Bilateral microinjector pump for freely moving animals in an operant chamber
First Claim
1. A recirculating micro ball bearing slide providing the frictionless mechanism for a movable block ( called a “
- knee”
that is bolted to the ball bearing slide) and linear guide, providing the support and guide structure and housing for the knee and a stationary micro syringe holder and clamp;
knee has a machined tapped hole in it for receiving a threaded rod;
knee converts rotary motion of the turning threaded rod into its own linear motion along the guide rail;
machined key slots on the knee receive and hold the plunger heads of two bilaterally arranged micro syringes;
micro syringe clamp holds the barrels of the micro syringes stationary while the moving knee depresses the plungers in linear fashion causing extrusion of fluid from the micro syringes and into and through capillary tubing attached to the micro syringes for delivery of fluids into the freely behaving animal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microinjection pump for unrestrained and freely behaving animals is provided. The microinjection pump employs a screw drive mechanism that is actuated by an attached small stepper motor. The pump moves fluid by direct mechanical displacement from two microsyringes arranged in parallel (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The pump pivots and turns freely above an animal cage by an electrical swivel and connects to the animal head only by two small flexible capillary tubes that store and deliver fluids to both sides of its brain. Through associated electronic connections, the pump allows the animal to lever press for self-administration of fluids.
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Citations
2 Claims
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1. A recirculating micro ball bearing slide providing the frictionless mechanism for a movable block ( called a “
- knee”
that is bolted to the ball bearing slide) and linear guide, providing the support and guide structure and housing for the knee and a stationary micro syringe holder and clamp;
knee has a machined tapped hole in it for receiving a threaded rod;
knee converts rotary motion of the turning threaded rod into its own linear motion along the guide rail;
machined key slots on the knee receive and hold the plunger heads of two bilaterally arranged micro syringes;
micro syringe clamp holds the barrels of the micro syringes stationary while the moving knee depresses the plungers in linear fashion causing extrusion of fluid from the micro syringes and into and through capillary tubing attached to the micro syringes for delivery of fluids into the freely behaving animal. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- knee”
Specification