IVC - Individually Ventilated Caging System

Individually Ventilated
Caging System

Technology Built To Protect Animals Researchers With
Inbuilt UV-C Light On The Exhaust Side Of the

Built for Biological Safety, Designed for Compliance

Orchid's IVC system not only ensures high biological safety for laboratory animals and scientists but also
matches the at-par level of compliance for safety, animal welfare, and ergonomics.

Orchid Scientific’s Individually Ventilated Caging (IVC) system is chosen for its ability to enhance biological safety, minimize animal stress, and improve ergonomics in animal research. The system ensures a high level of biological containment by preventing cross-contamination and disease transmission between animals. It also prioritizes animal welfare by maintaining optimal environmental conditions, reducing stress, and promoting comfortable housing.

Introduction to

IVC Caging System

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Key Advantages Of Orchid's IVC System

Designed for Optimal Animal Comfort +

Improved Air Quality:

IVC systems provide a constant supply of HEPA-filtered air to individual cages, which has a positive impact on animal health and welfare.

Reduced Stress:

IVC systems can help reduce stress in animals by minimizing air currents and drafts within the cage. The air velocity within the cage at animal level is not more than 0.2m/s

Disease Prevention:

IVC systems help to prevent the spread of diseases by creating a barrier between individual cages and the surrounding environment.

Biological Safety That Drives Better Research Outcomes +

Reduced Variability:

By controlling the microenvironment within each cage, IVC systems can reduce variability in experimental results, leading to more reliable and reproducible data.

Improved Animal Health:

Healthy animals are more likely to respond to experimental treatments in a predictable way, leading to more meaningful research findings.

Reduced Cross-Contamination:

The individual ventilation of each cage helps to prevent cross-contamination between different colonies of animals, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of research studies. IVC systems provide individual ventilation for each cage, preventing the spread of airborne pathogens and contaminants between animals.

Isolation and Containment:

IVCs offer isolation from the external environment, reducing the risk of animal exposure to potential hazards.

Enhanced Safety for Personnel:

Reduced Allergen Exposure: IVC systems can help reduce allergen exposure for lab personnel by filtering out airborne allergens from the cage.

Smart Ergonomics for Practical Lab Operations +

Flexible Racking Systems:

Orchid Scientific offers versatile racking options that can be adapted to different laboratory designs and cage types.

Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance:

The modular design and easy-to-access components simplify cleaning and maintenance procedures.

Efficient Ventilation:

The system provides efficient ventilation while minimizing energy consumption and noise levels.

What Sets It Apart +

Orchid’s IVC Ventilator Unit (AHU) is fitted with an inbuilt UV-C light inside the cabinet for disinfection of the exhaust air coming from cages before releasing it to the external environment. (Optional)
Providing Three-stage exhaust air treatment- Pre-filter, HEPA Filter, and UV-C lamp
Silicon gasket in the cage lid gives an advantage over the other systems using a nylon gasket on the grill in terms of more sterilization cycles and protection from dents.
Larger breathing filter area, giving more time for animal survival in case of power failure
Excellent Cage lid stackability ensures protection to locks and prevents damage to the lock during cleaning, washing, and autoclaving
PLC error function in the Ventilator Unit gives an alarm in case of any error in the PLC controller, and the analogue mode runs the system in case of a PLC error
Cage for rat and guinea pig is fitted with two air supplies and two air exhaust ports for more efficient ventilation
The Ventilator Unit is provided with H202 disinfection mode with logs
Ventilator Unit is fitted with a microprocessor-based PLC device & differential pressure switch to control the parameters and maintain filter load compensation automatically
Air supply and Exhaust nozzles are fitted on the cage lid that is above animal level, avoiding stress to animals.
Water bottle grommet design avoids any air leakage when the water bottle is inserted in the cage
Specially designed wire bar grill reduces the footprint while storing or washing.

