Intraruminal device

• US 20030212386A1
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aircom Manufacturing Inc. (Kimball Electronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aircom Manufacturing Inc. (Kimball Electronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lyon, Gregory A., Lyon, Ronald W., Trompen, Mick
• Granted Patent: US 6,974,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/891.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0068 Rumen, e.g. rumen bolus

Abstract

An intraruminal device is provided for the time release dispensation of a medicament to a ruminant. The device has no metal parts which may damage slaughterhouse equipment or injure a human upon consumption of ground meat from a ruminant from which the device was not properly removed. The device may use a nonmetallic bladder assembly having a to supply a compressive force to the medicament matrix to keep the matrix abutted against the first end of the device. The device may also use a piston to create a fluid-tight seal allowing part of the device to be pressurized, allowing the piston to provide a compressive force to the medicament matrix. The matrix surface at the first end is exposed to ruminal juices for dissolution of the matrix and dispensation of the medicament into the rumen.

Claims

1. An intraruminal device for the time release dispensation of a medicament, said device comprising a housing and a bladder assembly disposed within said housing, said bladder assembly comprising a leading fluid bladder and one or more fluid bladders, said leading fluid bladder and one or more fluid bladders being connected in series via bladder passageways.

2. The intraruminal device of claim 1, said bladder assembly further comprising a fluid delivery tube attached to said leading fluid bladder for the delivery of a pressurizing fluid therein, said fluid delivery tube having a means for retaining fluid pressure therein.

3. The intraruminal device of claim 2, said pressurizing fluid being a pressurizing gas, said bladder assembly being initially pressurized with said gas to a pressure of at least 1 psig.

4. The intraruminal device of claim 2, wherein said housing and bladder assembly are all made from a plastic material.

5. The intraruminal device of claim 1, wherein the bladder passageways are arranged near the edge of said fluid bladders and said fluid bladders are folded alternately one over the other in a zig-zag arrangement.

6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said device is nonmetallic.

7. A device as in claim 1, said bladder assembly being made from a flexible elastomeric material.

8. A device as in claim 1, wherein said bladder passageways are arranged to line up centrally along the axis of the series of fluid bladders in an accordion arrangement.

9. An intraruminal device for the time release dispensation of a medicament, said device comprising a housing and a bladder assembly disposed within said housing, said bladder assembly comprising a fluid bladder folded inwardly on itself at least one time.

10. A device according to claim 9, in which the fluid bladder is folded inwardly on itself at least twice.

11. A device according to claim 9, in which the fluid bladder is folded inwardly on itself at least three times.

12. A device according to claim 9, said bladder assembly further comprising a fluid delivery tube attached to said fluid bladder for the delivery of a pressurizing fluid therein, said fluid delivery tube having a check valve therein.

13. A device as in claim 12, said pressurizing fluid being a pressurizing gas, said bladder assembly being initially pressurized with said gas to a pressure of at least 1 psig.

14. A device as in claim 12, wherein said housing, and bladder assembly are all made from a plastic material.

15. A device as in claim 9, wherein said housing and bladder assembly are all made from a plastic material.

16. A device as in claim 9, wherein said device is nonmetallic.

17. A method of administering a time release medicament to a ruminant animal comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an intraruminal device comprising a housing having a first end, a bladder assembly disposed within said housing, and a medicament matrix having said medicament dispersed therein disposed within said housing at said first end thereof, wherein said bladder assembly comprises a plurality of fluid bladders connected in series via bladder passageways;

(b) pressurizing said bladder assembly to an initial pressure of at least 1 psig to force said medicament matrix against said first end; and

(c) delivering said device into the rumen of said ruminant animal after said pressurizing step.

18. A method of administering a time release medicament to a ruminant animal comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an intraruminal device comprising a housing having a first end, a bladder assembly disposed within said housing, and a medicament matrix having said medicament dispersed therein disposed within said housing at said first end thereof, wherein said bladder assembly comprises a fluid bladder folded inwardly on itself at least one time;

(b) pressurizing said bladder assembly to an initial pressure of at least 1 psig to force said medicament matrix against said first end; and

(c) delivering said device into the rumen of said ruminant animal after said pressurizing step.

19. An intraruminal device for the time release dispensation of a medicament, said device comprising a housing and a piston disposed within said housing, the housing having a fluid retention means, the fluid retention means also allowing introduction of fluid into the device, and the piston forming a fluid-tight seal with the inner surface of the housing.

20. A method of administering a time release medicament to a ruminant animal comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an intraruminal device comprising a housing having a first end and a second end, a medicament matrix having said medicament dispersed therein disposed within said housing at said first end thereof, and a piston slidably disposed within said housing between the medicament matrix and the second end, the piston providing a fluid-tight seal against the inner surface of the housing;

(b) pressurizing the region between the second end of the housing and the piston to an initial pressure of at least 1 psig to force said medicament matrix against said first end; and

(c) delivering said device into the rumen of said ruminant animal after said pressurizing step.