Patent Publication Number: US-6910446-B2

Title: Vaccine spray system

Description:
This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/425,987, filed Nov. 13, 2002. 

   The present invention is directed to an apparatus for spray delivering a fluid to a stationary open-topped container such that a substantial area of the container will receive the fluid spray. The present invention is further directed to a method of delivering a uniform fluid spray to a stationary open-topped container by ejecting a fan-shaped droplet spray from a moveable spray nozzle. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Large populations of birds raised in enclosed environments for commercial purposes under crowded conditions are highly susceptible to the spread of infectious agents. 
   Consequently, poultry typically are vaccinated to afford protection against a number of diseases, particularly of viral origin, that could otherwise decimate a flock. Optimum protection is most often afforded by vaccinating young birds or chicks. 
   While vaccines can be dispensed to individual birds or chicks by injection delivery, such a procedure is expensive, time-consuming and labor-intensive. Manual handling of the chicks can induce stress or injury from the needle, and may even initiate secondary infections from cross-contamination. Automatic inoculation devices that rapidly inject birds reduce the disadvantages of manual injection, but cannot eliminate individual handling each bird or chick. 
   Such devices offer automatic charging of syringes and introduction of the injection needle into a bird held against the device, which then delivers the inoculum dose. Alternative methods to injection delivery that are less injurious to the birds have included the manual dispensation of liquid vaccines directly to the mouths, eyes or respiratory channels of chicks. However, these methods remain labor-intensive and costly. 
   Spray delivery of aerosolized vaccines allows the simultaneous treatment of large numbers of chicks without the disadvantage of manual handling of individual birds. The vaccine fluid is delivered to a flock of chicks by direct contact of the vaccine droplets with the eye, or the spray mist is inhaled to contact the respiratory tract. Spray delivery apparatus pass containers with chicks beneath a fixed spray nozzle using a conveyor belt or maximize spray coverage of the chicks by using multiple overhead spray nozzles, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,464 to Peterson. Conveyor belt systems, however, are complex and costly and not readily transportable, requiring that the chick containers be brought to the site of vaccination. 
   Fixed spray jets are usually ejected from spray nozzles with a circular configuration that results in areas of a rectangular container receiving inadequate exposure to fluid, or spraying beyond the container resulting in significant wastage of expensive vaccine fluid. Spray jets may also be oval and provide a fan-shaped spray that may more completely cover the area of the chick container. 
   What is needed, therefore, is a spray delivery system that provides a uniform spraying of a container, with minimal vaccine wastage, but resulting in maximum exposure of the recipient chicks to the vaccine. What is further needed is a spray delivery system capable of delivering a fluid spray to a container of birds but does not require complex and costly container conveyor belt systems to pass the birds under the fluid spray. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly described, the present invention provides a spray delivery system suitable for delivering a fluid spray to birds or chicks held within an open-topped container. The spray delivery system, therefore, comprises an elongated guide rail upon which at least one spray head may move reversibly. The elongated guide rail may be a pneumatically operated rodless cylinder with the spray head(s) attached thereto to allow reciprocal movement of the spray head(s) along the guide rail. A spray nozzle assembly on the spray head(s) may comprise a spray port and a fan-shaped nozzle for delivering a fan-shaped fluid spray. By reversibly moving the spray head along the guide rail, the spray delivery system may deliver an almost uniform fluid spray to an open-topped container, with minimal overspray and reduced wastage. 
   The elongated guide rail is mounted on a cover that has an elongated slot that permits the spray nozzle assembly to extend below the plane of the cover, while allowing the spray nozzle assembly to freely traverse the length of an open-topped container placed beneath the cover. The cover may also have sidewalls, thereby forming a tunnel for receiving the open-topped container. The cover may be standing on a base, the bottom edges of the cover contacting the base, or the cover may be suspended over an area for receiving the container, with the sidewalls of the cover not contacting the base. 
