Non-invasive restrained whole body plethysmography for measurement of airway function in conscious mice

• US 20060278218A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tufts University
• Original Assignee: Tufts University
• Inventors: Hoffman, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US11/436,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20060278218A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.240
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0806 by whole-body plethysmography measuring blood flow using plethysmography A61B5/0295; impedance plethysmography A61B5/053; measuring volume of the body or parts thereof A61B5/1073
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance

Abstract

A restrained whole body plethysmography apparatus for measurement of airway hyper-responsiveness in conscious mice includes an outer chamber, a removable restraint chamber positioned in the outer chamber, a removable docking station in the outer chamber. The removable restraint chamber and the removable docking station interconnect to restrain a mouse in the outer chamber. The restrained whole body plethysmography further includes a first sensor for measuring a first parameter related to respiratory function in the mouse and a second sensor for measuring a second parameter related to respiratory function in the mouse. In a first mode, the outer chamber is substantially sealed such that the apparatus measures pressure, and in a second mode, the outer chamber has a leak such that the apparatus is used to measure flow.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring respiratory function in an animal, comprising:

a restraint chamber for restraining the animal, the restraint chamber comprising a nose cone at a first end for receiving the head of the animal and a tube having a plurality of holes at a second end wherein the nose cone and the tube are coupled such that the restraint chamber is non-constraining;

an outer chamber in which the restraint chamber is positioned;

a first sensor mounted to a proximal end of the nose cone of the restraint chamber for detecting a first parameter related to respiratory function in the animal; and

a second sensor coupled to the outer chamber for detecting a second parameter related to respiratory function in the animal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tube having the plurality of holes comprises holes overlying a chest and abdomen of the animal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the restraint chamber is coupled to the first sensor by a docking station.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the docking station comprises a nose cone receptor for receiving the nose cone of the restraint chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the nose cone receptor and nose cone provide visualization of a seal of the nose.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the docking station comprises a rotating stopcock.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the stopcock assembly permits each of nasal flow measurement, aerosol delivery, and leak testing of a seal of the nose cone, each from the outside of the box.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the docking station comprises a pneumotachograph.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a platform having a track, and the restraint chamber further comprises a guide that moves along the track such that the track facilitates the movement of the restraint chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second parameters are related to resistance of an airway of the animal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first parameter is related to air flow at the nose of the animal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the animal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second parameter is related to volume of the body of the animal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second parameters are combined to monitor respiratory function in the animal.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in a first mode, the outer chamber is substantially sealed such that the apparatus measures pressure, and in a second mode, the outer chamber has a leak such that the apparatus is used to measure flow.

17. An apparatus for monitoring respiratory function in an animal, comprising:

a restraint chamber for restraining the animal, the restraint chamber comprising a nose cone at a first end for receiving the head of the animal and a tube having a plurality of holes at a second end;

a docking station for interlocking with the restraint chamber, the docking station comprising a first sensor for detecting a first parameter related to respiratory function in the animal;

an outer chamber in which the restraint chamber and the docking station are positioned; and

a second sensor coupled to the outer chamber for detecting a second parameter related to respiratory function in the animal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the tube having the plurality of holes comprises holes overlying a chest and abdomen of the animal.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the docking station comprises a nose cone receptor for receiving the nose cone of the restraint chamber.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the nose cone receptor and nose cone provide visualization of a seal of the nose.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the docking station comprises a rotating stopcock.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the stopcock assembly permits each of nasal flow measurement, aerosol delivery, and leak testing of the nose cone, each from the outside of the box.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the docking station comprises a pneumotachograph.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus further comprises a platform having a track, and the restraint chamber further comprises a guide that moves along the track such that the track facilitates the movement of the restraint chamber.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second parameters are related to resistance of an airway of the animal.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first parameter is related to air flow at the nose of the animal.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the chamber.

28. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the animal.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second parameter is related to volume of the body of the animal.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second parameters are combined to monitor respiratory function in the animal.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein, in a first mode, the outer chamber is substantially sealed such that the apparatus measures pressure, and in a second mode, the outer chamber has a leak such that the apparatus is used to measure flow.

32. An apparatus for monitoring respiratory function in an animal, comprising:

a restraint chamber for restraining the animal, the restraint chamber comprising a nose cone at a first end for receiving the head of the animal and a tube having a plurality of holes at a second end, the tube having a protrusion, the protrusion having a sliding track, wherein the tube slides with respect to the nose cone along the sliding track of the protrusion coupling the tube to the nose cone;

an outer chamber in which the restraint chamber is positioned;

a first sensor mounted to a proximal end of the nose cone of the restraint chamber for detecting a first parameter related to respiratory function in the animal; and

a second sensor coupled to the outer chamber for detecting a second parameter related to respiratory function in the animal.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the tube having the plurality of holes comprises holes overlying a chest and abdomen of the animal.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the restraint chamber is coupled to the first sensor by a docking station.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the docking station comprises a nose cone receptor for receiving the nose cone of the restraint chamber.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the nose cone receptor and nose cone provide visualization of a seal of the nose.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the docking station comprises a rotating stopcock.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the stopcock assembly permits each of nasal flow measurement, aerosol delivery, and leak testing of the nose cone, each from the outside of the box.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the docking station comprises a pneumotachograph.

40. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the apparatus further comprises a platform having a track, and the restraint chamber further comprises a guide that moves along the track such that the track facilitates the movement of the restraint chamber.

41. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first and second parameters are related to resistance of an airway of the animal.

42. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first parameter is related to air flow at the nose of the animal.

43. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the chamber.

44. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the animal.

45. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the second parameter is related to volume of the body of the animal.

46. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first and second parameters are combined to monitor respiratory function in the animal.

47. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein, in a first mode, the outer chamber is substantially sealed such that the apparatus measures pressure, and in a second mode, the outer chamber has a leak such that the apparatus is used to measure flow.

48. An apparatus for monitoring respiratory function in an animal, comprising:

a restraint chamber for restraining the animal, the restraint chamber comprising a nose cone at a first end for receiving the head of the animal and a tube having a plurality of holes and a protrusion having a sliding track at a second end, wherein the nose cone slides with respect to the tube along the sliding track of the protrusion coupling the nose cone to the tube;

an outer chamber in which the restraint chamber and the platform are positioned;

a first sensor coupled to a proximal end of the nose cone of the restraint chamber for detecting a first parameter related to respiratory function in the animal; and

a second sensor coupled to the outer chamber for detecting a second parameter related to respiratory function in the animal.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the tube having the plurality of holes comprises holes overlying a chest and abdomen of the animal.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the restraint chamber is coupled to the first sensor by a docking station.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the docking station comprises a nose cone receptor for receiving the nose cone of the restraint chamber.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the nose cone receptor and nose cone provide visualization of a seal of the nose.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the docking station comprises a rotating stopcock.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the stopcock assembly permits each of nasal flow measurement, aerosol delivery, and leak testing of the nose cone, each from the outside of the box.

55. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the docking station comprises a pneumotachograph.

56. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the apparatus further comprises a platform having a track, and the restraint chamber further comprises a guide that moves along the track such that the track facilitates the movement of the restraint chamber.

57. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the first and second parameters are related to resistance of an airway of the animal.

58. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the first parameter is related to air flow at the nose of the animal.

59. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the chamber.

60. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the animal.

61. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the second parameter is related to volume of the body of the animal.

62. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the first and second parameters are combined to monitor respiratory function in the animal.

63. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein, in a first mode, the outer chamber is substantially sealed such that the apparatus measures pressure, and in a second mode, the outer chamber has a leak such that the apparatus is used to measure flow.

64. An apparatus for monitoring respiratory function in an animal, comprising:

a restraint chamber for restraining the animal; and

an outer chamber in which the restraint chamber is positioned;

wherein, in a first mode, the outer chamber is substantially sealed such that the apparatus measures pressure, and in a second mode, the outer chamber has a leak such that the apparatus is used to measure flow.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the restraint chamber comprises a nose cone at a first end for receiving the head of the animal and a tube having a plurality of holes at a second end.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the tube having the plurality of holes comprises holes overlying a chest and abdomen of the animal.

67. The apparatus of claim 65, the apparatus further comprises a first sensor mounted to a proximal end of the nose cone of the restraint chamber for detecting a first parameter related to respiratory function in the animal.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second sensor coupled to the outer chamber for detecting a second parameter related to respiratory function in the animal.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the restraint chamber is coupled to the first sensor by a docking station.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the docking station comprises a nose cone receptor for receiving the nose cone of the restraint chamber.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the nose cone receptor and nose cone provide visualization of a seal of the nose.

72. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the docking station comprises a rotating stopcock.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the stopcock assembly permits each of nasal flow measurement, aerosol delivery, and leak testing of the nose cone, each from the outside of the box.

74. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the docking station comprises a pneumotachograph.

75. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the apparatus further comprises a platform having a track, and the restraint chamber further comprises a guide that moves along the track such that the track facilitates the movement of the restraint chamber.

76. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the first and second parameters are related to resistance of an airway of the animal.

77. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the first parameter is related to air flow at the nose of the animal.

78. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the chamber.

79. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the second parameter is related to a pressure change in the animal.

80. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the second parameter is related to volume of the body of the animal.

81. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the first and second parameters are combined to monitor respiratory function in the animal.