A Low Cost Face Mask for Inhalation Anaesthesia in Rats

Inhalation anaesthesia in small laboratory rodents has become very popular in Biomedical Research. A common method to deliver volatile anesthetic agents is through a face mask. The main disadvantage of this method is the exposure of personnel to anaesthetic agents. The authors describe a low-cost face mask, made with materials commonly accessible in the operating room that can be connected to an anaesthetic machine eliminating personnel exposure to hazardous levels of anaesthetic agents and allowing for effective adjustments to the anaesthetic depth.