EP0121795A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inhalation exposure apparatus
Assignee: Stauffer Chemical Co
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Filing: 1984-03-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-03-09
Abstract
Abstract An inhalation apparatus for exposing small laboratory animals, e.g., rats, to a test atmosphere in such a manner that the animals are exposed to a uniform concentration of the test atmosphere containing substantially no exhaled materials. The apparatus comprises an animal holding tube means capable of positioning the nose of an animal at a fixed point within the tube means. The tube means is provided with a test atmosphere inlet means located in the vicinity of the nose and an exhaust outlet means such that the test atmosphere can be inhaled by the animal then exhausted rearward of the nose of the animal. A plurality of these animal holding tube means can be combined by connecting their inlet means to a first plenum duct that is in communication with a source of the test atmosphere and connecting their outlet means to a second plenum duct for exhausting substantially all exhaled materials and excess test atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Raphael Joseph Labauve
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:19
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K13/00; A01K13/001; A01K1/00; A01K1/02; A01K1/03; A01K1/031; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/08; A61D; A61D7/00; A61D7/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
An inhalation apparatus for exposing small laboratory animals to a test atmosphere comprising an animal holding tube means capable of positioning the nose of an animal at a fixed point within said tube means; said tube means being provided with: a) test atmosphere inlet means located in the vicinity of said nose; and b) exhaust outlet means located such that the test atmosphere can be inhaled by the animal then exhausted rearward of said nose of the animal so that said animal is exposed to a uniform concentration of test atmosphere containing substantially no exhaled materials.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
An inhalation apparatus for exposing small laboratory animals to a test atmosphere comprising an animal holding tube means capable of positioning the nose of an animal at a fixed point within said tube means; said tube means being provided with: a) test atmosphere inlet means located in the vicinity of said nose; and b) exhaust outlet means located such that the test atmosphere can be inhaled by the animal then exhausted rearward of said nose of the animal so that said animal is exposed to a uniform concentration of test atmosphere containing substantially no exhaled materials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in Claim 1, in which the inlet means is a conical nose-piece fitted to the end of said tube means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as recited in Claim 1, in which the inlet means is a mesh.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in Claim 1, in which said tube means further comprises means for positioning the animal within said tube means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in Claim 1, in which said tube means further comprises a waste collection means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in Claim 4, in which said tube means further comprises a waste collection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as recited in Claim 1, in which the exhaust outlet means is at least one exhaust vent located on the tube in a position rearward of the nose of the animal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
A system for exposing several small laboratory animals simultaneously to a test atmosphere comprising in combination: a) a plurality of animal holding tube means as recited in Claim 1; b) a first plenum duct connecting each tube means such that a source of the test atmosphere is in fluid communication with the inlet means of each of said tube means; and c) a second plenum duct connecting each tube means and located such that the exhaust outlet means of each tube means is in fluid communication with said second plenum duct so that substantially all exhaled materials and excess test atmosphere can be exhausted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in Claim 8, in which said tube means further comprises means for positioning the animal within said tube means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as recited in Claim 8, in which said tube means further comprises a waste collection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as recited in Claim 9, in which said tube means further comprises a waste collection means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as recited in Claim 8, in which said tube means is detachable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system as recited in Claim 8, in which the source of the test atmosphere is an aerosol generator, said aerosol generator comprising a source of gas under pressure, means for conducting said gas to said inlet means and means for directing a test material into the path of said gas for entraining said test material so that the test atmosphere is formed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as recited in Claim 8, in which the second plenum duct is in communication with vacuum means for maintaining a negative pressure within said second plenum duct.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system as recited in Claim 13, in which the second plenum duct is in communication with vacuum means for maintaining a negative pressure within said second plenum duct.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of exposing the nose of a small laboratory animal to a test atmosphere comprising: a) holding the animal within a tube such that the nose of the animal is positioned at a fixed point; b) supplying a test atmosphere in the vicinity of the nose of the animal; and c) exhausting excess test atmosphere and products of respiration rearward of said nose of the animal after said animal has been allowed to breathe the test atmosphere so that the test atmosphere provided to the nose of the animal contains substantially no exhaled materials.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of exposing the nose of a small laboratory animal to a test atmosphere comprising: a) holding the animal within a tube such that the nose of the animal is positioned at a fixed point; b) supplying a test atmosphere in the vicinity of the nose of the animal; and c) exhausting excess test atmosphere and products of respiration rearward of said nose of the animal after said animal has been allowed to breathe the test atmosphere so that the test atmosphere provided to the nose of the animal contains substantially no exhaled materials.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method as recited in Claim 16, in which the step of supplying a test atmosphere comprises: conducting a source of gas under pressure towards the tube; and directing a test material into the path of said gas for entraining said test material so that the test atmosphere is formed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in Claim 16, in which the step of exhausting excess test atmosphere and products of respiration comprises vacuuming.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in Claim 17, in which the step of exhausting excess test atmosphere and products of respiration comprises vacuuming.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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