Apparatus and methods for dispensing pet care substances

Abstract

Apparatus for timed dispensing of animal care substances to animals includes an electronic dispensing controller, and a dispenser operated by the electronic dispensing controller for dispensing an animal care substance to an animal at times determined by the electronic dispensing controller.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for dispensing a substance, comprising: 
 a dispensing controller ( 332 ); and    a dispenser ( 330 ) operated by said dispensing controller ( 332 ) for dispensing a substance at times deterred by said dispensing controller ( 332 );    characterized by said dispenser ( 330 ) and said dispensing controller ( 332 ) being themselves injectable into an animal/human.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said dispenser ( 330 ) provides continuous application of said substance to said animal/human.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said dispenser ( 330 ) provides discontinuous application of said substance to said animal/human.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a supply of a substance in communication with said dispenser.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a biological sensor ( 169 ) which senses biological information of said animal/human and provides an input related to the information to said dispensing controller ( 158 ,  332 ).  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for dispensing substances to animals comprising: 
 an dispensing controller ( 352 ); and    a dispenser ( 350 ) operated by said dispensing controller ( 352 ) for dispensing a substance to an animal at times determined by said dispensing controller ( 352 );    characterized by said dispenser ( 350 ) comprising a Micro-Electro-Mechanics Systems (MEMS) pump ( 354 ).    
     
     
         7 . A dispensing assembly comprising: 
 an dispensing controller ( 158 ); and    a dispenser operated by said dispensing controller ( 158 ) for dispensing a substance at times determined by said dispensing controller ( 158 ),    and wherein said dispenser comprises:    at least one discrete container cell ( 270 ,  282 ) containing said substance; and    release apparatus, responsive to said dispensing controller ( 158 ), for selectably releasing said substance from said at least one container cell ( 270 ,  282 ) in a desired timed pattern; determined by said dispensing controller ( 158 ); characterized by said release apparatus comprising an energizing element connected to said at least one cell ( 270 ,  282 ), said energizing element producing an electrical current which flows to an enclosure material of said at least one cell ( 270 ,  282 ), wherein said electrical current itself makes a portion of the enclosure material permeable for passage therethrough of said substance.    
     
     
         8 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the electrical current electrically heats the portion of the enclosure material of said at least one cell ( 270 ,  282 ).  
     
     
         9 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the electrical current melts the portion of the enclosure material of said at least one cell ( 270 ,  282 ).  
     
     
         10 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the electrical current disintegrates the portion of the enclosure material of said at least one cell ( 270 ,  282 ).  
     
     
         11 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 7  wherein an electrical wire ( 272 ) is attached to said enclosure material of said at least one cell ( 270 ,  282 ).  
     
     
         12 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 7  wherein an electrical wire ( 272 ) is disposed through said at least one cell ( 270 ,  282 ).  
     
     
         13 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the electrical current passes through said enclosure material.  
     
     
         14 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the electrical current changes a material property of said enclosure material such that said enclosure material becomes permeable for passage therethrough of said substance  
     
     
         15 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 13  wherein said substance acts as an electrical resistance element.  
     
     
         16 . The dispensing assembly according to  claim 7  further characterized by said release apparatus comprising i columns of a plurality of such energizing elements ( 272 ) arranged to contact bottom surfaces of said cells ( 270 ) and j rows of a plurality of such energizing elements ( 272 ) arranged to contact top surfaces of said cells ( 270 ).  
     
     
         17 . A dispensing assembly ( 280 ) comprising: 
 an dispensing controller; and    a dispenser operated by said dispensing controller for dispensing a substance ( 284 ) at times determined by said dispensing controller,    and wherein said dispenser comprises:    at least one container cell ( 282 ) containing said substance ( 284 ); and    release apparatus, responsive to said dispensing controller, for selectably releasing said substance ( 284 ) from said at least one cell ( 282 ) in a desired timed pattern, determined by said dispensing controller;    characterized by further comprising a needle ( 294 ) in fluid communication with said at least one cell ( 282 ), wherein upon actuation of said release apparatus, said substance ( 284 ) is brought in fluid communication with said needle ( 294 ).    
     
