Apparatus for injecting a liquid into live animals

An apparatus for injecting a liquid into live animals, comprising a movable cradle plate (18) having a cradle (24) for accommodating at least a part of an animal, a plurality of sensors comprising at least three sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) for detecting a plurality of forces (ΔF1, ΔF2, ΔF3) acting upon the cradle plate, an injection mechanism (16) for injecting the liquid into the animal, and a control unit (38) for triggering the injection mechanism (16) in response to signals received from the plurality of sensors, characterized in that the plurality of sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) are arranged for measuring the plurality of forces (ΔF1, ΔF2, ΔF3) with which the cradle plate (18) is pressed against a base (12) in at least three non-aligned positions, and the control unit (38) is adapted to trigger the injection mechanism (16) when the plurality of forces measured by the plurality of sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) are distributed according to a predetermined pattern;

• wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged so that the plurality of sensors do not come into direct contact with the animal;
• wherein the cradle plate (18) is held in position on the plurality of sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3), and the plurality of sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) contact the bottom of the cradle plate (18);
• wherein one end of each of the plurality of sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) is secured on the base (12) whereas the opposite end of each of the plurality of sensors supports the cradle plate (18);
• and
• wherein the cradle plate (18) is configured to exert a force upon the plurality of sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) when the cradle plate (18) is pressed against the base (12), which force results in a strain applied to the plurality of sensors (20-1, 20-2, 20-3);
• whereby the cradle plate (18) moves towards the base (12).