WO2012008842A1

WO2012008842A1 - Device for injection

Info

Publication number: WO2012008842A1
Application number: PCT/NO2011/000182
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jörgen HÄGGLUND; Frode Vaagland; Per Arne Oppheim; Jon Egil Hammeren; John Eriksson; Halvard Andresen
Original assignee: Maskon As
Priority date: 2010-06-24
Filing date: 2011-06-24
Publication date: 2012-01-19
Also published as: NO334013B1; NO20100913A1

Abstract

Device for injecting animals comprising a cannula (6) and a unit (1) being arranged to create suction, as the cannula (6) and the suction unit (1) is placed close to each other. The device comprises further a dosing unit (7) wherein the measured doses are led through the cannula (6). The cannula (6) is arranged moveable in the device between an inner and an outer position to be moved towards and to penetrate the surface of the animal to be injected and further until correct injection depth. The dosing unit (7) is arranged to eject measured doses through the cannula (6) once the cannula has reached the correct injection depth.

Description

Device for injection

The present invention is related to a device for injection of animals, preferably fish, according to the preamble of patent claims 1 and 6. Background

Injection of compositions in animals is a standard procedure and is performed to prevent sickness and reduce the risk of economical loss. In order to achieve good results of the injection, the animal must be healthy, and the injection must be performed correct. At worst case, incorrect injection may result in reduced growth and if the compositions are injected into the meat rather than the blood stream or abdominal cavity, the meat may become discoloured and be graded down upon slaughtering.

Injection of compositions in animals is especially related to injection of fish, but also to injection of poultry and mammals. Injection of vaccines is extensively used in the fish farming industry. Injection site and depth will vary according to the size of the fish, and generally larger fish needs deeper injection than smaller fish. If a large fish is not injected deep enough, the fluid will be injected into the meat rather than the abdominal cavity. In the opposite case, if a small fish is injected too deep, inner organs may get injured and the fish will suffer and in worst case die. The site for injection should be one fin length in front of (the head of the fish being the front) the basis of the pelvic fin, and into the centre line of the fish.

Today the fish is usually sorted before vaccination. The sorting prepares and improves the quality of the vaccination. At manual vaccination and most semi-automatic vaccination machines there is a need for a set injection depth, and depending on the size of the fish to be vaccinated one selects the correct length of the needles, while longitudinal placing is manually adjusted. This means that the fish to be vaccinated must be within a given size to achieve correct deposit of vaccine.

At injection of animals it is important that the whole dose is deposited at the intended place, such as the abdominal cavity, the cannula must thus achieve correct injection depth before the composition is deposited, and must not be withdrawn until the dosing is completed. The animal must be kept immovable during injection and when injecting fish this is in most cases achieved by anaesthetization and that the vaccinator either holds the fish in his/hers hand or presses it towards an edge. It is however, very important that no pressure is applied to the fish's abdomen, as this will decrease the distance between the wall of the abdomen and the inner organs, and thus increase the risk of injuring the inner organs upon vaccination. Further, it is important that the cannula is injected at the same angle related to the surface of the fish, every time, preferably 90 degrees. This is because a change in the angle will change the optimal injection depth, and wrong angle will give too long or too short injection depth and. thus incorrect deposit of the composition. A change of the angle may also cause cuts in the skin of the animal, and the corresponding problems related to wounds and infections.

Vaccination of fish is today performed either manually or by semiautomatic vaccination machines. The operators inject the vaccine in every fish by means of a vaccination gun or feeds one and one fish into the semiautomatic vaccination machine. Manual vaccination is still the predominant method, but special vaccination guns are used in order to maintain an acceptable speed. Vaccination guns are semiautomatic in such a way that the only manually work is to inject the cannula into the fish at the correct site and at the correct depth. An experienced vaccinator can vaccinate 1200 fish per hour, and there will always be certain part not being correctly injected.

WO 0187389 and US 4114619 mention a device comprising a cavity being placed against the skin of the patient, the skin is then sucked into the cavity and penetrated by a cannula being fastened in the cavity. Such a device can not vary the depth of the injection according to the size of the animal, and in order to ensure that the skin is being sucked into sufficient depth of the non- moving cannula, the skin must be sucked with relatively large force, and effusions in the area may occur. If such a device is used on animals, for instance fish, having elastic and/or though skin, the skin may deflect when sucked onto the cannula, and one may get situations where the vaccination fluid is deposited wrong or in worst case outside the animal. Further, in such situations there is a greater risk for cuts and wounds in the injection area.

Object

One object of the present invention is that the injection device shall deposit the injection fluid at the correct place. Another object is that the device shall keep the animal immovable at the injection site, and that the injections shall be accomplished avoiding cuts in the abdomen, as cuts may lead to infections. A further object is that the fluid shall be deposited at the correct place, such as the abdominal cavity, without causing cuts or injury to the meat or inner organs, which may cause reduced growth or downgrading after slaughtering. Yet another object is that the device could constitute a part of a bigger unit, such as a vaccination machine.

The invention

The object of the invention is reached with an injection device according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1 and a method according to patent claim 6. Further advantageous features are stated in the independent claims. A part of the injection device according to the present invention may be performed according to conventional solutions, having a cannula and automatic suction and ejection of injection fluid. The amount of fluid to be sucked in and injected into the animal may be adjusted manually or automatically. In cases where the injection device is should be used manually or in semi automatic machines, the animals should be sorted prior to the injection, and thus the amount of fluid will only be adjusted upon change of size. In such cases it may be an advantage that the amount of fluid is manually adjusted. In cases where the injection device should be an integrated part of a machine, the amount of fluid should be adjusted automatically according to the size of the animal to be injected.

The depth of the injection, meaning how deep into the animal the injection fluid should be deposited, is also depending on the size of the animal, and should be adjusted in the same way as the amount of fluid.

The injection device according to the present invention comprises a suction unit close to the cannula, as the suction unit is in contact with the surface of the animal at the injection site, for instance the abdomen of a fish. The suction unit comprises an open cavity with an outer rim, as the outer rim can constitute an air tight seal when placed onto the surface of the animal. In an inner part of the cavity, the suction unit is connected to means for withdrawing air form the cavity, in such a way that suction is created. When the outer rim of the cavity constitutes a seal towards the surface of the animal, and air is withdrawn, the suction unit will be fastened to the surface until air is let into the cavity again.

A cannula is arranged movably in the injection device, between an inner and an outer position. In the inner position the cannula is withdrawn in such a way that the surface of the animal will not be perforated, and in the outer position the cannula is moved forward through the surface of the animal and to correct depth for deposit of the vaccine.

Upon vaccination, the injection device and the animal is led towards each other, where after the means for withdrawing air from the cavity of the suction unit is activated, in such a way that the surface of the animal is pulled against the suction unit at the correct site for injection. In this way the animal is kept in correct position for injection, as both distance and angel between the cannula and suction unit is defined. The animal can not move out of position until it is released from the suction unit. The power of the means withdrawing air from the cavity can be sufficiently strong to displace the surface of the animal, such as the abdomen of the fish, from its natural position and partly into the suction unit, in such a way that the place for depositing the injection fluid, such as the abdominal cavity, temporarily becomes larger.

When the suction unit is fastened to the surface of the animal, and the animal is thus kept in correct position, the cannula is moved from inner position, into the animal and to the outer position, where the fluid is deposited at the intended place, for instance the abdominal cavity. The depth of the injection, and thus the outer position of the cannula, is adjusted according to the size of the animal.

As said above it is important that the animal is held in correct position for injection, and that it does not move at the injection site during the injection. This is achieved by keeping the suction unit in contact with the surface of the animal during the whole injection time, and as the injection device comprises both suction unit and cannula, the angle and distance between these will be defined. The suction unit may be performed in any way being convenient, but as the injection site of the animal should not move during the injection, it is preferably made of a stiff material such as plastic, metal and the similar. The cannula may be placed at the side of the suction unit, but is preferably placed in such a way that it is surrounded by the suction unit, meaning that the cannula is passing through the cavity of the suction unit when it moves from inner position and before it penetrates the surface of the animal.

The cannula should be cleaned between injections of different animals. This may be performed in many ways, and in a preferred embodiment the suction is ended with a blowout in such a way that the animal leaves the suction unit at the same time as the cannula is cleaned for possible scales and the similar by the air. In another preferred embodiment the cannula is flushed with water, disinfectants or the similar. Such fluids may be led through the same tube being used to withdraw air, or a separate tube.

In a preferred embodiment a plate having a thorough hole is placed between the inner position for the cannula and the position for penetrating the surface of the animal, as the cannula is led through the hole. It is an advantage that the plate is placed close to the bottom of the cavity, and in a very preferred embodiment the plate is a part of the bottom of the cavity. The hole in the plate or the bottom of the cavity should be a bit larger than the diameter of the cannula, in such a way that the cannula is easily moved back and forth, but small enough to scrape off possible pollutions sticking to the cannula. The cannula is led through the hole when it moves to outer position, and as the cannula moves back to inner position, scales and similar residues will be scraped off and left in the cavity. It is preferred to use blowout in addition to the hole plate in order to remove these residues from the cavity.

The present invention will in the following be described with reference to vaccination of smolt and other farmed fish, as the vaccination should be deposited in the abdominal cavity. The invention should however, not be limited to this, as it is also very relevant for injection of vaccine or another medicament to other animals. Examples The invention will in the following be described with references to the enclosed Figures, showing preferred embodiments of the present invention for vaccination of fish, wherein

Figure 1 shows a principal sketch of a suction unit having a cannula led trough,

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a vaccination device, and

Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 2 as a part of a vaccination machine.

Figure 1 shows a suction unit 1 comprising a cavity 2 having an outer rim 3, as the outer rim can form an airtight sealing towards the surface of the animal. At the inner part of the cavity 2, the suction unit is performed with two holes 4 connectable to means for withdrawing air from the cavity. In the center of the back of the cavity there is a thorough hole 5 for the cannula 6, as the cannula 6 is shown moved through the hole 5 and in its outer position. In its inner position the cannula will be withdrawn through the hole 5. The hole 5 which the cannula is moved through will also act as a means for cleaning, as different pollutions, for instance fish scales, will be too large to be withdrawn through the hole, and will thus be scraped off the cannula. The suction unit 1 may be fastened to the rest of the injection device in different ways, which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art.

When using a device according to the present invention, the outer rim 3 of the suction unit 1 and the abdomen of the fish is led towards each other before the suction is activated by withdrawing air from the cavity. The suction is sufficiently powerful to draw the abdomen of the fish till the disengaged rim 3, in such a way that the fish is kept immovable and the injection site is thus being optimal in relation to deposit of vaccine. The suction may also be so powerful that the abdomen is drawn further a small distance into the cavity, and in such a case a more or less cup- shaped space is created inside the abdominal cavity. This makes the abdominal cavity temporarily larger, and reduces thus further the risk of incorrect vaccination.

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention. In order to improve the understanding of the figure, the means and couplings for withdrawing air from the cavity 2 of the suction unit 1, is not shown. This may however be performed in many ways, which will be obvious for a person skilled of the art. The device according to Figure 2 shows a suction unit 1 where the outer rim 3 which should seal towards the surface of the animal, is curved and raised from the surroundings. This design improves the seal, especially when the surface of the animal is not plane, for instance the abdomen of a fish. A cannula 6 is led through the centre of the suction unit 1, and is shown in outer position. The cannula 6 is moved between inner and outer position, as the size of the fish is deciding the outer position which represent the optimal depth of injection for each fish. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the device comprises a unit 7 for dosing the injection fluid, and another device 8 for ejecting it through the cannula and into the fish. Further it comprises a pressure sensor 9, registering the pressure in the vaccine fluid as the fluid passes through on its way to the cannula. The pressure sensor 9 sends a signal to a control unit (not shown), and based on the signal the control unit can determine whether the injection device has a incorrectness, for instance air in the tube system, no vaccination fluid, defect cannula (bent, broken etc), deviation in temperature/viscosity of vaccine fluid and similar.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the suction unit 1 is a part of a larger front part, as the fish to be vaccinated is placed with the abdomen towards this part. A rear part comprises in the shown embodiment, the cannula 6, dosing unit 7, and the device 8 for ejecting the fluid through the cannula 6 and the pressure sensor 9, and front and rear part are connected to each other by an actuator 10. Upon use of a device according to Figure 2, the abdomen of a fish to be vaccinated is led towards the front part, and when the abdomen is optimally positioned with injection site adjacent to the suction unit 1, the suction unit is activated by withdrawing air from the cavity 2, in such a way that the outer rim 3 is fastened to the surface of the fish. Then the actuator 10 is activated, leading the rear part towards the front part, in such a way that cannula is led from an inner position through a hole 5 in the bottom of the suction unit 1, through the cavity 2 and the skin of the fish and to an outer position inside the fish, before the vaccine fluid is led through the cannula 6 and into the fish. When the fluid is deposited, the rear part is withdrawn, and the cannula 6 is led back to inner position. A new fish is placed towards the front part, and the operation is repeated.

