US4909250A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implant system for animal identification
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-11-14
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Granted: 1990-03-20
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Expires: 2008-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An animal identification system for swine or other livestock employs an identification implant or pellet consisting of food grade material and imprinted with information to identify the source of the animal and its carcass after slaughter. The pellet is implanted under the hide or skin of the animal for purposes of identification. In the case of swine, the identification pellet is located in the fat layer of the shoulder area underneath its hide or skin. The pellet and the imprinted information consist of food grade material which is capable of being dissolved with the fat layer or disintegrated into cracklings in a rendering process. The pellet remains in the carcass after the animal is slaughtered until its removal to permit identification of the source of the animal. If the pellet is not removed, it is either dissolved with the fat of the animal or disintegrated into cracklings in the rendering process. Installation tools are disclosed for implanting the identification pellet in a horizontal or vertical orientation under the hide or skin of the animal.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph R. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M37/00; A61M37/0069; A01; A01K; A01K11/00; A01K11/006; A61B; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3904; A61B2090/3908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An identification implant for an animal, comprising: a biologically compatible pellet for implantation under the hide or skin of the animal; said pellet being imprinted with information for purposes of identification of said animal; and said pellet and said imprinted information being comprised of food grade material, said food grade material being adapted not to break down in the live animal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
An identification implant for an animal, comprising: a biologically compatible pellet for implantation under the hide or skin of the animal; said pellet being imprinted with information for purposes of identification of said animal; and said pellet and said imprinted information being comprised of food grade material, said food grade material being adapted not to break down in the live animal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein: said food grade material is capable of being dissolved with the fat of said animal or disintegrated into cracklings in a rendering process after said animal is slaughtered.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The implant of claim 2, wherein: said food grade material includes an amount of white wax, stearic acid or carnauba wax sufficient to enable said pellet to dissolve or disintegrate into cracklings in the rendering process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein: said information is printed on said pellet in ink which consists of food grade material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The implant of claim 1, wherein: said pellet is cylindrical in shape and said information is printed on the cylindrical surface of said pellet.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of animal identification consisting of implanting an identification pellet comprised of food grade material beneath the hide or skin of a live animal, said pellet being imprinted with information for purposes of identification of the source of said animal and its carcass after slaughter.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of animal identification consisting of implanting an identification pellet comprised of food grade material beneath the hide or skin of a live animal, said pellet being imprinted with information for purposes of identification of the source of said animal and its carcass after slaughter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6, wherein: said information is printed on said pellet in ink which consists of food grade material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6, wherein: said food grade material of said pellet is capable of being dissolved with said fat layer of said animal or disintegrated into cracklings in a rendering process after said animal is slaughtered.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8, which includes: removing said pellet from the carcass of said animal after it is slaughtered to identify the source of said animal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8, wherein: said pellet is implanted in a horizontal orientation under the hide or skin of said animal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8, wherein: said pellet is implanted in a vertical orientation under the hide or skin of said animal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6, wherein: said pellet is a small, elongated cylinder and coded information is printed on the cylindrical surface of said pellet to identify the source of the animal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6, wherein: said food grade material of said pellet is adapted not to break down in the live animal.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of swine identification consisting of implanting an identification pellet comprised of food grade material in the fat layer beneath the hide or skin of a live swine, said pellet being imprinted with coded information for purposes of identification of the source of said swine and its carcass after slaughter.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of swine identification consisting of implanting an identification pellet comprised of food grade material in the fat layer beneath the hide or skin of a live swine, said pellet being imprinted with coded information for purposes of identification of the source of said swine and its carcass after slaughter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14, wherein: said coded information is printed on said pellet in ink which consists of food grade material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 14, wherein: said food grade material of said pellet is capable of being dissolved with said fat layer of said swine or disintegrated into cracklings in a rendering process after said swine is slaughtered.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14, which includes: removing said pellet from the carcass of said swine after it is slaughtered to identify the source of said swine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 14, wherein: said pellet is implanted subcutaneously at a depth of about 3/8 inch in the outer fat layer of said swine and approximately 3 to 4 inches on either side of the backbone and posterior of the shoulder blade of said swine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14, wherein: said food grade material of said pellet is adapted not to break down in the live animal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
An identification system for an animal, comprising: a biologically compatible pellet for implantation under the hide or skin of the animal; said pellet being imprinted with information for purposes of identification of said animal; said pellet and said imprinted information being comprised of food grade material; and a device for implanting said pellet under the hide or skin of the animal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
An identification system for an animal, comprising: a biologically compatible pellet for implantation under the hide or skin of the animal; said pellet being imprinted with information for purposes of identification of said animal; said pellet and said imprinted information being comprised of food grade material; and a device for implanting said pellet under the hide or skin of the animal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 20, wherein: said device is adapted to implant said pellet in the fat layer beneath the hide or skin of said animal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 21, wherein: said food grade material of said pellet and said imprinted information is capable of being dissolved with said fat layer of said animal or disintegrated into cracklings in a rendering process after said animal is slaughtered.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20, wherein: said food grade material of said pellet is adapted not to break down in the live animal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-19 | 1993-09-18 | 1994-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-19 | 1997-09-18 | 1998-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-19 | 2001-09-18 | 2002-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |