ANIMAL MARKING AND INOCULATION

Abstract

The invention is directed to an animal marking and treatment apparatus. The marking apparatus is an animal treatment apparatus to apply an animal treatment to a surface or subcutaneous layer of an animal via an operative end. The marking apparatus includes a marking portion, attached to the animal treatment apparatus, and located at the operative end. The marking apparatus is located such that when the animal receives the treatment the marking portion marks the animal by stamping at the same time.

Claims

1. An animal marking and treatment apparatus, comprising: an animal treatment apparatus to apply an animal treatment to a surface or subcutaneous layer of an animal via an operative end, and a marking portion, attached to the animal treatment apparatus, and located at the operative end, such that when the animal receives the treatment the marking portion marks the animal by stamping at the same time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein no additional movement or operation is required from the operator to stamp the mark over the movement or operation of treating the animal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marking also marks the location of where the treatment was applied.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marking portion is an absorbent pad that contains a marking medium.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the marking portion is circular and configured for leaving a circular mark on the animal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the animal treatment is applied through a hollow center of the marking portion.

7. (canceled)

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the marking portion includes a housing that holds and presents the absorbent pad to the animal for marking when in use

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the housing has a mounting portion, at an opposing end to that holding the absorbent pad, to co-operate with a mount on the operative end of the treatment apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the housing holding the absorbent pad and the mounting portion form a cassette that can be attached and removed from the treatment apparatus.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cassette is removably replaceable when the pre-stamped ink pad is exhausted.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein there is an offset bracket to attach to the mount and to which the mounting portion can attach to offset the marking portion when the animal treatment is applied outside the periphery of the marking portion

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cassette includes a removable cover for the absorbent pad to prevent it drying out.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cassette forms a needle guard that covers a needle of the treatment apparatus save for when the treatment apparatus is applied to the surface of the animal.

19. (canceled)

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mark when circular encircles the location of the surface where the treatment was applied.

21. A marking cassette for attachment to an animal treatment apparatus, comprising: a housing that has a holding portion at one end, and a mounting portion to engage directly or indirectly, to an animal treatment apparatus at an opposing end, a marking portion located in the holding portion, the marking portion adapted to mark a surface of an animal when applied thereto and leave at least a portion of a circular mark on the surface, and a cover to cover the marking portion, wherein the cassette when mounted to a treatment apparatus will, in use, leave a mark on an animal indicating the treatment has been applied, and the location of the treatment.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. A method of marking and treating an animal, comprising the steps of: applying a treatment apparatus to, or near a surface of an animal, triggering the treatment apparatus to apply a treatment to the surface or subcutaneous layer thereof, and marking the animal at or adjacent the site of the treatment from a marking portion mounted to the treatment apparatus as part of the step of applying the treatment apparatus to the animal, such that the animal is treated and marked as being treated, and the location of the treatment in the one motion.

26. A kit of parts for marking an animal, comprising: a cassette including a marking portion and a mounting portion for mounting to an animal treatment apparatus, and a supply of marking medium for application to the marking portion, such that when the cassette is mounted to the treatment apparatus it can mark an animal as being treated and the location of the treatment in one movement or step.

27. The kit of parts of claim 26, including a cover for the marking portion.

28. The kit of parts of claim 26, including a plurality of cassettes, such that when one cassette runs out of marking portion, it can be removed and replaced by another, and refilled at a later point in time.

29. The kit of parts of claim 26, including an offset bracket to offset the cassette relative to the treatment location, for example to enable marking on a surface that is in a differing plane or place to that of the treatment location.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a treatment apparatus with the marking cassette attached at the operative end,

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a close up of the marking cassette from FIG. 1.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows an isometric front view of the marking cassette,

[0055] FIG. 4 shows an isometric rear view of the marking cassette of FIG. 3.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows the marking cassette of FIG. 1 with a cover in place and mounted to an offset bracket.

