Patent ID: 9510783
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: A01K,A61B,A61D,A61M

Claim Text:
1. A system for placement of a needle into the tail of a laboratory animal comprising: a cradle for holding the body of the laboratory animal; a tail grasping device comprising two parallel plates and a tail tensioner comprising two spring-biased wheels positioned adjacent to each other and defining a gap for receiving an end of the tail of the laboratory animal, wherein the tail grasping device is located between the cradle and the tail tensioner; a light source for illuminating the tail of the laboratory animal with near infra-red light and a camera for imaging the tail of the laboratory animal; a needle carrier assembly comprising a rotatable platform holding a syringe with a needle and a lateral translation device coupled to the rotatable platform; an automatic translational actuator configured to advance the needle and puncture the tail and enter a blood vessel; a pressure transducer connected by a tube to a proximal end of the needle, the needle and tube containing saline therein; and a computer programmed to advance the automatic translational actuator and needle, wherein the computer receives a feedback signal from the pressure transducer and stops the automatic translational actuator based on when a pressure measured by the pressure transducer exceeds a preset level or pressure.