Technical Specification

Ventilator Unit +

ANIMAL WELFARE

Stand-alone separate Ventilator gives less vibrations and noise level to cage level
Continuous monitoring of Temperature, % RH and provision to set limits
Mobile messaging system for error logs enabling user to take immediate action to protect animals*
Multiple ventilator connectivity and control from computer or mobile through Ethernet port.
Parameters like ACH, number of cages & pressure modes can be easily set & monitored.
Positive or Negative pressure modes can be set from the control panel.
Data logs download on the computer through Ethernet port.
Noise Level generated by the system is less than 50 db.
Unit is fitted with 4 castor wheel (2 with brakes)

ERGONOMICS

Light weight easy to move system with Touch screen display at eye level.
Separate indicators on the control panel for indication of Parameters out of range, Supply HEPA filter change and exhaust HEPA filter change.
Washable pre filters on supply & exhaust side with easy access for routine cleaning.
Easily settable ACH from range of 50 – 100 ACH (±5)

ECONOMICS

Low power consumption and less maintenance blowers
Stand-alone Ventilator Unit can be connected to 4 single sided racks or 2 double sided racks.
Both supply & exhaust air streams are HEPA filtered.
HEPA filters are DOP tested for efficiency of 99.99% for 0.3 μ particles
Display has standby screen or night mode to avoid disturbance to animals

COMPLIANCE

Two level password protected system ensuring restricted access
Auto data logging of parameters
Error logs for parameters out of upper and lower limits set

IVC Cages For Mice, Rats And Guinea Pigs +

Ergonomics

Quick finger touch swing type locks enabling quick locking and unlocking at the same time giving safe locking.
Card holder fitting on the edge gives visibility of the animal inside the cage
External self-centering water bottle enabling quick bottle change without removing cage.
Snap fit filter holder enabling easy removal of filter.
Excellent lid stacking without damaging cage locks.
Cages are made of polysulfone polymer with transparency enough to reveal the contents inside.
Symmetrical cage bottom from both end without any projections inside.
All components of Cages like Cage lid, Tray, Lock, Filter plates and bottle are made of polysulfone material, air tight spring-loaded air inlet, air outlet and bottle inlet valves made of silicon material, ensure no air leakage and can withstand repeated sterilization at 121°c.
Silicone compression seal in the lid ensuring complete seal around the cage.

ANIMAL WELFARE

No direct air drift at animal level, air inlet and outlet at the top level ensures less animal stress and heat loss.
Animal velocity within the cage at animal level not more than 0.2m/sec.
Wider 0.3μ Passive filter of 99.9% efficiency on cage lid ensuring animal safety in power failure or cage is off the rack for long time without compromising the protection.

SAFETY

Air tight spring-loaded air inlet, air outlet and bottle inlet valves ensure no air leakage.
Silicone compression seal in the lid ensuring complete seal around the cage.
S.S 304 grill without any sharp edges & v shapes points.

US 300, US 500, US 530 (MICE) US 900 (RAT & GUINEA PIG)

*Patent Pending

Water bottle grommet design avoiding any air leakage when water bottle is inserted in the cage.
Specially designed wire bar grill reducing the foot print while storing in nesting mode.

Rack For Individually Ventilated Cages +

Orchid’s IVC Racking offers complete flexibility to meet any laboratory design. Fully mobile racks are available in a wide range of cage capacities and in addition to that further racks can be added at any time to the existing Ventilator Unit.

Cage holding rails fitted with visual docking indicators to ensuring proper fitting of cage*
Spring loaded non rupture air supply and exhaust valve
Air supply and exhaust valves designed to prevent entry within the inner cage environment avoiding any cross contamination
Press fit air supply and exhaust valve allows easy removal for cleaning purpose
Racks is fitted with common rail for easy loading, removal & locking of cage in the rack providing proper cage alignment and avoiding any air leakage from any of the vents.
(*Optional)

Efficacy and Efficiency

Orchid’s IVC system is designed by taking into consideration airflow pattern, uniform air distribution, air velocities at animal level and differential pressure.

Cage design is optimized by CFD analysis for ensuring the uniform air distribution without any dead spot in the cage.

Further system is tested for various parameters ensuring that product delivered performs to the highest level of biological safety at the same time ensuring animal welfare.