     
         18 . The assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 17  wherein upon actuation of said release apparatus, a force of said substance ( 284 ) exiting said cell propels said needle ( 294 ) in a generally linear direction.  
     
     
         19 . The assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 17  wherein said dispenser provides continuous application of said substance ( 284 ).  
     
     
         20 . The assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 17  wherein said dispenser provides discontinuous application of said substance ( 284 ).  
     
     
         21 . The assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 17  wherein said substance ( 284 ) is vacuum-packed in said discrete container cells ( 282 ).  
     
     
         22 . The assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 17  further comprising a manifold ( 292 ) in fluid communication with said cells ( 282 ).  
     
     
         23 . A dispensing assembly ( 280 ) comprising: 
 an dispensing controller; and    a dispenser operated by said dispensing controller for dispensing a substance ( 284 ) at times determined by said dispensing controller,    and wherein said dispenser comprises;    a plurality of discrete container cells ( 282 ), each containing said substance ( 284 ); and    release apparatus, responsive to said dispensing controller, for selectably releasing said substance ( 284 ) from individual ones of said container cells ( 282 ) in a desired timed pattern, determined by said dispensing controller;    characterized in that the release apparatus of one of said cells ( 282 ) acts as a switch to switch electricity to the release apparatus of a subsequent cell ( 282 ).    
     
     
         24 . The dispensing assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 23  wherein said release apparatus itself serves as a feedback for proper operation of the release apparatus.  
     
     
         25 . A dispensing assembly ( 280 ) comprising: 
 an dispensing controller; and    a dispenser operated by said dispensing controller for dispensing a substance ( 284 ) at times determined by said dispensing controller,    and wherein said dispenser comprises:    a plurality of discrete container cells ( 282 ), each containing said substance ( 284 ); and    release apparatus, responsive to said dispensing controller, for selectably releasing said substance ( 284 ) from individual ones of said container cells ( 282 ) in a desired timed pattern, determined by said dispensing controller;    characterized in that said dispensing controller operates the release apparatus of said cells ( 282 ) with an input to an electrical contact ( 400 ), wherein subsequent activations of the same said input to the same said electrical contact ( 400 ) subsequently activate the release apparatus of subsequent cells ( 282 ).    
     
     
         26 . The dispenses assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 25  wherein said release apparatus itself serves as a feedback for proper operation of the release apparatus.  
     
     
         27 . A dispensing assembly ( 280 ) comprising: 
 an dispensing controller; and    a dispenser operated by said dispensing controller for dispensing a substance ( 284 ) at times determined by said dispensing controller,    and wherein said dispenser comprises:    a plurality of discrete container cells ( 282 ), each containing said substance ( 284 ); and    release apparatus, responsive to said dispensing controller, for selectably releasing said substance ( 284 ) from individual ones of said container cells ( 282 ) in a desired timed pattern, determined by said dispensing controller;    characterized in that each said discrete container cell ( 282 ) comprises a propelling device, which upon actuation of said release apparatus, propels said substance ( 284 ) out of said cell ( 282 ), wherein said propelling device comprises a membrane ( 283 ) initially in tension, and wherein the membrane ( 283 ) of a previous cell ( 282 ) acts as a switch to switch electricity to enable rupturing of a subsequent cell ( 282 ).    
     
     
         28 . The dispensing assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 27  and further comprising a manifold ( 292 ) in fluid communication with said cells ( 282 ).  
     
     
         29 . The dispensing assembly ( 280 ) according to  claim 27  further comprising feedback circuit which senses movement of the membrane ( 283 ) to regulate operation of the release apparatus.  
     
     
         30 . Release apparatus comprising: 
 an energizing element connected to at least one discrete container cell ( 270 ,  282 ) containing a substance, said energizing element producing an electrical current which flows to all enclosure material of said at least one said cell ( 270 ,  282 ), wherein said electrical current itself makes a portion of the enclosure material permeable for passage therethrough of said substance.    
     
     
         31 . Release apparatus according to claim  30  further comprising i columns of a plurality of such energizing elements ( 272 ) arranged to contact bottom surfaces of said cells ( 270 ) and j rows of a plurality of such energizing elements ( 272 ) arranged to contact top surfaces of said cells ( 270 ).