Automatic veterinary medicament delivery system

• US 6,796,964 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eidson Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eidson Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Mathisrud, Jon, Eidson, Wilbur L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US09/924,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 604/21, 604/30, 604/35, 604/45, 604/67, 604/72, 604/82, 604/118, 604/132, 604/135, 604/136, 604/137, 604/151, 604/155, 604/157, 604/183, 604/186, 604/191, 604/207, 604/224, 604/246, 604/290, 604/506, 604/131, 604/220, 604/187, 604/256
• US Class Current: 604/135
• 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

Abstract

An electrically powered, plunger-free, valve-free adjustable veterinary delivery system for the administration of veterinary pharmaceuticals or vaccines to a variety of poultry or livestock. The delivery system includes a rechargeable battery positioned to power an electric motor which is used to actuate a peristaltic pump that propels pre-determined quantity of fluid medicament through the system for delivery. The system teaches adjustable dosage control of the fluid medicament by means of an electronic control unit which uses photo-optic sensor to calibrate dosage. The veterinary delivery system includes several hand-held injection devices from which to choose, depending on desired use, each having a push-button trigger, at least one needle, a headlight, signal lights, optional dye marking means, and an optional mixing chamber for mixing medicaments at the time of delivery of the medicament, the hand-held injection devices being easily connected and disconnected by means of quick connect fluid couplers for being in fluid communication with the system and a nine-pin amp electrical connector for being in electronic communication with the control unit.

Claims

1. An automatic veterinary medicament delivery system, for delivery or at leant one fluid medicament to an individual fowl, ovine, porcine or other animal, comprising:

a) a generally cylindrical, valve-free, hand-held injection device for delivery of the medicament;

b) tubing interconnecting said hand-held injection device an fluid communication with at least one liquid medicament;

c) a pump, in fluid communication with both said hand-held injection device and liquid medicament, said pump for forcing a medicament through said tubing to said hand-held injection device for delivery;

d) means for powering said pump; and

e) a headlamp, mounted on said hand-held device, for illuminating the injection site.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one hollow needle for injecting a liquid medicament.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a safety interlock, mounted on a distal surface of said hand-held injection device, extending longitudinally therefrom to a point even with said needle tip, said safety interlock urged to a second position, in response to said hand-held injection device being positioned adjacent an animal to be injected, where the needle is inserted completely in said animal body, where an extension of said safety interlock within the housing of said hand-held injection device closes a circuit actuating an injection.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for precisely controlling the amount of a medicament administered.

5. The system of claim 4, said means for precisely controlling the amount of medicament administered further comprise a control unit where the dosage of the medicament to be administered is controlled by setting the number of pulses that are emitted by an electronic photo optic sensor in response to an amount of medicament passing therethrough.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising signal lights as means for readily indicating when medicament administration is taking place.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising signal lights as means for indicating when the medicament fluid level is low.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an emergency stop button mounted on said hand-held injection device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a hand-held injection device further includes:

a) a trigger, in electrical communication with said pump, mounted on a dorsal surface of said device;

b) an emergency stop button mounted on a dorsal surface of said device as means for deterring accidental self-injection of the user; and

c)

an injection in progress signal light mounted on said housing of said device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a hand-held injection device further includes:

a) a trigger, in electrical communication with said pump, mounted on a dorsal surface of said device;

b) an emergency stop button mounted on a dorsal surface of said device as means for accidental self-injection of the user;

c)

an injection in progress signal light mounted on said housing of said device; and

d optional dye marking means for conspicuously marking an animal injected, simultaneously with the injection.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a hand-held injection device further includes:

a) a trigger, in electrical communication with said pump, mounted on a pistol grip handle mounted on said device;

b) a safety interlock mounted on the proximal surface of said device as means for deterring accidental self-injection of the user;

c) an injection in progress light mounted on said housing of said device; and

c optional dye marking means for conspicuously marking an animal injected, simultaneously with the injection.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said hand-held injection device selected is installed for fluid connection with the system by means of a quick connect fluid coupler connecting to said pump.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said hand-held injection device selected is installed for electrical connection by means of an electrical connector to said control unit for powering said selected hand-held injection device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said control unit permits selecting appropriate doses to be delivered by said selected hand-held injection device.

15. The system of claim 14, said control unit further comprises:

a) a photo-optic sensor to control the volume of medicament fluid pumped by said pump;

b) a circular encoder disc, having slots formed in said encoder disc placed at a calibrated distance from one another around the perimeter of said encoder disc;

c) a drive shaft, driven by said pump, for driving said encoder disc wherein said slots pass between an emitter and a receiver of said photo-optic sensor permitting calibration of the amount of said medicament dispersed.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said headlamp further comprises a light emitting diode.

