Abstract:
An animal restraining apparatus is disclosed which provides head, tail, and hind leg apertures for gaining access to an animals head, tail and perianal area, and hind legs for physiological and pharmacological studies of awake animals using direct mechanical, thermal, chemical and/or pharmacological stimuli.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims provisional priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/536,443, filed 14 Jan. 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an animal restraining apparatus for use in physiological and pharmacological studies. 
   More particularly, the present invention relates to an animal restraining apparatus for use in physiological and pharmacological studies, where the apparatus permits ready access to an animal&#39;s head, hindlimbs, tail and perianal areas of the restrained animal. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Many animal restraining apparatuses have been constructed and proposed over the year. Most of these apparatuses adequately restrain the animal, but do not provide sufficient access to various areas of the animal&#39;s body to facilitate physiological and pharmacological studies, especially for awake animals. 
   Thus, there is a need in the art for a superior animal restraint apparatus that permits ready access of a wide variety of areas of the animal body, while the animal is awake so that various stimuli, drugs or drug responses can be monitored. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved, adjustable animal restraint apparatus, where the apparatus permits physiological and pharmacological studies of awake animals using direct mechanical, thermal, chemical and/or pharmacological stimuli. The apparatus includes a housing adapted to accommodate an awake animal and apertures designed to make accessible various portions of the animals anatomy permitting various stimuli to be applied to the accessible portions. 
   The present invention also provides an improved animal restraint apparatus for receiving an animal including a housing having a front panel, a back panel, two side panels, a top panel and a bottom panel. The front panel includes an aperture adapted to receive an animal&#39;s head and to make the head accessible from outside the housing, extends out past the front panel, where the aperture can be adjustable. The back panel includes an aperture through which an animal&#39;s tail can extend and through which the perianal area of the animal is accessible, where this aperture can also be adjustable. Each side panel include a groove near a bottom end there of adapted to receive the bottom panel. One side panel includes a first hinge member, while the top panel is a lid or includes a lid, where the top panel or lid portion of the top panel includes a second hinge member designed to mate with the first hinge member of the one side panel to form a hinge. The lid or top panel also includes a knob adapted to open the top panel or the lid portion of the top panel as it pivots about the hinge and optionally a locking device adapted to lock the lid. The top panel also includes one or more hooks for suspending or hanging the apparatus above a measuring and/or stimulation device. The apparatus also includes a bottom panel having hind leg apertures therein and optionally a plurality of abdominal holes therebetween. The bottom panel is adapted to slidingly engage the grooves in the side panels so that the bottom panel can be moved horizontally (in and out motion) allowing adjustment of the hind leg apertures to accommodate different animal sizes. 
   The present invention also provides an improved animal restraint apparatus for receiving an animal including a housing having a front panel, a back panel, two side panels, a top panel and a bottom panel. The front panel includes an aperture adapted to receive an animal&#39;s head and to make the head accessible from outside the housing, extends out past the front panel, where the aperture can be adjustable. The back panel includes an aperture through which an animal&#39;s tail can extend and through which the perianal area of the animal is accessible, where this aperture can also be adjustable. Each side panel includes a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion includes two parallel disposed members, an outer member and an inner member and a gap therebetween, where the gap is designed to receive the upper portion. When the upper portion is inserted into the gap of the lower portion, the fit is tight enough to resist gravity, yet still allow vertical adjustment of the apparatus. Of course, the upper portions can also include apertures and pins to hold the upper portion at a given position, or any other adjustable holding device. The inner member of the bottom portion includes a groove near a bottom end thereof for receiving a bottom panel. One side panel includes a first hinge member, while the top panel is a lid or includes a lid, where the top panel or lid portion of the top panel includes a second hinge member designed to mate with the first hinge member of the one side panel to form a hinge. The lid or top panel also includes a knob adapted to open the top panel or the lid portion of the top panel as it pivots about the hinge and optionally a locking device for locking the lid in place. The top panel also includes one or more hooks for suspending or hanging the apparatus above a measuring and/or stimulation device. The bottom panel is designed to slidingly fit inside the grooves of the side panels so that the bottom panel is horizontally (in and out) adjustable so that the position of the hind leg apertures can be adjusted relative to the front panel. 
