Animal breeding system and utilization of the system

• US 20050193957A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Osaka University
• Original Assignee: Osaka University
• Inventors: Kiyono, Hiroshi, Kaseda, Kazuhiro, Oshima, Shigeru, Yomogida, Kentaro
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/300
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/01 Removal of dung or urine, e.g. from stablesA01K1/015 takes precedence; from poultry houses A01K31/04
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0236 Transport boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses for animals; Fittings therefor for poultry A01K31/002; for pigeons A01K31/07
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0245 Boxes or cages
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals

Abstract

The present invention has objectives of providing a low-cost, easy-to-handle individual isolation animal breeding unit and a system for using the same, significantly reducing costs of facilities and maintenance for animal experiments and saving on labor, and providing a new animal transportation form (breeding cage having a transportation function). For achieving the objectives, the present invention provides a system for maintaining an animal breeding environment, comprising A) an animal breeding unit capable of comprising an internal tray having a sufficient space for breeding an animal of interest, comprising an external tray capable of accommodating the internal tray, and capable of keeping a predetermined cleanliness degree; B) means for providing the internal tray having the predetermined cleanliness degree; C) an internal tray exchange unit capable of accommodating the animal breeding unit and exchanging the internal tray while keeping the predetermined cleanliness degree; and D) means for recovering the exchanged internal tray.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining an animal breeding environment, the system comprising:

A) an animal breeding unit which is capable of comprising an internal tray having a sufficient space for breeding an animal of interest, comprises an external tray capable of accommodating the internal tray and is capable of keeping a predetermined degree of cleanliness;

B) means for providing the internal tray having the predetermined degree of cleanliness;

C) an internal tray exchange unit capable of accommodating the animal breeding unit and exchanging the internal tray while keeping the predetermined degree of cleanliness; and

D) means for recovering the exchanged internal tray.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for transporting the internal tray to the internal tray exchange unit.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an environment maintaining device for maintaining the animal breeding environment.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing the internal tray comprises means for producing the internal tray.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for disposing the exchanged internal tray.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for regenerating the exchanged internal tray.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing the internal tray comprises means for regenerating the internal tray.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined degree of cleanliness is a degree at which the animal breeding environment contains nothing which provides an undesirable influence for a purpose of using the animal of interest.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined degree of cleanliness is a degree at which the animal breeding environment comprises no pathogen for the animal of interest.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray is water-resistant.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray accommodates bedding.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray is disposable.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray is recyclable.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray contains a biodegradable material.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, pulp, polyolefin-based resins, non-crystalline polyesters, and mixtures of polyolefin-based resins and inorganic fillers.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray having the prescribed degree of cleanliness is sterilized.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray exchange unit is selected from the group consisting of a safety cabinet, a clean bench, a clean table, an exchange station, and an exchange isolator.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing the internal tray comprises means for sterilization.

19. A system according to claim 1, wherein the animal breeding unit comprises means capable of maintaining airtightness.

20. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a container which is capable of accommodating at least one animal breeding unit and which comprises means capable of maintaining airtightness.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein the external tray has a brim surface and a stepped portion.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein the internal tray has a brim surface and a stepped portion.

37. An animal breeding unit according to claim 1, which has at least two openings.

59. An animal breeding unit set comprising at least one animal breeding unit according to claim 1 located on a rack.

60. An animal breeding unit set according to claim 59, further comprising an automatic illumination device.

61. An animal breeding unit set according to claim 59, wherein the rack comprises a sterilization circuit.

62. An animal breeding unit set according to claim 59, wherein the rack comprises a deodorization device.

83. An animal breeding method comprising the step of breeding an animal using an animal breeding unit according to claim 35 or 63, or using a system according to claim 1, 33, or 77.

85. An infection or recombinant experimental method, comprising the steps of:

breeding an animal in an animal breeding unit in a system according to claim 1, 33 or 77;

moving the animal breeding unit to a safety cabinet; and

performing an infection or recombinant experiment in the safety cabinet or a clean bench.

