Claims for Patent: 5,884,583

Summary for Patent: 5,884,583

Title:	Field bag boost vaccination delivery system
Abstract:	A method for orally administering medicaments to a plurality of animal drinking stations, and an apparatus for accomplishing the method. A medicament reservoir is separately connected to each of the drinking stations via tubes each of an identical predetermined diameter. Medicament is allowed to flow through each of the tubes to each drinking station. Substantially identical rate of medicament flow to each drinking station is insured by the identical predetermined diameter of each of the tubes.
Inventor(s):	Johnston, Jr.; Joseph H. (Gainsville, GA), Boggess; Gregory D. (Charles City, IA)
Assignee:	Rhone Merieux, Inc. (Athens, GA)
Application Number:	08/828,418
Patent Claims:	1. A method for orally administering medicaments to a plurality of domesticated animals, comprising the steps of: connecting a closed bag-like medicament reservoir to a plurality of animal drinking stations with a plurality of tubes each of a predetermined diameter; causing medicament to flow from said medicament reservoir to each of said plurality of drinking stations at substantially identical rates; and providing said plurality of domesticated animals with access to said plurality of drinking stations. 2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each member of said plurality of domesticated animals is identical in species, and wherein said species is selected from the group consisting of poultry, swine, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, rats, rabbits, monkeys, dogs and cats. 3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said medicament comprises one or more of modified live vaccines, killed vaccines, antibiotics, vitamin supplements, mineral supplements, and growth supplements. 4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein said live vaccines comprise modified live infectious bronchitis vaccine, modified live laryngotracheitis virus vaccine, and modified live Newcastle Disease virus vaccine. 5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said medicament reservoir is suspended at a height greater than that of each of said plurality of drinking stations. 6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein said medicament reservoir is suspended at a height of four or more feet above said drinking stations. 7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said medicament reservoir comprises a sterile container, a predetermined amount of a medicament, and a predetermined amount of a diluent. 8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein said diluents comprise one or more of phosphate buffered saline, sterile water, balanced salt solutions, tris buffered saline and sterile lactated Ringer's solution. 9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the diameter of said tubing is directly proportional to the flow rate, and inversely proportional to the flow time, of said medicament. 10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a drip chamber is downstream of said medicament reservoir, and whereby medicament dripping through said drip chamber is observable. 11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a hollow injection spike connects said tubing to said reservoir. 12. An apparatus for the oral administration of medicaments to domesticated animals comprising: a reservoir comprising a container and a medicament; a first tube communicating with and positioned downstream from said reservoir; a plurality of second tubes, each independently communicating with and positioned downstream from said first tube; and each of said second tubes connected to separate animal drinking stations. 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising means for observing the rate of flow of said composition through each of said plurality of second tubes. 14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for observing comprises a transparent drip chamber. 15. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, said apparatus further comprising a first means for preventing the flow of a liquid through said first tube. 16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, said apparatus further comprising a second means for preventing the flow of a liquid through any one or more of said plurality of second tubes. 17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said first and second preventing means comprise tube clamps. 18. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, said apparatus further comprising a means for adjusting the rate of flow of a liquid through any one or more of said plurality of second tubes. 19. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said first tube communicates with said reservoir through a hollow injection spike. 20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said hollow injection spike comprises a sharp end and a handle end. 21. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said container is selected from the group consisting of a sterile diluent bag and a bottle. 22. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said first tube communicates with said plurality of second tubes through one or more tube splitting devices. 23. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the flow of liquid from said reservoir through said first and second tubes is caused by gravity. 24. A method for orally administrating medicaments to a plurality of domesticated animals, comprising the steps of: connecting a medicament reservoir comprising a sterile container, a predetermined amount of a medicament, and a predetermined amount of a diluent to a plurality of animal drinking stations with a plurality of tubes each of a predetermined diameter; causing medicament to flow from said medicament reservoir to each of said plurality of drinking stations at substantially identical rates; and providing said plurality of domesticated animals with access to said plurality of drinking stations. 25. A method for orally administrating medicaments to a plurality of domesticated animals, comprising the steps of: connecting a medicament reservoir comprising to a plurality of animal drinking stations with a plurality of tubes each of a predetermined diameter; causing medicament to flow from said medicament reservoir to each of said plurality of drinking stations at substantially identical rates wherein a drip chamber is downstream of said medicament reservoir, and whereby medicament dripping through said drip chamber is observable; and providing said plurality of domesticated animals with access to said plurality of drinking stations. 26. An apparatus for the oral administration of medicaments to domesticated animals comprising: a closed reservoir comprising a flexible bag-like container and a medicament; a first tube communicating with and positioned downstream from said reservoir; a plurality of second tubes, each independently communicating with and positioned downstream from said first tube, said second tubes containing a means for observing the rate of flow of said composition through said second tubes; each of said second tubes connected to separate animal drinking stations.

Details for Patent 5,884,583

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2039-09-23