Medical application system for animals

• US 6,524,286 B1
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gordon O. Helms, Jeff Thompson
• Original Assignee: Gordon O. Helms, Jeff Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Jeff, Helms, Gordon O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/276,106
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 604/57, 604/68, 604/19, 604/69, 604/70, 604/71, 604/289-290, 124/74, 124/49, 124/76, 124/67, 124/45, 428/35.7, 428/34.1, 428/36.92, 606/116, 606/117, 102/501, 102/502, 42/10, 42/11, 42/15--17, 42/29, 42/31, 42/33, 42/34, 42/35, 42/6, 42/490.1, D22/100, D22/101, D22/103, D22/115, D22/116
• US Class Current: 604/289
• 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 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 7/003 Spring guns in pistol or rifle form
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 7/006 Adaptations for feeding or loading missiles from magazines
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/00 Projectiles or missiles specially adapted for projection without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge, e.g. for blow guns, bows or crossbows, hand-held spring or air guns for delivering hypodermic charges F42B12/54; projectiles or missiles incorporating springs as the projecting means F41B7/02; Arrows or darts for dispensing materials, for producing chemical or physical reaction, or for signalling F42B12/362

Abstract

A medical application system and method for animals for delivering topical medication to the skin of an animal includes a propulsion device and a frangible capsule containing topical medication in liquid form. In a preferred embodiment the medication is an insecticide and is mixed with an oil based paint. In an alternate embodiment for medicating sheep the liquid is preferably a water based paint to prevent staining of the wool. It is also preferred that the propulsion device be a pump style pellet gun for allowing adjustment of the propulsion force provided to the capsule such that the capsule will impact the animal with sufficient force to break the capsule without harming the animal. In a most preferred embodiment, the capsule further contains a pellet for facilitating breakage of the capsule when the capsule impacts the animal.

Claims

1. A medication delivery system for medicating an animal comprising:

a propulsion device;

a frangible capsule containing a topically applicable animal medication in liquid form;

the capsule being positionable within the propulsion device such that the capsule is ejectable from the propulsion device such that the capsule breaks upon impacting the animal whereby the medication is topically delivered to the animal;

said frangible capsule being generally spheroid for preventing implantation of said frangible capsule into the animal upon impacting the animal;

wherein the propulsion device comprises a pellet gun;

wherein the pellet gun comprises

a handle portion having a trigger mechanism;

a barrel extending from the handle portion;

a spring mechanism positioned within a first end of the barrel proximate the handle portion;

a slide member having a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom, each protrusion being for engaging the trigger mechanism such that the spring mechanism is compressed;

a slide grip coupled to the barrel for moving the slide member into engagement with the trigger mechanism such that a selected one of the protrusions is engaged to the trigger mechanism whereby a selectable amount of compression of the spring mechanism is achieved;

a capsule chamber coupled to the barrel for holding the plurality of capsules and in communication with an interior of the barrel such that one of the capsules is delivered to the barrel such that the capsule abuts the slide member when the slide member is moved into engagement with the trigger mechanism;

the trigger mechanism being depressable whereby the trigger mechanism disengages the slide member whereby the capsule is propelled out of the barrel.

2. A medication delivery system for medicating an animal having skin, the medication delivery system comprising:

a pellet gun;

a 70 caliber frangible capsule containing an animal medication in liquid form;

the frangible capsule being positionable within the pellet gun such that the frangible capsule is ejectable from the pellet gun such that the frangible capsule breaks upon impacting the animal whereby the medication is topically delivered to the animal;

said frangible capsule being generally spheroid for preventing implantation of said frangible capsule into the animal upon impacting the animal;

a pellet positioned within the frangible capsule for facilitating breakage of the frangible capsule when the frangible capsule strikes a surface, the pellet further being for providing agitation of the medication within the frangible capsule to facilitate even distribution of the medication to the skin of the animal for better absorption of the medication by the animal;

wherein the medication is mixed with a liquid, the liquid including a coloring agent, the coloring agent being adapted for marking the animal when the capsule breaks upon impacting the animal for facilitating the prevention of delivering multiple doses of medication to a single animal;

wherein the coloring agent is chosen from the group of coloring agents consisting of an oil based paint and a water based paint, the oil based paint being for prevention of the premature removal of the medication from the skin of the animal by rain, the water based paint being for facilitating the removal of the coloring agent from the animal to prevent permanent staining of the animal;

wherein the pellet gun is a pump action pellet gun for allowing adjustment of a propulsion force provided to the frangible capsule such that the frangible capsule will impact the animal with sufficient force to break the frangible capsule upon impact without harming the animal whereby the animal can be safely medicated from varying distances;

wherein a color of the coloring agent is associated with a pre-determined dosage of medication for providing a visual indication of a dosage level and facilitating the prevention of overmedicating the animal;

wherein the medication is an insecticide for the prevention of pests chosen from the group of pests including worms, flies and lice;

wherein the pellet gun comprises

a handle portion having a trigger mechanism;

a barrel extending from the handle portion;

a spring mechanism positioned within a first end of the barrel proximate the handle portion;

a slide member having a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom, each protrusion being for engaging the trigger mechanism such that the spring mechanism is compressed;

a slide grip coupled to the barrel for moving the slide member into engagement with the trigger mechanism such that a selected one of the protrusions is engaged to the trigger mechanism whereby a selectable amount of compression of the spring mechanism is achieved;

a removable capsule chamber coupled to the barrel by a loop and a clip, the clip being positioned on a top of the pellet gun proximate the handle portion, the loop being positioned at an opposite end of the pellet gun, the capsule chamber being for holding the plurality of capsules within an interior of the capsule chamber, the interior of the capsule chamber being in communication with an interior of the barrel such that one of the capsules is delivered to the barrel such that the capsule abuts the slide member when the slide member is moved into engagement with the trigger mechanism;

the trigger mechanism being depressable whereby the trigger mechanism disengages the slide member whereby the capsule is propelled out of the barrel.

3. The medication delivery system of claim 2, wherein the capsule chamber further comprises a shoulder positioned on an upper surface of the capsule chamber for abutting the loop when the capsule chamber is coupled to the barrel of the pellet gun.