Animal caging system

• US 3,924,571 A
• Filed: 12/07/1973
• Issued: 12/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank Brouwer Holman
• Original Assignee: Frank Brouwer Holman
• Inventors: Holman, Frank Brouwer
• Primary Examiner(s): Chamblee, Hugh R.
• Application Number:
  US05/422,901
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 119/15,17,18,19,21,22
• US Class Current: 119/419
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals

Abstract

A system for caging animals, especially for holding research animals on long term studies, has a number of independent cage enclosures arranged together as a multiple unit modular structure with each cage enclosure being supplied on an individual and separate basis with temperature and humidity controlled bacteria free air so that cross-contamination from animal to animal is prevented. Each cage enclosure has its own source of water for the enclosed animal and means is provided for flushing out each cage enclosure on an individual basis.

Claims

1. A system for caging animals comprising a battery of independent closed wall cages, an air purification means and means connecting the output of said air purification means to each cage in an individual manner so that each cage is supplied with bacteria free air and means connecting each cage to exhaust its dirty air on an individual basis back to said air purification means whereby cross contamination from animal to animal housed in the cages is prevented, said connecting means comprising an elongated double plenum duct in fluid communication with a plurality of said cages, one plenum of said double plenum duct supplying purified air to each of said cages, the other plenum of said double plenum duct exhausting dirty air from each of said cages.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said cage enclosures are assembled into a modular structure.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each cage is provided with an animal feed water means and with means for flushing out the cage.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said elongated plenum duct is affixed to the walls of said plurality of cages.

5. The system of claim 1 including at least a second elongated double plenum duct similarly affixed to a second and different plurality of said cages, the purified air plenums of said ducts being coupled to the output of said air purification means and the exhaust dirty air plenums of said ducts being coupled to the input of said air purification means.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said first and second elongated plenum ducts are parallel.