Device, method, and system for restraining an animal in a fixed position for a medical procedure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021121277-A1
Application number	US-201716319508-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2017
Priority date	Jul 22, 2016
Publication date	Apr 29, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A restraining device for an animal. A body having a base and two spaced-apart walls define a cavity to receive the animal. At least one pair of side restraining members is mounted to one of the walls of the body. Each restraining member is displaceable away from the wall and into the cavity to engage a side of the animal. An overhead restraining member is mounted to the body above the base. The overhead restraining member is displaceable toward and away from the base to engage the animal. A tightening mechanism is mounted to the body and has at least one rotatable rod. The first end of the rod has a rotatable handle to rotate the rod and the second end has a cam engaging one of the side restraining members. The handle rotates the cam and displaces the side restraining members into the cavity.

First claim

1 . A restraining device for an animal, the restraining device comprising:
a body having a base and two spaced-apart walls extending upright from the base, the base and walls defining a cavity extending along a length of the body to receive the animal therein; at least one pair of side restraining members, each restraining member of the at least one pair of side restraining members being mounted to one of the walls of the body, each restraining member being displaceable away from said wall and into the cavity to engage a side of the animal; an overhead restraining member mounted to the body above the base, the overhead restraining member being displaceable toward and away from the base to engage the animal; and a tightening mechanism mounted to the body and having at least one rotatable rod extending between a first end and a second end, the first end having a rotatable handle to rotate the rod and the second end having a cam engaging one of the side restraining members, the handle being rotatable to rotate the cam and displace the side restraining members into the cavity to restrain the animal.

2 . The restraining device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one rod is mounted adjacent to one of the walls of the body and extends parallel to the length of the body.

3 . The restraining device as defined in claim 2 , wherein the handle is located at a longitudinal end of the body.

4 . The restraining device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rod includes a first rod and a second rod, the first and second rods being disposed within one of the walls of the body, each of the first and second rods extending parallel to the length of the body.

5 . The restraining device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the handle has a locking mechanism to lock the handle in position.

6 . The restraining device as defined in claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism includes at least one slot in a longitudinal end portion of the body and a tooth mounted on the handle, the handle being rotatable to rotate the tooth and position it within the slot.

7 . The restraining device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an animal support mountable on the base and displaceable with respect to the base along the length of the body.

8 . The restraining device as defined in claim 7 , wherein the animal support is raised from the base.

9 . The restraining device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the base further includes a ridge extending outwardly from the base along at least part of the length of the body, the ridge having an upper ridge surface being vertically spaced apart from the base.

10 . The restraining device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the base further includes at least one hole in the base.

11 . The restraining device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a cover mountable to the walls of the body over the base thereof, the cover having at least one press member being displaceable toward and away from the base to engage the animal from above.

12 . The restraining device as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the walls of the body has an opening therein, at least one of the side restraining members being positioned adjacent to the opening and engaging the cam therethrough.

13 . The restraining device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one pair of side restraining members includes a first pair of side restraining members and a second pair of side restraining members, the side restraining members of the first and second pairs of side restraining members being spaced apart along the length of the body.

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 . A method for restraining an animal in position, the method comprising:
placing the animal in a cavity of a restraining device; displacing side restraining members of the restraining device into the cavity to restrain the animal from each of its sides; displacing an overhead restraining member of the restraining device into the cavity to restrain the animal from above; and preventing displacement of at least one of the side and overhead restraining members to restrain the animal within the cavity.

17 . The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein displacing the side restraining members includes displacing the side restraining members from a front end of the device.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein displacing the side restraining members includes displacing the side restraining members simultaneously.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein preventing displacement includes locking at least one of the side and overhead restraining members in position.

22 . The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein placing the animal in the cavity includes supporting the animal to raise its feet from a base of the restraining device.

23 . The method as defined in claim 16 , wherein placing the animal in the cavity includes placing the animal into the cavity while the animal is awake, the method comprising performing a medical procedure on the restrained animal.

24 . (canceled)

25 . A system for restraining an animal in a fixed position for a medical imaging procedure, the system comprising:
a medical imaging device having imaging equipment and an imaging cavity to receive the animal therein; and a restraining device for the animal, the restraining device comprising:
a body being insertable into the imaging cavity, the body having a base and two spaced-apart walls extending upright from the base, the base and walls defining a cavity extending along a length of the body to receive the animal therein;
at least one pair of side restraining members, each restraining member of the at least one pair of side restraining members being mounted to one of the walls of the body, each restraining member being displaceable away from said wall and into the cavity to engage a side of the animal;
an overhead restraining member mounted to the body above the base, the overhead restraining member being displaceable toward and away from the base to engage the animal; and
a tightening mechanism mounted to the body and having at least one rotatable rod extending between a first end and a second end, the first end having a rotatable handle to rotate the rod and the second end having a cam engaging one of the side restraining members, the handle being rotatable to rotate the cam and displace the side restraining members into the cavity to restrain the animal.

Assignees

• The Royal Institution For The Advancement Of Learning/Mcgill Univ

Inventors

• Rajah Natasha
• Mathieu Axel

Classifications

• A01K1/0613 Primary

  Devices for immobilisation or restraint of animals, e.g. chutes · CPC title

• A61D2003/006

  with leg or foot restraining means · CPC title

• A61D2003/003

  with head or neck restraining means · CPC title

• A61D3/00 Primary

  Arrangements for supporting or fettering animals for veterinary purposes · CPC title