Delayed action assembly

Claim 2

A delayed action assembly for release of a unit of active ingredient comprising: a non-biodegradable container; a unit of active ingredient in dispersible form disposed in said container; a non-biodegradable closure removably closing said container and confining said unit of ingredient within said container; means operative upon said closure for effecting removal thereof from said container for causing dispersal of said unit of ingredient, and control means for effecting operation of said means operative upon said closure.

Claim 3

The delayed action action assembly of claim 1 for release of active ingredient comprising; a closed container which includes a non-biodegradable outer wall and a non-biodegradable closure covering an opening in said outer wall, said closure constructed to be removable from said wall by pressure produced within said closed container; a unit of active ingredient in dispersible form contained within said container; pressure generating means for producing pressure sufficient for effecting removal of said closure from said wall, and electrical circuit means adapted to activate said pressure generating means arranged within said container for providing, responsive to the activation of said electrical circuit means, activation of said pressure generating means for effecting removal of said closure and dispersal of said unit of active ingredient.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2 in which the means for exerting internal pressure is a chemical squib.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 3 in which the chemical squib is comprised of 5-20 mg of 90% potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan coated with nitrocellulose lacquer.

Claim 6

The delayed action action assembly of claim 2 for release of an active ingredient comprising: a closed container which includes a non-biodegradable outer wall, and a non-biodegradable closure covering an opening in said outer wall, said closure constructed to be removable from said wall by pressure produced within said closed container; a unit of active ingredient in dispersible form contained within said container; pressure generating means for producing pressure sufficient for effecting removal of said closure from said wall, and electrical circuit means which include timing means adapted to activate said pressure means arranged within said container for providing, responsive to the activation of said electrical circuit means and after a predetermined time delay, activation of said pressure generating means for effecting removal of said closure and dispersal of said unit of active ingredient.

Claim 7

The assembly of claim 5 in which the means for exerting internal pressure is a chemical squib.

Claim 8

The assembly of claim 6 in which the chemical squib is comprised of 5-20 mg of 90% potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan coated with nitrocellulose lacquer.

Claim 9

The delayed action assembly of claim 5 in which the non-biodegradable, outer wall and closure material is a polyethylene or polypropylene.

Claim 10

A delayed release ruminant dosage form comprising: a dosage unit of active ingredient in form for immediate release; an outer wall of a biodegradable polymer at least a portion of said outer wall covering said immediate release dosage unit of an active ingredient, and at least one delayed action assembly which, in turn, comprises; a closed non-biodegradable outer wall; a dosage unit of an active ingredient in dispersible form within said wall; a water-tight cover or plug which is capable of being displaced by internal pressure and which extends through the latter outer wall; weight means sufficient to retain said delayed action assembly in the rumen and arranged within said latter outer wall, and an electrical circuit which, in turn, comprises, interconnected; a source of current; means for generating internal pressure sufficient to remove said removable cover or plug; means for timing and activating said pressure generating means, and means for activating said circuit.

Claim 11

A delayed release ruminant dosage form comprising: a dosage unit of active ingredient in form for immediate release; an outer wall of a biodegradable polymer at least a portion of said outer wall covering said immediate release dosage unit of an active ingredient, and at least one delayed action assembly which, in turn, comprises; a closed non-biodegradable outer wall; a dosage unit of an active ingredient in dispersible form within said wall; a water-tight cover or plug which is capable of being displaced by internal pressure and which extends through the latter outer wall; weight means sufficient to retain said delayed action assembly in the rumen and arranged within said latter outer wall, and an electrical circuit which, in turn, comprises, interconnected; a source of current; means for generating internal pressure sufficient to remove said removable cover or plug; means for timing and activating said pressure generating means, and means for activating said circuit.

Claim 12

The unit of claim 9 in which the means for exerting internal pressure is a chemical squib.

Claim 13

ll. The unit of claim 10 in which the chemical squib is comprised of 5-20 mg of 90% potassium dinitrobenzofuroxan coated with nitrocellulose lacquer.

Claim 14

The unit of claim 6 in which the power in the electrical circuit is from about 1.5-4.0 volts.

Claim 15

The unit of claim 5 in which the means for activating the conductivity circuit are two wires completing the conductivity circuit by means of rumen content, said wires being exposed on the surface of the unit.

Claim 16

The unit of claim 6 in which the non-biodegradable wall material is a polyethylene or polypropylene polymer.

Claim 17

The unit of claim 9 in which the biodegradable wall material is hard gelatin.

Claim 18

The unit of claim 6 in which the means for timing and activating the pressure generating means is a single chip microcontroller.

Claim 19

The unit of claim 5 in which the active ingredient is an anthelmintic.

Claim 20

The unit of claim 13 in which the active ingredient is albendazole.

Claim 21

The delayed action assembly of claim 5 for release of an active ingredient in which said electrical circuit means comprises a source of current sufficient to activate and operate said timing means and said pressure generating means as well as a switch means for activating -said electrical circuit means.

Claim 22

The assembly of claim 19 in which the switch means for activating said electrical circuit are two wires which are each exposed at an outer surface of said wall and which are connected to said circuit in fashion to complete the circuit.