86. An infection or recombinant experimental method according to claim 85, wherein animal breeding unit system is located in an infection-preventing facility.

87. A container for accommodating an internal tray for use in a system according to claim 1, wherein the container has a sufficient capacity for accommodating the internal tray.

88. A container according to claim 87, which is sterilizable.

89. A container according to claim 87, which is water-resistant.

23. A device for producing an internal tray used in the system according to the present invention, the device comprising means for molding the internal tray.

24. A method for maintaining an animal breeding environment in an animal breeding unit, which comprises an internal tray having a sufficient space for breeding an animal of interest, comprises an external tray capable of accommodating the internal tray, and is capable of keeping a predetermined degree of cleanliness, the method comprising the steps of:

A) providing another internal tray having the predetermined degree of cleanliness;

B) locating the animal breeding unit in an internal tray exchange unit capable of accommodating the animal breeding unit and capable of keeping the predetermined degree of cleanliness; and

C) in the internal tray exchange unit,

C-1) removing the used internal tray from the animal breeding unit;

C-2) removing the animal of interest from the used internal tray;

C-3) attaching the another internal tray having the predetermined degree of cleanliness to the animal breeding unit; and

C-4) locating the animal of interest in the another internal tray having the predetermined degree of cleanliness; and

D) recovering the used internal tray.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the another internal tray having the predetermined degree of cleanliness is sterilized.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the internal tray exchange unit is selected from the group consisting of a safety cabinet, a clean bench, a clean table, an exchange station, and an exchange isolator.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein the internal tray exchange unit isolates the animal breeding unit from an external environment.

28. A method according to claim 24, wherein internal tray exchange unit is capable of keeping airtightness.

29. A method according to claim 24, wherein a plurality of the animal breeding units are used, and the step C) is performed while at least two of the plurality of animal breeding units are kept isolated from each other.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein:

the plurality of animal breeding units are grouped into a plurality of animal breeding unit groups;

the animal breeding unit groups each comprise at least one animal breeding unit; and

the step C) is performed in the state where the animal breeding units in each animal breeding unit group are not isolated from each other, but the plurality of animal breeding unit groups are isolated from each other.

31. Use of an internal tray production device for producing an internal tray used in the method according to claim 24.

32. Use of an internal tray regeneration device for regenerating an internal tray recovered in the method according to claim 24.

33. A system for an experiment using an animal, the system comprising:

A) at least one animal breeding unit, which is isolated from an external environment and is connectable to an environment maintaining device;

the animal breeding unit comprising;

1) a housing; and

2) at least one opening, provided on the housing, connectable with the environment maintaining device;

B) the environment maintaining device; and

C) a facility for the experiment using the animal.

34. A system according to claim 33, wherein the facility for the experiment is selected from the group consisting of an ordinary experimental facility, a P1 experimental facility, a P2 experimental facility, a P3 experimental facility, and a P4 experimental facility.

35. An animal breeding unit which is isolated from an external environment and is connectable to an environment maintaining device, the animal breeding unit comprising:

1) a housing; and

2) at least one opening, provided on the housing, which is connectable with the environment maintaining device.

36. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, wherein the housing and the environment maintaining device are airtightly connectable via the opening.

38. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, wherein the opening is provided with a valve capable of maintaining isolation of an animal breeding system comprising the animal breeding unit, from an external environment when the animal breeding unit is disconnected from the environment maintaining device.

39. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, wherein the opening is provided with a valve capable of maintaining airtightness of an animal breeding system comprising the animal breeding unit, with respect to an external environment when the animal breeding unit is disconnected from the environment maintaining device.

40. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, wherein the environment maintaining device comprises means for providing a gas to the animal breeding unit and recovering the gas from the animal breeding unit via the opening.

41. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, wherein the housing comprises:

1) an external tray; and

2) a lid.

