ITMO20110158A1 - DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING SUBSTANCES WITHIN ANIMALS - Google Patents

Description

“DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING SUBSTANCES INSIDE ANIMALS”.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a device for introducing substances into animals, such as cattle or the like.

Devices in the form of guns and intended for the introduction of medicines into animals are known.

One of these devices is illustrated in US patent document 5,514,101.

This device comprises a base body, from which a hollow injection needle sticks out, and a handle for gripping by the user.

A cartridge containing one or more doses of medicinal substance in the form of pellets, ie small cylindrical capsules, to be introduced into the animal can be associated with the hollow needle.

The cartridge has a series of cavities containing the pellets and can be aligned with the hollow needle to be crossed by a longitudinally movable push rod.

The push rod is operated manually by the user using a lever hinged to the handle.

The lever is equipped with a toothed segment which, once rotated by the user, sets in motion a spool and a corresponding guide system for the push rod.

This known type of device has some drawbacks including the fact that the use of the lever to operate the push rod is not always practical and, after numerous uses, can cause fatigue in the hand. of the user.

Furthermore, the push rod actuation system is quite complex from a constructive and structural point of view and can sometimes give rise to operating problems.

The actuation of the lever is also accompanied by a click of the operating mechanism which causes sounds or noises that can make the animal nervous or frightening.

To this it should be added that the device object of US patent 5,514,101 is specifically designed for the introduction of medicines in the form of pellets and is unusable for the administration of substances in other forms, such as vaccines and serums in the liquid state.

Another drawback of this device consists in the fact that only one cartridge can be loaded on this gun at a time, forcing the user to improperly equip himself with a cartridge belt or a separate cartridge holder.

This last drawback is particularly felt in all farms comprising a large number of cattle, in which the substances contained in a single cartridge are used up very quickly and frequent replacements of exhausted cartridges are required, with heavy waste of time. which inevitably translate into limited productivity and an inconvenient increase in the cost of labor.

The main task of the present invention is to devise a device for introducing animal substances that can be used in a practical, easy and functional way, without excessively tiring the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for introducing substances into animals which can be used both to introduce capsules and to inject liquids or fluids.

Not least object of the present invention is to devise a device for introducing substances into animals which is more efficient and less noisy than traditional devices and allows to increase the productivity of labor, reducing its cost.

Another purpose of the present invention is to devise a device for introducing substances into animals which allows to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in the context of a simple, rational, easy and effective use and cost-effective solution. content. The above purposes are achieved by this device for introducing substances into animals, comprising:

at least one base body that can be gripped by a user and provided with at least one receiving seat able to house at least one cartridge which comprises at least one cavity containing a substance to be introduced into an animal;

at least one hollow needle which is associated with said base body and is able to penetrate said animal for the introduction of said substance; at least one push rod substantially aligned and coaxial with said hollow needle, said cartridge being placed in a position of use in which said cavity is placed between said hollow needle and said push rod and is aligned with them;

- actuation means adapted to move said push rod through said cavity into a position of use to push said substance through said hollow needle;

characterized in that said actuation means comprise;

- at least one bumper body associated with said base body in a translatable manner along a direction substantially parallel to said hollow needle and adapted to come into contact with said animal during the penetration / extraction of said hollow needle into / from said animal, and

- means for transforming the motion of said bumper body into the motion of said push rod.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a device for introducing substances into animals, illustrated by way of indication, but not of limitation, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view, partially broken away, of the device of Figure 1;

figure 3 is a side view, in partial transparency, of the device of figure 1 in the rest configuration;

Figure 4 is a side view, in partial transparency, of the device of Figure 1 in the operative configuration;

Figures 5 to 7 illustrate, in a succession of cross-sectional views, the operation of the automatic handling means provided in the device of Figure 1;

figure 8 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;

figure 9 is a longitudinal section view of the device of figure 8 in the rest configuration;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of Figure 8 in the operative configuration;

Figure 1 1 is a side view of a portion of the device of Figure 8 in the rest configuration;

figure 12 is a sectional view along the XII - XII plane of figure 11; Figure 13 is a side view of the portion of Figure 11 in the operative configuration;

figure 14 is a section view along the XTV - XIV plane of figure 13; Figures 15 to 17 illustrate, in a succession of cross-sectional views, the operation of the automatic movement means provided in a third embodiment of the device according to the invention; Figure 18 is an axonometric view, partially broken away, of an alternative embodiment of the cartridge provided in the device according to the invention;

Figures 19 to 21 illustrate, in a succession of views in longitudinal section, the operation of a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention for the use of the cartridge of Figure 18. With particular reference to the embodiment of the figures 1 to 7, 1 generally indicates a device for introducing animal substances.

In this embodiment, the substance S to be introduced into an animal A is made in the form of pellets, ie small capsules of a substantially cylindrical shape.

The S pellets are contained in a series of cartridges 2, each of which comprises a plurality of cavities 3 containing the S pellets.