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a top view of an animal surface after treatment and marking in the one step, with the mark encircling or indicating the treatment location.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows in side view the use of the offset bracket to allows treatment and marking in one step when the surface of the animal is curved, or the treatment location and marking locations are in differing planes,

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a variation of the system attached to treatment apparatus, where there is no needle guard action and the needle is exposed, or there is a needle guar action, and the needle guard action is slid back to expose the needle,

[0060] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the cassette with cover clipped to the housing,

[0061] FIG. 10 is a similar view to FIG. 9 with the cover unclipped from the housing to expose the marking portion,

[0062] FIG. 11A shows a variation in the cassette to have a differing shaped marking portion or portions, whether fully enclosing or open around the needle, and whether having differing colored portions or not, and

[0063] FIG. 11B shows the cassette side on with the cover removed and the marking portion exposed and extending from the housing, and the optional ability to refill the marking portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0064] Shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 is the marking cassette 16 in keeping with the present invention attached to a treatment apparatus 2 and on its own, and marking 7 on an animal 4.

[0065] The marking cassette 16, shown generally in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIGS. 2 through 4, consists of a housing 12 which has a holding portion 22 which houses or forms a marking portion 6 and the housing also has a mounting portion 13. In the embodiment shown the mounting portion 13 is a threaded engagement to a complimentary mount 15 of the operative end 5 treatment apparatus 2. However, it could be any form of engagement as desired such as a press or push fit, a bayonet fitting or any other form that will sufficiently engage the cassette 16 to the apparatus 2. The treatment apparatus 2 shown is a needle 18 (not shown in those Figures, but visible in FIG. 8) type apparatus for subcutaneous delivery, however it may also be any other form of treatment apparatus, whether subcutaneous, intra-orifice (for example, nasal, oral or otherwise) or surface.

[0066] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the marking cassette 16 is mounted to a sliding portion 23 of the treatment apparatus 2. The sliding portion can slide along the major axis of the apparatus, back and forth in the direction A as shown in FIG. 2. The sliding portion 23 by itself, or in conjunction with the marking cassette 16 forms a needle guard that covers the needle 18 until the treatment apparatus 2 is pressed against the animal 4. In FIG. 2 the needle guard functionality is shown being active such that it is guarding the needle 18 and therefore the needle cannot be seen. However the needle 18 would extend out the hollow center 10 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. When pressed against the animal 4 the needle 18 is allowed to extend past the end of the marking cassette 16 to apply the treatment, and the marking cassette 16 can apply the mark 7. When the treatment apparatus 2 is removed from the animal 4, the sliding portion 23, under bias, extends and the needle 18 is then covered again. The sliding portion 23 may cover the needle 18 entirely by itself when extended to the tip 24 of the needle 18, or may rely on the additional length of the marking cassette 16 to provide the full length to cover the needle 18. If the sliding portion is long enough by itself then this provides additional safety of covering the needle even if the marking cassette 16 is removed, for example when changing the marking cassette 16, or using the treatment apparatus with the marking cassette 16 removed.

[0067] The length of the marking cassette 16 axially may also vary to allow variation of the depth of penetration of the needle 18.

[0068] The marking portion 6 can be achieved in a number of ways, but in the preferred form there is an absorbent pad 8 held there, as shown in FIGS. 9 through 11. The absorbent pad 8 contains a marking medium, such as for example an odorless, non-toxic and/or food contact approved ink or similar. The absorbent pad 8 may optionally be covered by a cover 19, which may be replaceable on the pad 8 when not in use, or no marking is desired, or may simply be there initially and is discarded when the cassette 16 is attached. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 the cover 19 clips into place on and off the housing 12 to cover the marking portion 6. When clipped to the housing 12 the cover 19 enables the cassette 16 to easily be handled and stored without marking or drying out. Cassettes 16 may be supplied in bulk or as aftermarket in this way to replace used cassettes 19, or place onto treatment apparatus 2 as needed. The cover 19 connection may be sufficient to prevent drying out when in place, or may need an additional seal, for example a tamper evident tear off wrapping.

[0069] In the preferred form the marking portion 6 is sufficient to apply between 100 and 300 marks 7, and experience has shown that a capacity of 150 is preferred. The mark 7 as shown in FIG. 6, on the surface 3 of the animal 4 provides a stable and durable ink that will not drip or contaminate the actual treatment point 21.

