Disposable Ear Tag Needle with Tissue Capture Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing livestock tag installation tools do not adequately prevent cross-contamination between animals and often require the needle to be part of the tag for tissue sampling, which complicates regulatory testing and can cause damage to the animal's ear.
Innovation Solution
A disposable piercing needle with a tissue capture feature is used, where the needle is ejected and held within a needle holder after use, allowing for easy retrieval of a tissue sample without compromising the tag's integrity and minimizing ear damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a reusable piercing needle is used in tag installation tools, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but cross-contamination between livestock occurs and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable piercing needle that is discarded after a single use, eliminating cross-contamination between animals while maintaining ease of operation. The needle is attached to the tag applicator, used once to pierce the ear and attach the tag, then discarded with the tissue sample contained within, ensuring reliability through prevention of disease transmission.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the piercing needle is integrated into the tag structure, then tissue sampling is enabled, but tag integrity is compromised and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tissue sampling function from the tag structure itself. The disposable needle contains a tissue sampling chamber that captures tissue during ear piercing, while the tag body remains separate and intact. After use, the needle with embedded tissue is discarded, leaving the tag properly attached to the animal without contamination or structural compromise.
3Reliability
If the piercing needle is made disposable to prevent cross-contamination, then reliability is improved, but loss of substance increases due to discarding the needle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential waste of a disposable needle into a benefit by incorporating a tissue sampling chamber within the needle. The needle serves dual purposes: piercing the ear and capturing a tissue sample for testing. The tissue sample, which would otherwise be lost, is retained within the needle's chamber, allowing for disease detection while the needle is discarded, thus preventing cross-contamination.
4Stability of the object's composition
If tissue sampling is performed separately from tag installation, then tag integrity is maintained, but productivity decreases due to additional steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges tissue sampling and tag installation into a single integrated action. The disposable needle with tissue sampling chamber pierces the ear and attaches the tag simultaneously, capturing tissue during the same motion used for tag application. This eliminates separate sampling steps, maintaining productivity while ensuring tag integrity through the use of a disposable needle that is discarded after single use.
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
The solution ensures quick, efficient, and secure ear tag installation with minimal tissue damage, prevents cross-contamination, and allows for easy tissue sampling without altering the tag, meeting regulatory requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The piercing needle is ejected from the pivoting head of the handle member and is resiliently held within a needle holder attached to the distal end of the opposing handle member.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method of installing livestock ear tags are provided. The apparatus includes handle members that control the insertion of a piercing needle that cuts an opening through an animal's ear. A slidable head assembly enables efficient manipulation of the piercing needle and reload of a new piercing needle for installing another tag. The piercing needle has attached to it a securing tab of the ear tag. The tab is stripped from the piercing needle after the needle clears the far side of the ear thereby securing the tag to the ear by placing the tab on the opposite side of the ear. The piercing needle is preferably disposable. The piercing needle has an integral tissue capturing cavity for capturing a slug of tissue from the animal's ear as the needle passes through the ear. The tissue sample can be used for subsequent animal health testing. The piercing needle is automatically captured by the tool after installation to prevent contamination of the tissue sample by release of the needle onto the ground.