Patent Publication Number: US-7222586-B2

Title: Fluid delivery adapter

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/274,619, filed on Oct. 21, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,893, and entitled Fluid Deliver System, currently pending, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/346,218, filed on Oct. 19, 2001. The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/510,468, filed Oct. 10, 2003, entitled Fluid Delivery Adapter. The contents of all of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to fluid delivery systems and in particular to a fluid delivery system and method for caging or storage systems for animals. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   A large number of laboratory animals are used every year in experimental research. These animals range in size from mice to non-human primates. To conduct valid and reliable experiments, researchers must be assured that their animals are protected from pathogens and microbial contaminants that will affect test results and conclusions. Proper housing and management of animal facilities are essential to animal well-being, to the quality of research data and teaching or testing programs in which animals are used, and to the health and safety of personnel. 
   Ordinarily, animals should have access to potable, uncontaminated drinking water or other needed nutrient containing fluids according to their particular requirements. Water quality and the definition of potable water can vary with locality. Periodic monitoring for pH, hardness, and microbial or chemical contamination might be necessary to ensure that water quality is acceptable, particularly for use in studies in which normal components of water in a given locality can influence the results obtained. Water can be treated or purified to minimize or eliminate contamination when protocols require highly purified water. The selection of water treatments should be carefully considered because many forms of water treatment have the potential to cause physiologic alterations, changes in microflora, or effects on experimental results. For example, chlorination of the water supply can be useful for some species but toxic to others. 
   Because the conditions of housing and husbandry affect animal and occupational health and safety as well as data variability, and effect an animal&#39;s well-being, the present invention relates to providing a non-contaminated, replaceable, disposable source of fluid for laboratory animals in a cage level barrier-type cage or integrated cage and rack system to permit optimum environmental conditions and animal comfort. 
   Animal suppliers around the world have experienced an unprecedented demand for defined pathogen-free animals, and are now committed to the production and accessibility of such animals to researchers. Likewise, laboratory animal cage manufacturers have developed many caging systems that provide techniques and equipment to insure a pathogen free environment. For example, ventilated cage and rack systems are well known in the art. One such ventilated cage and rack system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,545, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, assigned to Lab Products, Inc., in which an open rack system including a plurality of shelves, each formed as an air plenum, is provided. A ventilation system is connected to the rack system for ventilating each cage in the rack, and the animals therein, thereby eliminating the need for a cage that may be easily contaminated with pathogens, allergens, unwanted pheromones, or other hazardous fumes. It is known to house rats, for example, for study in such a ventilated cage and rack system. 
   The increasing need for improvement and technological advancement for efficiently, safely housing and maintaining laboratory animals arises mainly from contemporary interests in creating a pathogen-free laboratory animal environment and through the use of immuno-compromised, immuno-deficient, transgenic and induced mutant (“knockout”) animals. Transgenic technologies, which are rapidly expanding, provide most of the animal populations for modeling molecular biology applications. Transgenic animals account for the continuous success of modeling mice and rats for human diseases, models of disease treatment and prevention and by advances in knowledge concerning developmental genetics. Also, the development of new immuno-deficient models has seen tremendous advances in recent years due to the creation of gene-targeted models using knockout technology. Thus, the desire for an uncontaminated cage environment and the increasing use of immuno-compromised animals (i.e., SCID mice) has greatly increased the need for pathogen free sources of food and water. One of the chief means through which pathogens can be introduced into an otherwise isolated animal caging environment is through the contaminated food or water sources provided to the animal(s). 
   Accordingly, the need exists to improve and better maintain the health of research animals through improving both specialized caging equipment and the water delivery apparatus for a given cage. Related caging system technologies for water or fluid delivery have certain deficiencies such as risks of contamination, bio-containment requirements, DNA hazardous issues, gene transfer technologies disease induction, allergen exposure in the workplace and animal welfare issues. 
   Presently, laboratories or other facilities provide fluid to their animals in bottles or other containers that must be removed from the cage, disassembled, cleaned, sterilized, reassembled, and placed back in the cage. Additionally, a large quantity of fluid bottles or containers must be stored by the labs based on the possible future needs of the lab, and/or differing requirements based on the types of animals studied. This massive storage, cleaning and sterilization effort, typically performed on a weekly basis, requires large amounts of time, space and human resources to perform these repetitive, and often tedious tasks. As such, a need exists for an improved system for delivering fluid to laboratory animals living in cage level barrier-type rack and cage systems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention satisfies this need. Briefly stated, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid to an animal caging system for housing an animal is described. The fluid delivery system may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly adapted to be coupled to a fluid bag holding a fluid. By advantageously using sanitized fluid bags, that may be disposable, the invention may minimize the need for the use of fluid bottles that typically must be removed from cages, cleaned, and sanitized on a frequent basis. 