The cavities 3 have a cylindrical conformation, with a constant circular or polygonal section.

The axial ends of each cavity 3 are open.

The cartridges 2 have a substantially plate-like conformation and the cavities 3 pass through them from side to side parallel to one of the larger faces of the cartridges 2.

Furthermore, the cavities 3 are arranged parallel to each other and spaced at a constant pitch.

By means of one or more assembly walls 4 the cartridges 2 are grouped together to form a pack.

In particular, the assembly walls 4 are two and are arranged on opposite sides of the cartridges 2 so as to close the open ends of the cavities 3.

Furthermore, the assembly walls 4 are perimeter, in the sense that they cover only the lateral sides of the pack of cartridges 2 and leave their relative sliding free in the direction transversal to the cavities 3.

In this way it is possible to slide one cartridge 2 with respect to the others, making the open ends of the cavities 3 emerge and allow them to be introduced into animal A.

This particular conformation of the cartridges 2 makes them completely symmetrical and specular, both open ends of the cavities 3 being able to act both as an inlet opening and as an outlet opening for substance S.

This peculiarity favors the use of the cartridges 2 which, in a practical and easy way, can be used indiscriminately both in one direction and in the other.

However, alternative embodiments are not excluded in which the cartridges 2 have a different conformation, for example they are equipped with a single cavity 3 and / or are not grouped to form a pack but, on the contrary, are single and separate from each other. .

The device 1 comprises a base body 5 shaped in the form of a gun and having a handle 6 that can be gripped ergonomically by a user.

The base body 5 consists, for example, of two half-shells 7 which can be coupled together.

The base body 5, once assembled, defines a receiving seat 8 suitable for housing one of the cartridges 2.

For this purpose, the basic shot 5 has a block 9 for housing the pack of cartridges 2.

Block 9 is arranged so that one of the cartridges 2 of the pack mates with the receiving seat 8 and can be inserted into the receiving seat 8 by simple sliding with respect to the assembly walls 4. With reference to the normal grip position of the base body 5, i.e. with the handle 6 facing downwards, the block 9 is housed at the top of the device 1 and the cartridges 2 can be inserted in the reception seat 8 with a movement from top to bottom and / or from bottom to top. For this reason, it is emphasized that in this discussion the terms `` low '' and `` high '' are used with reference to the aforementioned provision of block 9.

However, alternative forms of implementation are possible in which the loading and unloading of the cartridges 2 takes place along a different direction, for example laterally, in which case the terms `` low '' and `` high '' must be interpreted with the necessary adjustments of the case.

A hollow needle 10 is associated with the base body 5, which is able to penetrate animal A for the introduction of substance S and which extends along a longitudinal direction.

In this regard, it is emphasized that in this discussion the terms â € œlongitudinalâ € and â € œtransversalâ € are used with reference to the orientation of the hollow needle 10, which also defines the direction of penetration into the skin of animal A.

Inside the base body 5 there is also housed a push rod 11 substantially aligned e. coaxial to the hollow needle 10, the cartridges 2 inserted in the reception seat 8 being sequentially collocated in a position of use in which each cavity 3 is placed between the hollow needle 10 and the push rod 11 and It is aligned with them.

In addition, actuation means 12, 13 are provided to move the push rod 11 longitudinally through the cavity 3 which is placed in the position of use, so as to push the substance S contained therein through the needle cable 10 into the animal A.

In particular, the push rod 11 can be moved between a rest configuration, in which the push rod 11 is external to the cavity 3, and an operating configuration, in which the push rod 1 1 It is inserted in cavity 3. Usefully the actuation means 12, 13 comprise:

a buffering body 12 associated with the base body 5 in a translatable way along a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the hollow needle 10 and able to come into contact with the animal A during the penetration / extraction of the hollow needle 10 in the ™ animal A, e

- transformation means 13 for the transformation of the motion of the buffer body 12 into the motion of the push rod 11.

In practice, while the hollow needle 10 penetrates into the animal A, the buffering body 12 rests on the skin of the animal A, translates with respect to the base body 5 and, by means of the transformation means 13, puts movement of the push rod 11 for the introduction of substance S.

The motion of the push rod 11 due to the motion of the bumper body 12 can take place with different methods and methods.

In particular, the transformation means 13 illustrated in the figures are such that the motion of the bumper body 12 and that of the push rod 11 are perfectly proportional.

In other words, during the penetration of the hollow needle 10 into the animal A, the bumper body 12 runs forwards which determines a corresponding forward stroke of the push rod 11 while, during the extraction of the Hollow needle 10 from animal A, the bumper body 12 and the push rod 11 travel a corresponding return stroke with an identical but inverted mode with respect to the forward stroke.

The introduction of substance S into animal A, therefore, takes place as the hollow needle 10 penetrates into animal A while, during its extraction, the buffer body 12 and the push rod 11 they simply return to the starting potion.