1. Air velocity at animal level.
2. Sound level.
3. Vibrations within the cage.
4. Air leakage through silicon gasket using smoke test.
5. Smoke recovery test.
(*Optional)

Ordering Information

Mice IVC System +

Ventilator +

Material of construction: High Grade Plastic & Stainless steel 304 panel, with 7” touch screen display
Components Included:

Ventilator
Flexible hose pipe
Silicon end caps
Supply & exhaust HEPA Filter, Supply & exhaust prefilter
Fitted with castor wheels
Ethernet port data download and communication with computer
Exhaust pipe for connecting with room’s exhaust system

Overall Dimensions in mm (±10mm): 435 x 600 x 1540 (L x W x H)
Power Requirement: 220–240V, 50 Hz, 350 watts.

Material of construction: High Grade Plastic & Stainless steel 304 panel, with 7” touch screen display
Components Included:

Ventilator with UVC light for exhaust air disinfection
Flexible hose pipe
Silicon end caps
Supply & exhaust HEPA Filter, Supply & exhaust prefilter
Fitted with castor wheels
Ethernet port data download and communication with computer
Exhaust pipe for connecting with room’s exhaust system.

Overall Dimensions in mm (±10mm): 435 x 600 x 1540 (L x W x H)
Power Requirement: 220-240V, 50 Hz, 350 watts.

WIFI module suitable for IVC ventilator unit: Data transfer to cloud storage and facility to monitor the data using mobile application.

Note: Wifi with suitable internet speed needed for functioning of this module to be arranged by user

Racks +

Rack Model	Suitable Cage Model	Cages per Rack
R-US3-S-32 R-US3-S-40 R-US3-S-48 R-US3-S-56 R-US3-S-64 R-US3-S-72 R-US3-S-80	US 300	32 40 48 56 64 72 80
R-US5-S-32 R-US5-S-40 R-US5-S-48 R-US5-S-56 R-US5-S-60 R-US5-S-64 R-US5-S-70 R-US5-S-72 R-US5-S-80	US 500	32 40 48 56 60 64 70 72 80
R-US53-S-32 R-US53-S-40 R-US53-S-48 R-US53-S-56 R-US53-S-64 R-US53-S-72 R-US53-S-80	US 530 & US 530 CT	32 40 48 56 64 72 80

Rack Model	Suitable Cage Model	Cages per Rack
R-US3-D-64 R-US3-D-80 R-US3-D-96 R-US3-D-112 R-US3-D-128 R-US3-D-144 R-US3-D-160	US 300	64 80 96 112 128 144 160
R-US5-D-64 R-US5-D-80 R-US5-D-96 R-US5-D-112 R-US5-D-120 R-US5-D-128 R-US5-D-140 R-US5-D-144 R-US5-D-160	US 500	64 80 96 112 120 128 140 144 160
R-US53-D-64 R-US53-D-80 R-US53-D-96 R-US53-D-112 R-US53-D-128 R-US53-D-144 R-US53-D-160	US 530 & US 530 CT	64 80 96 112 128 144 160

Cages +

Floor Space Approx.(sq.cm)	Species	Free Height (cm)	Over all Cage Size (L x W X H) in mm (± 10 mm)	Material of construction	Components Included
360	Mice	13(±0.5)	366x160x180	Polysulfone/ Polyetherimide	Cage base Cage Lid with silicon gasket Filter retainer plate Card holder Passive filter of 0.3μ Stainless steel grill Water bottle of 250 ml

Floor Space Approx.(sq.cm)	Species	Free Height (cm)	Over all Cage Size (L x W X H) in mm (± 10 mm)	Material of construction	Components Included
500	Mice	13.5(±0.5)	394x199x175	Polysulfone/ Polyetherimide	Cage base Cage Lid with silicon gasket Filter retainer plate Card holder Passive filter of 0.3μ Stainless steel grill Water bottle of 300 ml

Floor Space Approx.(sq.cm)	Species	Free Height (cm)	Over all Cage Size (L x W X H) in mm (± 10 mm)	Material of construction	Components Included
530	Mice	14 (±0.5)	394x198x182	Polysulfone/ Polyetherimide	Cage base Cage Lid with silicon gasket Filter retainer plate Card holder Passive filter of 0.3μ Stainless steel grill Water bottle of 300 ml