   The delivery system may be utilized in a single cage or in multiples cages integrated into ventilated cage and rack systems known in the art. An embodiment of the invention described herein provides for a fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a fluid bag to an animal caging system for housing an animal and may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the fluid bag to facilitate the providing of the fluid to an animal in the caging system. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise an upper member having a piercing member and a connecting member, the upper member having a fluid channel defined therethrough, a base having a flange member and a base fluid channel defined therethrough, wherein the base is designed to be matingly coupled to the upper member. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a spring element disposed within the base fluid channel and a stem member disposed in part within the base fluid channel, wherein a portion of the spring element abuts the stem member to apply a biasing force. 
   The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction here and after set forth, the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
   Another embodiment of the invention may provide for a method for delivering fluid to one or more animal cages comprising providing sealed sanitized bags of fluid for use in an animal cage or caging system. The method may further comprise providing bag material to be used in the formation of fluid bags. 
   Another embodiment includes a fluid delivery adapter that can be placed in the recessed portion of a wire bar lid. The fluid delivery adapter includes an aperture defined in a holder piece of the fluid delivery adapter wherein a valve may be disposed. A fluid bag may be inserted onto the valve piercing portion. By way of this embodiment, cages having wire bar lids and using, by way of example, water bottles, may be retro fitted such that fluid bags may be used to provide water to the animals in the cage. 
   Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
   Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawing figures, which are merely illustrative, and wherein like reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a fluid delivery system incorporated into an animal cage assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a fluid delivery system and diet delivery system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid delivery valve assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the fluid delivery valve assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side cutaway view of the upper member of the fluid delivery valve assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of trigger assembly of a fluid delivery valve assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a top plain view of cup element in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the cup element in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a cutaway view of cup element in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a diet delivery system; 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of diet delivery system incorporating a fluid delivery system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a front cutaway view of diet delivery system; 
       FIG. 13  is a bottom view of a fluid bag in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a fluid bag and a fluid diet component with a fluid delivery system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a cutaway view of a fluid bag in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a side perspective view of an upper member of a fluid delivery valve assembly including a support in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a plain side view of a double-sided rack system incorporating an animal cage; 
       FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid delivery valve assembly and diet delivery system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 19  is a side cutaway view of the fluid delivery valve assembly of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the stem of the fluid delivery valve assembly of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 21  is a side cutaway view of the fluid delivery valve assembly of  FIG. 18 , showing the stem in the sealed position; 
       FIG. 22  is a side cutaway view of the fluid delivery valve assembly of  FIG. 18 , showing the stem in the opened position; 
       FIG. 23  is a side cutaway view of the fluid delivery valve assembly of  FIG. 18 , showing the extension portion protecting the stem; 
       FIG. 24  is a side cutaway view of an upper member of a fluid delivery valve assembly including a wrapper in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 25  is a side cutaway view of an upper member of a fluid delivery valve assembly including a disposable cap in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 26  is a fluid bag filling and sealing device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 27  is a view of a fluid bag preparation room in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 28  is another view of a fluid bag preparation room in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 29  is another view of a fluid bag preparation room in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 30A  is a side cutaway view of an animal cage having a cage bottom, top and wire bar lid which can be used in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 30B  is a front view of the animal cage and wire bar lid of  FIG. 30A ; 
       FIG. 30C  is a top view of the animal cage and wire bar lid of  FIG. 30A ; 
       FIG. 31  is a prospective view of a fluid delivery adapter with a valve mounted therein in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 32  is a top plan view of the fluid delivery adapter with a valve mounted therein of  FIG. 31 ; 
       FIG. 33  is a front view of the fluid delivery adapter with a valve mounted therein of  FIG. 31 ; 
       FIG. 34  is a side cross-sectional view of a fluid delivery adapter with a valve mounted therein in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 35  is a side cross-sectional view of a fluid delivery adapter disposed in a wire bar lid in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 36  is a side cross-sectional view of a fluid delivery adapter disposed in another wire bar lid in accordance with the invention; and 
       FIG. 37  is a side cross-sectional view of a fluid delivery adapter disposed in another wire bar lid in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference is made to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein an animal cage assembly  90 , which incorporates fluid delivery valve assembly  1 , is shown. Cage assembly  90  incorporates a filter retainer  91 , a filter frame  92 , a filter top lock  93 , a chew shield  94 , a plurality of snap rivets  95 , a fluid bag  60  containing fluid  70 , a fluid delivery valve assembly  1 , a diet delivery system  96  providing support member  50 , a chow receptacle  111 , a fluid bag receptacle  110 , and a cage body  98 . Cage body  98  comprises a box-like animal cage with a combination diet delivery system  96  capable of providing both food and fluid to animals within cage assembly  90 . A filter  99  is also generally provided with cage assembly  90  sandwiched between filter retainer  91  and filter frame  92 . Cage body  98  is formed with integral side walls  100 , a bottom wall or floor  101  and an open top end. The open top of cage body  98  is bordered by peripheral lip  102 , which extends continuously there around. Cage body  98  may also include a plurality of corner stacking tabs  103  for facilitating stacking and nesting of a plurality of cage bodies  98 . 
