Animal Injection Device with Force Sensor Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing injection devices for animals, particularly in poultry farming, lack efficiency and accuracy in administering injections quickly and correctly, often resulting in improper positioning and potential animal discomfort or injury.

Innovation Solution

An injection device with a contact area shaped to match the animal's body part, incorporating a force measurement system with sensors to ensure correct positioning and controlled injection activation, allowing for precise administration of vaccines or medicaments subcutaneously or intramuscularly, and accommodating various animal species and sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional syringe is used for manual injection, then the injection can be administered to animals, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient for large numbers of animals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection administration speedVSAvoidtime required per injection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The animal itself performs the positioning action by placing its body part on the contact device, eliminating the need for manual positioning by the operator. The system automatically detects positioning through force sensors and triggers injection without requiring operator intervention for each step, thereby increasing productivity and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If the contact device is shaped to match the animal's body part, then correct positioning is facilitated, but the device becomes more complex and less adaptable to different animals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidadaptability to different animal species and sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The contact device is designed with a universal shape that can accommodate different animal species and body parts. The force measurement system provides the adaptability needed to work with various animals, while the shaped contact area ensures proper positioning. This combination allows one device to serve multiple functions across different animal types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated force measurement system. Instead of relying on the operator to manually position the animal correctly, force sensors automatically detect when the animal is properly positioned on the contact device, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while improving adaptability to different animals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If force sensors are integrated into the contact device, then correct positioning can be detected, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning detection accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of contact device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The force measurement function is extracted as a separate, integrated component within the contact device rather than being a fundamental redesign of the entire system. This allows the contact device to maintain its essential simplicity while adding the capability for precise positioning detection through modular force sensor integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures accurate and reliable injection administration by measuring pressing force to confirm correct positioning, preventing both under- or over-pressing, thus ensuring the injection is delivered at the intended site safely and efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

The force measurement device has at least one force sensor and is designed to measure the force (preferably in the pressure application direction) with which the contact device acts on the main body.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce measurement: Force

Data Source

PatentUS10285791B2Injection device for administration of an injection to an animal

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 HENKE SASS WOLF

AI summary

An injection device for administration of an injection to an animal can include a main body, which contains an injection instrument, a contact device, which has a contact area which is shaped in conformity with a body part of the animal to which the injection is to be administered. A support device which supports the contact device on the main body can be movable in a pressure application direction. A force measurement device including at least one force sensor can be designed to measure at last one force with which the contact device acts on the main body. A control device can activate the injection instrument if the force measured by the force measurement device lies in a specified range.