Water-Based Iron Suspension for Neonatal Animals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for administering iron supplements to neonatal animals are painful, inefficient, and often result in adverse effects, such as injection site infections and gastrointestinal toxicity, due to the use of parenteral injections and oil-based oral supplements that are difficult to administer and have low iron concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A water-based oral veterinary suspension containing iron fumarate or iron sulfate, along with a suspending agent like xanthan gum, which is easier to administer and provides a stable source of iron, reducing the risk of adverse effects and improving bioavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If parenteral injection of iron dextran is used, then iron supplementation is effective, but the animals suffer from painful injections, injection site infections, and potential toxic effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an oral administration route as an intermediary method between parenteral injection and feed supplementation. The iron supplement is delivered through a liquid composition that can be easily administered orally, avoiding direct injection into tissues while still providing effective iron supplementation. This intermediary approach eliminates the harmful effects of injections (pain, infection risk) while maintaining reliability of iron delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of iron supplementation by using water-based liquid compositions with specific iron salts (ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate) instead of oil-based pastes or injectable forms. The liquid formulation with optimized iron concentration (100-500 mg/mL) and pH (2-7) improves safety and reduces toxicity while maintaining effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If feed supplements are used, then iron can be provided voluntarily, but neonatal animals have unreliable intake and incomplete absorption due to undeveloped molecular absorption mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares a pre-formulated liquid iron supplement that is ready for direct administration to neonatal animals. This preliminary preparation ensures the iron is in an optimally absorbable form and concentration before administration, addressing the incomplete absorption issue. The liquid formulation is designed to be easily ingestible while providing reliable, consistent iron delivery that doesn't depend on the animal's voluntary feeding behavior.
3Loss of time
If oil-based paste supplements are used, then single-dose administration is possible, but the supplements are difficult to administer and become rancid, decreasing palatability and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the base medium from oil to water, creating a water-based liquid composition. This parameter change eliminates the rancidity problem inherent in oil-based pastes, improves palatability, and makes the supplement easier to administer. The liquid form allows for simple oral delivery without the mechanical difficulties of forcing paste into neonatal animals, while maintaining single-dose convenience.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If typical iron formulations with low iron concentrations are used, then the formulations are safer, but large treatment volumes are required which result in aspiration and regurgitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the iron concentration parameter to a specific range (100-500 mg/mL) that balances safety and dosing volume. This concentration range provides sufficient iron per unit volume to prevent aspiration and regurgitation while maintaining safety through controlled delivery. The water-based liquid formulation with this optimized concentration allows for smaller, safer treatment volumes compared to traditional low-concentration formulations.
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 water-based suspension effectively treats and prevents iron deficiencies in neonatal animals by providing a stable and palatable source of iron, reducing the risk of adverse effects and improving bioavailability, with increased shelf-life and ease of administration compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
water and an iron salt that is iron fumarate, an iron sulfate, or a combination thereof suspended in the water. The suspension also comprises a suspending agent.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are oral veterinary suspensions for delivering supplemental iron to a neonatal animal. The oral veterinary suspensions comprise water, an iron salt that is iron fumarate, iron sulfate, or a combination thereof suspended in the water, and a suspending agent. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing iron deficiencies to neonatal animals, as well as uses of the oral veterinary suspensions.