   Reference is made to  FIGS. 3-5  wherein fluid delivery valve assembly  1  is depicted. Fluid delivery valve assembly  1  includes an upper member  10 , a spring element  20 , a trigger assembly  30 , and a cup element  40  for use in animal cage  90 . Water delivery system  1  is held in place in animal cage  90  by support element  50 . Support element  50  extends from diet delivery system  96  and forms a floor for fluid bag receptacle  110 . Alternatively, water delivery system  1  may be molded into diet delivery system  96 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , upper member  10  includes piercing member  11 , core member  12  and flange member  13 . Upper member  10  also defines fluid channel  14 . Arrow “A” defines the flow of fluid through fluid delivery valve assembly  1  to trigger assembly  30  where fluid flow can be actuated by an animal in animal cage  90 . Piercing member  11  has a beveled tip  15  at its upper end, the upper edge of which presents a sharp piercing edge  16  that can come in contact and pierce fluid bag  60 , releasing fluid  70  in fluid bag  60  through fluid channel  14 . Flange member  13  extends from core member  12 . In a preferred embodiment, flange member  13  is circular in dimension. However, it will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that flange member  13  may be any shape desired, provided however, that at least a portion of flange member  13  is wider in diameter than fluid channel  14  of core member  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , spring element  20  may be a tightly wound coiled member which rests atop tip  35  of upper end  33  of stem  31  and enters upper member  10  through fluid channel  14 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , fluid channel  14  is dimensioned such that its upper extent within piercing member  11  is narrowed at position  17  such that it prevents spring element  20  from exiting fluid channel  14  through piercing member  11 . 
   Reference is made to  FIG. 6 , wherein trigger assembly  30  is depicted. Trigger assembly  30  includes a stem  31 , inserted through sealing member  32 . Stem  31  having an upper end  33  and a lower end  36 . Lower end  36  of stem  31  is substantially flat. Upper end  33  of stem  31  is generally conical in shape, although other shapes may be used. Sealing member  32  fits tightly around stem  31  thereby allowing limited movement around stem  31 . Sealing member  32  is dimensioned such that the base of the conical portion of upper end  33  rests on it. Sealing member  32  is formed of a resilient material, such as rubber, silicone rubber, or any other pliant malleable material. In a preferred embodiment, sealing member  32  is made of a material that is not deleterious to mammals. 
   Cup element  40  is depicted in  FIGS. 7-9 . Cup element  40  has a base  43 , an inner surface  41 , and an outer surface  42 . Base  43  also defines actuation channel  400 . Lower end  36  of stem  31  of trigger assembly  30  extends through actuation channel  400  towards the interior of animal cage  90 . Fluid channel  14  extends from piercing edge  16  through piercing member  11 , core member  12  and spring element  20 . Fluid channel  14  terminates at the bottom wall of cup element  40 . Trigger assembly  30  extends through actuation channel  400 . Cup element  40  has friction fit with core member  12  of upper member  10  directly below flange member  13 . 
   Diet delivery system  96 , which houses fluid bag receptacle  110  and chow receptacle  111  is shown in  FIGS. 10-12 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , fluid bag receptacle  110  holds fluid bag  60  containing fluid  70 . Fluid delivery valve assembly  1  is held securely in receptacle base  112  of fluid bag receptacle  110  by the interconnection between flange members  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c  and  13   d  and locking members  51   a ,  51   b ,  51   c  and  51   d . Piercing edge  16  of fluid delivery valve assembly  1  punctures fluid bag  60 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , chow receptacle  111  of diet delivery system  96  holds wire food holder element  116 . A further embodiment of the present invention in shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , wherein fluid bag receptacle  110  may be molded  110 ′ in order to facilitate the emptying of fluid  70  contained in fluid bag  60  by fluid delivery valve assembly  1  and to prevent the animal from gaining purchase on the fluid bag receptacle. In an alternate embodiment, fluid bag  60  is tapered or dimensioned so as to facilitate the emptying of fluid bag  60  by fluid delivery valve assembly  1 . Fluid bag  60  may be made replaceable or disposable and thus may be manufactured singly in any quantity according to the needs of a user. 
   Fluid delivery valve assembly  1  may be used to deliver the contents of fluid bag  60  to an animal in cage assembly  90 . Fluid  70  in fluid bag  60  may include water, distilled water, water supplemented with various vitamins, minerals, medications such as antibiotics or anti-fungal agents, and/or other nutrients, or any fluid which is ingestible by a caged animal. Fluid  70  in fluid bag  60  is delivered to an animal in cage assembly  90  in a sterilized or sanitized condition so as to protect any animals in cage assembly  90  from contagion. Fluid bag  60  may be formed in any desirable shape or volume. In a preferred embodiment, fluid bag  60  is formed to fit fluid bag receptacle  110 . 
