Granted Patent B2

US 12,446,495 · App. 18/504,139 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Inventors: Lukas Rudolf Schupbach (Basel, CH); Urs Widmer (Dornach, CH); Michael Christian Oehl (Reinach, CH); Antony Mathai Chettoor (Apex, NC)

Assignee: Invaio Sciences International GmbH

A01G7/06

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. An injection tool comprising:

a base having a first width in a first plane and a second width in a second plane, the first plane and the second plane both oriented to include a longitudinal axis of the injection tool, the base comprising:

an inlet port; and

a main channel that runs longitudinally through the center of the base; and

a penetrating distribution body comprising a distal end away from the base and a proximal end near the base, the penetrating distribution body having a third width in the first plane greater than the first width and a fourth width in the second plane less than the second width, wherein the penetrating distribution body comprises:

a cutting edge at the distal end of the penetrating distribution body;

a penetrating element that extends from the cutting edge to the proximal end of the penetrating distribution body, wherein the cutting edge and the penetrating element form a wedge type body profile extending along the longitudinal axis of the injection tool;

opposing faces that extend from the base and meet at the cutting edge; and

a distribution element that comprises:

one or more distribution ports; and

one or more distribution reservoirs, wherein each distribution reservoir defines a tapered shape from a first end of the distribution reservoir to a second, opposite end of the distribution reservoir in the first plane and wherein each distribution reservoir is an opening that extends through both opposing faces of the penetrating distribution body.

2. The injection tool of claim 1 , wherein the one or more distribution ports are configured to receive a liquid formulation from the main channel and direct the liquid formulation into the one or more distribution reservoirs.

3. An injection tool comprising:

a base having a first width in a first plane and a second width in a second plane, the first plane and the second plane both oriented to include a longitudinal axis of the injection tool, the base comprising:

an inlet port; and

a main channel that runs longitudinally through the center of the base; and

a penetrating distribution body comprising a distal end away from the base and a proximal end near the base, the penetrating distribution body having a third width in the first plane greater than the first width and a fourth width in the second plane less than the second width, wherein the penetrating distribution body comprises:

a cutting edge at the distal end of the penetrating distribution body;

a penetrating element that extends from the cutting edge to the proximal end of the penetrating distribution body, wherein the cutting edge and the penetrating element form a wedge type body profile extending along the longitudinal axis of the injection tool;

opposing faces that extend from the base and meet at the cutting edge; and

a distribution element that comprises:

one or more distribution ports; and

one or more distribution reservoirs, wherein each distribution reservoir is an opening that extends through both opposing faces of the penetrating distribution body; and

wherein the one or more distribution ports are oriented at an angle between around 100 degrees to around 180 degrees relative to a penetrating movement direction.

4. The injection tool of claim 1 , wherein the injection tool is configured to direct a liquid formulation from the inlet port to the main channel, from the main channel to the one or more distribution ports, and from the one or more distribution ports into the one or more distribution reservoirs.

5. The injection tool of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a ribbed outer structure.

6. The injection tool of claim 1 , wherein a transition between the base and the penetrating distribution body forms an abutting face that extends away from the longitudinal axis of the injection tool.

7. A plant injection system comprising:

an injection tool of claim 1 ; and

a delivery device connected to the injection tool, wherein the delivery device comprises a container configured to store a liquid formulation.

8. The plant injection system of claim 7 , further comprising: an attachment interface connected to the container, wherein the attachment interface is configured for coupling with the inlet port of the injection tool.

9. The plant injection system of claim 8 , wherein the delivery device further comprises a dosing device interposed between the container and the attachment interface, wherein the dosing device is configured to deliver a specified quantity of the liquid formulation to the injection tool for lateral distribution from one or more distribution ports.

10. A method of distributing a liquid formulation to a plant, the method comprising:

penetrating the plant with an injection tool of claim 1 ; and

distributing the liquid formulation through the injection tool to the plant.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein penetrating the plant comprises:

piercing the plant with the cutting edge, wherein the penetrating element is moved along the longitudinal axis of the injection tool.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein distributing the liquid formulation to the plant comprises:

transmitting the liquid formulation from the inlet port of the injection tool to the one or more distribution ports of the penetrating distribution body; and

delivering the liquid formulation from the one or more distribution ports transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the injection tool into the one or more distribution reservoirs.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: retaining the liquid formulation along a plant tissue of the plant.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the liquid formulation is distributed over one or more hours.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the liquid formulation is continuously distributed.

Assignments (4)

Priority Claims (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (87)