Projectile Implant with Movable Core for Minimal Tissue Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for administering medicaments or tracking devices to cattle often result in significant tissue and muscle damage, and require herding the animals, leading to weight loss and increased feeding requirements.

Innovation Solution

A projectile with a cylindrical casing and a penetrable implant that has longitudinal freedom within the casing, allowing it to penetrate the target with minimal damage, while the non-penetrating front face absorbs the impact, and a biodegradable design for minimal harm and easy recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional penetrating method is used to deliver medicament or tracking device, then the implant can be delivered into the target, but significant tissue and muscle damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery of implantVSAvoidtissue and muscle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The projectile is divided into two separate functional components: a non-penetrating front face (casing) and a penetrating implant. The casing absorbs impact and delivers the implant, which then separates and penetrates the target independently. This segmentation allows the delivery mechanism to be optimized for minimal damage while the implant focuses on penetration and medicament delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The projectile casing acts as an intermediary device that facilitates implant delivery without directly penetrating the target. It provides the propelling force and protective housing during flight, then releases the implant at the target surface, allowing the implant to penetrate while the casing remains external and causes minimal damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If herding methods are used to administer medicament to cattle, then the medicament can be administered, but the cattle experience intense exertion leading to weight loss and increased feeding requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedicament administrationVSAvoidweight loss from exertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The manual herding and physical handling system is replaced with a projectile-based delivery system. The medicament implant is delivered through a projectile that can be shot at the animal from a distance, eliminating the need for physical herding, chasing, and restraining of the animal, thereby avoiding energy loss from exertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the implant is fixed relative to the casing, then the structure is simpler, but the implant cannot penetrate the target effectively while the non-penetrating front face absorbs impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidpenetration capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is designed with longitudinal freedom of movement within the cavity of the casing, making it a dynamic component rather than a fixed one. Upon impact, the implant can move forward relative to the casing, converting the impact force into penetration motion. This dynamic arrangement enables effective penetration while maintaining the non-penetrating front face design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 allows for efficient and minimally invasive delivery of medicaments or tracking devices with reduced tissue damage and no need for herding, promoting faster recovery and environmental safety.

Implementation Method 1

on impact said implant tends to penetrate said target whilst said relatively non-penetrating front face abuts at least momentarily said target

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

said implant is substantially made of a medicament and a binding compound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS8056480B2Projectile for administering a medicament

Publication Date: 2011.11.15 BRYDGES PRICE RICHARD IAN

AI summary

A projectile (2) includes a cylindrical casing with the one (nose) end has a relatively non-penetrating front face (3) with an opening therein defining a cavity (5) extending longitudinally into the casing from said opening, and the other (tail) end (10) of the cylindrical casing is adapted to receive a propelling force; said projectile further comprises an implant (14) for penetrating a target on impact; wherein said implant is located at least in part within the cavity during flight and has longitudinal freedom of movement within the cavity towards the nose of the casing; whereby on impact said implant tends to penetrate said target whilst said relatively non-penetrating front face abuts at least momentarily said target.