Abstract:
A system for injecting drugs into animals by using a drug injection device that fits onto the end of an arrow. The device consists of a cylindrical cartride that inserts into the hollow shaft or an arrow. Onto the tip of the arrow a needle is attached. A detonator explodes on impact of arrow with the animal and forces drug from cartridge through needle into animal. The system further consists of a dye-marked drug to reveal the use of the drug in the hunting and injection of animals. A method of preparing dye-marked drug and the new composition is shown.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a device that fits on an arrow and injects animals with drugs, and the drugs used with the device. More particularly, this invention relates to a cartridge that contains a detonator that explodes when the arrow strikes an animal, and thereby forces a drug through a needle into the animal&#39;s tissue. More specifically, the drug, prior to impact, is encapsulated by a membrane within a cartridge in the hollow tip of an arrow. Upon impact the detonation drives the capsule onto a member which pierces the membrane containing the drug, forcing the drug through the member and out a needle on the tip of the arrow. It should be noted that the arrow itself does not penetrate the animal and leaves no trace on its skin. This invention also claims a dye-marked drug used with the injecting system and a method of preparing and using the dye-marked drug. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Drugs or poisons have long been used in the hunting of animals by more primitive societies. Even today the principle is used in guns that fire darts containing some type of drug or immobilizing substance. Typical such immobilization darts are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,854,925. In that patent, a projectile to dispense a liquid drug is fired from a gun. The firing causes a blast of gas to force a needle through a thin seal and puncture a receptacle containing a liquid gas-producing reactant. The liquid gas-producing reactant released reacts with a solid gas-producing reactant, the reaction product forcing a plunger forward against a chamber containing a liquid drug. The liquid drug is dispensed to an impacted animal as a result of the plunger forcing the liquid through a needle. 
     In recent years, the popularity of bow and arrow hunting has increased among sportsmen. Today&#39;s hunter, however, does not possess the skill of his forefathers. Furthermore, broadhead-equipped arrows induce death by causing hemorrhaging. It requires great accuracy to efficiently induce death through such means, since the broadhead must generally sever relatively large broad vessels; however, an animal&#39;s body contains few blood vessels of adequate size. When a broadhead penetrates the abdominal cavity, death almost invariably results due to infection. As a result, many animals are mortally wounded by arrows each year, yet flee to remote locations to die. Therefore, some states&#39; game laws allow the use of arrows equipped with drug injecting devices. Consequently, there has been increased usage of such arrows. 
     A typical arrow is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,940 which illustrates a regulation size broadhead arrow used in conjunction with a preloaded capsule containing a powerful liquid muscle relaxant. In this device, a capsule contained in an arrow shaft is shoved forward upon impact with an animal onto the sharpened rear edge of a broadhead. No compression device is used to forcibly eject the capsule&#39;s solution, nor is there a way of deflecting the capsule&#39;s wall so it will not impede the outward flow of solution. Also, the hemorrhaging caused by the cutting effect of the broadhead substantially decreases the effectiveness of the drug dispensed. Much of the dosage is transported outside the body of the animal by bleeding or can become trapped within pooled blood (or &#34;bruised&#34;) tissue. Should an animal be struck in the abdominal cavity by this device, much of the drug would be lost in intestinal matter since the dosage is released along the broadhead&#39;s penetration route. 
     A method of dispensing a drug by arrow is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,866. In this invention a sleeve member telescopes along the shank of the arrow so the arrow penetrates the animal, and releases the drug along the path of the penetrated arrow. 
     Another method of dispensing a drug by arrow is shown in applicant&#39;s own U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,837. This patent shows a drug dispensed from the annular recess of a center cylinder slideably receiving the shank of an arrow. The center cylinder has outwardly extending flange hooks to retain the cylinder at the surface of the animal to completely dispense the drug in the muscle tissue of the animal. 
     A drug that has been used for hunting purposes is succinylcholine chloride (diacetylcholine chloride), a fast-acting, relatively powerful muscle relaxant. This highly stable drug reacts with serum cholinesterase, an enzyme in an animal&#39;s circulatory system and hydrolyzes into succinic acid and choline, compounds that are normal body constituents. Hunted game animals, such as deer, are many times more sensitive to this drug than man. Therefore, if a drug holding device is highly efficient, it is possible to use a dosage that is humanely effective for most hunting purposes, yet is harmless to the hunter should he be accidently shot with the arrow. 
