Automated method and system for introducing Liquid iodine into drinking water

Abstract

A system for delivering molecular iodine or other substance into a pet's drinking water on a daily basis without exceeding the safe amount allowed for the pet. The system delivers a particular amount of molecular iodine into the pet water supply to achieve maximum benefit of I 2 to reduce or eliminate bad pet breath and minimize total iodine in the pet diet so that 20-40 μg/mL/Kg/day iodine is consumed for optimum thyroid health. The preferred method is to use a solution created by dissolving iodine crystals in absolute ethanol. The iodine will only be in solution as I 2 for a short time as it undergoes out gassing and hydrolysis at neutral pH. The present invention removes the iodine from the drinking water after the pet drinks. Therefore, during the day, pets will get no additional iodine—only fresh water. Each enrolled pet is electronically recognized by the system.

1 . An apparatus for injecting molecular iodine into pet drinking water comprising:
 a pet-access drinking container;   a dual filter cartridge containing both an activated charcoal filter and a hair filter;   a continuously-running circulation pump, wherein the circulation pump is adapted to pass water from the pet-access drinking container through the filter cartridge to remove excess molecular iodine;   a molecular iodine dispenser containing a solution of molecular iodine in absolute alcohol constructed to dispense the molecular iodine solution into the pet-access drinking container, the solution of molecular iodine being a 1% solution;   a pet identification module adapted to read a passive RFID tag worn by a pet to produce a pet identification;   a processor programmed use pet identification to recognize a pet and then dispense 20-40 ug/mL/Kg/day of iodine of said molecular iodine solution from said molecular iodine dispenser into said drinking container based on a stored profile for that pet;   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pet-access drinking container is flushed of molecular iodine after a pet drinks. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the processor only dispenses molecular iodine solution once per day for each pet recognized. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said solution of molecular iodine also contains a vitamin or nutrient. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said pet identification module contains an RFID reader. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the RFID reader operates on a frequency of approximately 13.56 MHz. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pet-access drinking container is stainless steel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the pet-access drinking container is also used as a reflector for an RFID interrogation radio signal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a pet presence indicator light wherein said pet presence indicator light is mounted on top of the apparatus and shielded from sight of the pet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pet-access drinking container is approximately 6 inches deep. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for injecting a molecular iodine into pet drinking water comprising:
 a pet drinking container;   a double filter cartridge including an activated charcoal filter and a debris filter;   a continuously-running circulation pump, wherein said circulation pump is constructed to pass water from said pet drinking container through the filter cartridge to remove excess molecular iodine from the water;   a substance dispenser containing a solution of molecular iodine in absolute alcohol;   a pet identification module including a reader adapted to read a passive RFID tag worn by a pet to produce a pet identification;   a processor programmed use the pet identification to recognize a pet and then dispense a predetermined amount of the molecular iodine from the substance dispenser into the pet drinking container, said predetermined amount of molecular iodine being an amount required by that particular pet.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the processor only dispenses molecular iodine solution to a particular pet once per day. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the pet drinking container is metal, and the pet drinking container is also used as a reflector for an REID interrogation radio signal. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a pet presence indicator light wherein said pet presence indicator light is mounted on top of the apparatus and shielded from sight of the pet. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the pet drinking container is approximately 6 inches deep. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus constructed to dispense a solution of molecular iodine into a pet's drinking water, the molecular iodine improving the pet's health and preventing bad breath, the apparatus comprising, in combination:
 an RFID scanner configured to read a passive RFID tag worn by a pet approaching the apparatus, the RFID scanner outputting a unique pet identification based on the passive REID tag;   a processor adapted to compute a predetermined amount of molecular iodine to be injected into the pet's drinking water based on the unique pet identification, said predetermined amount being an amount of molecular iodine required for that particular pet;   a dispenser containing a solution of molecular iodine in absolute alcohol;   the processor executing stored instructions to dispense a predetermined amount of molecular iodine into the drinking water for the pet;   a continuously running pump configured to circulate the drinking water through an activated charcoal filter to remove excess molecular iodine not consumed by the pet, and a debris and hair filter.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the processor only dispenses iodine solution to a particular pet once per day. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a metal pet drinking bowl. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the metal pet drinking bowl is also used as a reflector for an REID interrogation radio signal from the REID scanner. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a pet presence indicator light said pet presence indicator light being mounted on top of the apparatus and shielded from sight of the pet.