(19)
(11)EP 3 240 502 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
30.03.2022 Bulletin 2022/13

(21)Application number: 16709561.1

(22)Date of filing:  04.02.2016
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61D 7/00(2006.01)
A61M 5/315(2006.01)
A61M 5/20(2006.01)
(52)Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
A61D 1/025; A61D 7/00
(86)International application number:
PCT/IB2016/000179
(87)International publication number:
WO 2016/125016 (11.08.2016 Gazette  2016/32)

(54)

PORTABLE AUTOMATIC VETERINARY INJECTOR DEVICE

TRAGBARE AUTOMATISCHE VETERINÄRMEDIZINISCHE INJEKTORVORRICHTUNG

DISPOSITIF INJECTEUR AUTOMATIQUE PORTATIF À USAGE VÉTÉRINAIRE


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 04.02.2015 US 201562111759 P

(43)Date of publication of application:
08.11.2017 Bulletin 2017/45

(73)Proprietor: Desvac
49124 Saint Barthelemy d'Anjou (FR)

(72)Inventor:
  • TRUONG, Hieu, Trong
    Ho Chi Minh City (VN)

(74)Representative: Brevalex 
95, rue d'Amsterdam
75378 Paris Cedex 8
75378 Paris Cedex 8 (FR)


(56)References cited: : 
WO-A1-03/082381
GB-A- 668 088
US-A- 4 204 539
WO-A2-2009/120692
US-A- 676 173
US-A1- 2002 188 470
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION


    FIELD OF THE INVENTION



    [0001] The present invention relates to the field of injectors for dispensing veterinary products into an animal, more particularly, the present invention relates to devices for intramuscular vaccine injections for animals such as layer chickens to the breast muscle.

    DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART



    [0002] A state-of-the-art hand-held veterinary injector is disclosed in US 2002/188470 A1.

    [0003] Vaccination programs cost a lot of labor time in today's poultry industry. In particular, the time used for the vaccination program for layer chickens does not only need more labor costs, but also limits the flexibility of vaccination programs in large size farms.

    [0004] Traditional vaccination methods such as water drinking, exposes many limitations: not all the chickens drink the full dose of vaccine solution, even after hours of water deprivation, especially in cold temperatures. The live vaccines used in water drinking method can only protect a limited number of diseases, for limited period of the chickens' lifetime in the poultry industry today.

    [0005] In-Ovo injection technology (U.S Pat. No. 6,032,612 A to Williams) or Day-Old Chick injection technology (U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,481 to Gourlandt et al.) discloses devices providing each embryo or new born chick with a full dose of vaccine. Despite this method being widely used in the world, it can only be used for a few vaccines such as Marek and Newcastle Disease.

    [0006] Intramuscular injecting in the chicken breast at a premature age is the only vaccination method against some diseases, especially for layer chickens which have a long life laying eggs and need full protection from many diseases. In floor farms where layer chickens are raised together in the thousands, to inject the chicken in the breast muscles, the vaccinator captures the birds and keeps them still by holding their legs and/or wings, the vaccinator then injects them with a handheld syringe. The chickens are then released into a separated area to separate them from the unvaccinated ones. In another method, the assistant will pass the captured chickens to the vaccinator and the vaccinator will keep them still with one hand, inject them with the other hand and then release them into the separated area. With both methods, one vaccinator needs at least one assistant to support the vaccination process.

    [0007] Despite most of the handheld syringes being refilled after each injection, the vaccinators became easily tired after thousands of shots. Moreover, because the injection site and the distance the needle to be inserted into the chick is determined by eye, tired operators working in a low light conditions tend to inject the birds at the wrong sites, where the muscles are too thick or too thin for the vaccine. The tired vaccinators may also inject the needle at a wrong depth into the muscle, too deep or too shallow, these mistakes may seriously harm the chickens' organs, leaving the birds unprotected or even killing the bird after the injection. They sometimes inadvertently inject themselves, which can cause serious pain. To overcome the problems associated with manual vaccination methods, some devices have been developed to support intramuscular vaccination.

    [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,227 to Lancaster Jr. et al. and U.S. Pat. No 8,211,058 to Jorna et al. disclose methods to vaccinate intramuscular layer chickens in their breast muscles. Both inventions provide automatic injection devices where the chickens automatically inject when they are placed in the proper position on the machines sites. The machines save man power of injecting and pumping the handheld syringes, but they need many workers to operate. Normally, at least three workers are needed to operate one machine. The operator(s) push the chicken to the machine at the proper position and/or direction, wait for the injection to be completed then drop the vaccinated chickens to a separated area. One machine operator needs at least two assistants to help him capture the birds. The large embodiments of the two machines also make them hard to be moved around in a chicken house, or house to house within a farm.

