Extended-range spray applicator

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an extended-range spray applicator, and methods of making and use thereof, for dosing vaccines and/or probiotics to avian animals at a distance.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An extended-range spray applicator comprising:
 (a) an air supply means, for providing a flow of air through the spray applicator; wherein the air supply means is configured to connect to   (b) a head assembly, configured to attach to the air supply means; wherein the assembly comprises:
 (i) an air supply means adaptor, for connecting the head assembly to the air supply means; 
 (ii) at least one air guide shroud, to guide the flow of air coming from the air supply means; 
 (iii) a liquid atomizer means, for transforming liquid into sub-millimeter-sized droplets; wherein the atomizer is situated centrally within the shroud; 
 (iv) a mounting means, for attaching the atomizer to the head assembly; 
 (v) a motor, mechanically connected to the atomizer; and optionally 
 (vi) a battery receptacle, for holding a battery, which is electrically connected to the motor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The spray applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the head assembly, already equipped with a primary shroud, is configured to reversibly attach to a secondary shroud. 
     
     
         3 . The spray applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting means are extenders, and wherein both shrouds comprise slots through which the extenders pass. 
     
     
         4 . The spray applicator of  claim 3 , wherein the atomizer is fixedly connected to the extenders. 
     
     
         5 . The spray applicator of  claim 3 , wherein the atomizer is adjustably connected to the extenders, such that a user may direct the atomizer upward or downward, with respect to the direction of air flow. 
     
     
         6 . The spray applicator of  claim 5 , wherein the adjustable connection also allows the user to position the atomizer laterally, such that it is either nearer to, or farther from, the air supply means. 
     
     
         7 . The spray applicator of  claim 2 , wherein both the primary and secondary shrouds comprise a plurality of spacers, which are configured to allow the shrouds to be reversibly connected to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The spray applicator of  claim 7 , wherein each shroud comprises 4 spacers. 
     
     
         9 . The spray applicator of  claim 1 , wherein the air supply means adapter is cylindrical and comprises a means for lockably attaching the head assembly to the air supply portion of the spray applicator. 
     
     
         10 . The spray applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the air supply means adapter is cylindrical and comprises a means for lockably attaching the head assembly to the air supply portion of the spray applicator. 
     
     
         11 . The spray applicator of  claim 2 , comprising a battery housing, situated atop the head assembly, and configured to receive and house a rechargeable battery, which supplies electricity to the atomizer motor. 
     
     
         12 . The spray applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the atomizing means is a rotary disc atomizer, which is mechanically connected to a disc atomizer motor, which is housed within a motor housing, which is fixedly connected to a disc atomizer assembly frame. 
     
     
         13 . A head assembly, for use with the spray applicator of  claim 1  or  2 , comprising:
 (a) an air supply means adaptor, for connecting the head assembly to the air supply means; 
 (b) at least one air guide shroud, to guide the flow of air coming from the air supply means; 
 (c) a rotary disc atomizer, for transforming liquid into sub-millimeter-sized droplets; 
 wherein the atomizer is situated centrally within the shrouds; 
 (d) at least two extenders, for attaching the atomizer to the head assembly; 
 (e) a motor, mechanically connected to the atomizer; and 
 (f) a battery receptacle, for holding a battery, which is electrically connected to the motor. 
 
     
     
         14 . The head assembly of  claim 13 , comprising a primary and secondary shroud, each comprising a slot through which the extenders pass, and wherein the secondary shroud has a conical angle of about 30°. 
     
     
         15 . The head assembly of  claim 13 , wherein at least one shroud is characterized by having at least three diameters, D 1 , D 2  and D 3 , and at least two angles, A 1  and A 2 . 
     
     
         16 . The head assembly of  claim 15 , wherein D 1  is at least about 30% to about 50% smaller than D 2 ; and wherein D 2  is about equal to or is about 10% smaller than D 3 . 
     
     
         17 . The head assembly of  claim 16 , wherein A 1  is between about 90° and about 145°; and wherein A 2  is between about 130° and 160°. 
     
     
         18 . A method of vaccinating avian animals against respiratory pathogens, from at least about 5 or at least about 10 meters away, comprising the step of administering to said avian animals an effective amount of at least one respiratory antigen, carried in the form of uniformly-sized droplets, having diameters of from about 50 μm to about 200 μm, using the extended-range spray applicator of  claim 1  or  2 , thereby vaccinating said avian animal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein 10,000 avian animals are vaccinated and/or administered probiotics to in less than about 20 minutes, and/or wherein about 5 L to about 10 L of vaccine is delivered within about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating birds with a probiotic formulation by dispersing the probiotic formulation in the form of uniformly-sized droplets, having diameters of from about 50 μm to about 200 μm, from a spray applicator of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the birds being treated are at least about 5 to at least about 10 meters away from the spray applicator; and allowing the birds to consume the droplets. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the probiotic formulation is a liquid or liquid-like gel. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein 10,000 birds are treated in less than about 20 minutes, and/or wherein about 5 L to about 10 L of probiotic formulation is delivered within about 20 minutes.