Intranasal Spray Head Control for Accurate Livestock Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intranasal vaccination devices for livestock are cumbersome, require single-dose capability, and often result in operator fatigue and malfunctions, such as accidental self-injection, improper needle orientation, and inaccurate dosing due to anatomical variations in nasal passages.

Innovation Solution

An intranasal administration device with a hand-held unit, control unit, and flexible connecting tubes, featuring adjustable spray heads and nozzles, and a mechanism for precise medicament delivery, including adjustable droplet size and automatic dose administration, to accommodate various animal species and sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hand-actuated needle injection is used to treat large numbers of animals, then medicament delivery is achieved, but operator fatigue occurs resulting in malfunctions such as accidental self-injection, improper needle orientation, and inaccurate dosing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of animals treatedVSAvoidoperator error rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device enables self-service operation where the animal receives treatment without requiring continuous manual intervention. The automated spray mechanism delivers medicament through the nozzle into the nasal passage, allowing the system to perform the treatment function autonomously after initial positioning, thereby reducing operator fatigue and error rates while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical injection system with an automated spray delivery system. The mechanical needle injection requiring hand actuation is substituted with a controlled spray mechanism that delivers medicament through aerosol or mist, eliminating the need for manual needle manipulation and reducing operator error while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If intranasal administration is used to avoid operator error, then medicament delivery accuracy is improved, but anatomical variations in nasal passages cause improper delivery in some animals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing accuracyVSAvoidaccommodation of anatomical variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities allowing the operator to modify spray parameters such as droplet size, spray direction, and delivery timing based on the specific animal's anatomical features. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to maintain dosing accuracy across varying nasal passage configurations by adjusting delivery parameters in real-time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes in the spray delivery system, including variable droplet size, spray pressure, and delivery timing, to accommodate different anatomical variations. By modifying these parameters, the device adapts to diverse nasal passage structures while maintaining accurate medicament delivery to the target site

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If spray applicators are used for intranasal medicament delivery, then mucosal immune system activation is improved, but particle size and penetration depth become critical factors affecting effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune response effectivenessVSAvoidparticle size control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device utilizes pneumatic principles to generate and control the spray aerosol or mist. By controlling air pressure and flow dynamics, the system produces consistent particle sizes that optimize mucosal penetration and immune system activation. The pneumatic mechanism ensures reliable particle size control without requiring complex manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Productivity

If automated intranasal vaccination devices are used to treat large numbers of animals quickly, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of animals treated per unit timeVSAvoiddevice structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into modular components including the nozzle assembly, spray delivery mechanism, and control elements. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing and assembly while enabling automated operation. Each module performs a specific function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity through coordinated operation of discrete components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Facilitates quick and efficient medicament delivery to multiple animals with reduced operator error, minimizing physical stimulation and ensuring accurate dosing by adapting to anatomical variations and preventing contamination.

Implementation Method 1

spray applicators, which administer the medicament in the form of small droplets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerosol spray: Aerosol

Data Source

PatentEP3723836B1Intranasal administration device
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 PHI TECH ANIMAL HEALTH TECH LTD
  • EP3723836B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3723836B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3723836B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Disclosed devices for intranasal administration of medicament to a patient can comprise a hand-held unit comprising a gripping portion for being held by an operator, a spray head having a spray apparatus and a nozzle, a control unit coupled to the hand-held unit via at least one connecting tube, and one or more containers for holding medicaments. The at least one connecting tube can be flexible enough to enable easy maneuvering of the hand-held unit and rigid enough to prevent widening of the tube due to inner pressure when medicaments pass from the containers to the hand-held unit.