Device and method for animal identification

Abstract

Methods and device for marking animals are disclosed. An ear tag configurable for attachment to a rodent ear, e.g., a mouse ear, is presented, wherein the ear tag includes a color-coded image, an alphanumeric character string, a bar code and/or a visual signage. The tag may include the visual identifier and an RFID device. A card may be provided that redundantly displays some or all of the visual identifier. An applicator is alternately or additionally provided that removes separated elements of the tag from a tray force generated by manual compression of a pair of handles of the applicator, and additionally includes jaws that compress towards each other when the handles are initially compressed, yet splay and release the tag elements as additional compressive force is applied to the handles.

I claim: 
     
         1 . kit comprising:
 a display rivet comprising
 a rivet plate and a rivet post, 
 the rivet plate comprising a rectangular surface defining an optically-encoded surface, a straight edge adjacent the optically-encoded surface, and a first posterior surface, and 
 the rivet post extending from the first posterior surface, defining a cutting tip distal the rivet plate, and defining a neck between the cutting tip and the rivet plate; 
   a receiver defining a second posterior surface and a channel coincident the second posterior surface and configured to receive the rivet post;   a tray comprising:
 a rivet aperture configured to retain the display rivet; 
 an alignment structure defining a ledge offset from the rivet aperture, configured to mate with the straight edge of the rivet plate, and configured to constrain the rivet plate in rotation about the rivet post; and 
 a receiver aperture configured to retain the receiver with the channel substantially aligned with the post and the second posterior surface adjacent and offset the first posterior surface by a first distance; and 
   an applicator comprising a first jaw and a second jaw and operable in a first position, a second position, and a third position;   wherein, in the first position, the first jaw engages the rivet plate retained by the rivet aperture and the second jaw engages the receiver retained by the receiver aperture;   wherein the first jaw and the second jaw transition from the first position into the second position to separate the rivet plate and the receiver from the tray; and   wherein the first jaw and the second jaw transition from the second position into the third position to insert the post into the channel with the neck retaining the receiver and the first posterior surface adjacent and offset the second posterior surface by a second distance less than the first distance.