Release mechanism to interact with biota, in particular fauna that may outgrow available habitat

• US 20060054097A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Original Assignee: US Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Inventors: Evans, James A., Miranda, Leandro E., Kirk, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/219
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/00 Culture of aquatic animals receptacles for live fish, e.g. aquaria, A01K63/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 61/80 Feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 25/002 Bait holders, i.e. stationary devices for holding poisonous bait at the disposal of the animal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/81 Aquaculture, e.g. of fish

Abstract

A device for interacting with biota either on a pre-specified schedule or via actuation by remote signal. Preferably, the biota are fauna and more particularly fish. In selected embodiments, it comprises frangible packaging enclosing means for timing interaction, at least part of the means for programming the device and means for opening the packaging. In select embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus is inserted in fish. Specific examples of the present invention are implanted in triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) to facilitate control of aquatic weeds in bodies of water. When the carp have been in the water for a pre-specified period or, alternatively, long enough to effectively control the target aquatic plants, toxins in the device are dispensed to kill them. Otherwise, the carp may destroy all vegetation and harm the aquatic environment for other aquatic life.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interacting with living biota at a pre-specified time, comprising:

frangible packaging;

means for timing delivery of a payload;

wherein said means for timing and said payload are enclosed within said packaging;

means for programming said pre-specified period into said means for timing, said

means for programming in operable communication with said means for timing,

wherein said at least part of said means for programming is enclosed within said packaging;

means for opening said packaging in operable communication with at least said

means for timing,

wherein said means for opening is enclosed within said packaging.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said biota are fauna.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said fauna are fish.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said fish are triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said payload is at least one toxin.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said packaging is at least one two-part capsule sealed prior to use to yield a leak proof package,

wherein said capsule is suitable for retention within said living biota.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one battery in operable communication with at least said means for timing, said means for programming, and said means for opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for timing comprises at least one microprocessor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which said microprocessor is a programmable microprocessor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said microprocessor comprises at least one counting circuit and at least one programming circuit in operable communication with at least said counting circuit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said means for programming at least comprises:

at least one window in said packaging, said window transmissive to at least one range of frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum; and

at least one port to said programming circuit,

wherein said means for programming enables at least setting said pre-specified time in said apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said means for opening comprises:

at least one explosive;

at least one igniter, in operable communication with said explosive, for energizing said explosive; and

at least one switch in operable communication with at least said igniter, said battery and said means for timing.

13. A system for controlling growth of aquatic plants in a body of water, comprising:

at least one triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella); and

means for pre-specifying the life span of said carp, comprising;

frangible packaging;

means for timing delivery of a payload;

wherein said means for timing is enclosed within said packaging; and

means for programming said pre-specified period into said means for timing,

wherein said payload is enclosed within said packaging;

means for opening said packaging in operable communication with said means for timing,

wherein said means for opening is enclosed within said packaging, and

wherein said means for controlling the lifespan are inserted in said carp prior to introduction of said carp into said body of water.

14. The system of claim 13 in which said payload is at least one toxin.

15. The system of claim 13 in which said packaging is at least one two-part capsule sealed prior to use to yield a leak proof package,

wherein said capsule is suitable for retention by living biota.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising a battery in operable communication with at least said means for timing, said means for programming, and said means for opening.

17. The system of claim 13 in which said means for timing comprises at least one microprocessor.

18. The system of claim 17 in which said microprocessor is a programmable microprocessor.

19. The system of claim 18 in which said microprocessor comprises at least one counting circuit and at least one programming circuit in operable communication with said counting circuit.

20. The system of claim 19 in which said means for programming at least comprises:

at least one window in said packaging, said window transmissive to at least one range of frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum; and

at least one port to said programming circuit,

wherein said means for programming enables at least setting said pre-specified time in said system.

21. The system of claim 16 in which said means for opening comprises at least:

at least one explosive;

at least one igniter in operable communication with said explosive, for energizing said explosive; and

at least one switch in operable communication with said igniter, said battery and said means for timing.

22. A method for interacting with living biota at a pre-specified time, comprising:

providing a device for delivering a payload, said device comprising;

frangible packaging;

means for timing delivery of said payload;

wherein said means for timing is enclosed within said packaging; and

means for programming said pre-specified period into said means for timing,

wherein said payload is enclosed within said packaging;

means for opening said packaging in operable communication with said means for timing,

wherein said means for opening is enclosed within said packaging;

programming said device with at least said pre-specified time; and

inserting said device into said biota.

23. A method for controlling growth of aquatic plants in a body of water, comprising:

providing at least one triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella);

providing means for pre-specifying the life span of said carp, comprising;

frangible packaging;

means for timing delivery of a toxin;

wherein said means for timing and said toxin are enclosed within said packaging; and

means for programming said pre-specified period into said means for timing,

wherein at least part of said means for programming is enclosed within said packaging;

means for rupturing said packaging in operable communication with at least said means for timing,

wherein said means for rupturing is enclosed within said packaging;

inserting said means for controlling lifespan into said carp; and

introducing said carp into said body of water.