In a preferred embodiment the activation of the suction is coordinated with the movement of the rear part comprising the cannula, in such a way that the suction is activated first, and then the cannula is led forward and into correct depth, whereafter the vaccine fluid is injected, the cannula is withdrawn and the suction is ended.

Figure 3 shows a vaccine device according to Figure 2, being a part of a larger machine. In the shown embodiment the device is positioned in such a way that the injection site is adjusted according to the length of the fish, and the depth of injection, the outer position of the cannula, is adjusted according to the height of the fish. In an alternative embodiment the device may also be positioned in order to adjust the injection site according to the thickness of the fish (not shown). In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the fish to be vaccinated is led to the front part of the device on an arm 11, with the abdomen facing the suction unit 1 and the outer rim 3 thereof. When the device is positioned linearly, the position of the suction unit is adjusted in relation to the abdomen of the fish, and when it is placed correctly over the injection site, the suction unit is activated and the skin of the fish will be drawn until the suction unit 1. Once the fish is connected to the suction unit 1, the actuator 10 is activated, moving the rear part towards the front part, and thus leading the cannula 6 from its inner position, through the suction unit 1 and the skin of the fish, and to its outer position being adjusted in relation to the size of the fish. Then the composition is led from a dosing unit and out through the cannula 6.

Once the composition is deposited in the abdomen of the fish, the cannula is withdrawn, and immediately after the suction to the suction unit is closed, in such a way that the suction unit and the fish will no longer be connected. The device returns to its starting point or is adjusted in relation to the next fish to be vaccinated. The cannula 6 is withdrawn to its inner position, and led through the hole 5 of the suction unit 1 in such a way that any pollutions possibly fastened to the cannula will be scraped off. Air and/or water may be applied to the cannula 6 and suction unit 1 during withdrawal to ensure even better cleaning.

In the above it is shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The figures and example are only given to illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and should not under any circumstances be interpreted as limiting for the invention as defined in the enclosed patent claims.

Claims

1. Device for injecting animals comprising a cannula (6) and a unit (1) being arranged to create suction, as the cannula (6) and the suction unit (1) are arranged close to each other, the device comprises further a dosing unit (7) whereby the measured dose are ejected through the cannula (6), characterized in that the cannula (6) is arranged movably between an inner and outer position to be moved towards and to penetrate the surface of the animal to be injected, and further to correct injection depth into the animal, and in that the dosing unit (7) is arranged to eject the measured dose through the cannula (6) when the cannula has the correct injection depth.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction unit (1) surrounds the cannula (6).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cannula (6) is arranged in the centre of the suction unit (1).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for cleaning the cannula.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for cleaning comprises a hole plate which the cannula is led through when it moves between inner and outer position.

6. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for cleaning comprises a hole (5) in the bottom of the suction unit (1).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the animal is a fish.

8. Method for vaccinating fish, by using a device according to any one of claims 1-7, as the device and the animal to be injected are led close to each other, characterized in that

- suction is created in the suction unit (1) in such a way that the unit fastens to the surface of the animal to be injected, and that the animal is kept immovable at the injection site,

- a cannula (6) is moved towards the animal, penetrates the surface and is moved further into the animal until correct injection depth,

- a composition is injected,

- the cannula (6) is withdrawn, and

- the suction is ended.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized ^ that the cannula (6) is moved forward and redrawn through a hole plate in such a way that possible pollutions being fastened to the cannula will be scraped off.

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the cannula (6) and suction unit (1) is flushed with air and/or fluid while being withdrawn.