   Also, it should be clear that fluid bag  60  does not have to consist of a flexible material but that part thereof may be made of a rigid material. In an embodiment of the present invention, fluid bag  60  would consist of one or more layers, which would tear upon insertion of piercing member  11 . Alternatively, flexible, stretchable, resilient plastic stickers  501  may be provided which can be adhered to the bag to prevent tearing thereof and to form a seal about the inserted piercing member  11 . In addition, as depicted in  FIGS. 13-15 , fluid bag  60  could be made of a thinner plastic or inverted in the region where piercing edge  16  will penetrate fluid bag  60 , thereby allowing the end user to readily identify where fluid bag  60  should be punctured and helping fluid bag  60  nest within fluid bag receptacle  110 . In a further embodiment of the present invention, fluid bag  60  could be made of a resilient plastic or polymer material such that when piercing edge  16  penetrates fluid bag  60  at location  88 , fluid bag  60  adheres to piercing member  16  so as to stop fluid  70  from leaking out of fluid bag  60 . Fluid bag  60  may be constructed out of any material which is capable of being punctured by piercing member  16  and which is capable of holding fluid in a sterilized condition. In an embodiment of the invention, fluid bag  60  is plastic or any other flexible material capable of containing a fluid to be delivered to one or more laboratory animals. In a further embodiment of the present invention, fluid delivery valve assembly  1 , upper member  10 , fluid bag  60  and the contents thereof, fluid  70 , are capable of being sterilized by one or more of an assortment of different means including but not being limited to: ultraviolet light, irradiation, chemical treatment, reverse osmosis, gas sterilization, steam sterilization, filtration, autoclave, and/or distillation. Each of the elements of the current invention, fluid delivery valve assembly  1 , fluid bag  60  and fluid  70 , can be sterilized or sanitized alone or in combination with each other. Fluid  70  of fluid bag  60  may be sterilized either before or after fluid bag  60  is sealed. 
   In one embodiment providing a method of sterilization for the contents of fluid bag  60 , a chemical compound capable of sterilizing the fluid  70 , and known in the art, is put inside fluid bag  60  with fluid  70  prior to fluid bag  60  being sealed. Thereafter the compound sterilizes fluid  70  such that it can be delivered to an animal and consumed by that animal without harm. Other methods of sterilization are discussed below. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, leak preventing member  501  is affixed or formed to upper member  10  and prevents a loss of fluid  70  from fluid bag  60  after puncture by piercing member  11 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 14 , piercing member  11  may be rigidly fixed to support element  50  of fluid bag receptacle  110  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ), in particular in the support for the bag having its point directed upwards so that piercing member  11  is automatically inserted into fluid bag  60  at location  88  when placing fluid bag  60  onto support element  50  or into fluid bag receptacle  110 ′. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, fluid bag  60  is placed in fluid bag receptacle  110  of animal cage  90 . Fluid bag receptacle  110  has a base  112 , an inner surface  114  and an outer surface  115 . Receptacle base  112  also defines actuation channel  400 . When fluid delivery valve assembly  1  is used in conjunction with animal cage  90 , stem  31  of trigger assembly  30  extends through cup  40  towards the interior of animal cage  90 . In another embodiment, that portion of receptacle base  112  which encircles actuation channel  400  may include one or more locking members  51 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 16 , in an alternate embodiment, support member  50  may have four (or some other number of) locking members  51   a ,  51   b ,  51   c  and  51   d  formed thereon which may be used to secure flange members  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c  and  13   d  to support member  50 . It will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that flange members  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c  and  13   d  may vary in shape, provided however, that flange members  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c  and  13   d  are secured in fluid receptacle base  112  or onto support member  50  by its locking members  51   a ,  51   b ,  51   c  and  51   d . In  FIG. 16 , locking members  51   a ,  51   b ,  51   c  and  51   d  are shaped like fingers and flange member  13  is divided into four equal pieces, shown as flange members  13   a ,  13   b  (not shown),  13   c  and  13   d.    
   Referring now to  FIG. 17 , an animal isolation and caging rack system  600  of the invention includes an open rack  615  having a left side wall  625  and a right side wall  630 , a plurality of rack coupling stations  616 , a top  635 , and a bottom  640 . A plurality of posts  645  are disposed in parallel between top  635  and bottom  640 . Vertical posts  645  are preferably narrow and may comprise walls extending substantially from the front of rack  615  to the rear of rack  615 , or may each comprise two vertical members, one at or near the front of rack  615  and the other at or near the rear of rack  615 . Animal isolation and caging rack system  600  also includes a plurality of air supply plena  610  and air exhaust plena  620  alternately disposed in parallel between left side wall  625  and right side wall  630  in rack  615 . 