   The present invention also provides an animal restraint apparatus including a housing having a front, back, right side, left side, top and bottom panel. The front panel includes an adjustable aperture adapted to receive a head of an animal. The back panel includes an adjustable aperture to receive a tail of an animal and to make its perianal area accessible from outside the housing. The left side panel includes a hinge member. The top panel includes a lid having a hinge member designed to engage the left side hinge member to form a hinge adapted to open and close the lid. The lid includes a knob for pivoting the lid about the axis of the hinge, i.e., opening and closing the lid, and optionally a locking member. The top panel also includes at least one hanging member for suspending or hanging the apparatus over a measuring and/or stimulating device. The bottom panel includes two adjustable hind leg aperture and an optional plurality of circular apertures therebetween. 
   The present invention also provides an animal restraint apparatus including a front panel having an aperture for receiving an animal&#39;s head so that the head can extend out past the front panel. The apparatus also includes a back panel having an aperture through which an animals tail can extend and through which the perianal area of the animal is accessible. The apparatus also includes vertically adjustable side panels and a horizontally adjustable bottom panel having adjustable, hind leg apertures or horizontally adjustable hind leg apertures. The apparatus also includes a top panel having an openable lid allowing access to an interior of the apparatus and at least one hook adapted to suspend the apparatus above a measuring and/or stimulating device. 
   The present invention provides method for restraining an animal including the steps of opening a lid of an apparatus of this invention. After opening the lid of the apparatus, the animal is inserted into the apparatus so that the animal&#39;s head extends through the aperture in the front panel, the animals tail extends through the aperture in the back panel, and the animal&#39;s hind legs extend through the hind leg apertures. The apparatus is then adjusted by changing the vertical and horizontal position of the bottom panel so that the size of the interior and the position of the hind leg apertures are adjusted to accommodate the animal. 
   The present invention provides a method for performing studies on an awake restrained animal including the steps of opening a lid of an apparatus of this invention. After opening the apparatus, the animal is inserted into the apparatus so that the animal&#39;s head extends through the aperture in the front panel, the animals tail extends through the aperture in the back panel, and the animal&#39;s hind legs extend through the hind leg apertures. The apparatus is then adjusted by changing the vertical and horizontal position of the bottom panel so that the size of the interior and the position of the hind leg apertures are adjusted to accommodate the animal. After properly adjusting the apparatus, the animal is subjected to a measurement, an administration, a stimulation or a mixture thereof to achieve a given physiologic or pharmacologic response. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following detailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings in which like elements are numbered the same: 
       FIGS. 1A–C  depict a first preferred embodiment of an apparatus of this invention; 
       FIG. 2A–C  depicts another preferred embodiment of an apparatus of this invention; 
       FIG. 3A–C  depicts another preferred embodiment of an apparatus of this invention; and 
       FIG. 4A–C  depicts another preferred embodiment of an apparatus of this invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The inventors have found that an adjustable animal restraint apparatus can be constructed that is designed to receive an animal and has apertures therein designed to make externally accessible an animal&#39;s head, an animal&#39;s hind legs, an animal&#39;s tail and perianal area where the apertures and/or the size of the apparatus an adjustable. 
   The body of the animal is gently restrained in the apparatus while the hind paws, head, tail, and perianal parts of the animal&#39;s body are accessible to the investigator. Each body part outside of the apparatus can be used for sensory (e.g., noxious, thermal, mechanical, chemical, etc.) and pharmacological stimulations, measurement of physiological (reflex) and behavioral (vocalization) responses and drug application (local, systemic, and intracranial). 
   The present invention broadly relates to an animal restraint apparatus including a front panel having a head aperture for receiving an animal&#39;s head so that the head can extend out past the front panel. The apparatus also includes a back panel having a tail aperture through which an animals tail can extend and through which the perianal area of the animal is accessible. The apparatus also includes two side panels and a vertically adjustable bottom panel having a horizontally adjustable, hind leg apertures. The apparatus also includes a top panel having an openable lid allowing access to the interior of the apparatus and at least one hook adapted to suspend the apparatus above a measuring or stimulating device. 
