Abstract
A method of inhibiting the growth of a horn or a horn bud in a livestock animal including the steps of applying a cryogenic fluid around the base of the horn or on the horn bud using an apparatus; such that the cryogenic fluid contacts the base of the horn and epidermal skin layers that surrounds the horn or horn bud and induces a freeze in said layers to inhibit or prevent any further growth of the horn or horn bud.
Claims
1. A method of inhibiting the growth of a horn or a horn bud in a livestock animal including the steps of: applying a cryogenic fluid around the base of the horn or on the horn bud using an apparatus; such that the cryogenic fluid contacts the base of the horn and epidermal skin layers that surrounds the horn or horn bud and induces a freeze in said layers to inhibit or prevent any further growth of the horn or horn bud.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the application of the cryogenic fluid to said horn base and skin layers results in a freezing and thawing of cells and tissues that make up said layers and thereby reducing or eliminating the vascular, cellular and neural integrity of the layers.
3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cryogenic fluid contacting the layers is either in liquid form, gaseous form or a combination of a liquid and gaseous form.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the surrounding horn base and skin layers is subjected to a cryogenic fluid temperature of between minus 20 degrees Celsius and minus 80 degrees Celsius, preferably minus 50 degrees Celsius.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims further including applying the cryogenic fluid to the whole of the horn bud in a young livestock animal.
6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said horn base and surrounding epidermal skin layers after application of the cryogenic fluid, undergoes a healing process where there is a closed wound and where cellular necrosis and scar formation results.
7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the targeted skin layers surrounding the horn or horn bud is up to 25 mm wide.
8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said cryogenic fluid is liquid nitrogen or liquid air.
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims further including determining the amount of cryogenic fluid to use based on the size of the horn or horn bud and the age, breed and size of the livestock animal.
10. Apparatus for inhibiting the growth of a horn or a horn bud in a livestock animal including: a vessel having a body through which a cryogenic fluid is applied around the base of the horn or on the horn bud; such that the cryogenic fluid contacts the horn base and epidermal skin layers that surrounds the horn or horn bud and induce a freeze in said layers to inhibit or prevent any further growth of the horn or horn bud.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 further including one or more apertures or passages through which the cryogenic fluid passes and is directed onto the horn base and the skin surrounding said horn or horn bud.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said body is open at an end which is placed over the horn or the horn bud.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 further including seal means formed around said end to minimize or prevent the escape of the cryogenic fluid and to assist in directing the cryogenic fluid to said skin layers.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein an opposite end to said end has connected thereto the supply of cryogenic fluid to the apparatus.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 further including a vent hole to release any excess gas released from vaporization of the cryogenic fluid from within the body.
16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15 further including an interior member housing one or more outlets through which the cryogenic fluid flows, said one or more outlets angled so as to deliver the cryogenic fluid directly to the horn bud and the skin layers around and on said horn bud.
17. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein an opposite end to said end is also open to enable the horn of the animal to protrude.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 further including a ring to fit within the confines of the body, said ring having one or more apertures through which flows the cryogenic material.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said one or more apertures are directed downwardly at between 10 degrees and 65 degrees, preferably at about 45 degrees, with respect to the circular axis of the ring in order to target the skin layers with the cryogenic fluid.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19 further including a manifold, one side of which is connected to a supply of the cryogenic fluid and an opposite side connected to one or more members that are also connected to said ring to deliver the cryogenic fluid to the ring.
21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the ring is spaced apart from an interior of the body.
22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 21 further including handle means to assist a user in applying the apparatus to the animal with sufficient force.
23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein a further apparatus having a body smaller in diameter to said apparatus and also having a seal means is able to be fitted within said apparatus and below the ring in order to accommodate for a different sized horn.
24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 23 wherein said cryogenic fluid is applied for between 1 second and 10 seconds.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0080] The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:
[0081] FIG. 1A is an overhead view of a young calf s head with two horn buds:
[0082] FIG. 1B is a close up perspective view of two horn buds as would be viewed on a Bos Indicus or Brahman type calf;
[0083] FIG. 1C is a side view of a horn bud;
[0084] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a frontal top part of a calf's skull showing the horn and associated structures:
[0085] FIG. 2B is a similar cross sectional view to FIG. 2A of part of a calf skull and horn and shows the targeted skin after the cryogenic application;
[0086] FIGS. 3A and 3B are side view of apparatus for applying cryogenic fluid as would be applied to horn buds and small horns:
[0087] FIG. 3C is bottom end view of FIG. 3B;
[0088] FIG. 3D is a perspective and underneath view of an alternative application means or apparatus particularly suited to applying cryogenic fluid to a horn bud;
[0089] FIG. 3E is a perspective view of an alternative application means or apparatus particularly suited to applying cryogenic fluid to the base around an existing horn and shows a further fitting or vessel to cater for smaller homed animals;
[0090] FIGS. 4A and 4B are both perspective views of FIGS. 3A and 3B of the apparatus as applied around the circumference of a horn or horn bud:
[0091] FIGS. 5A and 5B are block diagrams of embodiments of a system used to apply a cryogenic fluid so as to inhibit horn growth;
[0092] FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagrams of further embodiments of a system for applying cryogenic fluid to horn buds or horns on young livestock to inhibit the growth of the horn buds or horns;
[0093] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a mobile delivery system for enabling application of cryogenic fluid to horns or horn buds of livestock animals:
[0094] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a smaller portable unit compared to FIG. 7A and
[0095] FIG. 7C is a perspective view of a system for delivering cryogenic fluid to multiple outlets or ports where each outlet or port is used to apply cryogenic fluid to horns or horn buds of respective livestock animals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0096] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, there are shown differing embodiments and perspectives of horn buds, as would be seen in young ruminant livestock. FIG. 1A shows a calf's head and neck 1 with two round and approximately similar sized horn buds 2, positioned on a top frontal head area 3 of the calf. The roundness of the horn buds represented is typical of young horn buds seen in dairy and Bos Taurus animal types. FIG. 1B represents the frontal cranial area 3 of a Bos Indicus calf, where the horn buds 2 are elliptical and the harder keratin section of the horn bud is slightly raised. The horn bud has surrounding skin 4 at the bud base. This is a layer of surrounding skin that produces and supports the growth and development of the horn bud and subsequent horn. Surrounding skin and hair 6 is indicated.
[0097] FIG. 1C is a side view of a horn bud from FIG. 1B. The dome effect of the horn bud 4 is illustrated and surrounding base skin layer 5, which is connected to the general skin 6 of the head.
[0098] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, there are shown two cross-sectional views of the top section of the cranium of a ruminant that is several months of age. There is seen some horn development. The surrounding skin and hair 6 is associated with the frontal bone 7, which extends to the cornual process 8, forming the cartilaginous and subsequently bony structure 10 of the horn 9. The cornual process 8 has an open cavity within known as the caudal frontal sinus, and is interconnected with the frontal sinuses of the skull. The horn epiceras produced by the epidermis at the base is initially soft and mostly contains keratin. In many ruminant species there is an ossification centre at the cornual junction 12, from which the bone component of the horn grows.
[0099] FIG. 2B is a similar cross sectional image of the horn and skull structures and illustrates the targeted anatomical area and the immediate structures affected after the cryogenic fluid or liquid application process. The apparatus (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) freezes the horn base 13 (encircled). The immediate epidermal horn base undergoes the cryogenic process, with resultant cellular lysis followed by significant reduction to produce further horn growth. The deeper structures including the growth plate of the ossification centre 14 are also cryogenically targeted, being part of the horn bud base, and affected resulting in inhibition of further bony horn growth. The depth and precise location of cryogenic action determines whether the residual horn, which has lost its ability to grow, will appear to be disassociated or attached to the skull.
[0100] In relation to FIGS. 3A and 3B, there is shown a block diagram of apparatuses or application means 15 and 23 that are used to apply cryogenic fluid, like liquid nitrogen or liquid air, to the horn bud and/or circumference or base of the horn bud or small horn. FIG. 3A shows apparatus 15 includes a hose 16 which carries liquid nitrogen or liquid air from its storage source to the vessel of application apparatus 15. The hose is connected via series of connectors 17 to a first top end of a cylindrical pipe-like vessel 18 which has an opposing open bottom end 19. The cryogenic liquid is transferred along tube 20, which is set at differing lengths inside the vessel 18 and released through outlet 21 of tube 20. The open end or aperture 19 is set for each apparatus unit and is designed for young calves, young goats or lambs at a certain young age As an example, dairy calves of 3 to 6 weeks or dairy goats of a few days old. The aperture 19 can have a range of diameters to suit the particular age group and subsequent horn bud size. The aperture 19 size range can be from 1.0 cm diameter to 10 cm diameter. The apparatus can have a circular or oval like circumference.