   The above discussed fluid delivery valve assembly  1 , while facilitating the providing of fluid to animals, was found to have some deficiencies when used in conjunction with certain rack and cage system configurations. For example, with reference back to  FIG. 3 , when the stem  31  of the trigger assembly  30  is actuated by an animal, under certain circumstances, the stem may remain stuck in the open position even after the animal discontinues actuating the stem  31 . If the stem remains stuck in the open position, fluid may continue to leak into the cage and cage bedding, with the result being a waste of fluid, and the potential for the animal to become hypothermic, or otherwise adversely affected. 
   One reason for the occurrence of this problem in certain circumstances may be that due to the specific arrangement of the stem  31 , sealing member  32  and spring element  20  within the fluid channel  14 , when the stem  31  is actuated by an animal, the pivot point of upper end  33  of stem  31  about the bottom of spring element  20  tends not to be either predictable or consistent. Consequently, after actuation by an animal, stem  31 , in certain circumstances, will shift position in relation to spring element  20 , thus not allowing spring element  20  to bias stem  31  back into the desired closed position. 
   With reference to  FIG. 18 , there is shown a fluid delivery valve assembly  200  that overcomes the above-discussed deficiency because, among other modifications, the arrangement of stem member  240 , spring member  250 , and sealing member  260  is different than that of their respective corresponding parts in fluid delivery valve assembly  1 . This arrangement of stem member  240 , spring member  250 , and sealing member  260 , discussed in detail below, provides for a predictable and consistent pivot point for stem member  240 , thus facilitating a more consistent return to the closed position in the absence of actuation by an animal. 
   Thus, fluid delivery valve assembly  200  is different in structure and arrangement to that of fluid delivery valve assembly  1  in several respects. However, in accordance with the present invention, fluid delivery valve assembly  200  may be used in all embodiments discussed above with reference to fluid delivery valve assembly  1 . Accordingly, in any embodiment described herein that describes the use of fluid delivery valve assembly  1  in conjunction with, by way of non-limiting example, fluid bag  60 , animal isolation and caging rack system  600 , and/or diet delivery system  96 , fluid delivery valve assembly  200  may be used as well, in accordance with the invention. 
   With reference again to  FIG. 18 , there is shown fluid delivery valve assembly  200  having an upper member  210 , and a base  220 . Fluid delivery valve assembly  200  also includes sealing member  260 , stem member  240 , and spring member  250 . 
   Upper member  210  is formed with generally conical piercing member  211  having sharp point  214  for piercing fluid bag  60  as described above. One or more fluid apertures  215  are defined in a portion of piercing member  210 , to facilitate the flow of fluid  70  from bag  60  into a fluid channel  216  defined within the piercing member  210 . Upper member  210  is also formed with connecting member  212 , having gripping portion  213  encircling a portion thereof. 
   Base  220 , being generally cylindrical in shape, includes top portion  221  and bottom portion  223 , which are separated by flange member  226  which encircles base  220  and extends outwardly therefrom. Flange member  226  may be used to facilitate mounting or positioning of fluid delivery valve assembly  200  as is described above with regard to fluid delivery valve assembly  1 . Top portion  221  may have an inner surface  223  with gripping portion  213  disposed thereon. 
   Upper member  210  is designed and dimensioned to be coupled to base  220  with connecting member  212  being inserted into base top portion  221 . The coupling may be facilitated by the frictional interaction of gripping portion  213  of upper member  210  with gripping portion  224  of base  220 . 
   Sealing member  260 , stem member  240 , and spring member  250  are disposed within base fluid channel  230 . Stem member  240  has a top portion  241  that may be generally flat, such that flow aperture  265  of sealing member  260  may be advantageously sealed when a portion of bottom surface  262  of sealing member  260  is contacted by top surface  243  of stem member  240 . Actuation portion  242  of stem member  240  extends through spring member  250  and through base fluid channel  230 . Spring member  250  serves to bias stem member  240  against sealing member  260  to facilitate control of the flow of fluid, as described above with respect to fluid delivery valve assembly  1 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 19 , spring member  250  is retained within base fluid channel  230  at its bottom end as fluid channel  230  has narrow portion  232 , which serves to block spring member  250  from passing through and out of fluid channel  230 . The top of spring member  250  abuts the lower surface  244  (see  FIG. 20 ) of stem member  240 . Spring member  250  serves to bias stem member  240  in a vertical orientation, thus forming a seal between top surface  243  and sealing member  260 . This seal may be facilitated by the use of lower ridge  266  to concentrate the biasing force of spring member  250  to form a seal against stem member  240 . 
   Turning to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , there is shown the operation of fluid delivery valve assembly  200  when stem member  240  is actuated by an animal. It should be noted that spring member  250  is not shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24  for sake of clarity. During actuation of stem member  240  by an animal, however, as discussed above, spring member  250  provides a biasing force to bias stem member  240  toward a generally vertical position. 
   With reference to  FIG. 21 , stem member  240  is positioned generally vertically, with top surface  243  of stem member  240  advantageously abutting lower ridge  266  of sealing member  260  at sealing point  246 . The use of lower ridge  266  in conjunction with top surface  240  advantageously serves to focus and concentrate the biasing force of spring member  250  to form a seal as discussed above. 
