US 6,858,020 B2 · Vaccinator device

Abstract

An automatic repeater vaccinator apparatus (10) for dispensing a predetermined volume of a fluid into an animal, particularly a fluid which is a vaccine, and reloading after each volume of fluid is dispensed. The apparatus (10) comprises a handheld syringe (100) for dispensing the fluid, a flexible conduit (12) for transferring the fluid from a dispensing means to the syringe (100), and a reservoir (48) for providing the fluid to the dispensing means. The dispensing means is electrically activated by a magnetically closeable switch (preferably a reed switch (142)) in the syringe (100), which enables a predetermined volume of the fluid to be dispensed from the syringe (100) when the dispensing means is activated and reloading fluid from the reservoir (48) to replace the volume of fluid which has been dispensed from the syringe (100) when the dispensing means is deactivated. Preferably, the dispensing means comprises a pump (200 or 500) operated by a linear actuator such as a solenoid (300), which is electrically activated by the magnetically closeable switch in the syringe (100). The apparatus (10) is particularly useful for inoculating poultry, particularly inoculating the poultry by the wing web method using the needle and hub assembly (400) which comprises the filament (402) to prevent leakage between inoculations.

Claims16

Dependent claims

In a handheld syringe assembly which electrically connects to an electrically powered dispensing means which reloads a liquid to be dispensed through a conduit to the syringe assembly either through (I) a disposable needle and hub assembly or (ii) a hub, mounted on a body of the syringe assembly, after injecting a dose of the liquid, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a permanent magnet mounted on the body;
and
(b) a magnetically closeable reed switch, with spaced apart reeds, mounted on the body adjacent the magnet and with an electrical connector to the reeds for connection to the dispensing means, wherein the reed switch or magnet are moveable relative to each other on the body, wherein upon the movement a magnetic field from the magnet closes the reed switch in one position of the movement to turn on the dispensing means and at another position of the movement the reed switch is opened away from the magnetic field of the magnet to turn off the dispensing means.

A handheld syringe assembly for connection to an electrically powered dispensing means which reloads a liquid to be dispensed through a conduit by the syringe assembly either through (I) a disposable needle and hub assembly or (ii) a hub, mounted on the syringe assembly, after injecting a dose of the liquid which comprises:

(a) a body with a distal end and a proximal end and a passage along a longitudinal axis between the ends and with a stop on the distal end;
(b) first attachment means, for removably attaching the hub of the disposable needle and hub assembly or hub, mounted on the distal end of the body and second attachment means for connecting a conduit to the dispensing means;
(c) a shield with a distal end and a proximal end mounted adjacent the distal end of the body and around at least a portion of the needle and hub, so that movement of the shield along the longitudinal axis on the body is limited by the stop between an extended position prior to the dispensing of the liquid and a collapsed position during the dispensing of the liquid;
(d) a rod with a distal end and a proximal end mounted on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis so that the distal end of the rod engages a proximal end of the shield;
(e) a permanent magnet creating a magnetic field mounted on the proximal end of the rod on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis with a coil spring which biases the magnet and rod into the engagement with the shield prior to and during the dispensing;
(f) a magnetically actuatable reed switch mounted on the body so as to be moveable in proximity to the magnetic field which closes the read switch with spaced apart reeds with an electrical connector to the reeds for activating the electrically powered dispensing means;
and
(g) a cover over the body for holding the reed switch, coil spring, permanent magnet and rod on the body, wherein the movement of the magnet by the shield and rod means brings the magnet in proximity of the reed switch so that the reeds are closed to activate the dispensing means and the reeds are opened upon movement of the magnet and rod away from the reed switch.

5 more elements

A system for a handheld syringe assembly for connection to an electrically powered dispensing means which reloads a liquid to be dispensed through a conduit by the syringe assembly either through (I) a disposable needle and hub assembly or (ii) a hub, mounted on the syringe assembly, after injecting a dose of the liquid which comprises:

(a) a body with a distal end and a proximal end and a passage along a longitudinal axis between the ends and with a stop on the distal end;
(b) a first attachment means, for removably attaching the hub of the disposable needle and hub assembly or hub, mounted on the distal end of the body and second attachment means for connecting a conduit to the dispensing means;
(c) a shield with a distal end and a proximal end mounted adjacent the distal end of the body and around at least a portion of the needle and hub, so that movement of the shield along the longitudinal axis on the body is limited by the stop between an extended position prior to the dispensing of the liquid and a collapsed position during the dispensing of the liquid;
(d) a rod with a distal end and a proximal end mounted on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis so that the distal end of the rod engages a proximal end of the shield;
(e) a permanent magnet creating a magnetic field mounted on the proximal end of the rod on the body parallel to the longitudinal axis with a coil spring which biases the magnet and rod into the engagement with the shield prior to and during the dispensing;
(f) a magnetically actuatable reed switch mounted on the body so as to be moveable in proximity to the magnetic field which closes the read switch with spaced apart reeds with an electrical connector to the reeds for activating the electrically powered dispensing means;
and
(g) a cover over the body for holding the reed switch, coil spring, permanent magnet and rod on the body, wherein the movement of the magnet by the shield and rod means brings the magnet in proximity of the reed switch so that the reeds are closed to activate the dispensing means and the reeds are opened upon movement of the magnet and rod away from the reed switch.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vaccinator device

Life of this patent

Vaccinator device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16