Automated inhalation toxicology exposure system and method

• US 7,377,276 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Roy, Chad J., Hartings, Justin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/166,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20030055354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,190 Days
• Field of Search: 600/529, 128/202.12, 128/203.12, 419/15, 419/17
• US Class Current: 128/203.14
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/031 Cages for laboratory animals; Cages for measuring metabolism of animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/42 for laboratory research
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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 5/4845 Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products A61B5/4848 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/04 Devices for anaesthetising animals by gases or vapours; Inhaling devices

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to: conditioning an inhalent environment; exposing a first organism to the inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time; and exposing a second organism to the inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time. In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to: conditioning an inhalent environment; exposing a first organism to the inhalent environment until a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage; and exposing a second organism to the inhalent environment until a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage. In one embodiment, a method includes but is not limited to: detecting a first organism via a first-organism biochip device implanted in the first organism; and controlling a first-organism dosage in response to the first-organism biochip device. In addition to the foregoing, other method embodiments are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application. In one or more various embodiments, related systems include but are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the foregoing-referenced method embodiments; the circuitry and/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the foregoing-referenced method embodiments depending upon the design choices of the system designer. In one embodiment, a system includes but is not limited to: an inhalent manifold; a first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold; a second independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold; and an exposure control system operably coupled to either or both said first independently-controllable exposure unit and said second independently-controllable exposure unit.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

conditioning an inhalent environment;

exposing a first organism to the inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time, exposing including

disconnecting a clean-air supply from a first apertured connector, containing at least a part of the first organism, and

coupling the inhalant environment to the first apertured connector for the first-organism duration of time; and

exposing a second organism to the inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector, containing at least a part of the first organism, for the first-organism duration of time comprises:

starting the first-organism duration of time upon an initial coupling of the inhalent environment to the first apertured connector containing the at least a part of the first organism; and

terminating the first-organism duration of time when a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said terminating the first-organism duration of time when a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage comprises:

detecting the first organism via a first-organism biochip device implanted in the first organism; and

recalling the predefined first-organism target dosage in response to the first-organism biochip device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said terminating the first-organism duration of time when a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage comprises:

measuring a volume respirated by the first organism;

calculating the first-organism delivered dosage in response to the volume.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said measuring a volume respirated by the first organism comprises:

measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a first-organism biochip device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a first-organism biochip device comprises:

measuring a flow between an interior of the animal restraint cartridge and an exterior of the animal restraint cartridge.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector, containing at least a part of the first organism, for the first-organism duration of time comprises:

opening a valve between the inhalent environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism beginning time; and

closing the valve between the inhalent environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism ending time.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector, containing at least a part of the first organism, for the first-organism duration of time comprises:

closing a valve between a clean-air environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism beginning time; and

opening a valve between the clean-air environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism ending time.

102. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method steps recited in claim 1.

9. A method comprising:

automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to achieve a predetermined environmental condition;

distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time;

distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time, distributing to a second organism includes

coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time, coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector includes

starting the second-organism duration of time upon an initial coupling of the inhalent environment to the second apertured connector containing the at least a part of the second organism, and

terminating the second-organism duration of time when a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage; and

wherein the first organism and the second organism are exposed to the same conditioned inhalant environment after the inhalent environment has been completely conditioned.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said terminating the second-organism duration of time when a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage comprises:

detecting the second organism via a second-organism biochip device implanted in the second organism; and

recalling the predefined second-organism target dosage in response to the second-organism biochip device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said terminating the second-organism duration of time when a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage comprises:

measuring a volume respirated by the second organism; and

calculating the delivered dosage in response to the volume.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said measuring a volume respirated by the second organism comprises:

measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a second-organism biochip device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a second-organism biochip device comprises:

measuring a flow between an interior of the animal restraint cartridge and an exterior of the animal restraint cartridge.

101. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method steps recited in claim 9.

14. A method comprising:

automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to achieve a predetermined environmental condition;

distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time;

distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time, distributing to a second organism includes

coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time, coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector includes

opening a valve between the inhalent environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism beginning time, and

closing the valve between the inhalent environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism ending time; and

wherein the first organism and the second organism are exposed to the same conditioned inhalant environment after the inhalent environment has been completely conditioned.