42. An animal breeding unit according to claim 41, further comprising an internal tray inside the external tray.

43. An animal breeding unit according to claim 42, wherein the internal tray is disposable.

44. An animal breeding unit according to claim 42, wherein the internal tray is water-resistant.

45. An animal breeding unit according to claim 42, wherein the internal tray is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, pulp, polyolefin-based resins, and mixtures of polyolefin-based resins and inorganic fillers.

46. An animal breeding unit according to claim 42, wherein the internal tray prevents an animal in the internal tray from contacting the external tray.

47. An animal breeding unit according to claim 42, wherein the internal tray is sterilizable.

48. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, further comprising a packing member provided between the lid and the external tray for maintaining airtightness.

49. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, further comprising an internal lid for isolating the animal from the external tray.

50. An animal breeding unit according to claim 49, wherein the internal lid is lattice-shaped.

51. An animal breeding unit according to claim 49, wherein the internal lid is formed of stainless steel.

52. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, further comprising a mesh cover.

53. An animal breeding unit according to claim 41, further comprising a filter.

54. An animal breeding unit according to claim 53, wherein the filter is selected from a HEPA filter, an ULPA filter, a cellulose filter, a cellulose acetate filter, a nylon filter, a PVDF filter, a PTFE filter, a PP filter, a PES filter, a GF/F filter and filter paper, and a filter formed of a combination thereof.

55. An animal breeding unit according to claim 35, further comprising a bedding material.

56. An animal breeding unit according to claim 42, wherein the internal tray accommodates a water-absorbent bedding material.

57. An animal breeding unit according to claim 41, wherein the external tray has a brim surface and a stepped portion.

58. An animal breeding unit according to claim 42, wherein the internal tray has a brim surface and a stepped portion.

76. An animal breeding system, comprising an animal breeding unit according to claim 35 and an environment maintaining device.

77. An animal breeding system according to claim 76, further comprising a safety cabinet or a clean bench.

78. An animal breeding system according to claim 76, wherein the environment maintaining device comprises a control section for controlling at least one parameter of a gas provided to the animal breeding unit, the at least one parameter being selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration and carbon dioxide concentration.

79. An animal breeding system according to claim 76, wherein the environment maintaining device comprises an air discharge section for discharging air.

80. An animal breeding system according to claim 77, wherein the animal breeding unit, a safety cabinet or a clean bench, and the environment maintaining device are connectable with one another while being isolated from the external environment.

81. An animal breeding system according to claim 76, wherein the environment maintaining device is portable.

82. An animal breeding system according to claim 77, wherein the safety cabinet or the clean bench is isolated from an external environment.

84. A method for recycling an animal breeding unit, comprising the step of treating the internal tray and supplementing a new internal tray after breeding an animal using an animal breeding unit according to claim 42 or 63.

63. An animal breeding unit, comprising:

1) an external tray; and

2) an internal tray.

64. An animal breeding unit according to claim 63, wherein the internal tray is disposable.

65. An animal breeding unit according to claim 63, further comprising a lid.

66. An animal breeding unit according to claim 63, wherein the internal tray is water-resistant.

67. An animal breeding unit according to claim 63, wherein the internal tray prevents an animal in the internal tray from contacting the external tray.

68. An animal breeding unit according to claim 63, wherein the internal tray is sterilizable.

69. An animal breeding unit according to claim 63, wherein the internal tray is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, pulp, polyolefin-based resins, non-crystalline polyesters, and mixtures of polyolefin-based resins and inorganic fillers.

70. An animal breeding unit according to claim 63, wherein at least one of the internal tray and the external tray comprises a brim surface.

71. A disposable internal tray for use in an animal breeding unit comprising an external tray and the internal tray.

72. A disposable internal tray according to claim 71, which is water-resistant.

73. A disposable internal tray according to claim 71, wherein the internal tray prevents an animal in the internal tray from contacting the external tray.

74. A disposable internal tray according to claim 71, which is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper, pulp, polyolefin-based resins, non-crystalline polyesters, and mixtures of polyolefin-based resins and inorganic fillers.

75. A disposable internal tray according to claim 71, which comprises a brim surface and a stepped portion.