Non-invasive drug self-administration system for animals

摘要

The present invention is directed to a system for allowing animals to self administer drugs via intranasal absorption. The system comprises an aerosol dispersing apparatus ( 1 ) connected to a source of pressurized air ( 5 ) for ejecting a pharmaceutical composition contained in a reservoir ( 8 ) out of the aerosol dispersing apparatus nozzle head ( 3 ) and into a sensing chamber ( 12 ) when a sensor ( 16 ) detects the presence of an animal in the sensing chamber ( 12 ). The system can be used to study the addictiveness of new drugs as well as providing a model system for small animals, such as the mouse, to studying behavioral and physiological responses to addictive drugs.