Animal Care Systems Products

ORIGINAL M.I.C.E.® Cage Specifications

The M.I.C.E.® system cages use a closed-system design that provides a contaminant-free environment, and helps to prevent cross-contamination and occupational allergy. The M.I.C.E.® design allows for housing, breeding, testing, quarantine, inhalation, whole-body exposure, toxicology, and transport applications at conventional, barrier, and biocontainment facilities.

Mouse Cages

Cage outside dimensions -- 15.25" L x 7.8" W x 9.5" H.
Cage inside dimensions -- 13.5" L x 7.0" W x 6.5" to 8.5"H.
Cage Volume w/top installed - empty - 9.75 Liters.

All M.I.C.E.® System cages are available in polycarbonate and polysulfone

Rat Cages

Cage outside dimensions -- 15.25" L x 15.8" W x 9.5" H.
Cage inside dimensions -- 12.1" L x 14.0" W x 6.5" to 8.5"H.
Cage Volume w/top installed - empty - 22.25 Liters.

Rat Cage Assembly shown in polysulfone

All cages consist of top and bottom assemblies of high-temperature polycarbonate or polysulfone resin, and have the following features:

• A closed-system design that provides a filtered, one-pass airflow across the cage.
• A mouse cage top with stainless steel feeder, lid, and integral 3 X 5 cardholder.
• The cage top forms an interlocking lid over the cage bottom to ensure a protected environment.
• The cage top supports an external water bottle. Rat cage tops have provisions for either the standard mouse cage bottle or the 600 ml rat cage bottle.
• Cage bottoms are equipped with high-efficiency polyester filters for both the supply and exhaust air.
• Mouse cages have an area of 83 square inches, sufficient to hold six 25-gram mice, two 300-gram rats, five 100-gram hamsters, or one 350-gram guinea pig.
• Rat cages have 180 square inches of area, sufficient to hold six 300-gram rats or three 350-gram guinea pigs.
• Cage tops and bottoms nest in convenient stacks for storage and/or autoclaving.

The following cage options are available:

• A perforated stainless steel floor insert with integral feeder holder for bedding-free caging.
• Cage bottoms can be equipped with stainless steel water valve grommets for automatic watering system.
• An inhalation nozzle that inserts into the front inlet port to deliver 'test' air directly into the cage.
• Trough tunnel that fits under the mouse cage feeder and provides enrichment for the animal population.
• Cage clips to secure the cage top in place for transport.

Feeders

- Wire Mouse Feeder The stainless steel wire feeder snaps securely into the cage top, but may easily be removed or exchanged for other feeders needed for alternate species usage. The mouse feeder hangs in the center of the primary enclosure. The Rat cage feeder fits inside the cage against the back wall.

Feeder features:

• A wedge-shaped design that minimizes intrusion into the animal's living area.
• Food is accessible by the animals from all sides of the feeder (rat feeder is accessible from three sides).
• The feeder may be refilled from outside without removing the cage top (top must be removed to refill the rat feeder).
• The mouse cage feeder-lid closes with a leak-free fit.

Watering

External water bottles are formed of high temperature polycarbonate or polysulfone resin, fit into the cage top outside the rodent environment and have a capacity of 400 ml for mouse cages and 600 ml for rat cages. The water bottle assembly consists of a polycarbonate or polysulfone autoclaveable bottle, seal, and cap with stainless sipper tube. All mouse and rat bottle caps are now shipped in black Radel® R plastic as shown below. Automatic watering is available for M.I.C.E.® racks. Cages used for automatic watering have leak-proof valves installed in each cage back.

 
Automatic watering available on all versions of the M.I.C.E.® System

Warranty

Animal Care Systems, Inc. cages, racks and accessories are warranted against defects. This warranty is limited to replacement of defective parts if used in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations for handling, washing, and autoclaving.