15. A method comprising:

automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to achieve a predetermined environmental condition;

distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time;

distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time, distributing to a second organism includes

coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time, coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector includes

closing a valve between a clean-air environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism beginning time, and

opening the valve between the clean-air environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism ending time; and

wherein the first organism and the second organism are exposed to the same conditioned inhalant environment after the inhalent environment has been completely conditioned.

16. A system comprising:

means for automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to achieve a predetermined environmental condition;

means for automatically distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time, said means for automatically distributing to a first organism includes

means for coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector, containing at least a part of the first organism, and disconnecting a clean-air supply to the first apertured connector for the first-organism duration of time; and

means for automatically distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time; and

wherein both distributing means provide exposure to the same conditioned inhalent environment after the predetermined environmental condition is achieved.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector, containing at least a part of the first organism, for the first-organism duration of time comprises:

means for starting the first-organism duration of time upon an initial coupling of the inhalent environment to the first apertured connector containing the at least a part of the first organism; and

means for terminating the first-organism duration of time when a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for terminating the first-organism duration of time when a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage comprises:

means for detecting the first organism via a first-organism biochip device implanted in the first organism; and

means for recalling the predefined first-organism target dosage in response to the first-organism biochip device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said means for terminating the first-organism duration of time when a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage comprises:

means for measuring a volume respirated by the first organism;

means for calculating the first-organism delivered dosage in response to the volume.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for measuring a volume respirated by the first organism comprises:

means for measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a first-organism biochip device.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said means for measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a first-organism biochip device comprises:

means for measuring a flow between an interior of the animal restraint cartridge and an exterior of the animal restraint cartridge.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector, containing at least a part of the first organism, for the first-organism duration of time comprises:

means for opening a valve between the inhalent environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism beginning time; and

means for closing the valve between the inhalent environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism ending time.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector, containing at least a part of the first organism, for the first-organism duration of time comprises:

means for closing a valve between a clean-air environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism beginning time; and

means for opening a valve between the clean-air environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism ending time.

24. A system comprising:

means for automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to achieve a predetermined environmental condition;

means for automatically distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time; and

means for automatically distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time, said means for automatically distributing to a second organism includes

means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time, said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time includes

means for starting the second-organism duration of time upon an initial coupling of the inhalent environment to the second apertured connector containing the at least a part of the second organism, and

means for terminating the second-organism duration of time when a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage; and

wherein both distributing means provide exposure to the same conditioned inhalent environment after the predetermined environmental condition is achieved.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said means for terminating the second-organism duration of time when a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage comprises:

means for detecting the second organism via a second-organism biochip device implanted in the second organism; and

means for recalling the predefined second-organism target dosage in response to the second-organism biochip device.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said means for terminating the second-organism duration of time when a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage comprises:

means for measuring a volume respirated by the second organism; and

means for calculating the delivered dosage in response to the volume.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said means for measuring a volume respirated by the second organism comprises:

means for measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a second-organism biochip device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said means for measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a second-organism biochip device comprises:

means for measuring a flow between an interior of the animal restraint cartridge and an exterior of the animal restraint cartridge.

29. A system comprising:

means for automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to achieve a predetermined environmental condition;

means for automatically distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time; and

means for automatically distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time, said means for automatically distributing to a second organism includes

means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time, said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time includes

means for opening a valve between the inhalent environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism beginning time, and

means for closing the valve between the inhalent environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism ending time; and

wherein both distributing means provide exposure to the same conditioned inhalent environment after the predetermined environmental condition is achieved.

30. A system comprising:

means for automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to achieve a predetermined environmental condition;

means for automatically distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a first-organism duration of time; and

means for automatically distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment for a second-organism duration of time, said means for automatically distributing to a second organism includes

means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time, said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism for the second-organism duration of time includes

means for closing a valve between a clean-air environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism beginning time, and

means for opening the valve between the clean-air environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism ending time; and

wherein both distributing means provide exposure to the same conditioned inhalent environment after the predetermined environmental condition is achieved.