     However, because succinylcholine chloride breaks down into components normally found in a human&#39;s or an animal&#39;s body, detection of its use is extremely difficult. Because of this, it has been called a &#34;perfect&#34; murder weapon. Succinylcholine chloride is highly absorbent through mucous membrane surfaces and when applied in sufficient concentration to those surfaces is introduced to the body without leaving a mark on the surface. Likewise, the use of succinylcholine chloride with this invention, which produces only an almost invisible needle mark on the animal, makes it difficult to determine how the animal died. In archery hunting under state laws, succinylcholine chloride-equipped arrows may be used on certain species and not others, or in certain geographical areas and not others. This has presented a long-standing problem to law enforcement personnel, because it is almost impossible to determine whether succinylcholine chloride was used in the animal&#39;s death. Because of this difficulty, succinylcholine chloride has been disapproved for hunting purposes in many areas. This is unfortunate because succinylcholine chloride is much more efficient and would reduce the incidences of crippling wildlife that result from the use of broadhead arrows. 
     An effective dye that would mark the under surface of the skin of the animal when injected with succinylcholine chloride would provide a ready means of determining the drug&#39;s use. However, most dyes cannot be used due to chemical interaction with the succinylcholine chloride, because the dyes contain toxins or because they lack the potency to be effective markers. To be effective, a dye must be an extremely potent marker, nontoxic and chemically inert. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of this invention to provide a drug injection device for hunting purposes that, by explosive charge, injects a drug through a needle in the arrow tip, into the subcutaneous tissue of the animal. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that will inject a drug without marring or tearing the skin of the animal. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a new composition based on the widely used (in hunting) drug succinylcholine chloride that will reveal the use of that drug in killing game. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a method by which the new composition based on succinylcholine chloride can be prepared to use effectively as a marking to reveal the use of the drug in killing game animals. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a drug injection device for use with succinylcholine chloride in a manner that the drug&#39;s use will be apparent to an observer. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevated, broken partially sectioned view of an arrow along its longitudinal axis embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elongated cross-sectional view of a drug cartridge for use in the arrow shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along its elongated axis of the injection member of the arrow shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 4A is a rear view of the drug cartridge shown in FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4B is a front view of the drug cartridge shown in FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the main components of the drug injection system when it is ready for use. Arrow 11 has an opening 15 in the forward end thereof. Inside of opening 15 is a cartridge 10 slidably received therein. Closing the forward end of opening 15 is an injection means 12. Inside of opening 15 to the rear of cartridge 10 is a shaft plug 44. Arrow shaft 40 is hollow. Shaft plug 44 is inserted into shaft 40 a sufficient distance from arrow shaft end 13 to allow for the insertion into shaft 40 of drug cartridge body 10. Drug cartridge body 10 is held in place within shaft 40 by positioning fins 52 and 66, that project from the two ends of drug cartridge body 10. Drug cartridge body 10 is generally cylindrical and elongated to conform with the inside of shaft 40. It is best made of a hard, impact-resistant plastic. When drug cartridge body 10 is properly positioned within shaft 42, rear end 62 of drug cartridge body 10 is close to shaft plug 44. 
     Injecting body 12 is attached at tip 13 by threading onto attachment collar 14 fixed on arrow shaft 40. When properly positioned and ready for use, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, chamber displacement member 20 is close to front membrane seal 54 of drug cartridge body 10. When arrow 11 is suddenly stopped, as would occur when it strikes an animal, the impact sets off impact detonator 58. The rapidly expanding gas created by the explosion is contained by immobile shaft plug 44 and positioning fins 66 and therefore forces drug cartridge body 10 to slam into chamber displacement member 20, piercing membrane seal 54. The drug contained within drug chamber 50 of drug cartridge body 10 is squeezed by the force of the explosion through chamber displacement member 20 of injecting body 12, through tip orifices 36 of needle 30 into the subcutaneous tissues of the animal (not shown). In this manner, the animal is injected with a premeasured dosage of the drug. 