   Fluid delivery system  200  is shown having been punctured into fluid bag  60  such that fluid  70  may flow from fluid bag  60  into fluid aperture  215  of upper member  210 , and in turn flow into fluid channel  216 , through flow aperture  265  of sealing member  260 , down to sealing point  246 . At this point, with stem member  240  in the vertical (sealed) position, flow of the fluid is stopped. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, bag  60 , once punctured by fluid delivery valve assembly  200 , should have its outer wall positioned in the range along surface  235  of top portion  201  of base  220  such that it remains disposed in the portion delimited at its upper bounds by bag retention wall  217  and at its lower bounds by flange top surface  227 . In an embodiment of the invention, flow aperture  215  and (in some embodiments) aperture portion  218  may be advantageously positioned about an edge of bag retention wall  217 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 22 , there is shown stem member  240  positioned as it would be while an animal actuates actuation portion  242  of stem member  240  in a direction B. Of course, one skilled in the art would recognize that the same result would be achieved so long as the stem member is actuated outwardly, out of its resting vertical position. Upon actuation in direction B, stem member  240  pivots about pivot point  236  such that top surface  243  of stem member  240  moves away from the lower ridge  266  of sealing member  260 . This movement allows fluid  70  at flow aperture  265  of sealing member  250  to flow down through gap  237 , into fluid channel  230 , and out to the animal in the general direction A. 
   Base  220  may be formed with abutment wall  233  disposed in fluid channel  230  such that the maximum travel of stem member  240  is limited such that the flow of fluid  70  is advantageously limited to a desired value. Additionally, stem member  240 , base  220 , sealing member  250  and spring member  250  may be advantageously designed and dimensioned such that stem member  240  pivots at a consistent and predictable pivot point  236  and will thus not be subject to sticking or jamming in the open position after stem member  240  is released from actuation by the animal. Consequently, the wasting of fluid and the exposure of animals to hypothermia or other problems caused by excessive wetting of the cage and bedding material may be minimized. 
   Turning to  FIG. 23 , embodiments of the invention may be formed with base  220  of fluid delivery valve assembly  200  having extension portion  234 . Extension portion  234  may serve, in certain application specific scenarios, to protect the actuation portion  242  of stem member  240  from being accidentally bumped by an animal, as only a portion of actuation portion  242  extends beyond extension portion  234 . In an embodiment of the invention, the relative lengths L 1  and L 2  of extension portion  234  and actuation portion  242  may be adjusted based on the results desired, and the types of animals being fed, as well as other factors. 
   Referring to  FIG. 24 , in an embodiment of the current invention water delivery system  1  (or fluid delivery valve assembly  200 ) is sterilized and/or autoclaved and maintained in a sterilized state prior to use in a wrapper  47  or other suitable container so as to avoid infecting an animal in animal cage  90  (while, for sake of brevity, the embodiments of the invention discussed below make specific reference only to fluid delivery valve assembly  1 , it is to be understood that fluid delivery valve assembly  200  may also be used in all instances as well). When a user determines that a clean water delivery system is needed in conjunction with a fluid bag  60 , water delivery system  1  is removed from wrapper  47  in sterile conditions or utilizing non-contaminating methods and inserted into animal cage  90  in fluid bag receptacle  110  (while it is contemplated that all of fluid delivery valve assembly  1  would be contained within wrapper  47 , only a portion of fluid delivery valve assembly  1  is illustrated in  FIG. 24 ). Thereafter fluid bag  60  is placed in fluid bag receptacle  110  and is punctured by piercing member  11  such that fluid  70  (i.e., water) is released through fluid channel  14  to an animal in animal cage  90 . This procedure insures that sterilized fluid  70  is delivered through an uncontaminated fluid channel and that fluid delivery valve assembly  1  is itself uncontaminated and pathogen free. Additionally, in an embodiment of the invention, fluid delivery valve assembly  1  may be sold and stored in blister packs in groups of various quantities. 
   Referring to  FIG. 25 , in another embodiment of the invention the upper portion of fluid delivery valve assembly  1 , including upper member  10  and piercing member  11 , is covered with a disposable cap  45 , that can be removed when a user wants to use water delivery system  1  to pierce fluid bag  60  and place it in fluid bag receptacle  110  for delivery of a fluid to an animal in animal cage  90 . Disposable cap  45  can be made from any suitable material and may be clear, color-coded to indicate the type of fluid in fluid bag  60 , clear or opaque. Disposable cap  45  is easily removed from fluid delivery valve assembly  1 . While cap  45  would not provide for a sterilized fluid delivery valve assembly  1 , it would provide a labeling function, as well as, in an embodiment, provide protection from inadvertent stabbing of a user. 