However, other embodiments are possible in which the motion of the bumper body 12 and of the push rod 11 are not linear and such as, for example, to allow the push rod 11 to introduce the substance S to the Inside of the animal A only in the phase of extraction of the hollow needle 10, ie during the return stroke of the buffer body 12.

Conveniently, the bumper body 12 comprises an abutment plate 14, arranged transversely and able to contact the animal A, and two support bars 15 arranged longitudinally, which support the abutment plate 14 and which are associated with the base body 5 in sliding way.

The striker plate 14 is provided with a through opening 16 which allows the passage of the hollow needle 10.

In particular, the through opening 16 is located in the center of the abutment plate 14 and the support bars 15 are arranged coplanar with the hollow needle 10 and symmetrically on opposite sides of the latter.

This particular arrangement allows to move the bumper body 12 in a perfectly centered and parallel way to the hollow needle 10, avoiding inconvenient bending or jamming of the support bars 15 and / or to transmit the motion to the push rod 11 in a decomposed or unbalanced. The transmission of motion from the buffer body 12 to the push rod 11 during the penetration of the hollow needle 10 into the animal A takes place usefully in contrast to elastic return means 17.

In this embodiment, the elastic return means 17 consist, for example, of a pair of helical springs arranged longitudinally and abutment, on one side, on the support bars 15 and, on the other side, on two corresponding shoulders 18 obtained on the base body 5.

Advantageously, the transformation means 13 comprise:

- a first mechanism 19, 20 adapted to transform the rectilinear motion of the bumper body 12 into the rotary motion of a rotatable body 21, and

- a second mechanism 22, 23, 24 adapted to transform the rotating motion of the rotating body 21 into the rectilinear motion of the push rod 11, with the opposite direction of advancement with respect to the bumper body 12.

The first mechanism 19, 20, in turn, includes:

- at least one rack element 19 associated with the bumper body 12;

And

- at least one toothed pinion element 20 rotatably associated with the base body 5 and meshing with the rack element, the toothed pinion element 20 being associated with the rotating body 21. More in detail, in the particular form of implementation of figures 1 to 7 there are two rack elements 19, one for each support bar 15.

Similarly, the toothed pinion elements 20 are two and are made integral with each other, so as to make the motion transmitted through the corresponding rack elements 19 synchronous.

The second mechanism 22, 23, 24 includes:

- a first wheel 22 and a second wheel 23 associated with the base body 5 in a motible way, the first wheel 22 being able to receive the motion, that is to be dragged in rotation, by the rotating body 21; And

a flexible element 24, of the type of a tape or the like, closed on itself in a loop and wrapped around the first mota 22 and the second mota 23, the push rod 11 being associated with a slide 25 guided in a sliding way inside the base body 5 and dragged by the flexible element 24.

In particular, the first mota 22 and the second mota 23 are movable around rotation axes orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the hollow needle 10.

Preferably, the first mota 22 and the second mota 23 are toothed and mesh with the flexible element 24, also equipped with a corresponding toothing.

The transformation means 13 also comprise multiplying means 26, 27 suitable for multiplying the stroke of the push rod 11 with respect to the stroke of the bumper body 12.

In other words, the stroke of the bumper body 12 is significantly smaller than the stroke of the push rod 11 so as to allow the push rod 11 to pass through not only the cavity 3 arranged in the position of use but also the Hollow needle 10 and push substance S into animal A.

The multiplying means 26, 27 comprise, for example, a series of toothed wheels interposed between the toothed pinion elements 20 and the first wheel 22 and adapted to increase the transmission ratio between these rotating members. In particular, two first toothed wheels 26 coaxial to the toothed pinion elements 20 and provided with a greater number of teeth than the toothed pinion elements 20 are mounted on the rotating body 21.

The first toothed wheels 26 mesh with two corresponding second toothed wheels 27 associated coaxially with the first wheel 22 and provided with a smaller number of teeth than the first toothed wheels 26.

inside the receiving seat 8 the cartridges 2 slide along a sliding direction D substantially transversal to the hollow needle 10 to place the cavities 3 in succession in the position of use.

For this purpose, each cartridge 2 is provided with a succession of gripping teeth 28 engaged by automatic handling means 29 able to move the cartridge 2 into the receiving seat 8 at each cycle of use to place a different cavity 3 in the position of use. .

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7, the automatic handling means 29 comprise;

- an elastic thrust element 30 adapted to push the cartridge 2 being processed along the receiving seat 8; and

- at least one locking element 31 adapted to lock the cartridge 2, the locking element 31 being movable due to the motion of the bumper body 12 to temporarily unlock the cartridge 2 and allow the cartridge to slide along the receiving seat 8 under the action of the elastic thrust element 30.

More in detail, the reception seat 8 is equipped with a closed bottom 32 on which the elastic thrust element 30 is housed.

By means of a manual push exerted by the user, the cartridges 2 are inserted into the receiving seat 8 from top to bottom in contrast to the force of the elastic thrust element 3 $.

The locking elements 31 are two and arranged on opposite sides of the receiving seat 8.

