an inhalation system to infect laboratory animals

An Inhalation System to An Inhalation System to Infect Laboratory AnimalsInfect Laboratory Animals

Team MembersNick Anders, Kayla Ericson,

Stacey Hoebel, Maja Middleton,Jeff Swift, Ausin Ramme

ClientAdel M. Talaat, Ph.D.

Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Animal and Biomedical Sciences

AdvisorProfessor Willis Tompkins

Problem StatementProblem Statement•Develop a safe inhalation system for Develop a safe inhalation system for animalanimal infectioninfection•Should be able to infect animals Should be able to infect animals ranging inranging in size from mice, rats, and guinea pigs size from mice, rats, and guinea pigs to to rabbitsrabbits•Should be equipped with pathogen Should be equipped with pathogen escapeescape prevention measures to insure safety prevention measures to insure safety in thein the surrounding environmentsurrounding environment

Client’s GoalsClient’s Goals• The animal infection study will be used The animal infection study will be used

to:to:– Study pathogenesis of tuberculosisStudy pathogenesis of tuberculosis

•OriginationOrigination•DevelopmentDevelopment

– Develop cure for TB patientsDevelop cure for TB patients•Novel drugsNovel drugs•VaccinesVaccines

Biological Safety Level Biological Safety Level 33• High risk to individuals, low risk to High risk to individuals, low risk to communitycommunity

• Examples: tuberculosis, yellow fever, Examples: tuberculosis, yellow fever, rabiesrabies

• Safety Precautions:Safety Precautions:– Training for lab workersTraining for lab workers– Protective clothingProtective clothing– Autoclave in work zoneAutoclave in work zone– Non-porous materialsNon-porous materials– Sealed exhaust systemSealed exhaust system– HEPA filtration HEPA filtration – Directional airflowDirectional airflow

Current Device AvailableCurrent Device Available• Glas-Col companyGlas-Col company

• IdealIdeal– NebulizerNebulizer– FiltersFilters– Air IncineratorAir Incinerator– UV lightUV light

• Prohibitively Prohibitively expensive ($15,000)expensive ($15,000)

Current Device in UseCurrent Device in Use

• Main chamber: 75 cm x 50 cm x 15 cmMain chamber: 75 cm x 50 cm x 15 cm• Inner chambers: radius 8 cm, height 12 cmInner chambers: radius 8 cm, height 12 cm• Nebulizer, Ethanol Trap, Hepa FilterNebulizer, Ethanol Trap, Hepa Filter• TupperwareTupperware

Inner ChamberInner Chamber

• TupperwareTupperware• Creates skin Creates skin

infectioninfection• InefficientInefficient• Cannot infect Cannot infect

anything but miceanything but mice• Maximum of 1 mouse Maximum of 1 mouse

per chamber at one per chamber at one time time

Design SpecificationsDesign Specifications• Dimensions:Dimensions:

– Length: 25 cm – 75 cmLength: 25 cm – 75 cm– Width: 40 cm – 30 cmWidth: 40 cm – 30 cm– Height: 10 cm – 70 cmHeight: 10 cm – 70 cm

• Withstand the Autoclaving ProcessWithstand the Autoclaving Process• Storage at Room TemperatureStorage at Room Temperature• Air Tight StructureAir Tight Structure• Deliver 5 mL of culture in 20 minutesDeliver 5 mL of culture in 20 minutes• Service Life: 50 to 100 UsesService Life: 50 to 100 Uses

Design 1: Modified Current Design 1: Modified Current DesignDesign

Air output

Animal Cage

Rubber seal

Air input

Clamps

Modified Current DesignModified Current Design

•StrengthsStrengths– InexpensiveInexpensive– Easy to Easy to

AssembleAssemble– Low MaintenanceLow Maintenance– AutoclavableAutoclavable– More EfficientMore Efficient

Modified Current DesignModified Current Design

•WeaknessesWeaknesses– Entire Animal Exposed to Entire Animal Exposed to

PathogenPathogen– Inconsistent Air FlowInconsistent Air Flow

Design 2: Direct Nose Design 2: Direct Nose InfectionInfection

•StrengthsStrengths– Targeted InfectionTargeted Infection– Extremely EfficientExtremely Efficient– Entire Body not ContaminatedEntire Body not Contaminated

Direct Nose Infection Direct Nose Infection SystemSystem

•WeaknessesWeaknesses– Anesthetization of SubjectAnesthetization of Subject– May cause deathMay cause death– Excessive tubingExcessive tubing

Final Design: Final Design: • Dual Chamber Dual Chamber

SystemSystem• 4 Input Air Flow4 Input Air Flow• Latex Flange Latex Flange

around Neckaround Neck• Three Species Three Species

Specific Inner Specific Inner ChambersChambers

Air input

animal

Air input

Animal head

Air output

Future WorkFuture Work•Construction of inner stalls for Construction of inner stalls for

easy maintenanceeasy maintenance•Restraint systemsRestraint systems•FansFans

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