   The present invention further provides a method of delivering a fluid spray to an open-topped container of birds or chicks. The container with the chicks is positioned beneath the cover and approximately centralized relative to the elongated slot in the cover. A fan-shaped spray nozzle passes through the slot and may be height-adjusted to provide substantially total spray coverage of the width of the container with minimal overspray. The fluid, which may be, but is not limited to a vaccine, a medicament or a combination of both, is delivered to the spray nozzle assembly from a fluid container. A pump may pressurize the fluid. It is contemplated, however, that the fluid can be forced from a spray nozzle assembly by a pressurized gas applied to the fluid in the fluid container or the fluid may be sucked from the fluid container by a pressurized gas stream. The spray head, having the spray nozzle assembly thereon, can reversibly travel along the elongated guide rail by a switchable powered means such as a hydraulic or an electric motor having a toothed wheel, the toothed wheel engaging a toothed track on the elongated guide rail, or a belt-driven system. A preferred switchable power means is a reversible pneumatic means operably connected to activate a rodless cylinder to which the spray head(s) is operably attached. The movement of the spray head ensures substantially total spray coverage over the length, as well as the width, of the container. 
   Reciprocal passes of the spray head along the elongated guide rail may be repeated to achieve desired fluid doses. The spray of fluid, as a mist, will contact the eyes of the recipient chicks. It will also be possible, however, for the recipient birds to inhale the fluid droplets into the respiratory system, or ingest fluid by oral contact with fluid droplets that attach to feathers. Rubbing, shaking and physical contact between birds will also spread the fluid to most, if not all, treated birds. Once the desired coverage of the container has occurred, the pressurized fluid flow to the spray nozzle assembly may be arrested, the open-topped container removed from beneath the cover, replaced with a fresh container of chicks and the procedure repeated. Large numbers of birds or chicks, therefore, may be rapidly and uniformly contacted with a fluid with minimal handling of the birds. 
   Various objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon review of the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, which are briefly described as follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a perspective view of a fluid spray apparatus according to the present invention.  FIG. 1B  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a fluid container is mounted on the spray head.  FIG. 1C  illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a pump is mounted on the movable spray head. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a perspective view of an elongated guide rail having two end buffer stops, two adjustable buffer stops and a spray head thereon.  FIG. 2B  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the elongated guide rail has two spray heads. 
       FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate a U-bracket for mounting an elongated guide rail to a cover according to the present invention.  FIG. 3A  is a bottom view of the U-bracket;  FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the U-bracket;  FIG. 3C  is a front view of the U-bracket;  FIG. 3D  is a side view of the U-bracket. 
       FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate an L-bracket for mounting a spray nozzle assembly to a spray head according to the present invention.  FIG. 4A  shows a front view of the L-bracket;  FIG. 4B  shows a top view of the L-bracket;  FIG. 4C  shows a side view of the L-bracket;  FIG. 4D  shows a perspective view of the L-bracket. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the spray delivery apparatus according to the present invention wherein the elongated guide rail is mounted directly to the cover. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a partial view of a region of an elongated guide rail of the present invention wherein the spray head has an electrically powered motor having a toothed wheel, with the toothed wheel engaged with a toothed rail to allow movement of the spray head along the elongated guide rail.  FIG. 6A  shows in plan view another embodiment wherein the spray head is connected to rodless cylinder elongated guide rail that may be pneumatically operated by compressed air to move the spray head along the elongated guide rail. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an elongated guide rail of the present invention wherein the spray head is attached to a powered belt for moving the spray head along the elongated guide rail. 
       FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate embodiments of the spray nozzle assembly according to the present invention.  FIG. 8A  shows a spray nozzle assembly having an elongated spray port;  FIG. 8B  shows a spray nozzle assembly having a round spray port and a fan-shaped spray nozzle;  FIG. 8C  shows a spray nozzle assembly having an elongated spray port and a fan-shaped spray nozzle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode known to the inventor of carrying out the invention is set forth in this description, including reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several figures. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in the limiting sense. 
   For convenience, certain terms employed in the specification, examples, and appended claims are collected here. 