Each locking element 31 consists, for example, of a hook associated with the base body 5 in a movable way around an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal direction of the hollow needle 10.

The hooks 31 are kept in the hooking position by means of two corresponding first band springs 33, interposed between the base body 5 and the hooks themselves.

Each hook 31 is rotated against its first ribbon spring 33 by means of a corresponding control element 34.

The control elements 34 are movable along the sliding direction D in contrast to corresponding contrast springs 35.

For this purpose, each control element 34 has an inclined surface 36 that can be taught by a corresponding wedge-shaped element 37 associated with the bumper body 12.

The control elements 34, the contrast springs 35 and the wedge elements 37 are two, one for each locking element 3 1.

Each wedge element 37 is mounted on a corresponding support bar 15 and, in the rest configuration, engages a corresponding inclined surface 36, with the control element 34 which is pushed downwards by pressing the contrast spring 35, while, in operative configuration, it moves away from the inclined surface 36 and the contrast spring 35 moves the control element 34 upwards.

Furthermore, two respective knee elements 38 are rotatably associated with the control elements 34 and are able to rotate with respect to the control elements 34 in contrast to two second band springs 39.

The knee elements 38 are hinged in such a way as to jump over the hooks 31 when the control elements 34 move upwards, without releasing them from the gripping teeth 28, and to jam on the hooks 31, temporarily releasing them from the socket 28, when the control elements 34 move downwards.

The single click that allows you to pass from one pick 28 to the next without skipping other pick teeth 28 is obtained by combining the ascent speed of the cartridge 2 with the return speed of the hook 3Ã.

The operation of device 1 in figures 1 to 7 is as follows.

Once the pack of cartridges has been loaded into block 9, the first cartridge 2 arranged in correspondence with the receiving seat 8 is manually pushed by the user from the top towards the bottom of the receiving seat 8 until it is close to the closed bottom 32.

Inside the reception seat 8 the cartridge 2 is blocked by means of the hooks 31 leaving one of the cavities 3 in the position of use.

At this point the user places the buffer body 12 on the skin of animal A and presses the base body 5 against it, making the hollow needle 10 penetrate into animal A.

During penetration, the bumper body 12 rests on the skin of the patient A causing its relative sliding with respect to the base body 5, which involves the actuation of the push rod 11 by means of transformation means 13.

The push rod 11 then passes from the rest configuration (figure 3) to the operative configuration (figure 4) introducing the substance S contained in the cavity 3 into the animal A.

At the same time, the wedge-shaped elements 37 move away from the inclined surfaces 36, causing the control elements 34 to pass from the lowered position (Figure 5) to the raised position (Figure 6); in this passage the knee elements 38 slide on the hooks 31 without releasing them from the gripping teeth 28.

Upon extraction of the hollow needle 10, the bumper body 12 returns to the starting position pushed by the elastic return means 17 and also dragging the push rod 11 with it, which returns to the rest configuration.

At this moment the wedge elements 37 return to the inclined surfaces 36 and determine the lowering of the control elements 34 and the locking of the knee elements 38 on the hooks 31.

The hooks 31 are thus made to oscillate in contrast to the first band springs 33 and are momentarily released from the gripping teeth 28, allowing the cartridge 2 to rise by one click and place the subsequent cavity 3 in the position of use (Figure 7).

Once all the cavities 3 have been emptied, the elastic thrust element 30 expels the cartridge 2 from the reception seat 8 and the user replaces it with another cartridge 2 from the pack inserted in block 9.

With reference to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 14, the device 1 continues to be designed to operate with cartridges 2 grouped in packs and containing substances S in the form of pellets.

The device 1 further comprises a base body 5 shaped in the form of a gun.

The base body 5, however, no longer consists of two half-shells 7 but, rather, in a first element 40, in a second element 41 and in a third element 42, coupled longitudinally to each other, in addition to the handle 6, associated with the second element 41.

The device 1 also comprises a hollow needle 10, a push rod 11, a receiving seat 8 and a block 9 with functions similar to those described in the previous embodiment, to which reference is made.

The first element 40 defines the reception seat 8 and the block 9 and supports the hollow needle 10.

On the other hand, the push rod 11 is housed in the second element 41. In this embodiment too, actuation means 12, 13 are provided, comprising:

a bumper body 12, shaped to define an abutment plate 14 and two support bars 15; And

- transformation means 13 for the transformation of the motion of the bumper body 12 into the motion of the push rod 11 in contrast to elastic return means 17.

The buffer body 12 and the transformation means 13 have functions similar to those described in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7, with the difference that in the embodiment of Figures 8 to 14 the transformation means 13 comprise:

at least a first sealed chamber 43 and at least a second sealed chamber 44, which extend substantially parallel to the hollow needle 10, contain an operating fluid and are placed in fluidic connection with each other;

at least a first piston 45 associated with the bumper body 12 and movable in a sealed manner in the first chamber 43 along a direction of advance; - at least a second plunger 46 associated with the push rod 11 and movable in a sealed manner in the second chamber 44 along a direction of advance opposite to the first plunger 45.

In practice, the motion of the bumper body 12 pushes the first piston 45 in one direction of the first chamber 43 and the operating fluid, which moves between the first chamber 43 and the second chamber 44, pushes the second piston 46 in the opposite direction along the second bedroom 44.

The operating fluid is a substantially incompressible fluid in a liquid state, such as oil or the like.

More in detail, the first chambers 43 are two and contain two first pistons 45, each of which is associated with a respective support bar 15 of the bumper body 12.

The rooms 43, 44 are obtained inside the second element 41.

In particular, the second element 41 consists of a tubular body in which three longitudinal through holes are obtained, which define the first chambers 43 and the second chamber 44.

The three longitudinal holes 43, 44 are arranged side by side, with the hole that defines the second chamber 44 which is centrally arranged between the holes that define the two first chambers 43.

The ends of the first chambers 43 and of the second chamber 44 which face the first element 40 are closed by means of suitable sealing caps 47.

The opposite ends, on the other hand, are placed in fluidic connection by means of the third element 42.

For this purpose, the third element 42 is shaped to internally define a connection manifold 48 which connects the three chambers 43, 44.

The watertight closure of the three chambers 43, 44 is in any case safeguarded by means of a special gasket, not shown in the figures, which is interposed between the second element 41 and the third element 42.

In the embodiment of figures 8 to 14, the elastic return means 17 consist of a pair of helical springs, arranged longitudinally inside the first chambers 43, and a third helical spring arranged longitudinally inside the second room 43.

The helical springs 17 arranged in the first chambers 43 abut, on one side, on the first pistons 45 and, on the other side, on the base body 5 (in particular on the third element 42).

The helical spring 17 arranged in the second chamber 44, on the other hand, abuts, on one side, on the second piston 46 and, on the other side, on the base body 5 (in particular on one of the sealing caps 47 made integral to the second element 41).

The helical spring 17 arranged in the second chamber 44 helps the return of the second piston 46 to the initial position avoiding that, in the passage from the operating configuration to the rest configuration, the operating fluid in the second chamber 44 is inconveniently depressed.

Also in this embodiment, moreover, there are multiplying means 26, 27 suitable for multiplying the stroke of the push rod 11 with respect to the stroke of the bumper body 12.

Unlike the previous embodiment, however, the multiplying means 26, 27 comprise a first overall useful area 26 of the first pistons 45 and a second overall useful area 27 of the second piston 46, the first overall useful area 26 being substantially larger of the second total useful area 27.

In this regard, it is emphasized that in the present discussion the term â € œuseful areaâ € of the pistons 45, 46 indicates the surface of the pistons 45, 46 which acts on the operating fluid in their motion along the chambers 43, 44; clearly, the first overall useful area 26 is defined by the sum of the useful areas of the first pistons 45.

The fact that the first total useful area 26 is larger than the second total useful area 27 means that, with the same volume moved between the first chambers 43 and the second chamber 44, the section covered by the first pistons 45, and therefore by the body bumper 12, is smaller than the corresponding portion covered by the second piston 46, and therefore by the push rod 11. Similarly to the previous embodiment, the cartridges 2 slide inside the receiving seat 8 along the direction of sliding D by means of automatic handling means 29.

In the embodiment of Figures 8 to 14, however, the automatic handling means 29 are different and comprise at least one coupling element 50 which, due to the motion of the bumper body 12, is movable with reciprocating motion along the direction of scroll D.

The coupling element 50 is suitable for:

- snap-hook the gripping teeth 28 of the cartridges 2 when the push rod 11 is in the operating configuration and inserted in one of the cavities 3 to block the sliding of the cartridge 2, and

- drag the cartridge 2 along the sliding direction D when the push rod 11 is in the rest configuration and outside the cavity 3. More in detail, the hooking elements 50 are two and arranged on opposite sides of the receiving seat 8.

Each hooking element 50 consists, for example, of a tooth that can be snapped into place with the gripping teeth 28 and mounted on a bracket 51.

The bracket 51 slides along the receiving seat 8 in contrast to an elastic return system 52 consisting, for example, of a series of springs interposed between the bracket 51 and the base body 5.

The bracket 51 also has a pair of inclined planes 53 which can be engaged by two corresponding wedge-shaped bodies 54.

The wedge-shaped bodies 54 are associated with the buffer body 12, one for each support bar 15.

In the rest configuration, the wedge-shaped bodies 54 are distant from the inclined planes 53 and the elastic return system 52 keeps the bracket 51 pressed downwards.

In the operative configuration, on the other hand, the wedge-shaped bodies 54 engage the inclined surfaces 36 and push the bracket 51 upwards, crushing the elastic return system 52 and causing the hooking elements 50 to engage the following gripping tooth 28 in a pop-up manner .

