| 摘要 |
A door module (32, 33) for closing a door opening (4) in a test animal cage (1 ) is proposed, the door module meeting the very stringent requirements in terms of animal health and animal welfare and reproducibility of the tests, by the door module ensuring that test animals remain unscathed when the door opening is closed. In the case of the novel door module, a door slide (50) is mounted in a manner such that it is movable linearly up and down in a channel (35). The door slide is coupled by means of magnets to a drivable door-lifting mechanism (60) and is moved to and fro by the latter between a release position and a position for closing the door opening (4). If, when the door opening is closed, the door slide strikes against an obstacle (generally a body part of a test animal) and if, in the process, a maximum force is exceeded, then the magnetic connection is released and the door slide (50) is decoupled from the door-lifting mechanism (60) and drops back in the channel to the lower release position. As a result, the test animals are protected against injuries and the system can automatically reestablish the operational connection. In addition, the contact-free connection between door-lifting mechanism and door slide makes it possible for the channel, in which sugar- and/or protein-containing reward liquids are dispensed, to be encapsulated on all sides and for soiling to be restricted to minimal regions so as to minimize the outlay on cleaning and malfunctions caused by soiling. |