   The term “bird” as used herein refers to males or females of any bird species. The present invention, therefore, may be practiced with any type of bird, including but is not limited to chicken, turkey, duck, goose, quail, pheasant, grouse, ratites or the chicks of any bird species. Ratites include flightless birds including ostrich, emu, cassowary and kiwi. 
   The term “vaccine” as used herein refers to an immunological composition given to an animal to elicit an immune response against an infectious agent. The term vaccine is meant to emcompasse vaccine for birds including poultry and including but not limited to infectious bronchitis vaccine, Mareck&#39;s disease vaccine, infection bursal disease vaccine, and the like. 
   The term “medicament” as used herein refers to any fluid used for medication and having a viscosity that allows a spray to be ejected from a spray nozzle assembly as a spray, including but not limited to a liquid that is aerosolized, vaporized, solubilized, and the like. 
   The present invention provides a spray delivery system suitable for delivering a fluid spray to objects in an open-topped container. This aspect of the present invention is particularly useful for delivering a fluid spray, such as a vaccine, or a medicament to small birds including chicks. With reference now to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus of the present invention for delivering a fluid spray to an open-topped container  22  generally includes an elongated guide rail  10  having a first  11  and a second  12  buffer stop disposed at opposing ends of the elongated guide rail  10 . The first and second buffer stops  11  and  12  are attached to a top surface of a cover  20  having a horizontal top  26  with an elongated slot  21  therein, and descending sidewalls  23 ,  24  joined to outer edges of the horizontal top  26 . The descending sidewalls  23 ,  24  may stand on any substantially level surface, thereby defining with the horizontal top  26  a tunnel having an entrance  28  capable of receiving an open-topped container  22 . Optionally, the cover  20  may further comprise a base  25  attached to the lower edges of the descending sidewalls  23 ,  24 . It is contemplated, however, that the cover  20  having the elongated guide rail  10  thereon, may be suspended over an open-topped container  22 , with the sidewalls not contacting a base. The entrance  28  and an exit  29  of the tunnel may each be sealed with a hinged flap  27  or a curtain or the like attached to the cover  20 , and which can prevent escape of the birds that are to be sprayed, or to prevent escape of spray from the tunnel. The preferred open-topped container  22  is of standard design and usually to be filled with about 100 baby chicks. This contains the chicks in a crowded condition in which the chicks are in physical contact with one another. 
   The first  11  and the second  12  buffer stops are positioned on the top surface  19  of the horizontal top  26  such that the elongated guide rail  10  is substantially parallel to the elongated slot  21  in the horizontal top  26 . It is contemplated for the first and second buffer stops  11  and  12  to be attached to the cover  20  by any means that will securely fasten the elongated guide  10  to the cover  22 . A preferred means of attachment is U-brackets  13  and  14 . One embodiment of a U-bracket  13 ,  14  suitable for securing an elongated guide rail  10  to a cover  20  according to the present invention, is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3D . However, in another embodiment, the elongated guide rail is attached to a cover without the use of U-brackets  13 ,  14 , as shown in FIG.  5 . 