   An embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for fluid delivery to one or more animal cages. The system provided has at least two methods of use, one which includes providing sealed sanitized bags of fluid for use in an animal cage or caging system. The provider provides the pre-packaged and uncontaminated fluid (e.g., water, or fluid with nutrients etc., as needed by an animal) for use preferably by delivering sanitized, fluid-filled, bags to a site designated by a user. Alternatively, the provider may locate a sealing apparatus, material for making the fluid bags and fluid supply at a location designated by the user. Thereafter, the provider will assemble, fill and seal the appropriate number of fluid bags for a user at the designated location. In a second method the provider provides a sealing apparatus and the material for making the fluid bags to a user. In this second method the provider may also supply any appropriate fluid to the user at a location designated by the user. The user thereafter assembles, fills and seals the fluid bags for use in the fluid delivery system of the invention as appropriate. 
   A fluid bag filling and sealing method and system  300 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, is illustrated in  FIG. 26 . Bag material  310 , which may be formed of any suitable material as described above, is stored in bulk form, such as, for example, in roll form. As the process continues, bag material  310  is moved over bag forming portion  330  such that the generally flat shape of bag material  310  is formed into a tube. As the process continues, a vertical seal device  340  forms a vertical seal in bag material  310 , thus completing the formation of a tube. 
   Contents supply portion  320  serves to add ingredients, via, for example, gravity feed, into the tube of bag material  310 . Contents supply portion  320  may include liquid and powder storage containers, and various pumps and other supply means, such that, for example, fluid  70 , either with or without any additives as discussed above, may be added and metered out in appropriate quantities as is known in the art. Additionally, contents supply portion  320  may include heating and/or sterilizing equipment such that the contents supplied from contents supply portion  320  are in a generally sterilized condition. 
   Next, horizontal seal device  350  forms a horizontal seal, either thermally, by adhesives, or by some other art recognized method as would be known to one skilled in the art. The horizontal seal serves to isolate the contents of the tube into separate portions. Next, the bag cutting device cuts the bag material at the horizontal seal to form individual fluid bags  60  containing fluid  70 . 
   Of course, in accordance with the spirit of the invention, the exact steps taken to form the fluid bags  60  may be varied as a matter of application specific design choice. In some embodiments of the invention, steps may be added, left out, or performed in a different order. Additionally, the contents and bag material  310  of fluid bags  60  may be sterilized either before or after the completed bags are formed. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, and with reference to  FIGS. 27-29 , the fluid  70  is heated to approximately 180° F., and the fluid bags are stacked in storage containers  370  with the result that the fluid  70 , fluid bags  60  and storage containers all become sterilized to a satisfactory degree. In an embodiment of the invention, a cage body  98  may be used as such a storage container. Additional parts of this process may also be automated, as is shown by the use of robotic arm  380  in stacking containers. 
   Storage containers  370  (or cage bodies  98 ) may also be supplied with fluid bags  60  at a workstation  382 , before placement in an isolation and caging rack system  600 . Additionally, storage containers  370  (or cage bodies  98 ) may be passed through various other sterilizing devices. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 30A ,  30 B and  30 C, there is shown an animal cage and wire bar lid assembly  650  that can be used with embodiments of the invention. Cage and wire bar lid assembly, as is known in the art, includes a cage bottom  652  and a cage top  654 . A wire bar lid  664  rests on top of cage bottom  652  and under cage top  654 . Wire bar lid  664  includes top portion  660  and recessed portion  666  and is formed of individual wire bars  668  separated by gaps  669 . Typically, as is known in the art, food and/or a water or a fluid bottle are placed in recessed portion  666  so that an animal in cage bottom  652  may obtain food and/or water by accessing the food and/or water from the gaps  669  between the individual wire bars  668  of the wire bar lid. The wire bars  668  maintain the food and/or water bottle in place above the wire bar lid, while allowing for access from animals from below. 
   An embodiment of fluid delivery adapter  700  is illustrated in  FIGS. 31-34 . Fluid delivery adapter  700  includes a support base  702 , having a support portion  704 , being substantially flat, a holding portion  714  and a front portion  708 . Holder portion  714  extends from support portion  704  and preferably forms an angle of less than 180 degrees with support portion  704 . In a preferred embodiment, front portion  708  extends upward from holder portion  714 . An aperture  712  is defined in holder portion  714 . Aperture  712  is substantially circular and is designed and dimensioned such that valve  780  may be inserted therein and retained via a friction fit, or by other suitable means as could be determined by one skilled in the art, as informed by the present disclosure. Fluid delivery adapter  700  can be formed of a clear plastic that is autoclavable. Alternatively, other materials may be used to form fluid delivery adapter  700 , as would be known to those skilled in the art as instructed by the present disclosure. Fluid delivery adapter  700  may be formed of separate pieces, that are then attached via tongue and groove fittings, fasteners, thermal welding, adhesives, or other suitable means as are known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, fluid delivery adapter  700  may be formed of a single unitary integral piece. Aperture  712  is shaped and dimensioned such that valve  780  may be inserted therein from the top. When valve  780  is inserted and aperture  712 , extension portion  782  of valve  780  extends above fluid delivery adapter  700 , while valve bottom  784  extends below the bottom of fluid delivery adapter  700  (see  FIG. 34 ). With reference in particular to  FIG. 33 , a fluid bag  792  may be placed over valve  780  such that fluid bag  792  is pierced on the piercing portion of valve  780 . Fluid bag  792  is then supported upon valve holding portion  706  and support portion  704  of fluid delivery adapter  700 . 