[0101] Generally, with very young animals, the horn bud is very small and may be covered by skin. The apparatuses 15, 23 are designed to go over the skin covering the horn bud or the protruded horn bud and to include the surrounding horn bud base skin so as to ensure the outer horn bud circumference, the horn bud and or skin covering the horn bud is targeted with the exposure of liquid nitrogen or liquid air directly upon these described areas. In this embodiment of the apparatus 15 in FIG. 3A, the whole horn bud and surrounding horn bud base will have contact with the cryogenic fluid.
[0102] FIG. 3B shows an embodiment of the apparatus or application means 23 to apply cryogenic fluid or liquid to the surrounding horn bud base and is designed for larger horn buds which may be maturing into small horns, such as is seen in older calves. In particular as seen in older Bos Indicus calves, where their horn buds tend to have a wide base circumference and are generally oval shape, with only minimal height. In this embodiment of the apparatus 23, there is an inlet hose 16, which transfers the cryogenic fluid through a series of connectors 17 to a tube 25 which is internal to outer walled section of frusto-conical vessel 28 of the apparatus 23. The outer lateral wall 24 of vessel 28 can also be conical or cylindrical in shape. The internal tube 25 can bifurcate into two parts 26, either at right angles or as a Y section. The bifurcated tubes 40, 41 are connected to a circular or oval shaped tube or ring 27, where outlets or small apertures 30 are positioned on the underneath aspect of tube 27. The outer walls 22, 24 with a flexible seal attached at 19 and 29 (not shown) in the embodiments of the apparatuses 15 and 23 serve to shield the cryogenic liquid within the respective vessel, and minimise any spillage or leakage under outer rim 29 (or end 19) and also to provide a means to hold or manoeuvre the apparatus for placement and location above the horn buds. Handles 335 can be provided for on the outer walls 22, 24. The apparatuses 15, 23 can be made from steel, plastic and their combinations. The longitudinal diameter can average approximately 10 cms and the adjacent diameter average being about 8 cms.
[0103] FIG. 3C is a block diagram and underneath view of FIG. 3B. The outer rim 29 contains the cryogenic liquid, which is transported via internal tube 25 through the bifurcation tubes, 40 and 41 into the perimeter tube 27. The release apertures 30 are positioned often sequentially around the perimeter tube 27.
[0104] Referring to FIG. 3D there is shown a front perspective view and an end view of apparatus that can be applied to a livestock animal to disbud or inhibit the horn growth on the animal. The apparatus or application means 300 has a vessel 301 which is bottle-shaped having a head 302, neck 304 and body 306. This embodiment is particularly for calves. On the inside of the head 302 and starting at the top end 320 of the head there is a threaded portion 322 which mates with a corresponding threaded portion 318 on the bottom of an elbow piece 316. The other end of the elbow piece 319 accepts cryogenic fluid and this is then delivered to the apparatus 300 going through a central insert 312 and out through cylindrical passages 327 in a base portion 314 of the central insert 312. The top portion of the central insert 312 has an external threaded section which mates with the internal threaded portion 322. Located at the bottom edge of the body 306 and fitted thereto is a seal 308 which is located completely around the outer circumference of the lower edge of body 306 and can also extend internally inside the lower part of the body 306. The outlets 327 can be angled particularly at 45? such that the liquid cryogen enters at a top aperture 328 and exits at a bottom aperture 326 of each outlet 327. The reason for the angled outlets or is so that the liquid cryogen is sprayed at that angle in order to sufficiently cover most of the bud and all the surrounds from between 5 and 25 mm diameter to prevent further horn growth. The outlets or a single outlet can be straight from the capped section especially when horn buds are small.
[0105] The seal 308 can be made from silicon, Teflon or rubber however the preferred form is rubber. A vent hole 310 exists in the side of body 306 in order to release the build-up of cryogenic gas, that is, gaseous air or gaseous nitrogen, after the liquid cryogen is vaporized with subsequent heat (cold) transfer. The apparatus 300 connected to the elbow 316 would in turn be connected to a solenoid valve and switch which can be preferably hand held by the user. The outlets 327 can vary in number from one to four and be up to 2 mm in diameter. A preferred value of diameter is 1 to 2.5 mm depending upon the number of outlets.