   The apparatus of the present invention further comprises at least one spray head  30  slideably disposed on the elongated guide rail  10  and capable of reversibly traveling from the first buffer stop  11  to the second buffer stop  12 . The spray head(s)  30  is operably connected to a switchable power means for reversibly moving the spray head  30 . It is contemplated that the spray delivery system of the present invention may comprise more than one spray head  30 , each spray head  30  being capable of moving in the same direction or in opposite directions from each other. Each spray head  30  may each have a switchable power means for moving the spray head  30 . The spray heads may also be linked, or the switchable power means are controlled, so that the spray heads  30  move in the same direction or in opposite directions. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the first buffer  11  stop may further comprise a hydraulic fluid inlet port  41  and a fluid outlet port  42 , each operably connected to a hydraulic pump and an extendable means operably connected to the spray head  30 . The extendable means may, for example, be a piston capable of pushing or pulling the spray head  30  along the elongated guide rail  10 . In another embodiment, the spray head  30  is connected to a rodless cylinder elongated guide rail  10  that may be pneumatically operated by compressed air to move the spray head  30  along the elongated guide rail  10 , as shown in  FIG. 6A  (guide rail  10  forms chamber  10 ′ in which piston  610 , having ends  610 ′ and  610 ″, is positioned, and spray head  30  is operably connected to piston  610 , whereby compressed air from inlet(s)  41 ′ enters and exits chamber  10 ′ via tube(s)  641  and moves piston  610  and hence spray head  30  thereby moves along guide rail  10 ). In yet another embodiment, the switchable power means is an electrically powered toothed wheel system comprising an electric motor  44  having a toothed wheel  45  attached to a rotor of the motor and engaging a toothed track  46  on the elongated guide rail  10  as shown in  FIG. 6 , an electrically powered belt driven system comprising an electric motor attached to the first buffer stop  11  and having a first pulley wheel  47  attached to the rotor, thereof, a second pulley wheel  48  attached to the second buffer stop  12  and a belt  49  passing over the first  47  and second  48  pulley wheels, wherein the belt  49  is also attached to the spray head  30  as shown in FIG.  7 . 
   The spray head  30  further comprises a spray nozzle assembly  31  capable of receiving a pressurized fluid from a fluid container  38  and of ejecting a pressurized fluid to form a fan-shaped droplet (or mist) spray of fluid. The spray nozzle assembly  31  comprises a spray port  32  and optionally a fan-shaped spray nozzle  33 . The spray nozzle assembly  31  may eject a pressurized fluid through the spray port  32  capable of delivering a fan-shaped spray of sufficient width in a long-axis to spray fluid droplets over substantially all of the width of an open-topped container  22  placed in the tunnel beneath the spray nozzle assembly  31 , as shown in FIG.  1 A. In one embodiment, the spray port  32  may be elongated in the dimension of the width of the fan-shaped spray, as shown in FIG.  8 A. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the fan-shape of the spray may be formed by ejection of the pressurized fluid from the spray port  32  that may be of any geometric shape, with the fan-shaped spray being formed by passage of the fluid spray stream through a substantially flattened fan-shaped spray nozzle  33 , as shown in FIG.  8 B. 
   In yet another embodiment, the fan-shape of the spray may be formed by ejection of the pressurized fluid through a combination of an elongated spray port  32  and a substantially flattened fan-shaped spray nozzle  33 , as shown in FIG.  8 C. 
   The spray nozzle assembly  31  may be directly attached to the spray head  30  by means of an adjustable L-bracket  34 . A suitable L-bracket  34  for use in the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4D , comprises a back-plate  35  having at least one slot  36  capable of receiving a locking screw  37 . Release of the locking screw  37  loosens, the spray nozzle assembly  31  relative to the spray head  30 , thereby allowing the height of the spray nozzle assembly  31  to be adjusted relative to an open-topped container  22  beneath, and thereby adjusting the width of the fluid spray delivered to the open-topped container  22 . The greater the height of the spray nozzle assembly  31 , the wider the spray contacting the open-topped container  22 , or the birds therein. This feature is particularly useful to prevent wastage of a valuable fluid such as a vaccine by reducing overspray of the container  22 , or from spraying more of the container  22  than is necessary, such as when the container  22  is not full. Once the spray nozzle assembly  31  is at the desired height, the screw(s)  37  may be tightened to maintain the spray nozzle assembly  31  in the selected position. Undesired spraying of the open topped container  22  may also be reduced by an adjustable buffer stop  15  that can restrict the travel of the spray head  30  along the elongated guide rail  10 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C, the spray nozzle assembly  31  is operably connected to at least one fluid container  38  by means of a delivery tube  39 . The fluid spray apparatus of the present invention further comprises a means of delivering a pressurized fluid from the fluid container  38  to the spray nozzle assembly  31 . Preferably, the means of delivery is a pump that is operably connected to the fluid container  38  and the spray nozzle assembly  31 . It is also contemplated for the fluid container  38  to be pressurized by a compressed gas, thereby forcing the fluid to the spray nozzle assembly  31  without using an interceding pump  40 . An exemplary means of applying a pressure to the fluid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,464 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It is further contemplated that the fluid can also be sucked from the fluid container  38  and then delivered to the spray port  32  by a compressed air stream generated from a compressor or air tank operably connected to the spray nozzle assembly  30 . The pressurized fluid will then be ejected from the spray nozzle assembly  31  through the spray port  32 . 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid container  38 , and optionally the pump  40 , is secured to the moveable spray head  30  and therefore moves with the spray head  30  along the elongated guide rail  10 . 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the fluid container  38 , and optionally the pump  40 , is not rigidly attached to the spray head  30 . In this embodiment, the fluid container  38  and pump  40  are connected to the spray head  30  by a flexible delivery tube  39 . It is contemplated that in this embodiment, therefore, the fluid container  38  and pump  40  are attached to the cover  20  or other fixed portion of the spray apparatus. 