     FIG. 2 more fully illustrates the components of drug cartridge body 10. The generally cylindrical cartridge body 10 is sealed at ends by membranes 54, 64. Front membrane 54 seals drug chamber 50. Drug chamber 50 is enclosed within the front portion of drug cartridge body 10 and contains the lethal drug. The internal dimensions of drug chamber 50 generally match the exterior of chamber displacement member 20 as is illustrated in FIG. 3. Tip 22 of channel displacement member 20 matches rear end 51 of drug chamber 50. Drug cartridge body 10 encloses, in its rear portion, detonator chamber 68 containing impact detonator 58. Drug cartridge body 10 is sealed at its rearward end by rear membrane seal 64 that encloses impact detonator 58 within detonator chamber 68. When flight of arrow 11 is stopped suddenly, detonator 58 explodes, releasing gas and propelling drug cartridge body 10 forward within arrow shaft 40. The expanding gas is forced rearward through rear end 62 of drug cartridge body 10. It can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 that positioning fins 66 both hold cartridge body 10 in place with shaft 40 and also function to seal escaping gases between rear end 62 of cartridge body 10 and arrow shaft plug 44. Arrow shaft plug 44 contains gas release perforations 46 to allow for gradual pressure release of expanding gas. Impact detonator 58 is selected to detonate only upon the impact created when arrow 11 travelling at least 50 feet per second is stopped suddenly. This helps prevent accidental discharge of impact detonator 58. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates injecting body 12. Rim 19 of injecting body 12 is cylindrical-shaped and has threads 18 on the inner surface. Threads 18 allow injecting body 12 to be screwed onto attachment collar 14 at arrow tip 13. Rim 19 is attached to disc-shaped impact plate 32 which has needle 30 extending forward from center of plate 32, and chamber displacement member 20 extending rearward from center of plate 32. In this fashion, needle 30 and chamber displacement member 20 are pointed outward from plate 32. Internal channel 26 extends along the longitudinal axis of chamber displacement member 20 and needle 30 and connects with orifices 24 in surface of chamber displacement member 20 and orifices 36 in surface of needle 30. The number, size and pattern of orifices 24 and 36 may be altered to utilize different dosages of drug. That is, an injecting body with only a few small orifices would inject a smaller dose into the animal than an injecting body with larger orifices. This assumes that the impulse created by impact detonator 58 in each case is the same. The shape of chamber displacement member 20 is generally cylindrical with pointed tip 22. When impact detonator 58 is activated and drug cartridge body 10 thrust forward within shaft 40, front membrane seal 54 is pierced by pointed tip 22. As drug cartridge body 10 continues forward, chamber displacement member 20 displaces liquid drug from drug chamber 50 through orifice 24, internal channel 26 and out needle orifices 36. In this manner, the lethal drug is injected into subcutaneous tissues of the animal. It can be seen from the broad flat shape of impact plate 32 that allow 11 will not penetrate the animal except for needle 30. Arrow 11 impacts target animal, injects a premeasured dosage of drug and immediately falls out. Field tests have shown that the drug injection is instanteous upon impact and that arrow 11 leaves no mark on the animal. The use of the term &#34;drug&#34; in this application is intended to encompass all chemicals that may incapacitate or kill animals, and is not limited to chemicals with only therapeutic benefits. 
     FIG. 4A illustrates a rear view of drug cartridge body 10 showing rear membrane seal 64 and positioning fins 66. It can be seen in this view and FIG. 4B where and how positioning fins 52, 66 are attached to drug cartridge body 10. It further shows how positioning fins 52, 66 are shaped slightly larger than interior radius of arrow shaft 40 so as to bend and fit snugly within. Because positioning fins 52, 66 are flexible material, they will bend when drug cartridge body 10 is inserted into arrow shaft 40, and hold drug cartridge body 10 in place within arrow shaft 40. Further, the contact between positioning fins 66 and interior wall of shaft 40 creates a seal that will help prevent the escape of gases from between rear end 62 of cartridge body 10 and arrow shaft plug 44. 
     In the preferred embodiment the lethal drug contained within drug chamber 50 is succinylcholine chloride and FD&amp;C Blue Dye No. 1 mixed and in solution. The solution, when injected in an animal, leaves a bright telltale blue mark. In an alternate embodiment, FD&amp;C Blue Dye No. 2 is used in place of FD&amp;C Blue Dye No. 1. Research by inventor indicates that Blue Dye No. 1 to be a good marker. The concentration required to create a bright stain is between one-half to six milligrams of FD&amp;C Blue Dye No. 1 per 100 milligrams of powdered succinylcholine chloride. For succinylcholine chloride solution, the concentration is in the range one to eight milligrams of FD&amp;C Blue Dye No. 1 per one milliliter of solution. The most effective range disclosed by experimentation and to be preferred is one to three milligrams of FD&amp;C Blue Dye No. 1 per 100 milligrams of powdered succinylcholine chloride. For succinylcholine chloride solution, the preferred range is two to four milligrams of FD&amp;C Blue Dye No. 1 per milliliter of succinylcholine chloride solution.