SUBSTANCE DELIVERY APPARATUS, SUBSTANCE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SUBSTANCE DELIVERY

1 . An apparatus for discharging a dose of a fluid substance to an animal, the apparatus including:

a delivery assembly adapted to discharge the dose of the substance to the animal; and

a control system operatively associated with the delivery assembly so as to selectively operate the delivery assembly,

wherein the control system is adapted to measure the discharge of the fluid substance from the delivery assembly such that the dose is discharged when the delivery assembly is operated.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a sensor configured to measure the discharge of the fluid substance from the delivery assembly.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the delivery assembly includes a substance reservoir in which the fluid substance is containable and a drive arrangement configured to move the substance reservoir between an expanded condition and a contracted condition.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the drive arrangement includes a plunger receivable by the substance reservoir.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the sensor is arranged to measure the movement of the plunger.

6 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

8 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the sensor is a linear position sensor and the rod includes a sensor readable section configured such that the liner sensor is able to determine the position of the rod relative to the sensor.

9 . (canceled)

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . (canceled)

13 . (canceled)

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the apparatus includes in an information input device operatively associated with the control system, the information input device being configured to provide animal information, and wherein the control system includes a processor which is configured to determine the predetermined quantity of the substance based on the animal information.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the information input device is provided in the form of an identification device operatively associated with the control system, the identification device being configured to provide identity information for the animal.

21 . The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the identification device is one of a radio frequency identification device (RFID) and an optical scanner.

22 . The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the identification device includes an antenna recessed within a body of the apparatus.

23 . The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the antenna is located toward a forward end of the apparatus.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . (canceled)

27 . (canceled)

28 . (canceled)

29 . (canceled)

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32 . (canceled)

33 . (canceled)

34 . (canceled)

35 . (canceled)

36 . (canceled)

37 . A system for delivering a dose of a substance to an animal, the system including:

a delivery assembly configured to deliver a dose of the substance to the animal;

a controller operatively associated with the delivery assembly; and

an input device in communication with the controller for providing animal information to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to process the animal information and output a dose rate signal to the delivery assembly enabling the delivery assembly to deliver the dose of the substance to the animal.

38 . The system according to claim 37 , wherein the input device is provided in the form of an identification device configured to provide the animal information including animal identification information, and wherein the controller is configured determine the dose rate signal based on the animal identification information.

39 . The system according to claim 38 , wherein the system further includes a sensor operatively associated with the delivery assembly, the sensor providing a measured dose rate signal to the controller, the controller being configured to compare the dose rate signal to the measured dose rate signal to determine when the delivery assembly has delivered the dose.

40 . (canceled)

41 . The system according to claim 37 , wherein delivery assembly includes a substance reservoir moveable between a filled condition and an emptied condition, and wherein the delivery assembly further includes a drive arrangement operatively associated with the controller, the drive arrangement being configured to move the substance reservoir between the filled and the emptied conditions to deliver the dose of the substance to the animal.

42 . (canceled)

43 . (canceled)

44 . The system according to claim 37 , wherein the animal information includes at least one of animal identification, animal weight and animal age.

45 . A method for delivering a dose of a substance to an animal using a substance delivery system including a delivery assembly operatively associated with a controller, wherein the method includes the steps of:

Receiving animal information;

Processing, in a controller of the system, the animal information to provide a determined dose of the substance to be administered to the animal; and

Activating the delivery assembly such that delivery system discharges the determined dose of the substance to the animal.

46 . (canceled)

47 . The method according to claim 45 , wherein the method includes the step of: identifying the animal using an identification device to provide the animal information including animal identification data.

48 . (canceled)

49 . (canceled)

50 . (canceled)

51 . (canceled)

52 . (canceled)

53 . The method according to claim 45 , wherein the step of processing the animal information includes calculating the dose rate by using a dose rate algorithm.

54 . The method according to claim 53 , wherein the dose rate algorithm is executed by a processor associated with the controller and includes the steps of:

Accessing the animal information and the medication information to determine the weight and the medication rate for the animal;

Determining the dose rate based on the weight and medication rate for the animal;

Providing a dose rate signal to the delivery assembly.

55 . (canceled)

56 . (canceled)

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58 . (canceled)

59 . (canceled)

60 . (canceled)

61 . (canceled)