24. An apparatus for interacting with living biota, comprising:

frangible packaging;

means for timing delivery of a payload;

wherein said at least part of said means for timing and all of said payload are enclosed within said packaging;

means for programming said means for timing, said means for programming in operable communication with said means for timing,

wherein said at least part of said means for programming is enclosed within said packaging;

means for opening said packaging in operable communication with at least said means for timing,

wherein said means for opening is enclosed within said packaging;

at least one antenna in operable communication with at least said means for timing;

wherein said antenna is suitable for receiving at least one pre-specified signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 in which said biota are fauna.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 in which said fauna are fish.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 in which said fish are triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

28. The apparatus of claim 24 in which said payload is at least one toxin.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 in which said packaging is at least one two-part capsule sealed prior to use to yield a leak proof package,

wherein said capsule is suitable for retention within said living biota.

30. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising at least one battery in operable communication with at least said means for timing and said means for opening.

31. The apparatus of claim 24 in which said means for timing comprises:

at least one microprocessor;

at least one AC-DC converter in operable communication with at least said antenna and said microprocessor; and

at least one charge bank in operable communication with at least said microprocessor and said AC-DC converter.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 in which said microprocessor is a programmable microprocessor.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 in which said microprocessor comprises:

at least one receiver; and

at least one correlator circuit in operable communication with at least said receiver.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 in which said means for programming at least comprises:

at least one window in said packaging, said window transmissive to at least one range of frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum; and

at least one port to said correlator circuit,

wherein said means for programming enables at least said means for timing to at least recognize said pre-specified signal.

35. The apparatus of claim 30 in which said means for opening comprises:

at least one explosive;

at least one igniter, in operable communication with said explosive, for energizing said explosive; and

at least one switch in operable communication with said igniter, said battery and said means for timing.

36. The apparatus of claim 24 in which said means for opening comprises:

at least one explosive;

at least one igniter, in operable communication with said explosive, for energizing said explosive; and

at least one switch in operable communication with said igniter and at least said means for timing.

37. A system for controlling growth of aquatic plants in a body of water, comprising:

at least one triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella); and

means for terminating said carp, comprising;

frangible packaging;

means for timing delivery of a payload;

wherein said payload is enclosed within said packaging;

means for programming said means for timing,

wherein at least part of said means for timing is enclosed within said packaging;

means for opening said packaging, said means for opening in operable communication with at least said means for timing,

wherein said means for opening is enclosed within said packaging, and

wherein said system is inserted into said carp prior to introduction of said carp into said body of water, and

means for receiving at least one pre-specified signal,

wherein said signal at least activates said means for timing.

38. The system of claim 37 in which said payload is at least one toxin.

39. The system of claim 37 in which said packaging is at least one two-part capsule sealed prior to use to yield a leak proof package,

wherein said capsule is suitable for retention by living biota.

40. The system of claim 37 further comprising a battery in operable communication with at least said means for timing and said means for opening.

41. The system of claim 37 in which said means for timing comprises at least one microprocessor.

42. The system of claim 41 in which said microprocessor is a programmable microprocessor.

43. The system of claim 42 in which said microprocessor comprises at least one receiver and at least one correlator circuit in operable communication with said receiver.

44. The system of claim 42 in which said means for programming at least comprises:

at least one window in said packaging, said window transmissive to at least one range of frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum; and

at least one port to said programming circuit,

wherein said means for programming enables at least said timing means to at least recognize at least one pre-specified signal.

45. The system of claim 40 in which said means for opening comprises at least:

at least one explosive;

at least one igniter in operable communication with said explosive, for energizing said explosive; and

at least one switch in operable communication with said igniter, said battery and said means for timing.

46. The system of claim 37 in which said means for receiving at least comprises:

at least one antenna;

at least one AC-DC converter in operable communication with at least said antenna and said microprocessor; and

at least one charge bank in operable communication with at least said microprocessor and said AC-DC converter.

47. The system of claim 46 in which said means for opening comprises:

at least one explosive;

at least one igniter, in operable communication with said explosive, for energizing said explosive; and

at least one switch in operable communication with said igniter and at least said means for timing.

48. A method for interacting with living biota, comprising:

providing a device for delivering a payload, said device comprising;

frangible packaging;

means for timing delivery of said payload;

wherein said means for timing is enclosed within said packaging; and

means for programming said means for timing,

wherein said payload is enclosed within said packaging;

means for opening said packaging in operable communication with said means for timing,

wherein said means for opening is enclosed within said packaging;

programming said device to recognize at least one pre-specified signal;

inserting said device into said biota; and

transmitting at least one said pre-specified signal to said device.

49. A method for controlling growth of aquatic plants in a body of water, comprising:

providing at least one triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella);

providing means for specifying the life span of said carp, comprising;

frangible packaging;

means for timing delivery of a toxin;

wherein said means for timing and said toxin are enclosed within said packaging; and

means for programming said means for timing,

wherein at least part of said means for programming is enclosed within said packaging;

means for rupturing said packaging in operable communication with at least said means for timing,

wherein said means for rupturing is enclosed within said packaging;

programming said means for timing to recognize at least one pre-specified signal;

inserting said means for controlling lifespan into said carp;

introducing said carp into said body of water; and

transmitting at least one said pre-specified signal.