   The present invention broadly relates to method for restraining and studying an animal including the steps of inserting the animal into an apparatus of this invention is such as way that the animal&#39;s head is inserted into the head aperture, the hind legs into the hind leg apertures, and the tail into the tail aperture. The apparatus is adjusted so that the apertures adequately accommodate the animal&#39;s size. The adjusting can be down both prior to animal insertion (gross adjustment first), after animal insertion (gross and fine adjustment) or both before and after (gross adjustment before insertion and fine adjustment after insertion). After adjustment, the animal can be subject to one or more measurements, stimulations, or administrations, e.g., the animal can be given a drug and the animal&#39;s reaction to the drug can be monitored. 
   Although the apparatus can be constructed out of any construction material, including, without limitation, metals, plastics, ceramics, composites, or mixtures or combinations thereof. Preferred metal include iron or iron alloys such as steel, aluminum or aluminum alloys such as aluminum-magnesium alloys, copper or copper alloys such as brass or bronze, titanium, or the like or mixtures or combinations thereof. Preferred plastics include, without limitation, clear structural plastics such as plexiglass, carbonate polymers, epoxy resins, urethane resins, isotactic polypropylene, syndiotactic polypropylene, or the like or mixtures or combinations thereof. Preferred ceramics include, without limitation, formed glasses, formed aluminas, silicas, silica-aluminates, alumina-silicates, titanates, or any other structural ceramic or mixtures or combinations thereof. Preferred composites include, without limitation, laminants, carbon fiber composites, boron-nitride composites, or the like or mixture or combinations thereof. When opaque structure materials are used to construct the apparatus, the apparatus preferably includes windows made of glass or clear plastics or screens. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1A–C , a preferred embodiment of an animal restraint apparatus of this invention, generally  100 , is shown to include a front panel  102  having a head aperture  104  and a back panel  106  having a tail aperture  108 . The apparatus  100  also includes a left side panel  110  having first hinge members  112  and a right side panel  114 . The apparatus  100  also includes a top panel  116  having second hinge members  118  adapted to mate with the first hinge member  112  to form hinge  120 . The top panel  116  also includes an opener  122  and two hooks  124  adapted to hange the apparatus  100 . The apparatus  100  also includes a bottom panel  126  having two hind leg apertures  128  and a plurality of abdominal apertures  130 . The bottom panel  126  is designed to slidingly engage a vertical slot  132  in each of the side panels  110  and  114 , where the bottom panel can be moved in and out to adjust the hind leg apertures  128 . The bottom panel  126  is also designed to be moved up and down within the slot  132  via bottom panel vertical adjustment knobs  134 . Moreover, the front panel  102  and the back panel  106  can slide vertically up and down to accommodate movement of the bottom panel  126  up and down as shown in  FIGS. 1B&amp;C . The panels define an animal restraint cavity and the cavity&#39;s dimension is adjusted when the bottom panel is moved up and down. The top panel  102  and the back panel  106  can be positioned in grooves in the side panels (not shown) or restrained by a lip  136 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2A–C , another preferred embodiment of an animal restraint apparatus of this invention, generally  200 , is shown to include a front panel  202  having a head aperture  204  and a back panel  206  having a tail aperture  208 . The apparatus  200  also includes a left side panel  210  having a first hinge member  212  and a right side panel  214 . The apparatus  200  also includes a top panel  216  having a second hinge member  218  adapted to mate with the first hinge member  212  to form hinge  220 . The top panel  216  also includes an opener  222  and two hooks  224  adapted to hange the apparatus  200 . The apparatus  200  also includes a bottom panel  226  having two hind leg apertures  228  and a plurality of abdominal apertures  230 . The bottom panel  226  is designed to slidingly engage a vertical slot  232  in each of the side panels  210  and  214 , where the bottom panel can be moved in and out to adjust the hind leg apertures  228 . The head aperture  204  is adjustable by a slidable member  234  having a head aperture adjustment member  236 . The tail aperture  208  is adjustable by a slidable member  238  having a tail aperture adjustment member  240 . The bottom panel  226  is also designed to be moved up and down within the slot  232  via bottom panel vertical adjustment knobs  242 . Moreover, the front panel  202  and the back panel  306  can slide vertically up and down to accommodate movement of the bottom panel  226  up and down as shown in  FIGS. 2B&amp;C . The panels define an animal restraint cavity and the cavity&#39;s dimension is adjusted when the bottom panel is moved up and down. The top panel  202  and the back panel  206  can be positioned in grooves in the side panels (not shown) or restrained by a lip  244 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3A–C , another preferred embodiment of an animal restraint apparatus of this invention, generally  300 , is shown to include a bottom assembly  302  and a top assembly  350 . 
