System and method for automatically recording animal vaccination information

Abstract

A system and method for automatic recordation of information relating to administration of medicines to animals are accomplished by a device for automatically recording the identity of a medicine for injection into the animals and a transmitting syringe simultaneously injecting and marking an animal while transmitting, responsive to actuation of the transmitting syringe, a first signal containing information relating to the actuation of the transmitting syringe and the resulting injection of the animal. An electronic identification device (EID) such as a bolus, ear tag or subcutaneous implant is attached to the animal and provides a unique electronic identification of the animal. A receiver receives the first signal from the transmitting syringe, the electronic identification of the animal and the identity of the medicine, as provided by the EID. Information contained in the respective signals is maintained in a computer database for review and analysis.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A system for automatic recordation of information relating to administration of a medicine to an animal, comprising: 
 a transmitting syringe for simultaneously injecting an animal with the medicine and transmitting, responsive to actuation of the transmitting syringe, a first signal containing information relating to the actuation of the transmitting syringe and the resulting injection of the animal;    an EID, attached to the animal, for providing an electronic identification of the animal;    a receiver for receiving the first signal from the transmitting syringe and the electronic identification of the animal;    a bar-code reader for automatically identifying the medicine to be injected into the animal; and    a computer database for maintaining the first signal, the electronic identification, and the identity of the medicine.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bar-code reader automatically identifies information relating to a quantity of medicine in a medicine reservoir and information relating to a proper dosage of the medicine in the medicine reservoir and feeds the quantity and dosage information to a dosage calculator for determining a number of doses of the medicine that can be obtained from the medicine reservoir.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first signal containing information relating to the actuation of the syringe is compared to the number of doses of the medicine that can be obtained from the medicine reservoir, and whereby a warning signal is generated when a number of actuations of the syringe exceeds the number of doses of medicine that can be obtained from the medicine reservoir.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the warning signal is followed by a physical disablement of the transmitting syringe.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the warning signal is followed by a disablement of the system.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , whereby the transmitting syringe transmits information relating to the amount of medicine injected.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , whereby the EID is an active device  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , whereby the EID is a passive device.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , whereby, responsive to an EID stimulus signal, the electronic identification of the animal is provided.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , whereby the EID stimulus signal is generated by the transmitting syringe.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , whereby the EID stimulus signal is generated by a stimulus signal transmitter.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , whereby the EID stimulus signal transmitter is triggered to transmit the stimulus signal by a trigger event.  
     
     
         13 . A method for automatically recording information relating to the administration of medicines to animals, comprising the steps of: 
 automatically identifying a medicine for injection into an animal;    positioning a transmitting syringe in sufficient proximity to the animal so as to effect injection of the medicine from within the transmitting syringe into the animal;    actuating the transmitting syringe to inject the medicine into the animal;    responsive to actuating the transmitting syringe, the transmitting syringe transmitting a first signal;    responsive to a triggering event, an EID attached to the animal providing an electronic identification of the animal; and    receiving the first signal, the electronic identification, and the identity of the medicine by a receiver.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising the further step of automatically storing the first signal, the electronic identification, and the identity of the medicine received by the receiver in a computer database.  
     
     
         15 . A system for automatically recording information relating to the administration of medicines to animals, comprising: 
 a medicine identification means for automatically identifying a medicine for injection into an animal;    a transmitting syringe means for simultaneously injecting the animal and transmitting, responsive to actuation of the transmitting syringe, a first signal indicating actuation of the transmitting syringe and the resulting injection of the animal;    an EID, attached to the animal, for providing an electronic identification of the animal;    an EID means, attached to the animal, for providing an electronic identification of the animal;    a receiver means for receiving the first signal from the transmitting syringe, the electronic identification of the animal, and the identity of the medicine; and    a computer database means for maintaining the first signal, the electronic identification and the identity of the medicine.    
     
     
         16 . A system for automatic recordation of information relating to administration of medicines to an animal, comprising: 
 a transmitting syringe for simultaneously injecting an animal with the medicine and transmitting, responsive to actuation of the transmitting syringe, a first signal containing information relating to the actuation of the transmitting syringe and the resulting injection of the animal;    an EID, attached to the animal, for providing an electronic identification of the animal;    a receiver for receiving the first signal from the transmitting syringe and the electronic identification of the animal;    a bar-code reader for automatically identifying the medicine to be injected into the animal, information relating to a quantity of medicine in a medicine reservoir, and information relating to a proper dosage of the medicine in the medicine reservoir, whereby the bar-code reader feeds the quantity and dosage information to a dosage calculator for determining a number of doses of the medicine that can be obtained from the medicine reservoir, and whereby the first signal containing information relating to the actuation of the syringe is compared to the number of doses of the medicine that can be obtained from the medicine reservoir, and whereby a warning signal is generated when a number of actuations of the syringe exceeds the number of doses of medicine that can be obtained from the medicine reservoir and whereby the medicine information can in affect warn the operator of a meat processing facility as to the presence of harmful or restricted label drugs that may have been administer in a time frame that is not beyond their normal withdrawal period and    a computer database for maintaining the first signal, the electronic identification, and the identity of the medicine.