    [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,858,020 B2 to Rusnak provides a portable automatic injector that can be moved around the farm easily. The device comprises one handheld needle assembly which is connected to an automatic syringe located on the floor. The device saves man power to pump the syringe, but the operators still need to select the injection site by eye, injects the needle and activate the syringe to pump the vaccine manually.

    [0010] In more particular conditions when the chickens start to lay eggs and they are moved to cages, taking the chickens out of their cages to vaccinate costs a lot of labor time, causes the chickens stress and may even physically harm them. Normally a large number of caged chickens break their wing bones after being vaccinated. To avoid taking the birds out of their cages, an alternative intramuscular method is to inject their legs. Operators pull the chicken leg out of the cage doors and inject in the leg muscles, this method is risky to the bird's legs, a significant percentage of chicken found to be lame after the vaccination. In conclusion, there is no safe method to vaccinate layer chickens in cages, difficulties with caged chicken vaccination make the farm owners postpone moving their young chickens from floor farms to cage farms until the injection program is complete.

    [0011] In the layer poultry industry, young layer chickens need to be vaccinated by the intramuscular method many times to protect against various diseases. Current methods to perform breast intramuscular vaccination has many limitations: high cost of labor, unsafe to the chickens' health, especially for the chickens raised in cages, and even unsafe to the vaccinator. An invention related to a device to improve the chicken breast intramuscular vaccination speed and safety, providing convenience to operate and move around, can overcome these limitations and provide farm owners more choices of scheduling of vaccination program, planning for moving flocks and thus bring better performance and profit.

    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



    [0012] The invention is defined according to claim 1.

    [0013] A portable automatic veterinary injector device is disclosed which is configured to dispense veterinary products into an animal. In some embodiments, the device may be configured to dispense intramuscular vaccine injections for layer chickens to the breast muscle. In further embodiments, the device may comprise a finger-held unit that can be attached firmly on the operator's fingers connected to a main unit which may be carried on the operator's body through flexible wires and tubes. The operator may use the fingers and palm to select the best site on the chicken's body and then activate the injection by pressing the finger-held unit against the chicken's breast. The pressed pushbuttons on the finger-held unit may send the closed-circuit signal to the main unit, the main unit may then activate the injecting mechanism in the finger-held unit to inject a hypodermic needle into the chicken's muscle using a linear actuator on the finger-held unit. The actuator may gain the power from compressed air provided from the main unit, which may be activated by a solenoid valve on the finger-held unit or main unit. The angle of the needle to the muscle surface and the depth the needle in fully injected state may be adjustable and can be fixed by locking nuts and knuckle joints or other suitable method. In further embodiments, the signal occurs when the needle is completely injected into the chicken breast muscle to its preset length, which may be detected by the timing or piston position detector, activates the main unit to pump a full dose of vaccine into the chicken's muscle via a flexible tube connected to the needle. The syringe to pump the vaccine in the main unit may be actuated by a linear actuator, which may gain power from an external compressed air source. The event when a full dose of vaccine is completely pumped, which may be detected by a piston position detector, may activate the controller to withdraw both the injecting mechanism and the pumping mechanism and sets the whole system in an inactive state waiting for a new injection process. The withdrawal of the pumping mechanism may also fill the syringe with a new dose of vaccine for a subsequent injection.

    [0014] The hand-touch detection of the muscle site to be injected provides a quickly manipulation to start an injection without aiming, while the compressed air power free the manpower from injecting and pumping vaccines to the chickens' muscle. The light bodyweight of the device provides convenience for the operator to carry around the farm.

    [0015] In a further embodiment of the finger-held unit, the linear actuator may be replaced by a Bowden cable which gains the power of the actuator on the main unit. This embodiment can reduce the space and the weight of the finger-held unit.

    [0016] In a further embodiment of the finger-held unit, push-buttons may be replaced by other types of detector or sensor such as pressure sensors, infrared detectors to send activation signals to the main unit. As the size of the chickens within one flock may not be the same, a different level of force from the manipulation of the operator hand may activate the main unit in different levels, which may cause the needle to inject into the chicken breast in different depth.

    [0017] In another further embodiment, the injecting mechanism and pumping mechanism may gain power from electrical actuator provided from an attached battery pack. This embodiment frees the device from external compressed air tube, providing more convenience for the operator to carry around. The electrical actuators may also provide a flexible movement which may be controlled by a firmware program, which may change the dosing settings and needles length settings by a firmware program.

    [0018] In a further embodiment, the solenoid valve to drive the actuator on the finger-held unit may be placed on the main unit or on the flexible conduit. Keeping the solenoid valve away from the finger-held unit may reduce the space and the weight of the finger-held unit and reduce the number of wires required to connect the finger-held unit to the main unit.

    [0019] A firmware algorithm processed by the microcontroller in the controller in the main unit may filter the electric signals from the pressed pushbuttons and may only activates an injection when a valid signal is detected. In some embodiments, the operator has to push the pushbuttons in a conventional method in a predetermined order and/or with timing rules to activate an injection. The algorithm protects both the chickens and the operators from the unwanted injections.

    [0020] A relief valve may be connected closely to the needle on the finger-held unit to prevent leakage of the vaccine from the needle tip. The relief valve may block the vaccine flow when the syringe is inactive and allows pressurized vaccine when it is pumped from the syringe to go through to the needle.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0021] The following drawings semi-schematically illustrate the initial and current embodiment of the invention.

    FIG. 1 shows an example of a portable automatic veterinary injector device with the finger-held unit attached to two fingers of a right hand, on the movement toward a chicken's chest and an example of a main unit with cover open according to various embodiments described herein.

    FIG. 1A illustrates a top view of an example of a finger-held unit on the hand of the operator, moving toward the chicken breast according to various embodiments described herein. The Figure provides a closer look on the angle and position of the needle to be injected to the chicken breast.

    FIG. 2 presents a perspective general view of of an example of a finger-held unit according to various embodiments described herein.

    FIG. 3 presents a sectional view of an example of an injection mechanism on the finger-held unit according to various embodiments described herein.

    FIG. 4 presents a perspective general view of an example of a main unit according to various embodiments described herein.

    FIG. 5 presents a sectional view of an example of a pumping mechanism on the main unit according to various embodiments described herein.

    FIG. 6 presents a simplified algorithm flowchart of an example firmware program that may control the device. The flowchart describes a filter algorithm to filter the invalid signals from pushbuttons in finger-held unit to prevent unwanted injections. The flowchart also describes an example of an injection process when it is activated.


    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS


    LIST OF NUMBERED ELEMENTS:



    [0022] 
    1
    Chicken to be injected
    2
    Main unit
    3
    Finger-held unit
    4
    Hanging belt
    5
    Reservoir
    6
    Flexible conduit
    7
    Compressed air cord
    8
    Hypodermic needle
    9
    Index fingertip
    10
    Middle fingertip
    11
    Upper push-button
    12
    Lower push-button
    13
    Cover
    14
    Upper push-button cover
    15
    Lower push-button cover
    16
    Signal wires
    17
    Solenoid wire
    18
    Needle solenoid valve
    19
    Solenoid tube
    20
    Needle actuator tube
    21
    Vaccine tube
    22
    Relief valve
    23
    Needle lock
    24
    Anti-rotating rod
    25
    Holding nuts
    26
    Knuckle joint hex screw
    27
    Needle assembly locking screw
    28
    Finger bracket
    29
    Actuator nut
    30
    Actuator
    31
    Needle actuator piston
    32
    Retract spring
    33
    Piston rod
    34
    Vaccine inlet
    35
    Relief valve nut
    36
    Relief valve spring
    37
    Actuator holding pad
    38
    Compress air inlet
    39
    Anti-rotating ring
    40
    Guiding rod
    41
    Vaccine bottle holder
    42
    Dropping chamber
    43
    Syringe
    44
    Vaccine tube - syringe in
    45
    Syringe actuator
    46
    Shock absorber
    47
    Position detector
    48
    Position detector wire
    49
    Controller
    50
    Liquid crystal display (LCD)
    51
    Buttons
    52
    Battery pack
    53
    Syringe solenoid wire
    54
    Syringe solenoid valve
    55
    Compressed air tube
    56
    Compress air divider
    57
    Compressed air connector
    58
    Regulator adjusting knob
    59
    Pressure gauge
    60
    Water trap
    61
    Hinges
    62
    Syringe holder
    63
    Syringe holder locking nut
    64
    Syringe locking nut
    65
    Syringe actuator bracket
    66
    Frame
    67
    Panel
    68
    Stroke locking screw
    69
    Vaccine inlet port
    70
    Inlet check valve
    71
    Inlet valve spring
    72
    Syringe space
    73
    Syringe piston
    74
    Actuator brackets
    75
    Syringe spring
    76
    Dosing locking nut
    77
    Syringe piston nut
    78
    Shock absorber head
    79
    Shock absorber spring
    80
    Locking nut
    81
    Actuator piston
    82
    Air inlet port
    83
    Compressed air outlet
    84
    Actuator spring
    85
    Outlet check valve
    86
    Outlet valve spring
    87
    Vaccine outlet
    88
    Luer lock
    89
    Actuator bracket screws
    90
    Bracket screws to panel
    91
    Chicken breast
    92
    Operator's hand
    93
    Finger-held chassis
    94
    Needle assembly
    95
    Syringe piston head
    96
    Syringe end
    98
    Startup process
    99
    Activate needle solenoid Valve
    100
    Scan lower push-button signal
    101
    Start Timer 1
    102
    Scan lower push-button signal
    103
    Check Timer 1 expiration
    104
    Start Timer 2
    105
    Check Timer 2 expiration
    106
    Scan upper Push-button signal
    107
    Start Timer 3
    108
    Check for Timer 3 expiration
    109
    Activate syringe solenoid valve
    110
    Scan for position detector signal
    111
    Deactivate needle solenoid valve
    112
    Deactivate syringe solenoid valve
    113
    Push-buttons signals processing routine
    114
    Injection routine
    115
    Operator's index finger
    116
    Operator's middle finger


    [0023] Referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the device may comprise a finger-held unit 3 connected to a main unit 2 carried on the operator's body using a flexible conduit 6. In other embodiments, the main unit 2 may be positioned close to the finger-held unit 3 and the operator's body. The conduit 6 may comprise wires and tubes to transfer signals, power and/or fluid between the finger-held unit 3 and the main unit 2. The chicken 1 to be injected may be grasped at its wings or forced into the cage corner. To start an injection, the operator may move his opened hand 92 carrying the finger-held unit 3 on his fingers toward the chicken's breast 91 with his thumb and palm on one side and the other fingers touching the other side of the chicken breast 91. The best position of the hand 92 shown on FIG. 1A shows that the edge of the breast bone may contact the proximal phalanges of the fingers, the peak of the breast bone may fit into the space between the proximal phalanges of the index finger 115 and the middle finger 116. This position is easy to reach when the operator slides his hand alongside the breast bone edge and the peak position of the bone will reach the space between two the fingers very fast.

    [0024] In further embodiments, when the breast position is selected, the operator may move his index fingertip 9 and middle fingertip 10 to select the thick muscle of the chicken breast 91, with the thumb on the other side of the chicken's 1 body, he can slightly squeeze the chicken's body with his fingers and the upper push-button and lower push-button may be pressed against the chicken breast muscle, causing a close-circuit state. With the wires connecting the push-buttons to the controller 49 on the main unit 2, the controller 49 may start a process to filter the push-buttons signal to decide if it is a valid activation to start an injection.

    [0025] FIG. 2 shows the details of the finger-held unit 3, the unit comprises a plastic, metal or other rigid material chassis 93 which may have one slot on each of its sides that the operator can slot his index finger 115 and middle finger 116 or other desired fingers in. Each slot may have a soft elastic bracket 28 which may be made from silicone, flexible plastic or other elastic and flexible material to firmly embrace the finger, regardless of finger size. The chassis 93 may comprise one or more push-buttons 11 12, button covers 14 15 and the wires to connect the buttons to the main unit 2. The chassis 93 also attaches one or more brackets 74 that hold the actuator 30 and the needle assembly 94 using at least one screw 25. The angle between the needle 8 and the injection surface can be adjusted at the knuckle joints locking by the two hex screws 26 or other suitable locking method. The depth of the needle can be adjusted by loosening an actuator nut 29, rotating the actuator 30 body and then locking the nut 29 again or with any other suitable depth selecting method. The adjustable nature of these elements provides a flexible use of the device for various sizes of chickens, pigs, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, or other animals.

    [0026] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an example of a needle assembly 94 and the actuator 30. After the signals are sent from the pressed push-buttons 11 12 to the controller 49 on the main unit 2 via signal wires 16, the controller 49 may activate the actuator 30 by providing an electric current to the solenoid valve 18 via the solenoid wire 17. The actuated solenoid 18 provides compressed air from the compressed air tube 19 to the actuator 30 via the actuator tube 20. The compressed air goes through the air inlet port 38 and quickly pressurizes the piston 31 surface, pushes the piston 31 to the other side of the port 38 and thus pushes the needle assembly 94 toward the chicken breast 91. The needle assembly 94 may be connected to the piston rod 33 with an embracing arm, fastened by a screw 27 of other connection method. In some embodiments, needle assembly 94 may be prevented from rotating by a guiding rod 40 connected to the actuator by an actuator holding pad 37. A low friction metal ring 39 on an anti-rotating arm 24 may cover the guiding rod 40 and allows the needle assembly 94 to slide linearly without rotation.

    [0027] When the needle assembly 94 completely moves to the end, which may be determined by a delay time, or by a position detector in another embodiment, the main unit 2 may pump a dose of vaccine to the vaccine inlet 34 on the needle assembly 94 via the vaccine tube 21. The pressurized vaccine goes through the relief valve 22 to the needle and is dispensed to the chicken breast 91 muscle. The strength of the relief valve spring 36 and the surface area of the valve nut 35 may determine the pressure level of the vaccine to get through the relief valve 22. A needle lock 23 may keep the needle 8 attached firmly to the needle assembly 94. When a full dose of vaccine is pumped to the needle 8, which may be determined by a detector on the main unit 2, the controller 49 on the main unit 2 may stop providing an electric current to the solenoid valve 18, and may then stop providing the compressed air to the actuator 30. The retract spring 32 inside the actuator 30 may push the piston 31 back to the normal position, thus pulling the needle 8 out of the chicken breast 91 muscle. The system may then settle to normal status waiting for another injection activation signal.

    [0028] In an alternative embodiment of the finger-held unit 3, an activation releases a Bowden cable core and releases a compressed spring to push the needle to inject into the chicken's muscle. When a full dose of vaccine is dispensed into the chicken's muscle, the drawn Bowden cable core may pull the needle out of the chicken's muscle and compress the needle spring waiting for next injection. In a further alternative embodiment of the finger-held unit 3, an electric actuator may be used to power the needle to free the device from any external compressed air source.

    [0029] In an alternative embodiment of the finger-held unit 3, another mechanism may be used to replace the locking screw 27 to make the needle assembly 94 easier to be detached from the actuator 30. This mechanism may be used to provide better disinfection methods to the needle assembly 94.

    [0030] Fig .4 illuminates the details inside an example of a main unit 2. The main unit 2 may comprise an electronic controller 49 powered by a battery pack 52, an actuator powered by an external compressed air source connected through the compressed air cord 7 to the air connector 57 and a syringe 43 which pumps the vaccine from a reservoir 5 to the finger-held unit 3. The elements may be attached to a metal or other rigid material panel 67 which is hard enough to hold the actuator pushing the syringe. A frame 66 holds the panel 67 and the vaccine reservoir holder 41, hung on the operator's shoulder or hip with a belt 4, strap, or the like. A folding cover 13 attached to the panel by one or more hinges 61 may protect the elements of the main unit 2. When closed-circuit signal occurs from push-buttons 11 12 on the finger-held unit 3, a signal may be sent to the controller 49 via signal wires 16, and the controller 49 may start a process to determine the valid signal. When a valid signal is detected, the controller 49 may provide an electric current to the solenoid valve 18 on the finger-held unit 3 via the solenoid wire 17. The controller 49 may then starts a countdown timer to create a delay period for the needle 8 to completely inject into the chicken breast 91. When the delaying process expires, the controller 49 will start a pumping process such as by activating a solenoid valve 54 via the syringe solenoid wire 53. The actuated syringe solenoid valve 54 provides compressed air from the compressed air divider 56 to the syringe actuator 45 via compressed air tube 55. The compressed air pushes the piston 81 of the actuator 45 out, presses the syringe piston 73 of the syringe 43 up and pumps the vaccine inside the syringe 43 to the vaccine tube 21 and then to the finger-held unit 3 to dispense to the chicken breast 91. When the piston 81 of the actuator 45 reaches the end position determined by the position detector 47, the controller 49 may receive the signal from the position detector 47 through the position detector wire 48 and may deactivate the solenoid valve 54 by stops the providing electric current to the syringe solenoid wire 53. The spring 84 inside the actuator 45 pushes the piston 81 back to the normal position and the syringe 43 fills with a full dose of vaccine waiting for another injection. The movement speed of the actuator can be pre-described by adjusting the pressure of the compressed air provided to the actuator. The compressed air providing from an external source may be regulated to an adjustable level which can be seen on a gauge 59, and may be adjusted by a regulator knob 58. A water trap 60 may filter the compressed air to provide clean air to the whole system.

    [0031] In some embodiments of the main unit 2, the main unit 2 may be kept in the other positions on the operator such as arm or back. The main unit 2 may also be kept on the floor or hung on a hook so as to provide better comfort to the operator.

    [0032] Fig. 5 provides a closer look at the pumping mechanism by illuminating a sectional view of an example of an actuator 45 and the syringe 43. The actuator 45 may be firmly attached to the panel 67 using a mounting bracket 65. The actuator may be fastened to the bracket 65 by two screws 89 or other suitable connection method, while the bracket 65 may be fastened to the panel 67 with two other screws 90 or other suitable connection method. The syringe 43 may be attached to the panel with the syringe holder 62, fastened to the metal panel by a screw 63 or other suitable connection method. The syringe 43 may be easily detached by loosening the locking screw 64 which can be seen on Fig. 4. When actuated by the compressed air going through the air inlet port 82, the piston 81 will push the shock absorber 46 mounted at the piston 81 rod end with a locking nut 80 toward the syringe 43. The shock absorber 46 hits and pushes the syringe piston 73 until the syringe piston head 95 hit the end of the syringe 96. The movement of the syringe piston 73 pumps the vaccine from the space 72 to the vaccine outlet port 87 through the outlet check valve 85. The vaccine then may be pushed to the finger-held unit 3 via vaccine tube 21 which may be firmly connected to the syringe using a Luer lock 88. The direction of the inlet check valve 70 prevents the vaccine being pumped out to the vaccine inlet port 69. While the actuator piston 81 is still pressed by the compressed air, the shock absorber head 78 presses a stopped syringe piston nut 77 and thus presses an absorber spring 79 until the actuator piston moves 81 to the end. A shock absorber 46 absorbs the stroke force from the actuator 45 and compensates any difference between actuator 45 piston stroke length and the syringe piston 73 stroke length. The absorber also allows the syringe piston 73 movement length to be adjusted using a stroke locking screw 68, means that the syringe 43 can be calibrated for an accurate dosing. When the locking nut 76 is loosened, the stroke locking screw 68 can be adjusted by rotating it until the piston head 95 reaches the desired position and then it can be locked by fastening the nut 76. The changing length of the syringe piston 73 movement allows the empty space 72 volume to be changed, and thus changes the dosing of the injection.

    [0033] When the actuator piston 81 reaches the end position of the actuator 45, the position detector 47 which can be seen on Fig. 4 may send an electric signal to the controller 49 via detector wire 48. The controller 49 may deactivate the needle actuator solenoid 18, and allow the needle 8 to be withdrawn from of the chicken breast 91. The controller 49 may also stop the electric current to the syringe solenoid valve 54, the compressed air inside the actuator 45 may be exhausted to the syringe solenoid valve 54, which allows the actuator piston 81 to be pushed back to the normal position by the actuator spring 84. The pushed back actuator piston 81 may pull the shock absorber backward and allows the syringe spring 75 to retract the syringe piston 73 to the normal position, causing a negative pressure inside the syringe space 72. The vaccine from the reservoir 5 may be drawn through the vaccine tube 44 and the check valve 70 to fill the empty space 72. The direction of the outlet check valve 85 prevents the vaccine to be drawn back from the vaccine tube 21. The two springs 7 1 86 of the check valves keep the valves in closed state until a pressure pushes the valves at the right direction. The withdrawal of the needle actuator 30 and syringe actuator 45 settles the whole system to a normal state waiting for a valid actuation signal from push-buttons 11 12 to start another injection.

    [0034] As mentioned above, when a Bowden cable is used in a further embodiment, the toward movement of the syringe actuator piston 81 releases the tensed core of the Bowden cable serially connects to the syringe actuator piston 81, causing a movement of the needle 8 in the finger-held unit 3 to inject to the chicken breast 91. When the piston 81 is pulled back after the vaccine pumping is done, the actuator piston 81 may also pull the Bowden cable core to pull the needle 8 out of the chicken breast 91.

    [0035] In other embodiments, when the compressed air actuator 30 is replaced to free the system from the external compressed air source, an electric actuator may be used to push the syringe 43 to pump the vaccine to the finger-held unit 3. With an encoder to determine the length of the movement of the actuator, the dosing of the injection may be firmware determined so that the syringe 43 doesn't need to be calibrated mechanically.

    [0036] To provide a friendly interface for the operator, the controller 49 may comprise a liquid crystal, light emitting diode (LED), touch screen, or other type of display 50 to display the numbers such as counting number of vaccinated chickens, options to select and messages to prompt or warn the operator. One or more buttons 51 on the controller 49 may allow the operator to provide parameters and control the controller 49.

    [0037] Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a simplified algorithm flowchart of a program of a firmware programmable microcontroller on the controller 49. In some embodiments, the program may perform two main routines: filter the signals 113 from push-buttons 11 12 and control an injection 114. When powered, the microcontroller may run the startup process 98 to initiate parameters preparing for the main loop. Then the microcontroller may repeatedly scan 100 the closed-circuit signal of the lower pushbutton 12. When a signal is received, the microcontroller may start a countdown timer 101 and may do nothing until the timer to expire 103. In further embodiments, during the counting down of the timer 103, if the lower push-button is pressed again, the delay time may be reset again 101. The routine may continue until the timer expires without any signal from lower push-button detected, the microcontroller starts another timer 104. During the counting down 105 of the timer, if a signal from the upper push-button 11 is detected, the microcontroller may run the injection routine, if no signal received during the counting down 105 of the timer, it may return to scan 100 the lower push-button 12 signal again. This routine allows the operator to activate an injection by only one way: press the lower push-button, wait a moment predetermined by Timer1, then press the upper push-button to complete the activation. The routine not only secures the operator from unwanted activation when he inadvertently presses any or both buttons, but also provides another chance to cancel the activation if the selected injection site is not appropriate. A firmware programmable microcontroller on the controller 49 may be reprogrammed with future updates of the program to provide not only safer operation but also more convenience or options for the operator to activate the injections.

    [0038] When a valid activation is detected, the microcontroller may start the injection routine 114 by activating the needle solenoid 18 to start a process to inject the needle 8 into the chicken's breast. It also may start a timer 107 and countdown 108 until the timer expires. The period set to the timer 107 may be the average value of the period of which starts when the solenoid is activated and ends the moment the needle 8completely stops, which can be measured in practice. The microcontroller may then activate the syringe solenoid valve 54 to provide compressed air to the actuator 45 to pump the vaccine from the syringe 43 to the needle 8. The microcontroller may then repeatedly check 110 for the signal from the position detector 47 until a signal found, which may signal that a full dose of the vaccine is already pumped to the chicken breast 91. The microcontroller may then stop providing electric currents to the solenoids 18 54 to pull the needle 8 out of the chicken breast 91 and leave the syringe piston 73 moving back to a normal position, thus filling a full dose of vaccine in the syringe 43. The program then return back to the normal status and repeatedly check 101 for the signal from lower push-button 12.

    REFERENCES



    [0039] 

    U.S Pat. No. 6,032,612 A to Williams

    U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,481 to Gourlandt et al.

    U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,227 to Lancaster Jr. et al.

    U.S. Pat. No 8,211,058 to Jorna et al.

    U.S. Pat. No. 6,858,020 B2 to Rusnak




    Claims

    1. A portable injector device comprising:

    a finger-held unit (3) comprising an injection unit with a needle assembly (94), and a chassis (93) on which is mounted the injection unit,

    wherein

    - the chassis (93) presents a shape configured to fit onto at least one of a user's fingers, said chassis (93) being U-shaped to be carried between two consecutive fingers of a user's hand, and comprising two arms each delimiting, on each side of said chassis, a slot for embracing a corresponding finger of the two consecutive fingers;

    - the injection unit comprises an actuator (30) configured to move said needle assembly (94) relative to said chassis (93) from a pre-actuated position to an actuated position, the needle of the needle assembly moving between said two arms, and

    - wherein an orientation and a position of said needle assembly (94) relative to said chassis (93) is adjustable in said pre-actuated position.


     
    2. The portable injector device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor on said chassis (93), said sensor being configured to generate an injection signal for controlling said actuator (30) when said sensor is activated.
     
    3. The portable injector device of claim 2, wherein said at least one sensor comprises two push-buttons (11, 12) located on an outside face of said chassis (93) and configured to be activated when pushed.
     
    4. The portable injector device of claim 2, further comprising a remote unit (2) comprising a reservoir (5) for a veterinary product, such as a vaccine, and a controller (49) for controlling, based on said injection signal, the flow of said veterinary product from said reservoir (5) to said needle assembly (94).
     
    5. The portable injector device of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment and locking mechanism for adjusting and locking said orientation and said position of said needle assembly (94) relative to said chassis (93) in said pre-actuated position.
     
    6. The portable injector device of claim 5, wherein said adjustment and locking mechanism comprises at least one joint and a screw (26) on said actuator for adjusting and locking said orientation of said needle assembly relative to said chassis (93) in said pre-actuated position.
     
    7. The portable injector device of claim 5, wherein said adjustment and locking mechanism comprises a nut (29) on said actuator for adjusting and locking said position of said needle assembly (94) relative to said chassis (93) in said pre-actuated position.
     
    8. The portable injector device of claim 1, wherein each slot has an elastic bracket (28) made of a flexible material.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Tragbare Injektionsvorrichtung, mit:
    einer an Fingern haltbaren Einheit (3), die eine Injektionseinheit mit einer Nadelanordnung (94) umfasst, und einem Chassis (93), auf dem die Injektionseinheit montiert ist, wobei

    - das Chassis (93) eine Form aufweist, die so gestaltet ist, dass es auf mindestens einen Finger eines Benutzers passt, wobei das Chassis (93) U-förmig ist, um zwischen zwei nebeneinanderliegenden Fingern der Hand eines Benutzers tragbar zu sein, und zwei Arme umfasst, die jeweils auf jeder Seite des Chassis einen Schlitz zum Umgreifen eines entsprechenden aus den beiden nebeneinanderliegenden Fingern begrenzen;

    - die Injektionseinheit einen Aktuator (30) umfasst, der dazu aufgebaut ist, die Nadelanordnung (94) relativ zum Chassis (93) aus einer Position vor dem Betätigen in eine Betätigungsposition zu bewegen, wobei sich die Nadel der Nadelanordnung zwischen den beiden Armen bewegt, und

    - wobei eine Ausrichtung und eine Position der Nadelbaugruppe (94) relativ zum Chassis (93) in der Position vor dem Betätigen einstellbar ist.


     
    2. Tragbare Injektionsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, weiter mit mindestens einem Sensor an dem Chassis (93), wobei der Sensor dazu aufgebaut ist, ein Injektionssignal zur Steuerung des Aktuators (30) zu erzeugen, wenn der Sensor aktiviert wird.
     
    3. Tragbare Injektionsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, wobei der mindestens eine Sensor zwei Druckknöpfe (11, 12) umfasst, die sich an einer Außenfläche des Chassis (93) befinden und dazu aufgebaut sind, beim Drücken aktivierbar zu sein.
     
    4. Tragbare Injektionsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, weiter mit einer abseits angeordneten Einheit (2), die einen Behälter (5) für ein tiermedizinisches Produkt, wie einen Impfstoff, und ein Steuergerät (49) umfasst, um basierend auf dem Injektionssignal den Strom des tiermedizinischen Produkts aus dem Behälter (5) zur Nadelanordnung (94) zu steuern.
     
    5. Tragbare Injektionsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 weiter mit einem Einstell- und Verriegelungsmechanismus zum Einstellen und Verriegeln der Ausrichtung und der Position der Nadelbaugruppe (94) relativ zum Chassis (93) in der Position vor dem Betätigen.
     
    6. Tragbare Injektionsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, wobei der Einstell- und Verriegelungsmechanismus mindestens eine Verbindung und eine Schraube (26) am Stellglied zum Einstellen und Verriegeln der Ausrichtung der Nadelbaugruppe relativ zum Chassis (93) in der Position vor dem Betätigen umfasst.
     
    7. Tragbare Injektionsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, wobei der Einstell- und Verriegelungsmechanismus eine Mutter (29) am Stellglied zum Einstellen und Verriegeln der Position der Nadelbaugruppe (94) relativ zum Chassis (93) in der Position vor dem Betätigen umfasst.
     
    8. Tragbare Injektionsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei jeder Schlitz einen elastischen Umgriff (28) aus einem flexiblen Material umfasst.
     


    Revendications

    1. Dispositif injecteur portable comprenant :

    une unité tenue par le doigt (3) comprenant une unité d'injection avec un ensemble d'aiguille (94), et un châssis (93) sur lequel est montée l'unité d'injection,

    dans lequel

    - le châssis (93) présente une forme configurée pour être montée sur au moins un des doigts d'un utilisateur, ledit châssis (93) étant en forme de U pour être porté entre deux doigts consécutifs d'une main d'un utilisateur, et comprenant deux bras délimitant chacun, sur chaque côté dudit châssis, une fente pour accueillir un doigt correspondant des deux doigts consécutifs ;

    - l'unité d'injection comprend un actionneur (30) configuré pour déplacer ledit ensemble d'aiguille (94) par rapport audit châssis (93) d'une position pré-actionnée à une position actionnée, l'aiguille de l'ensemble d'aiguille se déplaçant entre lesdits deux bras, et

    - dans lequel une orientation et une position dudit ensemble d'aiguille (94) par rapport audit châssis (93) sont réglables dans ladite position pré-actionnée.


     
    2. Dispositif injecteur portable selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre au moins un capteur sur ledit châssis (93), ledit capteur étant configuré pour générer un signal d'injection pour commander ledit actionneur (30) lorsque ledit capteur est activé.
     
    3. Dispositif injecteur portable selon la revendication 2, dans lequel ledit au moins un capteur comprend deux boutons-poussoirs (11, 12) situés sur une face extérieure dudit châssis (93) et configurés pour être activés lorsqu'ils sont poussés.
     
    4. Dispositif injecteur portable selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre une unité distante (2) comprenant un réservoir (5) pour un produit vétérinaire, tel qu'un vaccin, et un dispositif de commande (49) pour commander, sur la base dudit signal d'injection, l'écoulement dudit produit vétérinaire dudit réservoir (5) audit ensemble d'aiguille (94).
     
    5. Dispositif injecteur portable selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un mécanisme de réglage et de verrouillage pour régler et verrouiller ladite orientation et ladite position dudit ensemble d'aiguille (94) par rapport audit châssis (93) dans ladite position pré-actionnée.
     
    6. Dispositif injecteur portable selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ledit mécanisme de réglage et de verrouillage comprend au moins un joint et une vis (26) sur ledit actionneur pour régler et verrouiller ladite orientation dudit ensemble d'aiguille par rapport audit châssis (93) dans ladite position pré-actionnée.
     
    7. Dispositif injecteur portable selon la revendication 5, dans lequel ledit mécanisme de réglage et de verrouillage comprend une rainure (29) sur ledit actionneur pour régler et verrouiller ladite position dudit ensemble d'aiguille (94) par rapport audit châssis (93) dans ladite position pré-actionnée.
     
    8. Dispositif injecteur portable selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque fente présente un support élastique (28) composé d'un matériau flexible.
     




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    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description