[0106] Shown in FIG. 3E is a further embodiment of another apparatus or application means 330 that is used to apply cryogenic fluid to a site around an existing horn. The horn would protrude through the central open area 331 which extends from a top rim 341 to a bottom rim which is not shown and is covered by a circumferential seal 334. The apparatus 330 includes a vessel 333 having a body 332 which is essentially a hollow cylindrical body open at both ends. Attached, through portions 350 around the inside of the body 332 is a circular ring or tube 346 which is fully enclosed apart from a series of apertures 348 which protrude downwardly into the interior space 331 at a preferable angle of about 45?. The aperture angle can vary from about 10 degrees to 65 degrees with respect to the circular axis of ring 346, according to the apparatus and horn lengths. The angle can be more vertical for longer horns. The Ring 346 is connected to a pair of members 338 and 340 which in turn are connected at the other ends to a connector block or manifold 342. On an opposite side of the manifold 342 there is a connection to an inlet 344 that is threaded which allows cryogenic fluid to flow inwardly to the dispensing arrangement 336 which includes the manifold 342 and the members 338, 340 as well as the ring 346. The threaded inlet 344 connects through a suitable connector, such as a snap-fit connector, to a solenoid valve and the input fluid lines that deliver the liquid nitrogen or air to the apparatus 330.
[0107] The seal 334, apart from extending along the outside surface of the body 332 also can extend inwardly against the inside surface of the body 332 in the lower half thereof. It is preferably made from Teflon, silicon or rubber. A handle (not shown) can be attached to the outside of the body 332 with diametrically opposed connection points and this assists in the user pressing the apparatus 330 firmly down on the target site. The other hand of the user can be used to operate a switch to operate a solenoid valve to allow cryogenic fluid into the dispensing device 336. Separation of the ring 346 is needed from the inside of the body 332 (via the connection points 350) in order to limit the amount of heat added to the system, especially when the ring 346 is made from steel. If the ring is a lower heat conductor, such as teflon tubing, then the separation is not as important.
[0108] In order to account for varying sizes of the target site, a smaller site can be targeted by inserting a further small apparatus or vessel 350 which has a body 352 and a seal 356 extending around the bottom portion thereof both on the inside and the outside of the body 352. The top rim 354 is simply inserted inside (from below) to interior space 331 of the body 332 of apparatus 330. The rim 354 will be placed in a position below the ring 346 so that liquid cryogen can be directed into the interior space within the body 352 of the apparatus 350. The seal 356 meshes with the seal 334 in order to provide an adequate seal against the escape of the cryogenic fluid. The holes 348 can be angled at about approximately 45 degrees (or between 10 degrees and 65 degrees), downwardly and inwardly with respect to the circular axis of ring 346, in order to target the horn towards its base and flow on to the surrounding soft skin tissues that are located at the horn base. This specifically targets the multiple layers of cells that form the horn base and can extend to a depth of about 10 mm to cryogenically target the growth plate of the ossification centre and can include a width of skin and tissue from a region of between 5 and 25 mm around the base of the horn. The connection of the apparatus 350 to the apparatus 330 can be done by any suitable connection means such as a quick release bayonet fitting and any particular size of apparatus 350 can be used.
[0109] As an alternative to using liquid nitrogen as the cryogenic fluid, liquid air can be used that has a boiling point of ?170? C. This is slightly higher than the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. The liquid air as a cryogen is cheaper to produce as there is no requirement to filter out nitrogen from air and also where these devices are used on farms often they are located too far away from outlets that dispense liquid nitrogen.
[0110] Thus the liquid air or nitrogen is directed at the horn base and the periphery around there. Liquid can run to the outer periphery of the horn base saturating that surrounding area with the cryogenic liquid. The total saturation provides a thorough deep freeze in the targeted site. The cryogenic liquid pressure is preferably a very low pressure in order to keep the fluid as cold as possible. It is generally at around 2 PSI but can be in the range of 1 PSI to 20 PSI. The working pressure can be in the range of 1 to 10 PSI. The lower the pressure then the cooler the cryogenic liquid will be. In hot climates, 10 PSI to 25 PSI may be used to chill and prime the required lines faster. Thereafter the system can operate at between 1 and 10 PSI.
