Vaccinator device

• US 20040006309A1
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neogen Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ideal Instruments Incorporated (Neogen Corporation)
• Inventors: Rusnak, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 6,858,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 1/025 Vaccination appliances hypodermic syringes A61M

Abstract

An automatic repeater vaccinator apparatus (10) for dispensing a predetermined volume of a fluid into an animal, particularly a fluid which is a vaccine, and reloading after each volume of fluid is dispensed. The apparatus (10) comprises a handheld syringe (100) for dispensing the fluid, a flexible conduit (12) for transferring the fluid from a dispensing means to the syringe (100), and a reservoir (48) for providing the fluid to the dispensing means. The dispensing means is electrically activated by a magnetically closeable switch (preferably a reed switch (142)) in the syringe (100), which enables a predetermined volume of the fluid to be dispensed from the syringe (100) when the dispensing means is activated and reloading fluid from the reservoir (48) to replace the volume of fluid which has been dispensed from the syringe (100) when the dispensing means is deactivated. Preferably, the dispensing means comprises a pump (200 or 500) operated by a linear actuator such as a solenoid (300), which is electrically activated by the magnetically closeable switch in the syringe (100). The apparatus (10) is particularly useful for inoculating poultry, particularly inoculating the poultry by the wing web method using the needle and hub assembly (400) which comprises the filament (402) to prevent leakage between inoculations.

Claims

1. In a handheld syringe assembly which electrically connects to an electrically powered dispensing means which reloads a liquid to be dispensed through a conduit to the syringe assembly through a disposable needle and hub assembly or a hub, either mounted on a body of the syringe assembly, after injecting a dose of the liquid, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a permanent magnet mounted on the body; and

(b) a magnetically closeable reed switch, with spaced apart reeds, mounted on the body adjacent the magnet and with an electrical connector to the reeds for connection to the dispensing means, wherein the reed switch or magnet are moveable relative to each other on the body, wherein upon the movement a magnetic field from the magnet closes the reed switch in one position of the movement to turn on the dispensing means and at another position of the movement the reed switch is opened away from the magnetic field of the magnet to turn off the dispensing means.

2. The handheld syringe assembly of claim 1 wherein the dispensing means is a pump for a fluid.

3. The handheld syringe assembly of claim 2 wherein the pump is a piston pump operated by a linear actuator to provide linear motion for the piston pump.

4. The handheld syringe assembly of claim 3 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a piston removably connected to a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod and the piston by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically activated and deactivated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the piston for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a connector on the distal end of the tubular member, with two channels, a first of the channels containing a one-way valve for filling the tubular member and the connector when the piston is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second of the channels containing a second one-way valve which opens when the piston is advanced by the push rod when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the second of the channels to the syringe assembly.

5. The handheld syringe assembly of claim 3 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically actuated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the push rod for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a one-way valve between the distal and proximal ends of the tubular member for filling the tubular member when the push rod is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second one-way valve at the distal end of the tubular member which opens when the push rod is advanced by the armature when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the tubular member to the syringe.

7. The handheld syringe assembly of claim 5 wherein the dispensing means is a pump for a fluid.

8. The handheld syringe assembly of claim 7 wherein the pump is a piston pump operated by a linear actuator to provide linear motion for the piston pump.

9. The handheld syringe assembly of claim 8 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a piston removably connected to a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod and the piston by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically activated and deactivated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the piston for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a connector on the distal end of the tubular member, with two channels, a first of the channels containing a one-way valve for filling the tubular member and the connector when the piston is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second of the channels containing a second one-way valve which opens when the piston is advanced by the push rod when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the second of the channels to the syringe assembly.

10. The handheld syringe assembly of claim 8 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically actuated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the push rod for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a one-way valve between the distal and proximal ends of the tubular member for filling the tubular member when the push rod is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second one-way valve at the distal end of the tubular member which opens when the push rod is advanced by the armature when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the tubular member to the syringe.

6. A handheld syringe assembly for connection to an electrically powered dispensing means which reloads a liquid to be dispensed through a conduit by the syringe assembly through a disposable needle and hub assembly or hub, either mounted on the syringe assembly, after injecting a dose of the liquid which comprises:

(a) a body with a distal end and a proximal end and a passage along a longitudinal axis between the ends and with a stop on the distal end;

(b) first attachment means, for removably attaching the hub of the disposable needle and hub assembly or hub, mounted on the distal end of the body and second attachment means for connecting a conduit to the dispensing means;

(c) a shield with a distal end and a proximal end mounted adjacent the distal end of the body and around at least a portion of the needle and hub, so that movement of the shield along the longitudinal axis on the body is limited by the stop between an extended position prior to the dispensing of the liquid and a collapsed position during the dispensing of the liquid;

