Abstract: An antibiotic and pharmaceutical pellet system and method provides localized sustained antibiotic release as part of a single therapeutic procedure in order to prevent infections at the injection site. The system includes an implanter apparatus for subcutaneously implanting pharmaceutical pellets in an animal through the bore of a hypodermic needle which is operably coupled to a pellet magazine, a pellet magazine, and a plurality of pellets sized to be implanted through the needle and positioned in the magazine for selective alignment of a pellet with the needle. The pellets include pharmaceutical dose pellets and antibiotic dose pellets which are packaged in the magazine in sequential order for delivery of the pharmaceutical dose followed by the antibiotic dose as part of a single injection. The system permits localized controlled and sustained absorption of the antibiotic pellet dose to combat infection in and around the site of the injection.

Abstract: A veterinary implanter includes an attached disinfectant dispenser including a reservoir for holding a quantity of disinfectant, a pump attached to the reservoir, and a special needle holder spray tip with the implanter including a conduit which has an inlet opening connected to the disinfectant pump. An exit opening of the conduit is coupled to the needle spray tip which is designed to spray disinfectant 360 degrees about the inlet end of a hypodermic needle cannula which is held in place against the spray tip by a threaded needle holder extension. The inventive disinfectant dispenser thus allows an operator of the implanter to selectively inject a quantity of disinfectant into the needle with each implant, with the disinfectant then being carried by the implanted pellets into a wound created by the needle.

Abstract: A metal tip attachment for a plastic needle is stamped from relatively thin sheet metal and rolled into a generally cylindrical shape adapted to conform to the outer surface of the needle. The attachment includes a pointed end and a base. Securement structure such as tabs are formed in the base and are adapted to cooperate with corresponding grooves in the outer surface of the needle for securing the attachment thereto. The attachment is secured to the needle such that at least a portion of the pointed end of the metal sheet extends slightly beyond the point of the needle.

Abstract: A slide action veterinary implanter apparatus includes a tubular housing having a hand grip extending therefrom with a trigger assembly pivotally mounted in the hand grip. A slide member is slidably mounted on the housing and retracts an impeller member to a retracted position, extends the trigger to an armed position, and advances a pellet magazine, extending through the hand grip, by reciprocation of the slide member. Additionally, a latch mechanism engaged with the slide mechanism, the trigger, and the impeller causes an impeller extending force to be stored and retained in an impeller extender spring as the slide member is reciprocated. Pivoting the trigger into the hand grip toward a release position releases the latch mechanism, whereby the extender spring force resiliently urges the impeller through a pellet magazine chamber driving a stack of pellets therefrom and through a needle mounted on the front end of the implanter housing.

Abstract: A medicament implanter system which comprises:a single use needle pre-charged with medicament;a cartridge wherein a multiplicity of pre-charged needles may be packaged; andan implanter applicator instrument adapted to remove a pre-charged needle from the cartridge, and to reinsert a used needle into the cartridge.The applicator instrument is constructed so that a needle positioned therein is locked in properly oriented position for expulsion of the medicament upon operation of an impeller which forms part of the applicator instrument.

Abstract: A medicament implanter system which comprises:a single use needle pre-charged with medicament;a cartridge wherein a multiplicity of pre-charged needles may be packaged; andan implanter applicator instrument adapted to remove a pre-charged needle from the cartridge, and to reinsert a used needle into the cartridge.The applicator instrument is constructed so that a needle positioned therein is locked in properly oriented position for expulsion of the medicament upon operation of an impeller which forms part of the applicator instrument.

Abstract: In pistol grip medicament implanter devices, wherein a trigger coupled to a plunger causes plunger advance movement that expels the medicament from the device when the trigger is pulled, a spring that forms part of the coupling and a lost motion arrangement controlled by the spring that converts trigger pull movement into spring take-up of the trigger movement when the plunger encounters resistance to advance movement greater than the spring bias. The trigger continues to move but the plunger does not, then when resistance to movement of the plunger becomes less than the spring bias, the spring force serves to advance the plunger, recovering the trigger pull motion previously lost.The greatest force that can be applied by the plunger to the medicament implant has become whatever bias is selected for the spring.