In this embodiment, the movement of the cartridge 2 along the receiving seat 8 occurs from top to bottom; for this purpose the receiving seat 8 is equipped with an open bottom 55 through which the cartridges 2 come out once they have run out.

The operation of the device 1 of figures 8 to 14 is as follows.

Once the pack of cartridges has been loaded into block 9, the user manually pushes one of the cartridges 2 from top to bottom inside the receiving seat 8, until the coupling elements 50 engage the first teeth 28 of the cartridge 2.

When the hooking elements 50 engage the gripping teeth 28, one of the cavities 3 is arranged in a position of use.

At this point the user places the buffer body 12 on the skin of animal A and presses the base body 5 against it, making the hollow needle 10 penetrate into animal A.

During penetration, the buffer body 12 rests on the skin of the animal A, causing it to slide relative to the base body 5, which involves the operation of the first pistons 45 inside the first chambers 43.

The operating fluid displaced by the first pistons 45 passes through the connection manifold 48, enters the second chamber 44 and pushes the second piston 46 and the push rod 11.

The push rod 11 then passes from the rest configuration (figure 9) to the operative configuration (figure 10) by introducing the substance S contained in cavity 3 into animal A.

At the same time, the wedge-shaped bodies 54 approach the inclined planes 53, causing the bracket 51 to pass from the lowered position (Figures 11 and 12) to the raised position (Figures 13 and 14).

In this step it happens that:

the cartridge 2 remains blocked by the push rod 11, which is inserted in one of its cavities 3 preventing it from sliding;

the hooking elements 50 engage the next pair of gripping teeth 28 in a pop-up manner;

- the elastic return system 52 compresses.

Upon extraction of the hollow needle 10, the bumper body 12 returns to the starting position pushed by the elastic return means 17 and also dragging the push rod 11 with it, which returns to the rest configuration.

At this moment the wedge-shaped bodies 54 move away from the inclined planes 53 and the elastic return system 52 pushes the bracket 51 to return to its initial position by lowering the cartridge 2, which is no longer kept locked by the push rod 11, and placing the next cavity 3 in the position of use.

Once all the cavities 3 have been emptied, the cartridge 2 emerges from the open bottom 55 and the user replaces it with another cartridge 2 of the pack inserted in block 9.

The embodiments of Figures 1 to 7 and 8 to 14 show two different embodiments of both the transformation means 13 and the automatic handling means 29.

Clearly, alternative solutions are not excluded in which the automatic handling means of figures 1 to 7 are combined with the transformation means of figures 8 to 14, or vice versa.

Similarly, other embodiments are also possible in which the transformation means 13 and the automatic handling means 29 are different.

Figures 15 to 17, for example, illustrate an alternative embodiment of the automatic handling means 29 which can be mounted both on the device 1 of figures 1 to 7 and on that of figures 8 to 14.

The automatic handling means 29 comprise:

- a gripping element 56 which is movable with reciprocating motion along the sliding direction D due to the motion of the bumper body 12. Following this motion, the gripping element 56 is adapted to snap the teeth together grip 28 and to drag the cartridge 2 along the sliding direction D; and

- a yielding retaining element 57, arranged inside the receiving seat 8 and adapted to temporarily hold the cartridge 2. The gripping element 56 consists, for example, of a tooth that can be snapped together with the gripping teeth 28 and mounted on a sliding body 58.

The sliding body 58 is movable along the sliding direction D in contrast to a corresponding resistant spring 59.

For the sliding of the sliding body 58, a system with an inclined surface 36 and a wedge element 37 is provided which is completely similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7.

In particular, the sliding body 58 has an inclined surface 36 which can be engaged by a wedge-shaped element 37 associated with one of the support bars 15.

In the rest configuration the wedge element 37 contacts the inclined surface 36, with the sliding body 58 which is pushed downwards by pressing the resistant spring 59, while, in the operative configuration, the wedge element 37 moves away from the inclined surface 36 and the resistant spring 59 moves the sliding body 58 upwards.

The yielding retaining element 57, on the other hand, consists of a wavy blade which is associated with the base body 5 along the receiving seat 8. The shape of the wavy blade 57 allows to engage the gripping teeth 28 in a yielding way, that is to hold the cartridge 2 until a sufficient force is applied to it to overcome the resistance of the corrugated lamella 57.

In this embodiment, the movement of the cartridge 2 along the receiving seat 8 occurs from top to bottom; for this purpose the receiving seat 8 is equipped with an open bottom 55 through which the cartridges 2 come out once they have run out.

The operation of the device 1 of figures 15 to 17 is similar to that of the other embodiments as regards the actuation of the push rod 11 and differs only in the way of locking and automatically moving the cartridge 2 in the reception area 8.

In particular, once the pack of cartridges has been loaded into block 9, the user manually pushes one of the cartridges 2 from top to bottom inside the reception seat 8, until the gripping element 56 engages the first pick 28 of the cartridge 2.

