System for Small Animal Aerosol Inhalation Chamber

We claim that this novel aerosol exposure apparatus and design, called the AXS, has the following features and attributes:

• (a) safety as it's first priority for users by using three interior chambers (animal, nebulizer, and aerosol) contained within an outer box, which in turn sized to fit within a conventionally sized biosafety cabinet (approximately three feet X four feet X three feet interior chamber);
• (b) the three chambers have the following attributes:
• (i) the nebulizer chamber is separated and sealed to prevent accidental leaks,
• (ii) the aerosol chamber which has the outtake port, clean air port, and pressure gauge port,
• (iii) the animal chamber (s) which has a removable animal housing, holding four per guinea pigs per chamber;
• (c) the system also has the following attributes:
• (iv) HEPA filtered containment of exhaust into a filter flask with chemical disinfectant,
• (v) chemically inert seals,
• (vi) pressure gauge and air flow regulator separated from the chamber by a HEPA filter,
• (vii) latches with secondary safety catches to prevent accidental opening;
• (d) the apparatus is easily decontaminated by immersion in disinfectant.