Lockable tranquilizer bracelet

• US 6,800,070 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Mazidji, Vera M. Mansour
• Original Assignee: George Mazidji, Vera M. Mansour
• Inventors: Mansour, Vera M., Mazidji, George
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US10/289,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20040092874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890--89, 604/191, 604/192, 604/244, 604/249, 604/174, 604/179, 604/181, 604/188, 604/201, 604/203, 604/146, 604/147, 604/196, 604/239, 604/272, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/572.9, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 379/38
• US Class Current: 604/147
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0023 for therapeutic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14252 with needle insertion means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1581 Right-angle needle-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/048 Anaesthetics see also A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/049 Toxic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/083 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2053 Media being expelled from injector by pressurised fluid or vacuum for infusion A61M5/145, A61M5/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3234 Fully automatic needle retraction, i.e. in which triggering of the needle does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45696 Requiring manual force thereon to interlock or disengage

Abstract

A tranquilizer bracelet which can be locked onto A wearer'"'"'s wrist. The bracelet contains A power source, an electronic control module, and means for injecting A tranquilizing agent into the wearer. Instructions can be sent to the control module remotely, such as by using radio transmissions. The bracelet is provided with A lock to secure it to the wrist. It can only be opened using A mechanical key or electronic code. Thus, once the bracelet is installed, it cannot be removed by the wearer. In the event that tranquilization is necessary, A remote signal is sent to the control module. The signal activates A mechanism within the bracelet which causes the injection of the tranquilizing agent. Anti-tampering mechanisms are also provided, which will produce an alert signal if the bracelet is somehow removed by the wearer.

Claims

1. A tranquilizer bracelet for administering a dose of tranquilizer to a wearer through said wearer'"'"'s wrist, comprising:

a. a tranquilizer assembly, having an inward facing side and an outward facing side, for use on said wrist, and containing a tranquilizing agent therein and means for injecting said tranquilizing agent into said wearer, including

i. a hollow injector body containing said tranquilizing agent, having an open upper end and a closed lower end proximate said inward facing side;

ii. a piercable seal located in said closed lower end of said injector body;

iii. a piston, having an upper side and a lower side, slidably positioned within said hollow injector wherein said lower side is above said tranquilizing agent;

iv. a hollow needle, having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said upper portion is connected to said lower side of said piston, wherein said upper portion is pierced by an inlet hole, and wherein said lower portion opens into an injection hole;

v. a pressurized gas cartridge, having an upper end and a lower end, wherein said gas cartridge is located beside said hollow injector body with said lower end of said gas cartridge being proximate said inward facing side;

vi. a solenoid valve, having a first side and a second side, fluidly connected to said gas cartridge on said first side, and fluidly connected to said injector body above said piston on said second side;

b. a band, attached to said tranquilizer assembly and configured to encircle said wrist of said wearer so as to attach said tranquilizer assembly to said wrist with said inward facing side bearing against said wrist;

c. a lock assembly, located within said band, wherein said lock assembly can be unlocked in order to open said band and allow said tranquilizer bracelet to be placed on said wrist, and wherein said lock assembly can be locked in order to prevent said wearer from removing said tranquilizer bracelet; and

d. control means for actuating said solenoid valve, so that said solenoid valve connects said gas cartridge to said injector body in order to create a downward mechanical force on said piston.

2. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said lock assembly comprises a mechanical lock which can be opened by a separate key.

3. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said lock assembly comprises an electronically actuated lock which can be opened by the use of a magnetic encoder.

4. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said lock assembly comprises an electronically actuated lock which can be opened by the transmission of a numeric code.

5. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said band and said lock assembly include a conductor passing completely around said wrist, so that said control means can sense when said band and said lock assembly encircling said user'"'"'s wrist has been opened.

6. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor capable of detecting the presence of said wearer'"'"'s body heat, so that said control means can sense when said tranquilizer bracelet has been removed from said wearer.

7. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said band further comprises adjustment means allowing said band to be fitted tightly to said wrist, but wherein said adjustment means cannot be adjusted when said lock assembly is locked.

8. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises an electronic controller responsive to signals received from an external source.

9. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises an electronic controller capable of transmitting signals to an external source.

10. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, further comprising a retractor spring, positioned to move said piston upward once said downward mechanical force on said piston is removed.

11. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said gas cartridge is easily removed from said tranquilizer bracelet and replaced by another of said gas cartridges, once said original gas cartridge is depleted.

12. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 11, wherein said hollow injector body, said tranquilizing agent, said piercable seal, said piston, and said hollow needle, are all contained within a modular injector assembly which can be easily removed from said tranquilizer bracelet and replaced by another of said modular injector assemblies, once said original modular injector assembly is depleted.

13. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 12, wherein said tranquilizer assembly contains an injector receiver for receiving and securing said modular injector assembly and a gas cartridge receiver for receiving and securing said gas cartridge.

14. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 13, wherein said tranquilizer assembly and said gas cartridge are accessible through a lockable door in said inward facing side of said tranquilizer assembly.

15. A tranquilizer bracelet as recited in claim 1, wherein said hollow injector body, said tranquilizing agent, said piercable seal, said piston, and said hollow needle, are all contained within a modular injector assembly which can be easily removed from said tranquilizer bracelet and replaced by another of said modular injector assemblies, once said original modular injector assembly is depleted.