When the gripping element 56 engages the gripping teeth 28, one of the cavities 3 is arranged in the position of use.

At this point the user places the bumper body 12 on the skin of the animal A and presses the base body 5 against it, making the hollow needle 10 penetrate into the animal A and simultaneously activating the push rod 11 by means of transformation 13.

In this phase, the wedge-shaped element 37 moves away from the inclined surface 36, causing the sliding body 58 to pass from the lowered position (figure 15) to the raised position (figure 16); in this passage the cartridge 2 remains blocked by the yielding retaining element 57 and the gripping element 56 engages the subsequent gripping tooth 28.

Upon extraction of the hollow needle 10, the buffer body 12 and the push rod 11 return to their starting positions, returning the wedge element 37 to the inclined surface 36.

This determines the lowering of the sliding body 58 and of the gripping element 56, which also drags the cartridge 2 downwards (figure 17).

Once all the cavities 3 have been emptied, the cartridge 2 emerges from the open bottom 55 and the user replaces it with another cartridge 2 from the pack inserted in block 9.

Figure 18 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the cartridges 2 in which the substance S contained therein is in the form of fluid and not pellets. In this regard, it is specified that in the present discussion the term â € œfluid substanceâ € does not mean only liquid products but also viscous or powder products with sufficient flowability.

To contain this fluid substance S, the cavities 3 of the cartridges 2 are provided with a first end 60, which is hermetically closed by means of a breakable septum 61, and with a second end 62, which is closed by an inserted piston 63 smoothly sealed in its cavity 3.

In this particular type of cartridge 2, the push rod 11 does not come into direct contact with the substance S but is adapted to push the piston 63 for the escape of the substance S through the first end 60.

A possible embodiment of the device 1 for using these cartridges is illustrated in figures 19 to 21.

This embodiment is completely identical to the solution of Figures 1 to 7 with the exception of the fact that the hollow needle 10 is not stably fixed to the base body 5 but, on the contrary, is associated in longitudinally sliding way.

For this purpose, in fact, the hollow needle 10 is mounted on a guide cylinder 64 housed in a complementary guide seat 65 fixed to the base body 5. The longitudinal sliding of the hollow needle 10 occurs in contrast to a coil spring 66.

The helical spring 66 is arranged abutment, on one side, against the guide cylinder 64, and on the other side, against the base body 5.

Furthermore, the hollow needle 10 is provided with an external tip 10a, which is suitable for penetration into animal A, and with an internal tip 10b, which is opposite to the external tip 10a and is suitable for breakthrough of the breakable septum 61.

Clearly, alternative embodiments of the device 1 are not excluded in which the hollow needle 10 is sliding, for the use of the cartridge 2 of figure 18, and combined with transformation means 13 and automatic handling means 29 other than those of Figures 1 to 7, for example with those of Figures 8 to 14 or 15 to 17.

The operation of the device 1 of figures 19 to 21 is substantially similar to that of the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 7 and differs solely due to the fact that the hollow needle 10 slides longitudinally during the penetration of the animal. TO.

In fact, when the buffer body 12 is placed on the skin of the animal A (figure 19) and the base body 5 is pushed against it (figure 20), the hollow needle 10 comes into contact with the skin of animal A and meets a certain resistance to penetration, which determines its sliding backwards.

This brings the inner tip 10b of the hollow needle 10 closer to the cartridge 2 until it penetrates through the breakable septum 61.

At the same time, the push rod 11 reaches the piston 63 and pushes it towards the first end 60 of the cavity 3, causing the delivery of the fluid substance S through the hollow needle 10 (figure 21).

