Penn-Century | Manufacturer of MicroSprayer® Aerosolizers

Mouse Intubation Platform

Simplifying intubation and pulmonary aerosol administration in mice

Click the images below to enlarge.

Endotracheal intubation of anesthetized mice can pose challenges due to the animal's small size and peculiar anatomy and the difficulty in visualizing the epiglottis. Researchers administering pulmonary aerosols to mice with Penn-Century's unique MicroSprayer® Aerosolizer and Dry Powder Insufflator™ face similar challenges. For best experimental results and to avoid injury to the animal, the tip of the Penn-Century device should be inserted near to - but not touching - the carina. On occasion, some researchers insert a section of endotracheal tubing into the animal prior to insertion of the tip of the aerosol delivery device. Having a platform especially designed for mouse intubation can make the process far faster, safer and easier.

Penn-Century's Mouse Intubation Platform

To assist researchers working with our aerosol devices and other intubation procedures in mice, Penn-Century now offers a Mouse Intubation Platform. Designed by Sapio for Penn-Century, Inc., according to Bivas-Benita et al., Eur J Pharm Biopharm, 2005, this Plexiglass®/Perspex® platform has been extensively tested. It provides a simple, durable, lightweight, easy-to-use system for supporting the anesthetized mouse during intubation and/or insertion of our aerosol delivery devices.

The Mouse Intubation Platform includes:

  • Solid Plexiglass®/Perspex® base and stainless steel support rod, easily attached to any standard lab holder/clamp setup (not included)
  • Special adjustable neck support with Delrin® fittings to facilitate visualization of the trachea.
  • Stainless steel posts with plastic "wire" maintain the anesthetized animal in the correct position for intubation, suspended from the front incisors
  • Two side posts to secure the mouse in position with a rubber band
  • Additional, adjustable stainless steel side posts prevent lateral movement of the mouse during intubation

Features

NOTE: All materials can be sterilized with standard methods.

A : Stainless steel support bar can be securely clamped to any standard lab base and adjusted to any angle

B : Stainless steel posts with plastic wire (provided) for suspending anesthetized animal by incisors

C, D, E : Adjustable Delrin® Neck Support (D = rear view)

G : Upper stainless steel guide posts with rubber bands keep animal securely in position

F : Adjustable stainless steel side posts hold the animal securely in place and prevent lateral movement

Other Specifications

The Mouse Intubation Platform is made of sterilizable Plexiglass®/Perspex® with stainless steel and Delrin® fittings. The base and fittings, including the nylon wire for suspending the animal may be cleaned with ethanol or Clorox® /Clidox® and re-used. Additional supplies provided include: hex wrench, rubber bands, additional nylon wire and screws.

Platform dimensions: 4.5" x 6 1/8 x 3/8" (15 x 23 x 6 cm)

Stainless steel support rod: 8" (20 cm)

Weight: 15.6 oz with support rod - 450 gr

NOTE: For a detailed description of the intubation procedure with this type of platform, please refer to Bivas-Benita et al, Non-invasive pulmonary aerosol delivery in mice by the endotracheal route. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2005 Oct;61(3):214-8.