   One embodiment of the apparatus for delivering a fluid spray to an open-topped container of the present invention, therefore, comprises (a) an elongated guide rail  10  having a first  11  and a second  12  buffer stop disposed thereon, (b) a cover  20 , the cover  20  having a horizontal top  26  with a top surface  19  and two substantially parallel descending side-walls  23 ,  24 , the horizontal top  26  having an elongated slot  21  substantially parallel to the elongated guide rail  10 , and wherein each buffer stop  11 ,  12  is attached to the cover  20 , (c) at least one spray head  30  slideably disposed on the elongated guide rail  10 , wherein the spray head  30  has mounted thereon a spray nozzle assembly  31  capable of delivering a fluid from a fluid container  38  as a fan-shaped fluid spray, (d) a means of delivering a fluid from a fluid container  38  to the spray nozzle assembly  31 , and (e) a switchable powered means for reversibly moving the spray head  30  along the elongated guide rail  10 . 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the first and second buffer stops  11 ,  12  are attached to the cover  20  by U-brackets  13 ,  14 . 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of spray heads  30 , wherein the number of spray heads  30  is selected to provide spray coverage over the entire area of an open-topped container  22 . 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a fluid container  38  operably connected to a pump  40  and the spray nozzle assembly  31 , wherein the pump  40  can deliver a pressurized fluid from the fluid container  38  to the spray nozzle assembly  31 , and wherein the pressurized fluid is ejected from the spray nozzle assembly  31  as a fan-shaped spray. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the fluid container  38  is mounted on the cover. 
   In still another embodiment of the present invention, the pump  40  is mounted on the cover  20 . 
   In yet still another embodiment of the present invention, the fluid container  38  is mounted on the movable spray head  30 . 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid is delivered to the spray nozzle assembly  31  as a pressurized fluid by means of a compressed gas. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the pump  40  is mounted on the movable spray head  30 . 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the spray nozzle assembly  31  has an elongated spray port  32  capable of delivering a fan-shaped fluid spray. 
   In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the spray nozzle assembly  31  has a fan-shaped spray nozzle  33 . 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the elongated guide rail is a rodless cylinder with the moveable spray head  30  attached thereto, see FIG.  6 A. 
   In still another embodiment of the present invention, the switchable power means is a hydraulic pump. 
   In yet still another embodiment of the present invention, the switchable power means comprises an electric motor  44  having a toothed wheel  45 , the toothed wheel  45  engaging a toothed track  46  on the elongated guide rail  10 . 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the spray nozzle assembly  31  is mounted on the spray head by an L-bracket  34 , the L-bracket  34  having at least one elongated slot  36  configured for adjusting the height of the spray nozzle assembly  31  over the open-topped container  22 , and wherein the L-bracket  34  is attached to the spray head  30  by a screw  37 . 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises at least one adjustable buffer block  15 . 