At the end of the administration of the fluid substance S, the device 1 is removed from the animal A and the hollow needle 10 returns to the starting position due to the action of the coil spring 66.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS 1) Device (1) for introducing substances into animals, comprising: - at least one base body (5) that can be gripped by a user and provided with at least one receiving seat (8) able to house at least one cartridge (2) which comprises at least one cavity (3) containing a substance (S) to be introduced into an animal (A); - at least one hollow needle (10) which is associated with said base body (5) and is able to penetrate said animal (A) by introducing said substance (S); - at least one push rod (11) substantially aligned and coaxial with said hollow needle (10), said cartridge (2) being placed in a position of use in which said cavity (3) is placed between said hollow needle ( 10) and said push rod (1 1) and is aligned with them; actuation means (12, 13) adapted to move said push rod (11) through said cavity (3) into a position of use to push said substance (S) through said hollow needle (10); characterized in that said actuation means (12, 13) comprise: - at least one bumper body (12) associated with said base body. (5) translatable along a direction substantially parallel to said hollow needle (10) and able to come into contact with said animal (A) during the penetration / extraction of said hollow needle (10) into / from said animal (A) , And - means for transforming (13) the motion of said bumper body (12) into the motion of said push rod (11). 2) Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bumper body (12) comprises at least one abutment plate (14) able to contact said animal (A) and at least two support bars (15) of said plate abutment (14) which are associated with said base body (5) in a sliding manner. 3) Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said abutment plate (14) is provided with a through opening (16) for the passage of said hollow needle (10). 4) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said transformation means (13) comprise elastic return means (17) adapted to oppose the motion of said bumper body (12) during the penetration of said hollow needle (10) in said animal (A). 5) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said transformation means (13) comprise multiplying means (26, 27) adapted to multiply the stroke of said push rod (11) with respect to the stroke of said buffer body (12). 6) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transformation means (13) comprise: - at least a first mechanism (19, 20) for transforming the rectilinear motion of said bumper body (12) into the rotating motion of a rotatable body (21), and - at least a second mechanism (22, 23, 24) for transforming the rotating motion of said rotatable body (21) into the rectilinear motion of said thrust rod (11). 7) Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said first mechanism (19, 20) comprises: - at least one rack element (19) associated with said bumper body (12); at least one toothed pinion element (20) rotatably associated with said base body (5) and meshing with said rack element (19), said toothed pinion element (20) being associated with said rotatable body (21). 8) Device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said second mechanism (22, 23, 24) comprises: at least one first wheel (22) and at least one second wheel (23) associated with said base body (5) in a rotatable way, said first wheel (22) being adapted to receive motion from said rotatable body (21); at least one flexible element (24) closed on itself in a ring and wrapped around said first wheel (22) and said second wheel (23), said push rod (11) being associated with said flexible element (24) and draggable by it. 9) Device (1) according to claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said multiplying means (26, 27) comprise at least a series of toothed wheels interposed between said toothed pinion element (20) and said first wheel (22 ) and suitable for increasing the transmission ratio. 10) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transformation means (13) comprise: at least a first sealed chamber (43) and at least a second sealed chamber (44), which extend substantially parallel to said hollow needle (10), contain an operating fluid and are placed in fluidic connection with each other; - at least a first piston (45) associated with said bumper body (12) and movable in a sealed manner in said first chamber (43) along a direction of advance; - at least a second piston (46) associated with said thrust rod (11) and movable in a sealed manner in said second chamber (44) along a direction opposite to said first piston (45). 11) Device (1) according to claims 5 and 10, characterized in that said multiplying means (26, 27) comprise a first overall useful area (26) of said first piston (45) and a second overall useful area (27) ) of said second piston (46), said first overall useful area (26) being substantially larger than said second overall useful area (27). 12) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said substance (S) is in the form of pellets, said cavity (3) being provided with open ends. 13) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said substance (S) is in the form of fluid, said cavity (3) being provided with a first end (60) hermetically closed by a breakable septum ( 61) and of a second end (62) closed by a piston (63) slidably inserted in seal in said cavity (3), said push rod (11) being able to push said piston (63) for the release of said substance (S) in the form of fluid through this first extremity (60). 14) Device (1) according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that said hollow needle (10) is associated with said base body (5) in a longitudinally sliding way and provided with an external tip (10a) suitable for penetration into said animal (A) and of an internal point (10b), opposite to said external point (10a), ata to the breakthrough of breakable detoxifier (61). 15) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cartridge (2) comprises a plurality of said cavities (3) and can slide in said receiving seat (8) along a sliding direction ( D) substantially transversal to said hollow needle (10) to place said cavity (3) in succession in said position of use. 16) Device (1) according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that said cartridge (2) is provided with a succession of gripping teeth (28) which can be engaged by automatic handling means (29) adapted to move said cartridge (2) at each cycle of use to place one of said cavities (3) in said position of use. ~ 17) Device (1) according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that said automatic handling means (29) comprise: - at least one elastic thrust element (30) adapted to thrust said cartridge (2) along said receiving seat (8); and - at least one locking element (31) for locking said cartridge (2), which is movable due to the motion of said bumper body (12) to temporarily unlock said cartridge (2) and allow said cartridge to slide ( 2) along said receiving seat (8) under the action of said elastic thrust element (30). 18) Device (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that said automatic handling means (29) comprise: at least one coupling element (50) which, due to the motion of said bumper body (12), is movable with reciprocating motion along said sliding direction (D) and able to: - snap-hooking said grip teeth (28) when said push rod (11) is inserted in one of said cavities (3) to block the sliding of said cartridge (2), and to - dragging said cartridge (2) along said sliding direction (D) when said push rod (1 1) is external to said cavities (3). 19) Device (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that said automatic handling means (29) comprise: at least one gripping element (56) which, due to the motion of said bumper body (12), is movable with reciprocating motion along said sliding direction (D) and adapted to snap-hook said gripping teeth (28) and dragging said cartridge (2) along said sliding direction (D); and at least one compliant retaining element (57), arranged inside said receiving seat (8) and able to temporarily hold said cartridge (2). 20) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said cartridges (2) grouped in a pack by at least one assembly wall (4). 21) Device (1) according to claim 20, characterized by the fact that said assembly wall (4) is perimeter and leaves free the sliding of at least one of said cartridges (2) along said sliding direction (D).