[0111] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, there are two embodiments of the apparatus to apply the cryogenic fluid to each of the targeted areas. In FIG. 4A, there is apparatus 15 that applies the liquid nitrogen or liquid air to disperse around and contact the whole horn bud and peripheral skin base area. This would be as in the case of a young calf or lamb or goat. The apparatus 15 is placed squarely over the horn bud 31 and surrounding epidermal layer 32. The outer wall 33 of the open end 19 with flexible seal attached (not shown) provides a barrier to contain the cryogenic liquid and to reduce the risk of the liquid nitrogen/air leaking out from within the defined area. The liquid nitrogen and liquid air 34 is illustrated being dispersed from outlet 21 of internal tube 20. This embodiment of the apparatus 15 is designed to saturate both the horn bud and the surrounding epidermis layer and is utilised for disbudding younger ruminants.
[0112] Referring to FIG. 4B, there is an example of an embodiment of an apparatus 23 designed to apply the cryogenic fluid to the surrounding horn epidermal layer and only the outer periphery of the horn bud. This apparatus 23 would be used on young to more mature calves or ruminants and in particular to Bos Indicus type cattle, where the horn bud develops more in an expansive peripheral way with little outward growth as seen in young calves. The horn bud is domed centrally and the overall appearance is oval in shape rather than circular. The centrally located dome 35 aspect of the horn bud acts to deflect the applied cryogenic liquid to the periphery of the horn bud and epidermal skin. This results in the central dome or central section 35 of the horn bud having minimal contact with the cryogenic liquid. The end result being a residual horn bud of variable size and shape, which has been inhibited to grow into a typical horn.
[0113] In FIG. 4B, the centrally raised horn bud 35 and peripheral epidermal layer 36 are contained within the elliptical base and conical walled 24 device 23. The cryogenic liquid is transported within the interconnecting tubes, as described previously, and circulates and is dispensed from within the oval-shaped tube 27, which has multiple outlets 30 or 37 mostly on its contact aspect. The cryogenic liquid or in this particular case liquid nitrogen or air is then dispersed within the internally defined area, bordered by the outer rim 38 of the device.
[0114] FIGS. 5A and 5B are two examples each showing apparatus to store, deliver, dispense and disperse the liquid cryogenic fluid to the animal's horn bud periphery and/or horn base and its immediate skin circumference.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 5A, there is a block diagram of one such example showing apparatus 55 to deliver and apply the liquid cryogenic fluid 94, such as liquid nitrogen or liquid air, to the horn base or horn bud and surrounding immediate skin. Such apparatus 55 can have a variable-sized holding vessel 56 for the liquid nitrogen or liquid air. The vessel 56 is vacuum insulated to hold the cryogenic fluid 94 with temperatures of minus 196 degrees Celsius for nitrogen and minus 170 degrees Celsius for liquid air. As it is anticipated there will be large numbers of animals to perform the process of disbudding or inhibiting horn bud or horn growth, so the holding vessel 56 is required to hold and store up to and more than 450 to 500 kg of the cryogenic fluid. The holding vessel 56 in this particular embodiment is a horizontally placed vessel and is designed for rougher road conditions and can be fitted out in trailers. Smaller upright holding vessels, varying in capacity from 50 to 280 kg of liquid nitrogen or liquid air, can also be used. The vessel 56 has a gate valve 80A, which is connected to a flexible insulated vacuum hose 57 and/or a straight insulated vacuum tube 58. This line can have multiple hoses/tubes interconnected via insulated vacuum connections and the number of such hoses/tubes will depend upon the distance required to transport the cryogenic fluid. Close to the end process of apparatus 55, there is a phase separator vessel 59 that separates out the gaseous component form the liquid component, so the liquid component is always accessible. On the line preceding the phase separator 59 is a thermal relief valve 60. The thermal relief valve 60 is a safety measure designed to release gas built up at very high pressures. The main storage vessel 56 has a variable relief valve 80A that can be set at a range of pressures. In this embodiment for this process, the pressure is set at range of 15 psi to 25 psi. The variable relief valve 80A enables the whole apparatus 55 including the phase separator 59 to operate at the same pre-set pressure. The preferred pressure range is between zero and 40 psi. When not in use, the pressure relief valve 80A can be set at zero. This conserves the release and loss of the cryogenic fluid from pressure build. The phase separator 59 is set up in a vertical position as shown to provide a column of liquid cryogenic fluid, to enable the cryogenic process to have the liquid component effectively immediately on demand. This is important so as to more readily quantify the amount of liquid delivered within a time frame. Thus the time period and depth of freeze improves efficiency in processing time. A release gate valve 66 releases the separated gas component and is situated above the phase separator 59. The solenoid valve 61 is positioned, at the distal end of line or tube 64 adjacent the apparatus 330 or 23 for applying the liquid nitrogen, to draw the liquid component of the liquid nitrogen for example mostly immediately upon activation from the system. The solenoid valve 61 is power-operated and the apparatus depicted is for 24V. The solenoid activation switch can be a hand toggle or push button switch 62. The hand switch 62 can be positioned on or near the horn bud application apparatus 23 or 330. The apparatus 23 or 330 is the end point delivery of the system and applies the cryogenic fluid after being supplied from phase separator 59 through flexible vacuum insulated line 64. The electrical lead 65 for the solenoid valve 61 and hand switch 62 can be integrated with the flexible line 64 transporting the cryogenic fluid. The solenoid valve 61 is located at the distal end of the tube 64 so that there is virtually no loss in temperature of the cryogenic fluid at the point of application.
