Abstract: An implanter for implanting treatment pellets beneath the skin of animals comprises a hollow needle (52) through which a drive pin (26) is displaceable to drive a pellet (64) through the needle and in use to a controlled depth below the skin. A forked abutment (54) straddles the needle, being spring urged into a normal location near the rear end of the needle. The abutment (54) is carried by a rearwardly extending rod (56) having a drive member (62) engagable by a thrust member (63) on the drive pin during part of the forward movement of the latter. In use, when the abutment member is against the animal being treated, the final part of the forward movement of the drive pin effects a retraction of the needle, leaving the pellet implanted at the correct depth (FIGS. 4 to 6).

Abstract: An implanter by which pelleted drugs can be inserted or implanted under the skin of an animal typically to promote fattening of beef cattle and the like. The device includes a thurst pin which can be pushed through a tube containing the pellets to eject them into and through a hollow needle at the front of the device. A mechanism acts on the pin to push it in the forward direction and a return spring acts to return it to its rest position.The mechanism includes a trigger lever as part of a handle assembly and movement is transmitted to the pin through a flexible link such as a cord or wire or belt or chain. The latter passes around abutments so as to reverse the direction of movement so that the pin is effectively pulled in the forward direction, the link being attached to a shuttle to which the rear of the pin is attached.