feeding the arthropods.
- place 102 at least one meal for the at least one arthropod in at least one feeding cell of the multicellular feeding module 6;
- place 103 the feeding module 6 on the multi-cellular accommodation module 4 so that the at least one arthropod placed in the at least one accommodation cell of the multicellular accommodation module 4 has access to the meal placed in the at least one feeding cell of the multicellular feeding module 6; place 103bis the heating module on top of the feeding module 6 lying on the top of the accommodation module 4, on stand 20; then, optionally, collect meal 103ter from at least one feeding cell of feeding module 6 for analysis, or collect blood from at least one accommodation cell of the multi-cellular accommodation module 4 for analysis.
- place 104 the accommodation module 4 on the supporting member 11 of the observation module 10 to capture images 107 of the arthropods housed in the accommodation cells of the multi-cellular accommodation module 4, or
- transfer 105 the at least one arthropod from the at least one accommodation cell of the accommodation module 4 to a studio accommodation cell of a studio accommodation module 13; then place 106 the studio accommodation module 13 on the supporting member 11 of the observation module 10 to capture images 107bis of the arthropods housed in the studio accommodation cells of the multi-cellular studio accommodation module 13; transfer the at least one arthropod from the studio accommodation cell of the studio accommodation module 13 back to the at least one accommodation cell of the accommodation module 4.
- place 101ter the accommodation module 4 in an environment maintained at determined environmental conditions, such as in a climatic chamber
- process 108 captured images in order to extract at least one parameter characterizing the at least one arthropod
According to one embodiment, the method 100 for individually accommodating, feeding and monitoring arthropods further comprises a step of putting asleep 104bis the at least one arthropod using the anesthesia module 8 placed on top of the accommodation module 4 before the step of transferring 105 the at least one arthropod, so that the arthropods do not escape during the step of transferring 105.
In particular, the step of capturing images 107, 107bis may comprise a substep of capturing images while the arthropods are illuminated with light comprising different colours, and/or a substep of capturing images with no external light to detect light emitted by the at least one arthropod;
According to one embodiment, the at least one parameter characterizing the at least one arthropod is one of a group comprising species, and subspecies and strains of the at least one arthropod, a vital state, and a physical aspect, such as sex and size, of the at least one arthropod, a feeding state of the arthropod, an infection state of the at least one arthropod.
Claims
CLAIMS odular system (1 ) configured for separately accommodating, and/or feeding and/or monitoring at least one individual among an arthropod population, the modular system comprising:
- a multi-cellular accommodation module (4), comprising a main body (2) and a ventilation hood (3), the main body (2) comprising a plurality of adjacent accommodation cells, at least one accommodation cell from the plurality of adjacent accommodation cells being separated from another adjacent accommodation cell by a wall partially defining a volume of the at least one accommodation cell, the at least one accommodation cell comprising a feeding opening on a first side of the main body (2), and a ventilation opening on a second side of the main body (2), the feeding opening and the ventilation opening being configured to both contribute to the ventilation of the accommodation cell, the ventilation hood (3) being configured to cover the main body (2) on the second side, the ventilation hood (3) partially closing the ventilation opening of the at least one accommodation cell;
- a food cover (15) configured to be, removably or not, attached to the main body, a first surface of the food cover (15) being in contact with and covering the first side of the main body (2) when the food cover (15) is attached to the main body, the food cover (15) partially closing the feeding opening of the at least one accommodation cell when the food cover (15) is attached to the main body (2). odular system (1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a feeding module (6), the feeding module (6) comprising a plurality of adjacent feeding cells, at least one feeding cell, from the plurality of adjacent feeding cells, forming a hollow volume, the plurality of feeding cells being distributed over the feeding module (6) so that, when a surface of the feeding module (6) is covering a second surface of the food cover (15) opposite to the first surface of the food cover (15), in a determined position relative to the food cover (15), the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell can access the at least one feeding cell corresponding only to said at least one accommodation cell. odular system (1 ) according to anyone of preceding claims, wherein the food cover comprises a plurality of meshes, at least one mesh, from the plurality of meshes, forming an opening whose diameter is comprised between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter, the minimum diameter and the maximum diameter being determined according to the hosted population of arthropods.
odular system (1 ) according to anyone of preceding claims 2 or 3, wherein the surface of the feeding module (6), which is configured to cover the second surface of the cover (5), is covered with a first waterproof membrane (17), the hollow volume of the at least one feeding cell of the feeding module being closed on one side by the first waterproof membrane (17). odular system (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein another surface of the feeding module (6), opposite to said surface of the feeding module (6), is covered with a second membrane, the second membrane being optionally waterproof, the hollow volume of the at least one feeding cell of the feeding module being closed on the other side by the second membrane. odular system (1) according to anyone of preceding claims, further comprising a temperature regulating module (7) configured to regulate temperature and keep the meal at a temperature setpoint in the feeding module (6). odular system (1 ) according to anyone of preceding claims, further comprising an anesthesia module (8), configured to circulate an anesthetic gas or to generate cold inside the at least one accommodation cell when the multi-cellular accommodation module (4) is placed inside the anesthesia module (8). odular system (1 ) according to anyone of preceding claims, further comprising an observation module (10) and a multi-cellular studio accommodation module (13), the observation module (10) comprising a camera and/or video camera and a supporting member (11 ) configured to receive the multi-cellular accommodation module (4) or the multi-cellular studio accommodation module (13) so that an image of the at least one arthropod housed in the at least one accommodation cell is formed by the camera on an imaging plane of the camera. ethod (100) for accommodating, feeding and individually monitoring at least one arthropod in an arthropod population with a modular system (1) according to claim 7, the method comprising the following steps :
- place (101 ) at least one arthropod in the at least one accommodation cell of the multi-cellular accommodation module (4), so that only one arthropod is in the at least one accommodation cell;
- place (102) at least one meal for the at least one arthropod in at least one feeding
19 cell of the multicellular feeding module (6);
- place (103) the feeding module (6) on the multi-cellular accommodation module 4 so that the at least one arthropod placed in the at least one accommodation cell of the multi-cellular accommodation module (4) has access to the meal placed in the at least one feeding cell of the multicellular feeding module (6); then, optionally, collect meal (103ter) from the at least one feeding cell of feeding module (6) for analysis, or collect blood from the at least one accommodation cell of the multicellular accommodation module (4) for analysis;
- place (104) the accommodation module (4) on the supporting member (11 ) of the observation module (10) to capture images (107) of the arthropods housed in the accommodation cells of the multi-cellular accommodation module (4), or
- transfer (105) the at least one arthropod from the at least one accommodation cell of the accommodation module (4) to a studio accommodation cell of a studio accommodation module (13), then place (106) the studio accommodation module (13) on the supporting member (11) of the observation module (10) to capture images (107bis) of the arthropods housed in the studio accommodation cells of the multi-cellular studio accommodation module (13);
- process (108) captured images in order to extract at least one parameter characterizing the at least one arthropod.
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| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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| EP20306128 | 2020-09-30 | ||
| EP20306128.8 | 2020-09-30 |
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| WO2022069391A1 true WO2022069391A1 (en) | 2022-04-07 |
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| PCT/EP2021/076458 WO2022069391A1 (en) | 2020-09-30 | 2021-09-27 | Modular system and process for individualized accommodation, feeding and monitoring of arthropods |
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