Rat Cage Lid Modifications for use with animals containing electrophysiology implants

Documents the process of modifiying Techniplast cage lids to better suit rats with electrophysiology implants. Used by labs at the HHMI Janelia Research Campus.

Designed at HHMI's Janelia research campus by the jET team, the modifications allow more space inside the home cage for rats with head mounted electrophysiology implants. The cages as purchased position the water bottle spouts too low in areas of the cage where there is not enough space for the rats to comfortably drink.

Advantages: More space for the rat to comfortably move around the cage and reduced risk of the rat getting the implant caught on parts of the cage.

Construction: The cage modifications include cutting out the original bottle holder sections of the lid, and installing several machined, and sheetmetal parts that are riveted to the cage and sealed with epoxy.

See the individual part drawings for more detail on fabricating each part. See the attached assembly files and instructions with parts list including purchased commercial items needed to complete the tcage modifications.

Operation: The cage can be used normally after modification, cleaned, and sterilized via autoclave.

Opportunity: Free to make for Non-Profit Research by downloading the design here. See included hardware license.

Rights and designs available for Commercial License. Janelia makes no endorsements or guarantees of licensee products.

For inquiries, please contact innovation@janelia.hhmi.org and reference this listing.

To cite the designs, please use DOI: https://doi.org/10.25378/janelia.25750719