Marker Capsule for Drug Delivery Dart Rupture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery darts face reliability issues in ensuring that each animal receives a single dose, as the gelatin collar used for retention is not consistently effective, leading to potential double injections and economic waste.
Innovation Solution
A marker capsule made of a rupturable material, such as gelatin with controlled tensile strength, is integrated into the drug delivery dart, containing a non-toxic marking substance that disperses upon impact, providing a visible mark to confirm injection and preventing double dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gelatin collar is used to retain the dart in the animal, then the dart may be retained after impalement, but the retention reliability is marginal and double dosing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color change by using a visible marking substance (such as colored powder, paint, or dye) that is dispersed onto the animal's skin or fur at the injection site. This visual marker provides immediate and reliable indication that the animal has been dosed, eliminating the need to rely on dart retention and preventing double dosing. The marking substance changes the appearance of the injection site, creating a permanent visual record of treatment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gelatin collar depends on animal tissue nature for retention, then retention effectiveness varies, but this leads to inconsistent dosing records
Solution Approach 1:
The marking substance provides a reliable visual record that is independent of tissue type. Whether the animal has thick fur, thin skin, or varying tissue density, the colored marking remains visible and provides consistent dosing verification. This eliminates the variability introduced by different tissue natures affecting gelatin collar retention.
3Device complexity
If no marking system is used, then the dart structure remains simple, but operators cannot reliably track which animals have been injected
Solution Approach 1:
The marking substance provides immediate visual feedback at the moment of injection, eliminating the need for operators to track animals separately or wait to verify dosing. The colored mark appears instantly on the animal's skin or fur, providing real-time confirmation that prevents double dosing and reduces administrative time.
4Reliability
If a marking substance is dispersed upon impact, then visible indication of injection is provided, but the capsule must rupture reliably at impact velocities
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule material parameters are specifically selected and engineered to have tensile strength that falls within a predetermined range. This allows the capsule to withstand normal handling and loading forces but rupture reliably upon impact with the animal. The parameter optimization ensures the capsule breaks at the correct moment (upon impact) to release the marking substance, providing reliable visual indication.
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 marker capsule ensures accurate marking and injection, reducing the likelihood of double dosing and economic waste by providing a visible indication of drug delivery, while maintaining the dart's aerodynamic and balance characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The capsule ruptures between the dart body and the animal upon impact to thereby disperse the marking substance upon the animal about the area of the impact
Data Source
AI summary
A marker capsule for a drug delivery dart that marks a animal upon impact to indicate it has had a drug injection. The marker capsule is formed of a rupturable material, and has a central aperture formed therethrough for disposition about a cannula extending from the drug delivery dart. A marking substance is contained within the capsule. The capsule ruptures between the dart body and the animal upon impact to thereby disperse said marking substance upon the animal about the area of the impact.