Floor Space Approx.(sq.cm)	Species	Free Height (cm)	Over all Cage Size (L x W X H) in mm (± 10 mm)	Material of construction	Components Included
530	Mice	14 (±0.5)	396x214x192	Polysulfone/ Polyetherimide	Cage base Cage Lid Filter retainer plate Card holder Passive filter of 0.3μ Stainless steel grill provided with nylon gasket on the periphery for sealing between cage lid & cage base Water bottle of 300 ml

Rat & Guinea Pig IVC System +

Ventilator +

Material of construction: High Grade Plastic & Stainless steel 304 panel, with 7” touch screen display
Components Included:

Ventilator
Flexible hose pipe
Silicon end caps
Supply & exhaust HEPA Filter, Supply & exhaust prefilter
Fitted with castor wheels
Ethernet port data download and communication with computer
Exhaust pipe for connecting with room’s exhaust system

Overall Dimensions in mm (±10mm): 435 x 600 x 1540 (L x W x H)
Power Requirement: 220–240V, 50 Hz, 350 watts.

Material of construction: High Grade Plastic & Stainless steel 304 panel, with 7” touch screen display
Components Included:

Ventilator with UVC light for exhaust air disinfection
Flexible hose pipe
Silicon end caps
Supply & exhaust HEPA Filter, Supply & exhaust prefilter
Fitted with castor wheels
Ethernet port data download and communication with computer
Exhaust pipe for connecting with room’s exhaust system.

Overall Dimensions in mm (±10mm): 435 x 600 x 1540 (L x W x H)
Power Requirement: 220-240V, 50 Hz, 350 watts.

Racks +

Rat & Guinea Pig Cage Racks

Rack Model	Suitable Cage Model	Cages per Rack
R-US9-S-18 R-US9-S-24 R-US9-S-30 R-US9-S-36	US 900 & US 900-GP	18 24 30 36

Rat & Guinea Pig Cage Racks

Rack Model	Suitable Cage Model	Cages per Rack
R-US9-D-36 R-US9-D-48 R-US9-D-60 R-US9-D-72	US 900 & US 900-GP	36 48 60 72

Cages +

Floor Space Approx.(sq.cm)	Species	Free Height (cm)	Over all Cage Size (L x W X H) in mm (± 10 mm)	Material of construction	Components Included
925	Rat	19(±0.5)	436x275x235	Polysulfone/ Polyetherimide	Cage base Cage Lid with silicon gasket Filter retainer plate Card holder Passive filter of 0.3μ Stainless steel grill Water bottle of 500 ml

Floor Space Approx.(sq.cm)	Species	Free Height (cm)	Over all Cage Size (L x W X H) in mm (± 10 mm)	Material of construction	Components Included
925	Guinea pig	19(±0.5)	436x275x235	Polysulfone/ Polyetherimide	Cage base Cage Lid with silicon gasket Filter retainer plate Card holder Passive filter of 0.3μ Stainless steel grill with J shaped food hopper Water bottle of 500 ml

Floor Space Approx.(sq.cm)	Species	Free Height (cm)	Over all Cage Size (L x W X H) in mm (± 10 mm)	Material of construction	Components Included
1360	Rat	21	482x372x260	Polysulfone / Polyetherimide	Cage base ,Cage Lid with silicon gasket Filter retainer plate Card holder HEPA grade Passive filter of 0.3µ. SS 304 grill Water bottle of 500mL with silicon grade gasket & SS 316 cap.

Floor Space Approx.(sq.cm)	Species	Free Height (cm)	Over all Cage Size (L x W X H) in mm (± 10 mm)	Material of construction	Components Included
1360	Guinea pig	21	482x372x260	Polysulfone / Polyetherimide	Cage base ,Cage Lid with silicon gasket Filter retainer plate Card holder HEPA grade Passive filter of 0.3µ. SS 304 grill with J shape food hopper Water bottle of 500mL with silicon grade gasket & SS 316 cap.