[0116] FIG. 5B is a block view of apparatus 67 to store and dispense smaller, more portable volumes of the cryogenic fluid to the end point of the apparatus 67. The storage vessel 68, which has two steel walls 70 of which the majority of the proportion of these walls 70 are vacuum insulated, with vacuum valve (or cryogenic release valve) 71 and can hold from 0.5 to 25 kg of a cryogenic fluid. Optimal size in capacity of the vessel 68 is 8 to 25 kgs, with a preferred size being 12 kg of the cryogenic fluid. This apparatus 67 has a smaller solenoid valve 69 and switch 81 with a preferred narrower approximate ? inch inlet and outlet lines and is located, with a corresponding switch, at the distal end of flexible line 83 of the apparatus 67 adjacent the apparatus 15 or 300 that applies the cryogenic fluid. It is powered by 12 or 24 DC battery 73 via electrical lead or cable 82.
[0117] The walls 70 of holding vessel 68 are mostly vacuum-sealed. The lid and upper side aspects of the vessel 68, may not be vacuum-insulated. This non-vacuum area allows heat to penetrate the vessel 68 and promote gassing of the liquid nitrogen/air which, in turn, is designed to create pressure which can be regulated by variable relief valve 77 situated on the one small line 75 connected to the interior of the vessel 68. The pressure created then drives the outflow of the cryogenic liquid from withdrawal tube 78 to the cryogenic solenoid valve 69 and to the targeted application site. This adjustable relief valve 77 enables the system to have regulated pressure control. The pressure is designed to have a range from zero psi to 50 psi maximum and can be set accordingly. The preferred system operating pressure is of the range of 2 psi to 35 psi. On the same line there is also a bursting disc 79 and a manually operated ball valve 76. The bursting disc 79 is designed to release gas pressure at a preset high pressure and this is determined by the engineering capacity and pressure characteristics of the apparatus 67. It is a safety design, in case of excessive pressure build up, resulting in the possibility of the vessel 68 exploding. The cryogenic ball valve 76 function is to reduce the gas build up pressure or vent off the gas pressure when the lid needs to be opened for refilling or say when the device solenoid valve 69 is inoperable, as might be the case when the battery 73 has insufficient power to run the valve 69.
[0118] The flexible line 83 generally is vacuum insulated so as not to add too much heat into the system. The distance is determined by several factors including the operator requirements, the set up or animal restraint system, the process used on the animal having the process applied and the actual access length to the equipment. The range can be from 0.5 to 4 m.
[0119] In another aspect of the apparatus 67, the cryogenic release valve 71 can be positioned and connected to the holding vessel on the bottom or side wall of a smaller holding vessel like vessel 68 and positioned in a vertical manner (not shown). This will ensure greater reliability of withdrawal of the liquid cryogenic fluid with close proximity to the apparatus 300 or 23.
[0120] FIG. 6A shows an overhead view of apparatus 84 and delivery system similar to that of FIG. 5A. There is a large holding vessel 56 which is vacuum insulated, a gate valve 85 and flexible vacuum-insulated outlet pipe 57 and rigid vacuum-insulated pipe lines 58 connected to a phase separator 59. There are two hoses 98 which are connected to application means 86 for applying the cryogenic fluid associated with the disbudding of small horn buds. In this embodiment there are two lines and application means so both horns can be processed at the same time. Alternatively, a slightly varying size application means can be utilised on the one line so there is a choice for the operator to choose the most appropriate application means size according to the horn bud circumference presented. This gives important system flexibility to allow for ranges in animal age, size and horn or horn bud size. There are two outlets 87 from the phase separator 59 and in this embodiment, are at 90 degrees to one another. The outlets 87 are insulated bayonet attachments connected to vacuum insulated flexible lines 98 and then to solenoid valves 99 that can be connected directly to the horn bud application apparatuses 86. Solenoid control is via finger button in the vicinity of the horn bud application apparatuses 86.
