Containment systems and components for animal husbandry: cover with air supply apertures
Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.
1. A rodent containment cage cover comprising:
an air supply aperture in a top surface of the cover;
an air exhaust aperture in a top surface of the cover;
a thickness of 0.01 inches to 0.03 inches;
at least one corner or edge which is configured to be present in an interior of a cage when the cover is affixed to a cage base, which is configured to be accessible to a rodent that can be contained in a cage when the cover is affixed to a cage base, and which is defined by surfaces having an angle α greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees, wherein all corners or edges of the cover which are configured to be present in an interior of a cage when the cover is affixed to a cage base, which are configured to be accessible to a rodent that can be contained in a cage when the cover is affixed to a cage base and which are defined by surfaces having said angle α measured in a cage interior, have a minimum radius φ with
φ=0.25/(tan((Π/360)(360−α))) inches.
2. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyethylene teraphthalate (PET).
3. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , wherein the air supply aperture is located in a first region of the cover and the air exhaust aperture is located in a second region of the cover.
4. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , which comprises an array of air exhaust apertures.
5. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , wherein the air supply aperture is in an air supply connector.
6. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 5 , wherein the air supply connector is conical.
7. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 5 , wherein the air supply connector is convex with respect to the top surface of the cover.
8. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 5 , wherein air expands as it flows through the air supply connector.
9. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 5 , wherein the air supply connector is in connection with a bossed region of the cover.
10. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , wherein the air exhaust aperture is in an air exhaust connector.
11. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 10 , wherein the air exhaust connector is conical.
12. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 10 , wherein the air exhaust connector is convex with respect to the top surface of the cover.
13. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , wherein the cover is single-use cover.
14. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , which comprises a channel in effective connection with an air exhaust aperture or an air supply aperture.
15. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 14 , wherein the channel length is non-linear.
16. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 14 , wherein the channel length is sinusoidal.
17. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , which comprises one or more filters.
18. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 17 , wherein a filter of the one or more filters is a high-efficiency particulate air filter.
19. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 17 , wherein a filter is in effective connection with an air supply aperture in the cover.
20. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 17 , wherein a filter is in effective connection with an air exhaust aperture.
21. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 17 , wherein the filter is between the cover and a filter shield in connection with the cover.
22. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 21 , wherein the shield is in connection with the underside of the cover.
23. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 21 , wherein the shield comprises an array of apertures.
24. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 21 , wherein the shield comprises a grid.
25. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 21 , wherein the shield comprises a perforate surface.
26. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 23 , wherein apertures in the shield are of a maximum diameter of about 0.2 inches.
27. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 26 , wherein the maximum diameter is about 0.125 inches.
28. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 1 , which weighs 100 grams or less.
29. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 21 , wherein:
the filter shield is between the interior of the cage and the filter, and
the filter shield comprises a surface with apertures that is offset from the filter and covers the filter.
30. A rodent containment cage cover comprising:
an air supply aperture;
an air exhaust aperture;
a first filter in effective connection with the air supply aperture;
a second filter in effective connection with the exhaust aperture;
a polymer having a thickness of 0.01 inches to 0.03 inches;
at least one corner or edge which is configured to be present in an interior of a cage when the cover is affixed to a cage base, which is configured to be accessible to a rodent that can be contained in a cage when the cover is affixed to a cage base, and which is defined by surfaces having an angle α greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees, wherein all corners or edges of the cover which are configured to be present in an interior of a cage when the cover is affixed to a cage base, which are configured to be accessible to a rodent that can be contained in a cage when the cover is affixed to a cage base and which are defined by surfaces having said angle α measured in a cage interior, have a minimum radius φ with
φ=0.25/(tan((Π/360)(360−α))) inches.
31. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 30 , wherein the first filter and the second filter are separate.
32. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 30 , wherein one or more of the filters is a high-efficiency particulate air filter.
33. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 30 , wherein the air supply aperture or air exhaust aperture are in one or more connectors.
34. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 33 , wherein one or more of the connectors are convex.
35. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 33 , wherein air expands after it passes through the air supply aperture.
36. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 33 , one or more of the connectors is conical.
37. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 30 , wherein the air exhaust aperture is in an array of apertures.
38. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 30 , which is in combination with a cage base having a wall or walls and a bottom.
39. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 30 , wherein the polymer is polyethylene teraphthalate (PET).
40. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 30 , wherein the filters are between the cover and a filter shield in connection with the cover.
41. The rodent containment cage cover of claim 40 , wherein:
the filter shield is between the interior of the cage and the filter, and
the filter shield comprises a surface with apertures that is offset from the filter and covers the filter.