Devices for selectively releasing volatile compounds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10596198-B1
Application number	US-201514871986-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Sep 30, 2015
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for sequestering and releasing compounds into the air is provided. The apparatus includes a card with a first side and a second side, and a plurality of compound-sequestering structures affixed to the first side. Each of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures is configured to release a compound into the air when heated to a first temperature.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for sequestering and releasing compounds into the air for laboratory animal experimentation, the apparatus comprising:
a substantially flat card comprising a substrate with a first side and a second side, the substrate having a thermal conductivity of less than 1 W/m*K;
a plurality of compound-sequestering structures affixed to the first side in a two-dimensional array; and
a plurality of heat receiving elements that are affixed to the card and aligned behind the compound-sequestering structures, the plurality of heat receiving elements comprising a material that is more heat-conductive than the substrate, the plurality of heat receiving elements being exposed on the second side,
wherein each of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures is configured to release a compound into the air when heated to a predetermined temperature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures comprises a waxy phase and a volatile phase.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the volatile phase of at least one of the compound-sequestering structures includes at least one compound with an odor detectable by a laboratory animal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the odor is of a potential mate or of a predator.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of compound-sequestering structures comprises:
a first set of compound-sequestering structures, each compound-sequestering structure in the first set containing a first volatile compound; and
a second set of compound-sequestering structures, each compound-sequestering structure in the second set containing a second volatile compound distinct from the first volatile compound.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the first set of compound-sequestering structures are spatially arranged in a first column; and
the second set of compound-sequestering structures are spatially arranged in a second column that is not collinear with the first column.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the compound-sequestering structures comprises a plurality of microvesicles that are surrounded by an encapsulant made of waxy phase.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures is positioned on at least one of the plurality of heat receiving elements, and the plurality of heat receiving elements comprise metal printed on the second side of the card.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the card comprises a plurality of gaps, each gap positioned between two or more of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the card includes computer-readable markings that indicate one or more types of compounds contained within the plurality of compound-sequestering structures.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the card comprises heat-insulating plastic foam between two or more of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat receiving elements are in contact with the plurality of compound-sequestering structures.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures comprises a layer having a thickness of from about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm.

14. An apparatus for releasing compounds into a living space of an experimental animal, the apparatus comprising:
a cage comprising one or more walls that enclose a living space for an experimental animal;
a card adapted to be positioned inside the cage or in an air supply pathway to the cage, the card comprising a plurality of compound-sequestering structures to release compounds into the living space of the cage;
a heating structure adapted to be positioned outside the cage, the heating structure comprising a two-dimensional array of laser or infrared sources adapted to align with the respective compound-sequestering structures and selectively direct their outputs toward the respective compound-sequestering structures; and
a controller configured to independently control an intensity of emission from each of the laser or infrared sources to cause a corresponding compound-sequestering structure to release compounds into the atmosphere of the living space.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to incrementally vary an intensity of radiation emitted from each of the plurality of laser or infrared sources.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of laser or infrared sources is an IR LED.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the laser or infrared sources are adapted to selectively direct their outputs onto heat-receiving elements that are aligned behind the compound-sequestering structures.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of laser or infrared sources is a laser.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:
the heating structure comprises a camera configured to capture an image of fiducial markings on the card; and
the controller is configured to drive the array of laser or infrared sources based at least in part on the captured image.

20. An apparatus for sequestering and releasing compounds into the air, the apparatus comprising:
a card with a first side and a second side;
a plurality of compound-sequestering structures affixed to the first side, at least one of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures comprising (i) a first layer that comprises a first compound-sequestering waxy phase and is exposed on the first side and (ii) a second layer, under the first layer, that comprises a second compound-sequestering waxy phase that is different from the first compound-sequestering material,
wherein each of the plurality of compound-sequestering structures is configured to release a compound into the air when heated to a predetermined temperature, and wherein the first layer is adapted to be selectively melted relative to the second layer and to be substantially removed through heating to expose a surface of the second layer on the first side.

Assignees

• Vium Inc

Inventors

• Betts-Lacroix Jonathan Noble
• Ford Daniel
• Schaevitz Laura

Classifications

• A61B2560/0242

  adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution · CPC title

• A61B2503/40

  Animals · CPC title

• A61B5/6889

  Rooms · CPC title

• A61B5/4011

  Evaluating olfaction, i.e. sense of smell · CPC title

• A61B5/165

  Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety · CPC title