17. An automatic veterinary medicament delivery system, for delivery of at least one fluid medicament to an individual fowl, ovine, porcine or other animal within a group, comprising:

a) a generally cylindrical, valve-free, hand-held injection device;

b) tubing interconnecting said hand-held injection device in fluid communication with at least one liquid medicament;

c) a pump, in fluid communication with both said hand-held injection device and liquid medicament, said pump for forcing a medicament through said tubing to said hand-held injection device for delivery;

d) means for powering said pump;

e) a headlamp, mounted on said hand-held device, for illuminating the injection site;

f) an emergency atop button mounted on said hand-held injection device as means for deterring accidental self-injection by a user of said system; and

g) a control unit where the dosage of the medicament to be administered is controlled by setting the number of pulses that are emitted by an electronic photo optic sensor in response to an amount of medicament passing therethrough as means for precisely controlling the amount of a medicament administered.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising signal lights as means for readily indicating when in injection is taking place.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising signal lights as means for indicating when the medicament fluid level is low.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising at least one hollow needle for injecting a liquid medicament.

21. An automatic veterinary medicament delivery system, for delivery of at least one fluid medicament to an individual fowl, ovine, porcine or other animal within a group, comprising:

a) A generally cylindrical, valve-free, hand-held injection device having at least one hollow needle for injecting a liquid,

b) tubing interconnecting said hand-held injection device in fluid communication with at least one liquid medicament;

c) a pump, in fluid communication with both said hand-held injection device and liquid medicament, said pump for forcing a medicament through said tubing to said hand-held injection device for delivery;

d) means for powering said pump;

e) a headlamp, mounted on said hand-held device, for illuminating the injection site;

f) a safety interlock, mounted on said proximal surface of said hand-held injection device, extending longitudinally therefrom to a point even with said needle tip, said safety interlock urged to a second position, in response to said hand-held injection device being positioned adjacent an animal to be injected, where the noodle is inserted completely in said animal body, where an extension of said safety interlock within the housing of said hand-held injection device closes a circuit actuating an injection as means for deterring accidental self-injection by a user of maid system; and

g a control unit where the dosage of the medicament to be administered is controlled by setting the number of pulses that are emitted by an electronic photo optic sensor in response to an amount of medicament passing therethrough as means for precisely controlling the amount of a medicament administered.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said control unit further comprises:

a) a photo-optic sensor to control the volume of medicament fluid pumped by said pump;

b) a circular encoder disc, having slots formed in said encoder disc placed at a calibrated distance from one another around the perimeter of said encoder disc;

c) a drive shaft, driven by said pump, for driving said encoder disc wherein said slots pass between an emitter and a receiver of said photo-optic sensor permitting calibration of the amount of said medicament dispersed.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising signal light as means for readily indicating when in injection is taking place.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising signal lights as means for indicating when the medicament fluid level is low.

25. An automatic veterinary medicament delivery system, for delivery of fluid medicaments to an individual animal or fowl, comprising:

a hand-held injection device for delivery of the medicament;

a source of medicament;

tubing interconnecting said injection device and said source of medicament;

a pump in fluid communication with both said injection device and said source of

medicament, for forcing the medicament through said tubing from said medicament source to said injection device for delivery;

electronic dosage control means for selecting a dosage of medicament to be delivered by the injection device from a range of dosages;

means for powering said pump;

a headlamp mounted on a housing of said hand-held injection device for illuminating the area to be injected;

a container for said pump, tubing, medicament source and injection device, protecting said system from dirt and dust and simplifying transportation;

wherein the electronic dosage control means comprises;

a circular-shaped encoder disk having slots formed in the periphery thereof; and

a light source mounted adjacent said encoder disk such that light emitted from said light source shines through said slots, said emitted light sensed by a photoelectric sensor in response to movement of the pomp providing means for measuring amount of dose delivered by the pump.

26. An automatic veterinary medicament delivery system, for delivery of at least one fluid medicament to an individual fowl, ovine, or other animal within a group, comprising:

a) a hand-held injection device for delivery of the medicament through a hollow needle is housed within a head portion of said device;

b) said injection device further including a housing with a head portion and a handle portion, said portions being pivotally connected

c a source of medicament;

d means for measuring the amount of medicament delivered;

e) tubing interconnecting said device and said source of medicament;

f) a self-priming peristaltic pump, external to said device, in fluid communication with both said device and said source of medicament, for forcing the medicament through said tubing from said medicament source to said device for delivery; and

g) means for powering said pump.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a spring-loaded retractable safety interlock adjacent said needle wherein spring biasing means urges said safety interlock into a first position extending longitudinally at least as far as the tip of said needle and means are further provided for overcoming said spring biasing means, urging said safety interlock into a second position wherein said needle is extended longitudinally beyond said safety interlock and closing an electrical switch which actuates said pump causing release of fluid through said needle.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein a trigger is mounted on the housing said trigger in electrical communication with the pump and in conjunction with the safety interlock switch, wherein when said trigger is depressed, said safety interlock is biased to a second position actuating said switch and completes the electrical circuit and actuates said pump to power the injection device to deliver medicament to the animal or fowl to be injected, said trigger deterring accidental self-injection.

29. The injection device of claim 26, wherein said housing, having said head portion and said handle portion with said pivot, may be adapted for a linear alignment of said head portion and said handle portion to facilitate different positions for delivery of medicament such that re-positioning said housing changes the angle of injection.