   In use, when a wire bar lid and fluid delivery adapter  700  are placed on top of an animal cage, the animal can access the valve bottom and obtain fluid from the bag in a manner similar to that discussed above. Side portion  710  extends upward from the sides of fluid delivery adapter  700 , and facilitate stabilization of fluid bag  792  such that fluid bag  792  remains in place. In an alternate embodiment, side portion  710  may extend up to a location close to or even with that of the top of front portion  708 . In such an embodiment, fluid bag  792  can be held stable. Alternatively, water can be filled into fluid delivery adapter  700  and obtained by an animal via valve  780  without the need for a fluid bag  792  as the fluid delivery adapter  700  with raised side portion  710  can serve as a water reservoir. 
   A holder piece  714 , preferable constructed in a substantially annular shape, may be inserted into aperture  712 , to facilitate the retention of valve  780  within fluid delivery adapter  700  via a friction fit. Holder piece  714  is preferably formed of metal, and is preferably friction fit into aperture  712 . Alternatively, holder piece  714  could be formed of another material, and retained in aperture  712 , as is known by those skilled in the art, as instructed by the present disclosure. 
   With reference to  FIG. 34 , various portions of fluid delivery adapter  700  may be advantageously angled such that fluid delivery adapter  700  fits suitably in a wire bar lid to provide fluid to an animal while stabilizing fluid bag  792 . In a preferred embodiment, angle θ 1  is in the range of 10 degrees to 20 degrees, preferably about 15 degrees. Preferably, angle θ 2  is in the range of 10 degrees to 20 degrees, preferably about 15 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, angle θ 3  is in the range of 25 degrees to 35 degrees, preferably about 30 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, angle θ 4  is in the range of 85 degrees to 95 degrees, preferably about 90 degrees. In alternate embodiments, other angles and dimensions may be used, so long as fluid delivery adapter  700  fits and may be stably positioned within a recess of a wire bar lid. Fluid delivery adapter  700  may have one or more protrusions  718  to facilitate stabilization of fluid delivery adapter  700 . The one or more protrusions  718  are designed in dimensioned to fit in between individual wire bars of the wire bar lid to facilitate reduction of lateral motion of the fluid delivery adapter  700  with respect to the wire bar lid. In addition, side portions  710  may be extended upward, as described above, such that they provide additional support for a fluid bag as is shown by extended side portions  710 ′. 
   With reference to  FIG. 35 , there is shown a fluid delivery adapter  700 , constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, disposed in the recessed portion  672  of a wire bar lid  670 . A fluid delivery valve  780  is disposed in fluid delivery adapter  700  such that an animal in a cage below the wire bar lid  670  can access fluid from a fluid bag disposed at valve  780 , as is described above with respect to certain other embodiments. 
     FIGS. 36 and 37  illustrate a fluid delivery adapter  700  and valve  780 , constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, disposed in wire bar lid  680  and wire bar lid  690 , respectively. 
   Accordingly, as has been shown and described, the systems and methods for providing fluid to an animal in a cage via a fluid bag or pouch may be accomplished for users who have pre-existing cages with wire bar lids. Instead of purchasing new cages specifically designed to receive embodiments of the fluid bag and valve system, these users may obtain a fluid delivery adapter  700  and retro-fit the existing wire bar lids to allow then to use a fluid bag and valve fluid delivery system, and thus derive the benefits of such a system as described herein. 
   Accordingly, one or more of the benefits of the use of a fluid bag, as described above, such as saved cleaning costs, and/or other associated problems with automatic watering systems and water bottles may be overcome by way of the fluid delivery adapter  700 . 
   In addition, with reference to  FIG. 33 , a patch or adhesive strip  794  may be affixed to fluid bag  792  to facilitate injecting additional chemicals into fluid bag  792  from a hypodermic or other similar type needle. Nutrients and/or other chemicals may be introduced into the fluid bag via a hypodermic needle, and the reinforcement strip  794  will facilitate prevention of tearing or ripping of the bag  792  when a hypodermic needle is used to temporarily puncture the bag and introduce a chemical, nutrient or other substance. The patch could be formed of a tear-resistant material, as is known to those skilled in the art, and is preferably self-healing, such that when the hypodermic needle is removed, the bag becomes sealed and no fluid leaks from the bag. 
   Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to exemplary embodiments thereof, it would be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.