31. A method comprising:

automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to achieve a predetermined environmental condition;

distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment until a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage after the predetermined environmental condition has been achieved; and

distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment until a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage after the predetermined environmental condition has been achieved.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said automatically conditioning an inhalent environment comprises:

introducing an inhalent into an inhalent manifold.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said introducing an inhalent into an inhalent manifold comprises:

introducing the inhalent into an inhalent intake plenum operably coupled with an inner manifold.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said automatically conditioning an inhalent environment comprises:

monitoring at least one environmental condition selected from an environmental-condition group including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and inhalent concentration.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein said automatically conditioning an inhalent environment comprises:

adjusting at least one environmental condition selected from an environmental-condition group including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and inhalent concentration.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein said distributing to a first organism comprises:

detecting the first organism via a first-organism biochip device implanted in the first organism; and

recalling the predefined first-organism target dosage in response to the first-organism biochip device.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein said distributing to a first organism comprises:

measuring a volume respirated by the first organism;

calculating the first-organism delivered dosage in response to the volume.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said measuring a volume respirated by the first organism comprises:

measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a first-organism biochip device.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a first-organism biochip device comprises:

measuring a flow between an interior of the animal restraint cartridge and an exterior of the animal restraint cartridge.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein said distributing to a second organism comprises:

detecting the second organism via a second-organism biochip device implanted in the second organism; and

recalling the predefined second-organism target dosage in response to the second-organism biochip device.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein said distributing to a second organism comprises:

measuring a volume respirated by the second organism; and

calculating the delivered dosage in response to the volume.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said measuring a volume respirated by the second organism comprises:

measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a second-organism biochip device.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a second-organism biochip device comprises:

measuring a flow between an interior of the animal restraint cartridge and an exterior of the animal restraint cartridge.

44. The method of claim 31, wherein said distributing to a first organism comprises:

coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector containing at least a part of the first organism.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector containing at least a part of the first organism comprises:

starting a first-organism duration of time upon an initial coupling of the inhalent environment to the first apertured connector containing the at least a part of the first organism; and

terminating the first-organism duration of time when the calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds the predefined first-organism target dosage.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector containing at least a part of the first organism comprises:

opening a valve between the inhalent environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism beginning time; and

closing the valve between the inhalent environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism ending time.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector containing at least a part of the first organism comprises:

closing a valve between a clean-air environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism beginning time; and

opening the valve between the clean-air environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism ending time.

48. The method of claim 31, wherein said distributing to a second organism comprises:

coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism comprises:

starting a second-organism duration of time upon an initial coupling of the inhalent environment to the second apertured connector containing the at least a part of the second organism; and

terminating the second-organism duration of time when the calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism comprises:

opening a valve between the inhalent environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism beginning time; and

closing a valve between the inhalent environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism ending time.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein said coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism comprises:

closing a valve between a clean-air environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism beginning time; and

opening the valve between the clean-air environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism ending time.

52. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

performing an inhalent or exposure study, wherein said performing the inhalent or exposure study comprises said automatically conditioning, said distributing to a first organism, and said distributing to a second organism.

103. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method steps recited in claim 31.

53. A system comprising:

means for automatically conditioning an inhalent environment to reach a predetermined environmental condition;

means for automatically distributing to a first organism the conditioned inhalent environment until a calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined first-organism target dosage after the predetermined environmental condition has been reached; and

means for automatically distributing to a second organism the conditioned inhalent environment until a calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage after the predetermined environmental condition has been reached.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically conditioning an inhalent environment comprises:

means for introducing an inhalent into an inhalent manifold.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein said means for introducing an inhalent into an inhalent manifold comprises:

means for introducing the inhalent into an inhalent intake plenum operably coupled with an inner manifold.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically conditioning an inhalent environment comprises:

means for monitoring at least one environmental condition selected from an environmental-condition group including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and

inhalent concentration.

57. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically conditioning an inhalent environment comprises:

means for adjusting at least one environmental condition selected from an environmental-condition group including temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and inhalent concentration.

58. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically distributing to a first organism comprises:

means for detecting the first organism via a first-organism biochip device implanted in the first organism; and

means for recalling the predefined first-organism target dosage in response to the first-organism biochip device.

59. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically distributing to a first organism comprises:

means for measuring a volume respirated by the first organism;

means for calculating the first-organism delivered dosage in response to the volume.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein said means for measuring a volume respirated by the first organism comprises:

means for measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a first-organism biochip device.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein said means for measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a first-organism biochip device comprises:

means for measuring a flow between an interior of the animal restraint cartridge and an exterior of the animal restraint cartridge.

62. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically distributing to a second organism comprises:

means for detecting the second organism via a second-organism biochip device implanted in the second organism; and

means for recalling the predefined second-organism target dosage in response to the second-organism biochip device.

63. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically distributing to a second organism comprises:

means for measuring a volume respirated by the second organism; and

means for calculating the delivered dosage in response to the volume.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein said means for measuring a volume respirated by the second organism comprises:

means for measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a second-organism biochip device.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein said means for measuring a volume of an animal restraint cartridge associated with a second-organism biochip device comprises:

means for measuring a flow between an interior of the animal restraint cartridge and an exterior of the animal restraint cartridge.

66. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically distributing to a first organism comprises:

means for coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector containing at least a part of the first organism.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector containing at least a part of the first organism comprises:

means for starting a first-organism duration of time upon an initial coupling of the inhalent environment to the first apertured connector containing the at least a part of the first organism; and

means for terminating the first-organism duration of time when the calculated first-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds the predefined first-organism target dosage.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector containing at least a part of the first organism comprises:

means for opening a valve between the inhalent environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism beginning time; and

means for closing the valve between the inhalent environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism ending time.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a first apertured connector containing at least a part of the first organism comprises:

means for closing a valve between a clean-air environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism beginning time; and

means for opening the valve between the clean-air environment and the first apertured connector at a first-organism ending time.

70. The system of claim 53, wherein said means for automatically distributing to a second organism comprises:

means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism comprises:

means for starting a second-organism duration of time upon an initial coupling of the inhalent environment to the second apertured connector containing the at least a part of the second organism; and

means for terminating the second-organism duration of time when the calculated second-organism delivered dosage meets or exceeds a predefined second-organism target dosage.

72. The system of claim 70, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism comprises:

means for opening a valve between the inhalent environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism beginning time; and

means for closing a valve between the inhalent environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism ending time.

73. The system of claim 70, wherein said means for coupling the inhalent environment to a second apertured connector containing at least a part of the second organism comprises:

means for closing a valve between a clean-air environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism beginning time; and

means for opening the valve between the clean-air environment and the second apertured connector at a second-organism ending time.

74. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

means for performing an inhalent or exposure study, wherein said means for performing the inhalent or exposure study comprises said means for automatically conditioning, said means for distributing to a first organism, and said means for distributing to a second organism.

75. A system comprising:

an inhalent manifold;

a clean-air manifold;

a first automatic independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold and said clean-air manifold;

a second automatic independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold and said clean-air manifold; and

an automatic exposure control system operably coupled to either or both said first exposure unit and said second exposure unit to provide an identical conditioned inhalent environment from said inhalent manifold to either or both said first exposure unit and said second exposure unit and to provide clean-air to either or both said first exposure unit and said second exposure unit during conditioning of the inhalent environment in said inhalent manifold.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein said inhalent manifold comprises:

an inhalent intake plenum operably coupled with an inner manifold.

77. The system of claim 75, wherein said inhalent manifold comprises:

at least one environmental-condition sensor integral with said inhalent manifold, said at least one environmental condition sensor selected from an environmental-condition-sensor group including a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, and an inhalent concentration sensor; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said at least one environmental-condition sensor.

78. The system of claim 75, wherein said inhalent manifold comprises:

at least one environmental-condition controller integral with said inhalent manifold, said at least one environmental-condition controller selected from an environmental-condition-controller group including a temperature controller, a relative humidity controller, a pressure controller, and an inhalent concentration controller; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said at least one environmental-condition controller.

79. The system of claim 75, wherein said first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises:

an independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and a first apertured connector; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and a first apertured connector.

80. The system of claim 75, further comprising an exhaust manifold,

said first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises an independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and the exhaust manifold;

and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and the exhaust manifold.

81. The system of claim 75, wherein said first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises:

an animal restraint cartridge;

a biochip device receiver integral with said animal restraint cartridge; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said a biochip device receiver.

82. The system of claim 75, wherein said first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises:

an animal restraint cartridge;

a differential volume sensor operably coupled to said animal restraint cartridge; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said differential volume sensor.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein said differential volume sensor operably coupled to said animal restraint cartridge comprises:

a pneumotachograph operably coupled to said animal restraint cartridge; and

a differential pressure transducer operably coupled to said pneumotachograph.

84. The system of claim 75, wherein said second independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises:

an independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and a second apertured connector; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and the second apertured connector.

85. The system of claim 75, further comprising an exhaust manifold,

said second independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises an independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and the exhaust manifold;

and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and the exhaust manifold.

86. The system of claim 75, wherein said second independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises:

an animal restraint cartridge;

a biochip device receiver integral with said animal restraint cartridge; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said a biochip device receiver.

87. The system of claim 75, wherein said second independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises:

an animal restraint cartridge;

a differential volume sensor operably coupled to said animal restraint cartridge; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said differential volume sensor.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein said differential volume sensor operably coupled to said animal restraint cartridge comprises:

a pneumotachograph operably coupled to said animal restraint cartridge; and

a differential pressure transducer operably coupled to said pneumotachograph.

89. The system of claim 75, wherein said exposure control system comprises:

circuitry for

conditioning an inhalent environment in said inhalent manifold,

controlling said first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold to expose at least a first organism to the inhalent environment for at least a first-organism duration of time, and

controlling said second independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold to expose at least a second organism to the inhalent environment for at least a second-organism duration of time; and

said circuitry selected from an electrical-circuitry group including electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program, electrical circuitry having a memory device, and electrical circuitry having a communications device.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein said circuitry comprises:

a data processing system running a control program.

91. A system comprising:

an inhalent manifold;

a clean-air manifold;

a first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold;

a second independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold; and

an exposure control system operably coupled to either or both said first exposure unit and said second exposure unit, said exposure control system controls a period of connection between said inhalent manifold and either or both said first exposure unit and said second exposure unit after an inhalent environment in said inhalent manifold has reached a steady state, said exposure control system connects said clean-air manifold with any exposure unit that was exposed to inhalent at times other than the connection period.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein said inhalent manifold comprises:

an inhalent intake plenum operably coupled with an inner manifold.

93. The system of claim 91, wherein said inhalent manifold comprises:

at least one environmental-condition sensor integral with said inhalent manifold, said at least one environmental condition sensor selected from an environmental-condition-sensor group including a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, and an inhalent concentration sensor; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said at least one environmental-condition sensor.

94. The system of claim 91, wherein said inhalent manifold comprises:

at least one environmental-condition controller integral with said inhalent manifold, said at least one environmental-condition controller selected from an environmental-condition-controller group including a temperature controller, a relative humidity controller, a pressure controller, and an inhalent concentration controller; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said at least one environmental-condition controller.

95. The system of claim 91, wherein said first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises:

an independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and a first apertured connector; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and a first apertured connector.

96. The system of claim 91, wherein said first independently-controllable exposure unit coupled to said inhalent manifold comprises:

an independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and an exhaust manifold; and

said exposure control system operably coupled to said independently-controllable valve interposed between the inhalent manifold and the exhaust manifold.

97. A system comprising:

an inhalant manifold;

a clean-air manifold;

an exhaust manifold in communication with said inhalant manifold and said clean-air manifold;

a plurality of independently controllable exposure units including a first valve and a second valve, each valve is operably connected to said inhalant manifold, said clean-air manifold and said exhaust manifold;

during an inhalant exposure, said first valve is in open communication with said inhalant manifold and said exhaust manifold, and is in closed communication with said clean-air manifold; and

during an inhalant exposure, said second valve is in open communication with said clean-air manifold and said exhaust manifold, and is in closed communication with said inhalant manifold.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein during a clean-air exposure,

said first valve is in open communication with said clean-air manifold and said exhaust manifold, and is in closed communication with said inhalant manifold;

and

said second valve is in open communication with said inhalant manifold and said exhaust manifold, and is in closed communication with said clean-air manifold.

99. The system of claim 97, further comprising a controller in communication with and operating each first valve and second valve.

100. A system comprising:

an inhalant manifold;

a clean-air manifold;

an exhaust manifold in communication with said inhalant manifold and said clean-air manifold;

a plurality of independently controllable exposure units including a first valve and a second valve, each valve is operably connected to said inhalant manifold, said clean-air manifold and said exhaust manifold;

a controller in communication with and operating each first valve and second valve.