   The bottom assembly  302  includes a first front panel  304  having an adjustable diaphragm gram, head aperture  306  and a first back panel  308  having an adjustable diaphragm tail aperture  310 . The bottom assembly  302  also includes a bottom panel  312  having two hind leg apertures  314 , a plurality of abdominal apertures  316  and two pairs of hind leg aperture adjusting slats  318  having adjustment knobs  320 , where the slats  318  are designed to travel in grooves  322  in the front panel  304  and the back panel  308  permitting both the location and the size of the apertures  314  to be adjusted. The bottom assembly  302  also includes left and right panel assemblies  324 , each panel assembly  324  includes an outer lower side panel  326 , an inner lower side panel  328  separated by a gap  330 . 
   The top assembly  350  includes a second front panel  352  adapted to slide inside the first front panel  304  of the bottom assembly  302  and a second back panel  354  adapted to slide inside the first back panel  308  of the bottom assembly  302 . The top assembly  350  also includes left and right panels  356  adapted to slide within the gaps  330  to adjust the height of the apparatus  300 . The top assembly also includes a top panel  358  having a lid  360  having a hinge  362  and an opening knob  364  with a locking arm  366  and two hooks  368  for handing the apparatus  300  above a stimulating or measuring device not shown. The locking arm  366  moves in and out of a slot  370 . The assemblies define an animal restraint cavity and the cavity&#39;s dimension is adjusted when the top assembly is moved up and down. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4A–C , a preferred embodiment of an animal restraint apparatus of this invention, generally  400 , is shown to include a front panel  402  having a head aperture  404  and a back panel  406  having a tail aperture  408 . The apparatus  400  also includes a left side panel  410  having first hinge members  412  and a right side panel  414 . The apparatus  400  also includes a top panel  416  having second hinge members  418  adapted to mate with the first hinge member  112  to form hinge  420 . The top panel  416  also includes an opener  422  and two hooks  424  adapted to hange the apparatus  400 . The apparatus  400  also includes a bottom panel  426  having two hind leg apertures  428  and a plurality of abdominal apertures  430 . The bottom panel  126  is designed to slidingly engage a vertical slot  432  in each of the side panels  410  and  414 , where the bottom panel can be moved in and out to adjust the hind leg apertures  428 . The bottom panel  426  is also designed to be moved up and down within the slot  432  via bottom panel vertical adjustment knobs  434 . Moreover, the front panel  402  and the back panel  406  can slide vertically up and down to accommodate movement of the bottom panel  426  up and down as shown in  FIGS. 4B&amp;C . Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment, the apparatus  400  also includes a way to adjust a separation between the front panel  402  and the back panel  406 . The front panel  402  and the back panel  406  are shorter than the side panels  410  and  414  and can be pushed or pulled in and out in a simple means of adjusting the separation between the front panel  402  and back panel  406 . A more controlled means of adjusting this separation includes two shaft knobs  436  which turn two threaded shafts  438  which engage two threaded receivers  440 . The threaded receivers  440  are affixed to the back panel  406  while the threaded shafts  438  extend out past the front panel  402  to the receivers  440 . The knobs  436  are mounted onto the end of the shaft  438  extending beyond the front panel  402 . By turning the knobs  436 , the separation between the front panel  402  and the back panel  406  can be adjusted. The panels define an animal restraint cavity and the cavity&#39;s dimension is adjusted when the bottom panel is moved up and down and the front and/or back panels are moved in and out. 
   The apparatus of  FIGS. 1A–C  was used to measure spontaneous and evoked audible ultrasonic vocalizations of normal rats and arthritic rats. The arthritic rats had an arthritic kneejoint condition induced 6 to 8 hours previous to the vocalization studies during and after drug administration. The rats weighed between 20 and 350 grams. The drug was administered intracranially. The rats were first constrained in the apparatus and the apparatus adjusted to accommodate each rat. The apparatus allowed for stable conditions for mechanical stimulation of the arthritic knee joint and access to the head where a micro-dialysis probe was stereoaxically implanted into the brain (amygdala) of the rats for drug application. Audible and ultrasonic vocalizations were measure before, during and after drug applications. 
   All references cited herein are incorporated by reference. While this invention has been described fully and completely, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter.