GB2181654A - Implanting aid - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for introducing an article into an animal's stomach has a barrel (51) with an enlarged head (53) which is passed down the animal's throat at one end and a trigger (75) at the other. An article is held temporarily in the enlarged head (53) by retaining means (e.g. 67) and operation of the trigger (75) when the head has been passed down the animal's throat ejects the article in to the animal's stomach. The retaining means may be a resiliently movable obstruction or may be magnetic. The ejector mechanism may comprise a movable rod (69) extending within the barrel (51). Preferably a spring (73) returns the trigger and the rod to a rest position when the trigger is released. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Implanting aid Field ofthe invention This invention concerns implanting aids particularly for inserting dietary supplements into cattle by insertion through the mouth directly into the animal's stomach.

Background of the invention It is known to implant dietary aids and supplements into animals to assist in the fattening process and also to assistthe animal's normal resistance to disease. In this respect it is known to insert certain metallic compounds usually in modified form directly into the stomach of an animal.

Forthis purpose, in the past, gelatine capsules containing the modified metallic compounds of copper or magnesium orthe like have been pushed into the animal's stomach by inserting the capsule into the open end of a rubber sleeve which itself is fitted at the end of a piston and cylinder arrangement such that after the rubber sleeve has been inserted into the mouth ofthe animal and pushed down the animal's throat, operation of the piston ejects the gelatine capsule into the animals stomach.

Whilst such apparatus normally functions correctly, it is possible forthe rubber sleeve to become detached from the piston and cylinder section ofthe apparatus and it is also known forthe animal to bite and chew the rubber sleeve so that quite often morethanjustthe capsule has remained in the animals inside.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative capsule injecting apparatus which does not suffer from any ofthese disadvantages, is easy and simple to use in practice and is also capable of being readily cleaned.

It is known to provide an article forthe staged release of a chemical or chemicals in the stomach of an animal in which a steel end portion supports a magnesium pin on which are mounted a series of annular chemical pellets or capsules. The article as a whole is placed in the stomach of an animal. The acidic environment within the stomach attacks the magnesium pin, and asthepinslowlydisintegrates the pellets or capsules of chemical become detached from the remainder of the article, until eventually after a number of months only the steel end piece remains. The steel end piece will normally be retained within the animal's stomach. An embodiment ofthe present invention is particularly suited for use with such an article.

Summary ofthe invention According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for introducing an article into an animal's stomach comprising: (a) a tubular barrel extending from a hand grip, (b) an enlarged head integ rally formed orfirmly secured to the end of the barrel remote from the hand grip and having an opening in its end remote from the barrel through which an article can pass into or out of the end piece, (c) retaining means to restrain an article which has been inserted into the head from movement out of the end piece through the said opening, and (d) an ejector displaceable within the head to release the article from the retaining means and cause ditto pass through said opening, the ejector means being operable by a trigger or like mechanism associated with the hand grip.

In an embodiment ofthe present invention, usable with an article which is formed at least in partfrom ferromagnetic material, the retaining means comprises a magnet which attracts the ferromagnetic portion of the article. In this embodiment, a suitable ejector may act mechanically to cause relative movement between the magnet and the articleto separatethem, and thereby reduce the magnetic attraction until it has been sufficiently overcome to allow the article to leave the head.

Preferably, the ejector tends to displace the article within the head in the direction of movement through the said opening thereof.

Alternatively, the retaining means may comprise a resilient endless belt of elastomeric material received in a groove adjacent the opening in the head through which an article can pass, the base ofthe groove including windows across which the elastomeric material is stretched in a straight line so asto protrude into the interior of the enlarged head in a region adjacent the said opening,the protruding elastomeric material being displaced in a radially outward manner as the article is pushed into the enlarged head ofthe apparatus but serving to retain the articletemporarilywithin the interiorofthe said enlarged head after it has been allowed to spring back into its normal position afterthe passage ofthe article and the ejector may be displaceable in a forward direction through the enlarged head to push the article through the opening by which it has been pushed into the enlarged head, the action of ejection serving to displace the elastomeric material sufficiently to allowthe article to pass.

The endless belt serving to restrict the extrance/exit of the enlarged head is typically an 'O' ring of rubber our a rubber and plastics composite.

Preferably the groove in which the endless belt sits is sufficiently deep as to completely accommodate the cross-section ofthe belt so that in the event of the animal's throat constricting the passage ofthe apparatus in eitherdirection, there is notendencyfor the belt to be rolled out ofthe groove as the apparatus pushed or pulled.

The ejector mechanism most conveniently comprises a rod, eg of metal, one end of which enters the enlarged head and the other end of which enters the enlarged head and the other end ofwhich is attached to a lever mechanism operable by squeezing a trigger associated with the hand grip. By means of an appropriate velocity ratio mechanism, relatively small movement of the trigger produces relatively large movement of the rod.

It may be convenient, especiallywhenthe retaining means comprises a belt of elastomeric in the manner described above, if the rod has a piston plunger at its end which enters the head ofthe apparatus.

Conveniently the enlarged head includes elongate windows through which the slug or pellet of chemical can be seen when in position butthrough which the lattercannot pass.

The barrel and head may be formed from metal or plastics or both. Likewise the hand grip may also be formed from metal or plastics. The operating mechanism is preferablyformedfrom metal.

Preferably, operation of the ejector is achieved against the action of a resilient restoring force such as a spring which acts to return the ejector and the trigger or like mechanism to a rest position.

The barrel may be straight orcurved and may be adjustable as by being flexible to assist in its insertion down the throat of an animal. If the barrel is flexible, the ejector may comprise an arrangement such as a Bowden cable in place ofthe rod.

The hand grip may for example be a pistol grip.

Embodiments of the present invention, given by way of non-limitative example, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa side elevation of apparatus embodying the present invention, showing an article just leaving the enlarged head after the trigger has been released; Figure2 is a side elevation ofthe enlarged head of the apparatus of Figure 1, shown to an enlarged scale and partly shown in section; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the exit end ofthe enlarged head, viewed in the direction of arrow Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross section on IV, IV in Figure 2; Figure2 is a schematic axial section through second apparatus embodying the present invention; and Figure Gshows a known article for staged release of a chemical within an animal's stomach, which can be inserted using apparatus as shown in Figure 5.

Detailed description ofthe illustrated embodiments In Figures 1 to 4 an apparatus is shown for inserting an article, typically an elongate pellet of gelatine-like material containing modified copper our magnesium or other metal salts, into the stomach of an animal such as a calf.

The apparatus essentially comprises a curved barrel 10 having a pistol grip 12 atone end and an enlarged cylindrical sleeve-like head 14 at its other end somewhat similar in appearance to the silencer ofagun.

Along the length ofthe barrel internallythereof extends a metal rod 16 having a plunger 18 at the end which protrudes into the enlarged head 14. Its other end is pivotallyattached at 20 to the upper end of a lever 22 itself pivoted at 24. The lower end of the lever 22 is acted on by means of a trigger 26 pivotally mountedwithinthe pistol grip 12 and squeezable in a rearward direction so as to force the plunger 18 in a forward direction.

The head 14 is shown to an enlarged scale in Figure 2 and includes a hollow cylindrical interior 28 having window apertures 30 in the wall thereof. The purpose ofthe windows is to allowthe veterinary surgeon or farmer to check that a pellet or slug of chemical is correctly positioned within the head 14. Sincethe slugs or pellets of chemical may be differentialy covered, it also enables a final check to be made before the aparatus is inserted into the animal, to ascertain the correctly coloured slug or pellet is being used.

The head is in theform of a sleeve and includes an opening 32 intowhichthe pellets or slugs of chemical can be pushed and through which they can be ejected under the action of the plunger 18.

A resiliently deformable restriction is provided adjacent the opening 32 in the form of an '0' ring of rubber or other elastomeric material 34 which is located within a deep annular groove 36. Around the base ofthe groove 36 are provided slots 38 th rough which the elastomeric material can protrude and across which the material is stretched in a straight line instead offollowing the curve ofthe base ofthe groove 36.

This is best seen in the end view ofthe device where the two straight line protruding sections of elastomeric material can be seen at 38 and 40.

By dimensioning the slugs or pellets so as to be an interference fit with the protruding sections of elastomeric material 38 and 40, so the slug or pellet will be firmly held in position within the sleeve 14 but is capable of being pushed through the entrance/exit opening 32 under the action ofthe plunger 18 simply by deforming the protruding sections of elastomeric material and enlaring the opening so asto assistin the passage ofthe slug or pellet of chemical.

The apparatus is particularly suited to the insertion of pellets orslugs of modified copperor magnesium into the stomach of an animal such as a calf.

Preferably, the barrel 10, handle 12 and enlarged head/sleeve 14 are all formed from stainless steel as is also the plunger and rod 16,18. The endless belt or '0' ring of elastomeric material is preferablyformed from rubber or a rubber and plastics composite.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of apparatus for inserting an article into the stomach of an animal, comprising a hollowtubularbarrel 51,which is attached by a screw thread at one end to an enlarged head 53. The other end ofthe barrel 51 terminates in a handgrip,which is provided byasheath 55fitted around the end of the barrel 51. Conveniently the sheath 55 is of a polymeric material and has a roughened or patterned external surface.

Figure 6 shows a known article 57 for the staged release of a chemical inside the stomach of an animal . The article 57 has a steel end piece 59 from which a magnesium pin extends along the axis ofthe article. A chemical composition is provided in a numberofsolid rings 61 which are mounted on the magnesium pin.

The head 53 has an internal cavity 63 which is accessible through an opening 65 in the head 53 remote from the barrel 51. An article 57 is inserted through the opening 65 to be received in the cavity 63 with the steel end piece 59 first, so that when the article is fully received into the cavity the steel end piece 59 is in close proximity to a magnet 67 provided at the opposite end ofthe cavity. Magnetic attraction retains the article within the cavity.

A movable rod 69 extends within the barrel 51 over substantially its entire length. At the hand grip end of the barrel the rod terminates in a movable block71, which is attached to the closed end ofthe sleeve 55 buy a spring 73. If extended the latterextertsa restoring force on the rod 69 to causethe latter two revertto its rest position as shown in Figure 1.

At its other end the tip ofthe rod 69 extends through a hole in the magnet 67, but in its rest position the tip does not protrude into the cavity 63.

Adjacent the sleeve 55, a trigger 75 is mounted on the barrel 51 by a mounting 77. One end of a flexible cord 79 is held bythe mounting 77. From this held end,the cord 79 extends around a pulley 81 mounted on the trigger 75, around a pulley 83 mounted on the barrel and into the barrel where it is secured to the block71.

As shown in Figure 5, in the rest position of the rod 69 and the block 71,only a relatively short portion of the cord 79 extends outside the barrel 51 between the pulley 83 and the point where the end ofthe cord is held by the trigger mounting 77. Thetrigger75 occupies the position shown in Figured with its pulley 81 lying close to the straight line joining pulley 88 and the point at which the cord 79 is fixed to the mounting 77.

If the trigger 75 is operated by rotating it aboutthe point 85 where it is attached to the mounting 77, so as to move its free end towards the barrel the pulley 81 mounted on the trigger 75 is carried away from the barrel. This pulls more ofthe cord 79 into the housing 77, pulluing the block71 to the left in Figure 5. This causes the rod 69 to move so that its tip enters the cavity 63, to force the article 57 away from the magnet 67. This breaks the magnetic hold ofthe magnet67 onthesteel end piece 59 and continued movement ofthe rod 69 will ejectthe article through the opening 65. The movement ofthe block71 tensions the spring 73, so that when the trigger 75 is released the spring 73 returns the rod 69, block71, cord 79 and trigger 75 to their rest positions as shown in Figure 5.

