Rotating Needle Carriage Injection for Precise Multi-Site Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional poultry injection systems face challenges in delivering inoculants to multiple locations on birds due to their small size and movement, leading to issues such as excessive concentration or mixing of materials at a single site, and unwanted needle movement causing bleeding and tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
The injection system employs multiple needles that rotate about a carriage axis, allowing for simultaneous or staggered delivery to different locations on the bird, with a remote atomization chamber for sterilizing fluid and controlled needle movement to reduce tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple injection needles are used to deliver inoculants to different locations on birds, then the delivery precision to separate sites is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection system is divided into multiple independent needle assemblies (first needle assembly, second needle assembly, etc.), each capable of independent operation. Each needle assembly includes its own needle, actuator, and fluid delivery system, allowing simultaneous or staggered delivery to different locations on the bird without requiring a single complex multi-functional device
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple needle assemblies are mounted on a common rotating carriage that can be positioned and oriented to deliver inoculants to various locations on the bird. The carriage system provides universal positioning capability, allowing the same basic needle assembly design to serve multiple injection sites through rotational and positional adjustment
2Ease of operation
If manual handling is used to hold birds for injection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automated bird restraint apparatus that automatically positions and secures the bird without requiring manual handling. The restraint system works in conjunction with automated needle actuators that perform the injection process without human intervention, allowing continuous processing of multiple birds
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical handling of birds is replaced with an automated system comprising motorized needle actuators, rotating carriages, and automated restraint mechanisms. The system uses coordinated mechanical and automated control systems to perform injection tasks that previously required manual operation
3Productivity
If injection needles are positioned close together for efficient delivery, then the productivity is improved, but the unwanted needle movement increases causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning of multiple needles along the carriage before contact with the bird. The needles are pre-aligned and stabilized in their respective positions, and the carriage is pre-positioned to ensure accurate delivery. This preliminary setup minimizes unwanted movement during the actual injection process
Solution Approach 2:
A rotating carriage serves as an intermediary structure that holds and stabilizes multiple needle assemblies. The carriage provides a rigid framework that maintains precise spacing between needles while allowing controlled rotation and positioning, reducing unwanted needle movement that would otherwise cause tissue damage
4Reliability
If fluid components are located close to needle distal ends for sterilization, then the sterilization efficacy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The atomization chamber and associated fluid delivery components are extracted from the immediate vicinity of the needle distal ends and relocated to a remote position on the system. This separation reduces the number of fluid components near the needles while maintaining sterilization capability through remote atomized sterilizing fluid delivery
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 system ensures precise delivery of materials to separate sites, reduces bleeding and tissue damage, and improves sterilization efficacy by minimizing fluid component complexity and needle movement.
Implementation Method 1
delivery of atomized sterilizing fluid to the distal ends of the injection needles from a remote atomization chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Injection systems and methods of using the same are described herein. Each injection system may include one, two, or more needles, with each needle being configured to move needle between an injection position and a retracted position to deliver an inoculant. The injection needles may rotate about a carriage axis that extends through the injection axis along which each needle moves when moving between their injection and retracted positions. The injection needles in systems that include two or more injection needles may be advanced from the retracted position to the injection position at the same or different times.