Patent ID: 7654226

Claim:
An artificial nipple for an experimental animal comprising: a nipple made of a material and configured to be elastically deformable such that an interior volume of the nipple is changed when the nipple is sucked by the animal, the nipple including a first concave portion having a first larger diameter and a concave tip portion having a smaller diameter forming a reservoir; a replaceable duct located in the nipple; and a structure that prevents a liquid from accumulating in the nipple except in a nipple tip and the duct, wherein the structure that prevents the liquid from accumulating includes at least one of a separate elastic member and an elastic member formed integrally with an outer wall of the nipple, and wherein the duct is located entirely within the nipple, the duct including an outlet end located within the nipple to define the nipple tip portion between the outlet end of the duct and the nipple.