(d) a rod with a distal end and a proximal end mounted on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis so that the distal end of the rod engages a proximal end of the shield;

(e) a permanent magnet creating a magnetic field mounted on the proximal end of the rod on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis with a coil spring which biases the magnet and rod into the engagement with the shield prior to and during the dispensing;

(f) a magnetically actuatable reed switch mounted on the body so as to be moveable in proximity to the magnetic field which closes the read switch with spaced apart reeds with an electrical connector to the reeds for activating the electrically powered dispensing means; and

(g) a cover over the body for holding the reed switch, coil spring, permanent magnet and rod on the body, wherein the movement of the magnet by the shield and rod means brings the magnet in proximity of the reed switch so that the reeds are closed to activate the dispensing means and the reeds are opened upon movement of the magnet and rod away from the reed switch.

11. A pump for a fluid which comprises:

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a piston removably connected to a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod and the piston by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically activated and deactivated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the piston for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a connector on the distal end of the tubular member, with two channels, a first of the channels containing a one-way valve for filling the tubular member and the connector when the piston is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second of the channels containing a second one-way valve which opens when the piston is advanced by the push rod when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the second of the channels.

12. A pump for a fluid which comprises:

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically actuated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the push rod for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a one-way valve between the distal and proximal ends of the tubular member for filling the tubular member when the push rod is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second one-way valve at the distal end of the tubular member which opens when the push rod is advanced by the armature when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the tubular member to the syringe.

13. A system for a handheld syringe assembly for connection to an electrically powered dispensing means which reloads a liquid to be dispensed through a conduit by the syringe assembly through a disposable needle and hub assembly or hub, either mounted on the syringe assembly, after injecting a dose of the liquid which comprises:

(a) a body with a distal end and a proximal end and a passage along a longitudinal axis between the ends and with a stop on the distal end;

(b) a first attachment means, for removably attaching the hub of the disposable needle and hub assembly or hub, mounted on the distal end of the body and second attachment means for connecting a conduit to the dispensing means;

(c) a shield with a distal end and a proximal end mounted adjacent the distal end of the body and around at least a portion of the needle and hub, so that movement of the shield along the longitudinal axis on the body is limited by the stop between an extended position prior to the dispensing of the liquid and a collapsed position during the dispensing of the liquid;

(d) a rod with a distal end and a proximal end mounted on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis so that the distal end of the rod engages a proximal end of the shield;

(e) a permanent magnet creating a magnetic field mounted on the proximal end of the rod on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis with a coil spring which biases the magnet and rod into the engagement with the shield prior to and during the dispensing;

(f) a magnetically actuatable reed switch mounted on the body so as to be moveable in proximity to the magnetic field which closes the read switch with spaced apart reeds with an electrical connector to the reeds for activating the electrically powered dispensing means; and

(g) a cover over the body for holding the reed switch, coil spring, permanent magnet and rod on the body, wherein the movement of the magnet by the shield and rod means brings the magnet in proximity of the reed switch so that the reeds are closed to activate the dispensing means and the reeds are opened upon movement of the magnet and rod away from the reed switch.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the dispensing means is a pump for a fluid.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the pump is a piston pump operated by a linear actuator to provide linear motion for the piston pump.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a piston removably connected to a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod and the piston by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically activated and deactivated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the piston for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a connector on the distal end of the tubular member, with two channels, a first of the channels containing a one-way valve for filling the tubular member and the connector when the piston is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second of the channels containing a second one-way valve which opens when the piston is advanced by the push rod when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the second of the channels to the syringe assembly.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically actuated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the push rod for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a one-way valve between the distal and proximal ends of the tubular member for filling the tubular member when the push rod is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second one-way valve at the distal end of the tubular member which opens when the push rod is advanced by the armature when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the tubular member to the syringe.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the liquid is a vaccine.

19. A method for inoculating a plurality of animals with a liquid with a handheld syringe assembly which electrically connects to an electrically powered dispensing means which reloads the liquid to be dispensed through a conduit to the syringe assembly through a disposable needle and hub assembly or hub, either mounted on a body of the syringe assembly, after injecting a dose of the liquid into one of the plurality of animals, the improvement which comprises:

(a) providing the handheld syringe assembly with a permanent magnet mounted on the body, and a magnetically closeable reed switch, with spaced apart reeds, mounted on the body adjacent the magnet and with an electrical connector to the reeds for connection to the dispensing means, wherein the reed switch or magnet are moveable relative to each other on the body, and wherein upon the movement a magnetic field from the magnet closes the reed switch in one position of the movement to turn on the dispensing means and at another position of the movement the reed switch is opened away from the magnetic field of the magnet to turn off the dispensing means; and