[0121] Referring to FIG. 6B, there is another embodiment of the apparatus 97 and delivery system with two end point lines 88 and 89. The two flexible lines transport the cryogenic fluid to the application apparatuses 90 and 91. The lines 88 and 89 are connected to the two independent solenoid valves 92 and 93, which in turn are connected to the phase separator 100, so as to deliver mostly the liquid component of the cryogenic fluid. There are two small risers or insulated bayonets 94 and 95 which are connected via vacuum insulated lines to connect to the inlet of the solenoid valves 92 and 93 respectively. Generally these risers or bayonets 94, 95 are steel pipes and are vacuum insulated so as to minimise heat transfer. As the solenoid valves 92, 93 cannot be fully vacuum insulated, they can add heat to the system and produce gas internally within the line. The gas produced in this area escapes back to the phase separator 100 and is released by the opened relief valve 101. Upon activation, the solenoid valves 92, 93 will tend to instantaneously release mostly cryogenic liquid. The distance between the two-solenoid valves 92, 93 can vary with each system. For processing horn and horn buds, the preferred distance is approximately 40 cm and can range from 30 cm to 2 m, with the line length being 3 to 6 m. The differing apparatus 91 and 300 are valuable to be available at the time of mustering large numbers of cattle. This embodiment would be valuable for example in the northern pastoral parts of Australia, where the stock are often mustered once a year and where the cows breed throughout the year. So there is a year's range of horn bud and horn sizes in the younger stock. Some animals are missed the first year and may be mustered the following year, in which case the application used through this invention on these cattle would be effective in inhibiting further growth and diminishing the integrity and strength of the yearling animals' horns. This saves the need to cut the horn off as is sometimes practiced.
[0122] Referring to FIG. 7A there is shown a system 110 for delivering cryogenic fluid to an apparatus 128 for applying the fluid to a target site around a horn bud or horn of a livestock animal. It includes a pressure holding vessel 114 for holding the liquid cryogen and this is mounted to a trailer 112 or other portable vehicle. A hitch and frame assembly 116 is at the front of the trailer 112 which has standard wheels 118 and a lift point 120. A vacuum line 122 extends from the vessel 114 to the apparatus 128 which is hand-operated by a user and controlled using a solenoid valve 124 with switch 126 for controlling the solenoid valve.
[0123] Shown in FIG. 7B is a smaller system 130 for delivering the cryogenic fluid. It is delivered from a portable holding vessel 132 that holds liquid nitrogen or liquid air and this is distributed to the end apparatus 138 that has a solenoid valve 136 and switch for control by the user. It is delivered over the vacuum line 134.
[0124] Shown in FIG. 7C is a further system 140 for delivering cryogenic fluid to multiple outputs from the one delivery station. The cryogenic fluid is distributed along lines 142 from a holding storage vessel (not shown) to a phase separator 144. By using a phase separator it delivers the liquid cryogen by eliminating the gas component, which makes the system more efficient and improving the process control. The phase separator operates in a standard way by splitting the gas phase from the liquid phase of the cryogen and adjusting the pressure in the vessel through a float valve which releases a build up of gas at the appropriate time. Any number of outlets or connectors 146 and 148, which are bayonet vacuum insulated connectors, can be used to distribute the cryogenic fluid along different lines. For example from outlet 146 distributed along line 150 is liquid cryogen delivered to apparatus 160 for applying to a livestock animal. A corresponding solenoid valve 158 is located near the apparatus 160 so that it can be operated through the user's hands. Similarly from outlet 148 there is a supply line 152 with appropriate electrical leads to the solenoid valve 154 or the electrical lines can be disassociated from the cryogenic supply lines. The liquid cryogen is delivered to the apparatus 156, which is for example the embodiment 330 shown in FIG. 3E which is hand held by the user. The apparatuses 160 or 156 are inter-changeable through appropriate connection means to cater for the different applications of the liquid cryogen.
