Apparatus and method for dispensing pet care substances

• US 6,349,232 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pet Novations Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pets 'N People Limited
• Inventors: Gordon, Tal
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T.
• Application Number:
  US09/462,634
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 604/67, 604/69, 604/70, 604/130, 604/140, 604/147, 604/154, 604/156, 604/891.1, 604/132, 604/65, 604/20, 604/153, 604/142, 604/114, 222/92, 222/93, 222/56, 222/639, 222/146.1
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/003 Devices for applying insecticides or medication A01K27/007 takes precedence; for veterinary purposes A61D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/006 with light-emitting or ornamental devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/007 with insecticide-dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/009 with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/825 using mechanical generation of electricity, e.g. hand cranked generators
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8256 being integrated in the case or housing of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 : Respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 : Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 : Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 : adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 : of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 : specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 : pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00

Abstract

Apparatus for timed dispensing of animal care substances to animals including an electronic dispensing controller, and a dispenser operated by the electronic dispensing controller for dispensing an animal care substance to an animal at times determined by the electronic dispensing controller.

Claims

1. A dispensing assembly comprising:

a dispensing controller (158); and

a dispenser operated by said dispensing controller (158) for dispensing a substance at times determined by said dispensing controller (158),

and wherein said dispenser comprises;

at least one discrete container cell (270, 282) having an enclosure material and containing said substance; and

release apparatus, responsive to said dispensing controller (158), for selectably releasing said substance from said at least one container cell (270, 282) in a desired timed pattern, determined by said dispensing controller (158);

characterized by said release apparatus comprising an energizing element connected to said at least one cell (270, 282), said energizing element producing an electrical current which flows to said enclosure material of said at least one cell (270, 282), wherein said electrical current itself changes a characteristic of a portion of the enclosure material so as to make it permeable for passage therethrough of said substance.

2. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrical current electrically heats the portion of the enclosure material of said at least one cell (270, 282).

3. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrical current melts the portion of the enclosure material of said at least one cell (270, 282).

4. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrical current disintegrates the portion of the enclosure material of said at least one cell (270, 282).

5. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein an electrical wire (272) is attached to said enclosure material of said at least one cell (270, 282).

6. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein an electrical wire (272) is disposed trough said at least one cell (270, 282).

7. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrical current passes through said enclosure material.

8. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrical current changes a material property of said enclosure material such that said enclosure material becomes permeable for passage therethrough of said substance.

9. The dispensing assembly according to claim 7 wherein said substance acts as an electrical resistance element.

10. The dispensing assembly according to claim 1 further characterized by said release apparatus comprising i columns of a plurality of such energizing elements (272) arranged to contact bottom surfaces of said cells (270) and j rows of a plurality of such energizing elements (272) arranged to contact top surfaces of said cells (270).

11. A dispensing assembly (280) comprising:

an dispensing controller; and

a dispenser operated by said dispensing controller for dispensing a substance (284) at times determined by said dispensing controller,

and wherein said dispenser comprises;

a plurality of discrete container cells (282), each containing said substance (284); and

release apparatus, responsive to said dispensing controller, for selectably releasing said substance (284) from individual ones of said container cells (282) in a desired timed patter, determined by said dispersing controller;

characterized in that each said discrete container cell (282) comprises a propelling device, which upon actuation of said release apparatus, propels said substance (284) out of said cell (282), wherein said propelling device comprises a membrane (283) initially in tension, and wherein the membrane (283) of a previous cell (282) acts as a switch to switch electricity to enable rupturing of a subsequent cell (282).

12. The dispensing assembly (280) according to claim 11 and further comprising a manifold (292) in fluid communication with said cells (282).

13. The dispensing assembly (280) according to claim 11 further comprising back circuitry which senses movement of the membrane (283) to regulate operation of the release apparatus.