(b) inoculating the plurality of animals with the handheld syringe assembly.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the dispensing means is a pump for a fluid.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the pump is a piston pump operated by a linear actuator to provide linear motion for the piston pump.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a piston removably connected to a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod and the piston by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically activated and deactivated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the piston for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a connector on the distal end of the tubular member, with two channels, a first of the channels containing a one-way valve for filling the tubular member and the connector when the piston is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second of the channels containing a second one-way valve which opens when the piston is advanced by the push rod when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the second of the channels to the syringe assembly.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically actuated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the push rod for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a one-way valve between the distal and proximal ends of the tubular member for filling the tubular member when the push rod is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second one-way valve at the distal end of the tubular member which opens when the push rod is advanced by the armature when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the tubular member to the syringe.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the liquid is a vaccine.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the animals are birds.

26. A method for inoculating a plurality of animals with a liquid which comprises:

(a) providing a handheld syringe assembly for connection to an electrically powered dispensing means which reloads a liquid to be dispensed through a conduit by the syringe assembly through a disposable needle and hub assembly or hub, either mounted on the syringe assembly, after injecting a dose of the liquid wherein the handheld syringe includes

(1) a body with a distal end and a proximal end and a passage along a longitudinal axis between the ends and with a stop on the distal end;

(2) a first attachment means, for removably attaching the hub of the disposable needle, mounted on the distal end of the body and second attachment means for connecting a conduit to the dispensing means;

(3) a shield with a distal end and a proximal end mounted adjacent the distal end of the body and around at least a portion of the needle and hub, so that movement of the shield along the longitudinal axis on the body is limited by the stop between an extended position prior to the dispensing of the liquid and a collapsed position during the dispensing of the liquid;

(4) a rod with a distal end and a proximal end mounted on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis so that the distal end of the rod engages a proximal end of the shield;

(5) a permanent magnet creating a magnetic field mounted on the proximal end of the rod on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis with a coil spring which biases the magnet and rod into the engagement with the shield prior to and during the dispensing;

(6) a magnetically actuatable reed switch mounted on the body so as to be moveable in proximity to the magnetic field which closes the read switch with spaced apart reeds with an electrical connector to the reeds for activating the electrically powered dispensing means; and

(7) a cover over the body for holding the reed switch, coil spring, permanent magnet and rod on the body, wherein the movement of the magnet by the shield and rod means brings the magnet in proximity of the reed switch so that the reeds are closed to activate the dispensing means and the reeds are opened upon movement of the magnet and rod away from the reed switch; and

(b) inoculating the plurality of animals with the handheld syringe assembly.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the dispensing means is a pump for a fluid.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the pump is a piston pump operated by a linear actuator to provide linear motion for the piston pump.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a piston removably connected to a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod and the piston by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically activated and deactivated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the piston for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a connector on the distal end of the tubular member, with two channels, a first of the channels containing a one-way valve for filling the tubular member and the connector when the piston is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second of the channels containing a second one-way valve which opens when the piston is advanced by the push rod when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the second of the channels to the syringe assembly.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the linear actuator includes

(a) a solenoid coil, with a linearly movable armature having a distal end and a proximal end, mounted on a support means, wherein the distal end of the armature is pulled into the solenoid coil when the solenoid is electrically activated and retracts automatically when the solenoid is electrically deactivated;

(b) a push rod connected to the distal end of the armature for the linear movement of the push rod by the armature when the solenoid coil is electrically actuated;

(c) a tubular member with a proximal end for confining the push rod for the linear movement and a distal end; and

(d) a one-way valve between the distal and proximal ends of the tubular member for filling the tubular member when the push rod is retracted when the solenoid is deactivated and a second one-way valve at the distal end of the tubular member which opens when the push rod is advanced by the armature when the solenoid is activated to dispense the fluid from the tubular member to the syringe.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the liquid is a vaccine.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the animals are birds.

33. A needle and hub assembly comprising:

(a) a needle with a distal end and a proximal end and a lumen extending therethrough wherein the distal end is beveled and the proximal end is secured to a hub comprising an elongated body with a chamber therein; and

(b) a filament including a rod with a distal end and a proximal end with a head secured to the proximal end wherein the rod of the filament is slidably positioned in the needle lumen and the head of the filament is positioned in the chamber of the elongated body such that in a first position the head of the filament forms a seal with proximal end of the lumen of the needle to separate the chamber of the hub from the lumen of the needle and the distal end of the rod extends into bevel at the distal end of the lumen of the needle and in a second position the head of the filament is away from the proximal end of the lumen of the needle which opens the lumen of the needle to the chamber of the hub and the distal end of the rod of the filament no longer extends into the bevel at the distal end of the lumen of the needle.

34. The needle and hub assembly of claim 33 wherein the lumen of the needle further includes a hole opposite the bevel at the distal end of the needle.