AU2009217375A1

AU2009217375A1 - Dispensing Device

Info

Publication number: AU2009217375A1
Application number: AU2009217375A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kenneth James Miles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-17
Filing date: 2009-09-17
Publication date: 2011-03-31

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.10 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: DISPENSING DEVICE The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 092037 DISPENSING DEVICE The present invention relates to dispensing vaccine and therapeutic compounds and, more particularly, to the injection vaccinating and oral dosing of animals. 5 BACKGROUND The dispensing of vaccine by injection or applying other therapeutic compounds through oral dosing to animals, and in particular farm animals, often takes place in 10 difficult and hot conditions. Typically the vaccine or oral dosing compound is contained in a small plastic container, either held in the hand or hung around the neck of the user. A flexible tube connected to an outlet at the bottom of the container leads to an injecting or dispensing gun. 15 The components making up the arrangement are shown in Figure 1. Manipulating the gun, grasping an animal's skin for an injection, or opening its mouth for oral dosing, are both awkward and tiring exercises. Care must be taken to ensure 20 the dispensing container remains above the level of the dispensing gun to prevent air bubbles forming in the delivery tube and gun. Moreover, to remain optimally viable, the vaccine or compound must typically be maintained at temperatures far below ambient, in some cases 25 between 2 and degrees Celsius for vaccines. This usually means that only small, typically 250ml containers can be -2 used for a small number of doses so as to exhaust the contents before the temperature in the container rises to unacceptable levels. The exhausted container must be disconnected, a fresh container retrieved from a cooling 5 container and the dispensing gun reconnected. As well as being inconvenient, needing frequent interruptions when treating a large number of animals, small containers are an additional cost burden to the farmer as well as creating a larger volume of discarded 10 plastic waste. It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages. Notes 1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations 15 thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of". 2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that 20 any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 25 Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a dispensing and temperature moderating device -3 for administering vaccines and therapeutic compounds to animals; said device including an insulating pouch for retaining a container of a said vaccine or therapeutic compound; said insulating pouch provided with straps to 5 secure said pouch to the body of a user. Preferably, said device further includes a delivery tube and a delivery gun; said delivery tube connected to a lower end of said container at a first end and to said delivery gun at a second end. 10 Preferably, said delivery tube passes through an opening in a lower end of said pouch. Preferably, said pouch is divided into compartments; said compartments arranged to hold at least one said container and at least one cold pack. 15 Preferably, said pouch is divided into three compartments; a middle said compartment adapted to receive therein said container; said middle compartment flanked by two flanking compartments, each flanking compartment adapted to have inserted therein one said cold pack. 20 Preferably, said pouch is of flexible insulating material; said material comprising a laminate of neoprene sheet between reinforcing nylon or other synthetic cloth. Preferably, said pouch comprises a back panel, a front panel and two divider panels; said back panel, said front 25 panel and said divider panels joined along respective side edges by reinforcing strips; said side edges of said panels, sandwiched and sown together between outer and inner portions of said reinforcing strips. Preferably, further reinforcing strips are sewn along a bottom portion of said pouch; said reinforcing strips 5 joined to said back panel and said front panel and to said divider panels; said strips arranged to provide a gap forming said opening in said lower end of said pouch. Preferably, an upper extension of said back panel provides a closing flap; said closing flap folding over said open 10 upper ends of said middle and said flanking compartments; said closing flap releasably retained in a closing position by fastening elements. Preferably, said fastening elements comprise cooperating Velcro® strips. 15 Preferably, said straps include a shoulder strap and a torso strap; said shoulder strap forming a loop of webbing material secured to said back panel of said pouch; said torso strap formed of two sections of said webbing material; said two sections passing around the torso of a 20 wearer; said first section and said second section adjustably joined together by a buckle when in use. Preferably, a holster pouch is attached to said first section of said torso strap; said holster pouch arranged to support a vaccine or therapeutic compound dispensing gun. 25 Preferably, said holster pouch is provided with a needle securing section in a lower portion of said holster pouch; said needle securing portion preventing needle-stick injury to a wearer of said dispensing device. In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of dispensing and moderating temperatures of 5 vaccines and therapeutic compounds for animals; said method including the steps of; (a) supporting a container of said vaccine or therapeutic compound in an insulated pouch, (b) securing said insulated pouch to the body of a 10 user, (c) providing said pouch with at least one flanking compartment for receiving a cold pack. Preferably, said insulated pouch is divided into three compartments; said compartments comprising a middle 15 compartment for a container of said vaccine or therapeutic compound; said pouch further comprising two flanking compartments; each of said flanking compartments adapted for insertion of a said cold pack. Preferably, temperature of vaccine in a said container 20 supported in said pouch is maintained within a range of between zero and five degrees centigrade for a period of upwards of three hours. Preferably, variable temperature control of said vaccine or therapeutic compound is provided by selection of one or two 25 said cold packs for insertion into said pouch.

-6 Preferably, further temperature control of said vaccine or said therapeutic compound is provided by selective refrigeration to a desired temperature of said cold packs prior to insertion. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; 10 Figure 1 is a typical vaccine or other therapeutic compound delivery system for use with the device of the invention, Figure 2 is a partially sectioned view of a pouch of the dispensing device according to a preferred embodiment 15 of the invention, Figure 3 is a partly exploded schematic view of the construction and interconnection of the panels making up the pouch of Figure 2 and the locations of a container and cold packs within the pouch, 20 Figure 4 is a view of the dispensing device of Figure 2 when worn by a user. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a dispensing device 25 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises a pouch 12 provided with straps 14, 15 and 16 by -7 means of which the pouch 12 can be fastened to the upper body of a wearer 18, as shown in Figure 4. The dispensing device further comprises a delivery tube and dispensing or injection gun as shown in Figure 1. Pouch 12 is of 5 generally rectangular shape, with the lower portions of sides 20 and 22 tapering towards the bottom edge 24. Pouch 12 provides for the insertion of a container 26 of a vaccine or other therapeutic compound, similar to that shown in Figure 1, as well as at least one, preferably two, 10 cold packs 28 and 30. Preferably pouch 12 is constructed so as to form three compartments, a middle compartment 32 for retaining the container 26, and two flanking compartments 34 and 36 for retaining the two cold packs 28 and 30 respectively is Cold packs 28 and 30 recommended for use with the device 10 are in the form of relatively thin sachets of liquid which may be frozen or reduced to a desired low temperature by refrigeration. The pouch is preferably sized to accommodate a 500ml container of vaccine or therapeutic 20 compound and cold packs measuring approximately 230x130mm. Preferably pouch 12 is constructed of a flexible insulating material similar to that employed in diving "wet suits", and is formed of a layer of neoprene laminated between closely woven nylon or other synthetic cloth. The 25 pouch 12 comprises a back panel 38, a front panel 40 and two divider panels 42 and 44. Back panel 38 is provided -8 with an extension to form a closing flap 46. Closing flap 46 is arranged for folding over the middle and flanking compartments so as to both secure their contents and complete the enclosing insulation. Closing flap 46 is 5 secured to the outer surface of front panel 40 by fastening elements, such as cooperating strips of Velcro® 47 and 49 for example, or by other suitable securing means such as press studs, straps and buckles and the like. The panels making up the pouch 12 are sown together at 10 side edges 20 and 22 and bottom edge 24 by reinforcing side strips 46 and 48 and bottom strips 50. As can be seen in the sectioned portion at the right of Figure 2 and in Figure 3, the outer edges of the back panel 38, and the rearmost divider panel 42 are combined and folded to meet 15 similarly combined and folded front panel 40 and front-most divider panel 44. These gathered edges of the panels are s sandwiched between the outer and inner portions (47 and 49) of the reinforcing side strips 46 and 48 respectively and sown together. 20 The bottom edges of the panels are similarly sown together between the bottom strips 50, leaving a gap 52 for the exit of the connection 54 and delivery tube 56 at the base of container 26. Attached to the rear of back panel 38 is a shoulder strap 25 16 formed as a loop of webbing material, which may be passed over the head and shoulder of a user 18 as shown in Figure 4. Also attached to back panel 38, is a torso strap, also of webbing material, comprising two sections 14 and 15 adapted to pass around the torso of the user 18 and adjustably connected together by a buckle 58. 5 The device of the present invention may further include a holster pouch 62 attached to the torso strap 14 for support of the gun 60. Preferably the holster pouch 62 is provided at its lower end with a protecting section adapted to receive a needle of an injecting gun and thereby protect a 10 user from needle-stick injury. In Use Prior to a vaccination or oral dosing exercise, the pouch 12 is fitted with the container 26, passing the 15 connection 54 and delivery tube 56 through the gap 52 at the bottom edge 24 of the pouch and connecting a dispensing gun 60. The two flanking compartments 34 and 36 are provided with cold packs 28 and 30 and the closing flap 46 folded over and secured. 20 With the pouch 12 secured to the upper body by the shoulder strap 16 and torso straps 14 and 15, the user's left (or right) hand is left free to manipulate the animal's skin or mouth for application of a shot of vaccine or therapeutic compound. By having the pouch secured to the 25 upper body, the risk of inducing air bubbles into the delivery line and gun is largely eliminated.

- 10 Trials with a pouch constructed as described above and fitted with two frozen cold packs, have shown that the pouch is able to maintain a temperature in the middle compartment of around 3degrees Celsius for upwards of three 5 hours. This allows use of a larger container while maintaining optimal viability of the vaccine or compound over a significantly extended period of use. If the temperature to be maintained in the central compartment is somewhat higher, this may be achieved by 10 refrigerating the cold packs to an appropriate level short of freezing. Alternately, just one cold pack could be inserted, for example if for example the ambient temperature during the dispensing exercise was comparatively moderate. Thus variable temperature control 15 of a vaccine or therapeutic compound can be provided by a selection of cold pack temperature and number of packs. The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing 20 from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dispensing and temperature moderating device for administering vaccines and therapeutic compounds to 5 animals; said device including an insulating pouch for retaining a container of a said vaccine or therapeutic compound; said insulating pouch provided with straps to secure said pouch to the body of a user. 10

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said device further includes a delivery tube and a delivery gun; said delivery tube connected to a lower end of said container at a first end and to said delivery gun at a second end. 15

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said delivery tube passes through an opening in a lower end of said pouch.

4. The device of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said pouch is divided into compartments; said 20 compartments arranged to hold at least one said container and at least one cold pack.

5. The device of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said pouch is divided into three compartments; a middle said compartment adapted to receive therein said 25 container; said middle compartment flanked by two - 12 flanking compartments, each flanking compartment adapted to have inserted therein one said cold pack.

6. The device of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said pouch is of flexible insulating material; said 5 material comprising a laminate of neoprene sheet between reinforcing nylon or other synthetic cloth.

7. The device of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said pouch comprises a back panel, a front panel and two divider panels; said back panel, said front panel 10 and said divider panels joined along respective side edges by reinforcing strips; said side edges of said panels, sandwiched and sown together between outer and inner portions of said reinforcing strips.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein further reinforcing 15 strips are sewn along a bottom portion of said pouch; said reinforcing strips joined to said back panel and said front panel and to said divider panels; said strips arranged to provide a gap forming said opening in said lower end of said 20 pouch.

9. The device of claim 7 or 8 wherein an upper extension of said back panel provides a closing flap; said closing flap folding over said open upper ends of said middle and said flanking compartments; 25 said closing flap releasably retained in a closing position by fastening elements. - 13

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said fastening elements comprise cooperating Velcro@ strips.

11. The device of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said straps include a shoulder strap and a torso 5 strap; said shoulder strap forming a loop of webbing material secured to said back panel of said pouch; said torso strap formed of two sections of said webbing material; said two sections passing around the torso of a wearer; said first section and said 10 second section adjustably joined together by a buckle when in use.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein a holster pouch is attached to said first section of said torso strap; said holster pouch arranged to support a vaccine or 15 therapeutic compound dispensing gun.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said holster pouch is provided with a needle securing section in a lower portion of said holster pouch; said needle securing portion preventing needle-stick injury to a 20 wearer of said dispensing device.

14. A method of dispensing and moderating temperatures of vaccines and therapeutic compounds for animals; said method including the steps of; (a) supporting a container of said vaccine or 25 therapeutic compound in an insulated pouch, - 14 (b) securing said insulated pouch to the body of a user, (c) providing said pouch with at least one flanking compartment for receiving a cold 5 pack.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said insulated pouch is divided into three compartments; said compartments comprising a middle compartment for a container of said vaccine or therapeutic compound; 10 said pouch further comprising two flanking compartments; each of said flanking compartments adapted for insertion of a said cold pack.

16. The method of claim 14 or 15 wherein temperature of vaccine in a said container supported in said 15 pouch is maintained within a range of between zero and five degrees centigrade for a period of upwards of three hours.

17. The method of any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein variable temperature control of said vaccine or 20 therapeutic compound is provided by selection of one or two said cold packs for insertion into said pouch.

18. The method of any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein further temperature control of said vaccine or said 25 therapeutic compound is provided by selective - 15 refrigeration to a desired temperature of said cold packs prior to insertion.