   Another aspect of the present invention is a method for delivery of a fan-shaped fluid spray to an open-topped container  22 . While the method and apparatus of the present invention are suitable for spraying any fluid that has a viscosity that allows a spray to be ejected from a spray nozzle assembly as a spray such as a medicament, a vaccine or a mixture thereof, it is anticipated that the method of the present invention is particularly suitable for the spray delivery of a vaccine to recipient birds, such as chicks. 
   In the methods of the present invention, an open-topped container  22  holding, for example, a batch of chicks to be vaccinated, is provided. The open-topped container  22  is placed beneath the cover  20  and in the tunnel defined by the horizontal top  26  and the descending sidewalls  23 ,  24  of the cover  20 , and a surface beneath the sidewalls  23 ,  24 . The open-topped container  22  is preferably substantially below the elongated slot  21  of the cover  20 . The fluid to be spray delivered to the open-topped container  22  may be delivered under pressure to the spray nozzle assembly  31  by operating a pump  40  operably located between the fluid container  38  and the spray nozzle assembly  31 . Optionally, the fluid may be delivered by a compressed air stream that pulls the fluid from a fluid container  38 , and through the spray port  32 , or by top pressure applied to the fluid in the fluid container  38  and that can push the fluid out of the fluid container  38 , as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,464 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
   The spray head  30  may then be reversibly moved along the elongated guide rail  10  by operating a switchable power means. The number of reciprocal passages of the spray head  30  along the elongated slot  21  is selected to provide a desired degree of spray coverage of the recipient objects. Once the selected degree of spray coverage has been attained, the pressurized fluid flow to the spray nozzle assembly  31  is arrested. 
   When the spray cycle has been completed, it is desirable to remove the chick containers from the cabinet so that the next chick container can be inserted into the cabinet. The sprayed chick containers usually are stacked one atop the other and the side vent openings in the chick containers permit proper ventilation for the chicks. 
   After the spray cycle has been completed, the droplets of fluid will have been sprayed to the upper body portions of the chicks in each chick container. Some of the droplets will make direct contact with the eyes of the chicks, thus causing some of the chicks to be directly vaccinated. Other droplets will come to rest on the upper body portions of the chicks. The natural movements of the chicks in the chick container and the crowded conditions of the chicks in the container result in some of the droplets being rubbed from the upper body portions of the chicks into the eyes of adjacent chicks. Additionally, some of the chicks respond to the spray by shaking their heads and upper body portions. This causes some of the droplets to be splashed into the eye openings of adjacent chicks. When the fluid enters the eye opening of a chick, it tends to migrate through the nasal passages of the chick to be ingested by the chick. Also, some of the chicks tend to peck at droplets of fluid that are supported on the upper body portions of adjacent chicks. This results in some of the fluid being ingested orally by the chicks. It is desirable to retain the chicks in the chick containers for a period sufficient for the natural body motions and instincts of the chicks to disseminate the vaccine among the chicks in this manner. 
   One embodiment, therefore, of the method of the present invention for delivering a fan-shaped fluid spray to an open-topped container  22 , comprises the steps of providing an open-topped container  22  having therein objects desired to receive a fluid spray, positioning the open-topped container  22  below the cover  20  of the spray delivery apparatus according to the present invention, operating the means to deliver a fluid from the fluid container  38  to the spray nozzle assembly  31 , whereby the fluid is ejected from the spray nozzle assembly  31  as a fan-shaped spray directed towards the open-topped container  22 , and operating the switchable powered means, thereby reversibly moving the spray head  30  along the elongated guide rail  10  so that the fan-shaped spray is delivered substantially over the area of the open-topped container  22  and the objects therein. 
   In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the step of reversibly moving the spray head  30  along the elongated guide rail  10  is repeated at least once. 
   In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the objects in the open-topped container  22  are birds. 
   In another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the fluid ejected from the spray nozzle assembly  31  comprises a vaccine. 
   In yet another embodiment of the method of the present invention, the fluid ejected from the spray nozzle assembly  31  comprises a medicament. 
   With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly, and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Further, the various components of the embodiments of the invention may be interchanged to produce further embodiments and these further embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims.