Animal isolation and caging system

Abstract

An animal isolation and caging system which maximizes cage density within a ventilated rack is provided. The rack includes at least one air exhaust plenum, and at least one canopy disposed within the rack for ventilation of the cages housed in a rack system. The rack is capable of supporting a first cage within the rack below a first canopy, and also positioning a second cage below a second canopy. The filter top of the first cage provided by the invention also provides a filter retainer having a filter top retainer wall designed to be in contact with a first canopy unit forming an enclosed space so configured as to create an enclosed space from which the animal isolation and caging system of the invention creates a zone of negative pressure so as to permit air to be drawn into an air exhaust plenum or duct from the interior of the first cage through the top of the first cage.

1 . A filter top lock for locking a cage level barrier cage such that an animal held within said cage can not remove the top of said cage from a cage body, said filter top lock comprising: 
 a base member;    a releasable latching member a foot member; and    a shoulder member;    wherein the latching member is integrally attached to the base member and when securing a top of said cage to a cage body the foot and shoulder members of said lock are disposed in a locking position such that foot and shoulder member are in close locking contact with the lower surface of said top of said cage and a peripheral lip of said cage body; said lock can be released by an operator by pushing in a downward direction on said latching member.    
   
   
       2 . The filter top lock of  claim 1 , wherein said lock is comprised of a durable and semi-rigid plastic.  
   
   
       3 . An animal isolation and caging system comprising: 
 a ventilated rack, said rack including at least one air exhaust plenum;    at least one canopy disposed within said rack for ventilation of cages housed in a said caging system wherein said rack is capable of supporting at least one    cage level barrier cage within said rack below said at least one canopy while maintaining a gap between the top of said at least one cage and said at least one canopy so as to permit air to be drawn into said air exhaust plenum from the interior of said at least one cage through the top of said at least one cage; and 
 a filter top lock, said filter top lock comprising:  
 a base member;  
 a releasable latching member  
 a foot member; and  
 a shoulder member;  
 wherein the latching member is integrally attached to the base member and when securing a top of said cage to a cage body the foot and shoulder members of said lock are disposed in a locking position such that foot and shoulder member are in close locking contact with the lower surface of said top of said cage and a peripheral lip of said cage body; said lock can be released by an operator by pushing in a downward direction on said latching member.