[0070] The cassette 16 may be reusable. For example when the supply of marking medium 9 runs out in the absorbent pad 8, the cassette 16 may be removed and another fully charged one put in its place. The then removed cassette 16 may then be recharged with ink 25 from a supply of marking medium 20 as is needed as shown in FIG. 11. Alternately if desired the absorbent pad may simply be recharged in situ on the treatment apparatus 2.

[0071] The marking portion 6 is as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 is circular with a hollow center 10. The hollow center 10 allows for concentric mounting on the treatment apparatus 2 about the needle 18, or other treatment application portion of the treatment apparatus 2. The cassette 16 then can also form a needle guard to prevent accidental needle stick by a user to the animal, themselves or other users, until the needle 18 is deployed in the treatment action. The method being that when the treatment apparatus 2 is activated when located against the surface 3 of the animal 4 the needle extends through the hollow center 10 penetrates the skin and delivers the treatment, and at the same time the marking portion 6 applies the mark 7 to the surface 3. While subcutaneous treatment by needle 18 is mentioned here, the treatment may also be topical for example by spraying or squirting on the surface 3, or may be intraorifice, whether oral, nasal or otherwise with a suitable applicator and the cassette 16 and marking portion 6 set at the appropriate distance to apply the mark 7 whether at or near the treatment location. In this way the marking portion 6 will still mark 7 the location 21.

[0072] However, the marking portion 6 may be of other forms also, for example an arc or partial circle, or oval or other closed form as shown in FIG. 11A. The marking portion 6 in one form may consist of one 6A or two 6A and 6B marking portions raised above the housing 12, and could include more than one color, whether each separate part is of a differing color, Alternative the marking portion 6 is a single part but has differing color ink portions.

[0073] The pre-inked absorbent marker 16 can be supplied as an easily refillable system, as described. Alternatively it can also be supplied as a non-serviceable consumable part that can be easily swapped out by the operator without any mess or clean-up process when the pre-stamped ink pad is exhausted.

[0074] With marking 7 concentrically around the treatment site 21 as seen in FIG. 6 the site can be more readily identifiable. This is not the case with current methods and the present invention has advantages for compliance. Not limited to, but including, ensuring the injection site can be identified to encourage correct placement of injection according to certain best practice guidelines, and to identify potential injection site lesions post treatment.

[0075] In some applications the treatment location 21 may be in a differing plane to the location desired for the mark 7, for example outside the periphery 11 of the mark 7. In this case an offset bracket 17 is used as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. This has a similar mounting portion 13 to the cassette 16, and this mounting portion 13 engages with that of the treatment apparatus 2. The offset bracket 17 then has an angled body as desired (or can be configured or bent as needed) that has a portion that then receives the mounting portion 13 of the cassette 16. In this way as shown in FIG. 7 the location 21 of the treatment is offset to that of the mark 7. This is desirable when the location 21 for example may be in the neck of the animal 4, and it is desirable to see the mark 7 more convenient from above.

[0076] A further variation of the mount 15 is shown in FIG. 8 where the marking cassette 16 is mounted concentric with the needle 18, but the marking cassette 16 is mounted to the treatment apparatus 2, for example injecting gun, in a way that it does not slide out of the way to expose the needle 18 when injecting. In other words there is no needle guard functionality as it is not connected to a sliding portion 24 as in FIG. 1.

[0077] In this variation the marking cassette is the same, or substantially the same as earlier described, however there is no retractable needle guard functionality. The marking cassette 16 is secured stationary via a thread, for example, and acts as a backstop when pressing the needle 18 into the animal 4. This provides additional depth control and prevents the operator pressing the hub of the needle 18 into the injection site potentially causing undue damage to the injection site, potentially resulting in a site reaction (that could lead to infection). The needle 18 always remains in front of the marking cassette 16 so contact of the cassette 16 with the animal 4 only occurs at full needle 18 penetration.

[0078] Likewise the position of the marking cassette 16 in FIG. 8 is similar to the location the cassette 16 is in once the sliding portion 23 of the treatment apparatus 2 is pushed back along direction A to expose the needle 18.

[0079] The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.