30. A method of delivering a fluid medicament to an individual fowl, ovine, porcine, or other animal within a group, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a generally cylindrical, valve-free, hand-held injection device having at least one hollow needle far injecting a liquid;

b) interconnecting said injection device with tubing for fluid communication with a liquid medicament;

c) forcing the medicament by a pump through tubing to said injection device for delivery;

d) powering said pump; and

e) mounting a head lamp on said injection device for illuminating the area of injection.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said method of deterring accidental self-injection of user further includes the steps of:

a) providing a two-step injection process that must be completed before injection takes place, further comprising;

i) injecting said hollow needle fully into subject animal; and

ii) depressing a trigger on said hand-held injection device handle.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said method of deterring accidental self-injection of user further includes the step of providing an emergency stop button on said hand-held injection device.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said method of deterring accidental self-injection of user further includes the step of providing a safety interlock, mounted on a proximal surface of said hand-held injection device, said safety interlock extending longitudinally therefrom to a point even with said needle tip, said safety interlock urged to a second position, in response to said hand-held injection device being positioned adjacent an animal to be injected, where the needle is inserted completely in said animal body, where an extension of said safety interlock within the housing of said hand-held injection device closes a circuit actuating an injection.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising the atop of providing a control unit for precisely controlling the amount of a medicament administered, further comprising the step of;

a) providing a photo-optic sensor to control the volume of medicament fluid pumped by said pump;

b) providing a circular encoder disc, having slots formed in said encoder disc at a calibrated distance from one another around the perimeter of said encoder disc; and

c) providing a drive shaft, driven by said pump, for driving said encoder disc wherein said slots pass between an emitter and a receiver of said photo-optic sensor permitting calibration of the amount of said medicament dispersed.

35. An automatic veterinary medicament delivery system, for delivery of fluid medicaments to an individual animal or fowl, comprising;

a hand-held injection device for delivery of the medicament;

a source of medicament;

tubing interconnecting said injection device and said source of medicament;

a self printing peristaltic pump, external to said injection device, in fluid communication with both said injection device and said source of medicament, for forcing the medicament through said tubing from said medicament source to said injection device for delivery;

means for powering said pump;

a container for said pump, tubing, medicament source and injection device, protecting said system from dirt and dust and simplifying transportation, and

a headlamp mounted on the housing of said hand-held injection device, for illumination of the area to be injected.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the means for selecting a dosage comprises an electronic dosage control means adjacent to the pump.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the dosage control means further comprises a photoelectric sensor that enumerates the amount of medicament being delivered.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the control means is an electronic dosage control system comprising:

a circular-shaped encoder disk having slots formed in the periphery thereof; and

a light source mounted adjacent said encoder disk such that light emitted from said light source shines through said slots, said emitted light sensed by said sensor in response to movement of the pump providing means for measuring amount of dose delivered by the pump.

39. The electronic dosage control panel of claim 36, further comprising a battery charge indicator light.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the electronic dosage control means further comprises an automatic digital counter to record total injections.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the electronic dosage control means further comprise a pump reverse switch.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the electronic dosage control means further comprises medicament low level indicator light.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the electronic dosage control means further comprises dye low level indicator light.

44. The system of claim 35, further comprising a green LED indicator light indicating injection in progress.

45. The system of claim 35, further comprising signal lights mounted on said injection device for indicating low medicament fluid level.

46. The system of claim 35, wherein said injection device further comprises a housing with a head portion, handle portion and a dye nozzle for delivery of said medicament to an external surface of the animal or fowl to be medicated, said dye nozzle mounted on the head portion of said injection device, a dye reservoir, in fluid communication with said dye nozzle, and an electrically powered dye pump for drawing dye from said dye reservoir into tubing for fluid communication with said dye nozzle for concurrent delivery of dye to mark an individual injected.

47. The system of claim 35, wherein said container is a backpack.

48. The system of claim 35, wherein at least one hollow needle is housed with the head portion and in fluid communication with the medicament source.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein a safety interlock solid member is adjacent said at least one needle and when urged to a second position complete an electrical circuit to actuate the pump.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein a trigger is mounted on the housing, said trigger in electrical communication with the pump and in conjunction with said safety interlock, wherein when said trigger is depressed said safety interlock is biased to a second position actuating said switch and completes the electrical circuit and actuates said pump to power the injection device to deliver medicament to the animal or fowl to be injected.

51. The system of claim 35, further comprising electrical wiring that is connected to both the medicament source and a signal light mounted on the injection device to signal low fluid level in the medicament source.

52. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for selecting a dosage of medicament to be delivered by the injection device from a range of dosages.

53. The system of claim 35, wherein said headlamp further comprising illumination means positioned adjacent said needle, for providing illumination in low-light areas and warning the user to avoid self-injection.

54. The system of claim 35, wherein said self-priming peristaltic primp is pre-set to reverse at the end of each injection to eliminate drip and to ensure accuracy of dose.

55. The system of claim 35, wherein said self-priming peristaltic pump is pre-set to reverse to retrieve unused medicament.