In use, an article 57 is first inserted into the head 53 so as to be retained in the cavity 63 therein by the action ofthe magnet 67. The head 53 is then inserted into the mouth of an animal and down itsthroad.

When the operator considers that the head 53 has reached a suitable point within the animal, he operates the trigger 75 so as to eject the article 57 which will then pass into the animal's stomach. The apparatus is then withdrawn from the animal.

Although not shown, the head 53 in Figure 5 may havewindows similarto those ofthe head 14ofthe embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

In the drawings, the retaining means using the O-ring 34 has been shown in conjunction with a pistol grip and the magnetic retaining means has been shown in conjunction with a "straight out" hand grip. However, either type of retaining means may be used with either type of hand grip.

Claims (15)

1. Apparatus for introducing an article into an animal's stomach comprising: (a) a tubular barrel extending from a hand grip, (b) an enlarged head integrally formed orfirmly secured to the end of the barrel remote from the hand grip and having an opening in its end remotefrom the barrel through which an article can pass into or out of the end piece, (c) retaining means to restrain an articlewhich has been inserted into the head from movement out of the end piece through the said opening, and (d) an ejector displaceable within the head to release the article from the retaining means and cause it to pass through said opening, the ejector means being operable by a trigger or like mechanism associated with the hand grip.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 usable with an article which is formed at least in partfrom ferromagnetic material, in which the retaining means comprises a magnet which attracts the ferromagnetic portion of the article.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the ejector acts mechanicallyto cause relative movement between the magnet and the article to separatethem, and thereby reduce the magnetic attraction until it has been sufficiently overcome to allowthearticleto leave the head.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the ejectortendsto displace the article within the head in the direction of movement through the said opening thereof.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the retaining means comprises a resilient endless belt of elastomeric material received in a groove adjacent the opening in the head through which an article can pass, the base of the groove including windows across which the elastomeric material is stretched in a straight line so as to protrude into the interior of the enlarged head in a region adjacentthe said opening, the protruding elastomeric material being displaced in a radially outward mannerasthe article is pushed into the enlarged head of the apparatus but serving to retainthearticletemporarilywithintheinteriorof the said enlarged head after it has been allowed to spring back into its normal position afterthe passage of the article, and in which the ejector is displaceable in a forward direction through the enlarged head to push the article through the opening bywhich it has been pushed into the enlarged head, the action of ejection serving to displace the elastomeric material sufficiently to allow the article to pass.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the endless belt serving to restrict the entrance/exit of the enlarged head is an '0' ring of rubber or a rubber and plastics composite.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the groove in which the endless belt sits is sufficiently deep as to completely accommodate the cross-section of the belt so that in the event ofthe animal's throat constricting the passage of the apparatus in either direction, there is no tendency for the belt to be rolled out of the groove as the apparatus is pushed or pulled.

8. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims in which the ejector mechanism comprises a rod one end of which enters the enlarged head, and the other end ofwhich is attached to a lever mechanism operable bysequeezing a trigger associated with the hand grip.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which a relatively small movement of the trigger produces a relatively large movement of the rod.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim 9 when dependent on any one of claims 5 to 7 in which the rod has a piston plunger at its end which enters the head.

11. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims in which the enlarged head includes enlongate windows through which the article can be ssen when in position butthrough which it cannot pass.

12. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims in which operation of the ejector is achieved against the action of a resilient restoring force which acts to return the ejector and the trigger or like mechanism to a rest position.

13. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims in which the barrel is curved.

14. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims in which the hand grip is a pistol grip.

15. Apparatus for introducing an article into an animal's stomach substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or FigureS of the accompanying drawings.