Patent ID: 8348883

Claim:
A device for implanting an object into animal tissue, the device comprising: a cannula having a proximal end, an opposite distal end that is insertable into tissue and defines an exit aperture for discharge of the object from the cannula, and a passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, all of which share the same longitudinal axis; an axially movable plunger disposed within at least a portion of the cannula and oriented in a non-coaxial relationship with respect to the cannula; and a partial barrier disposed within the cannula adjacent to its distal end and configured to at least partially block the passageway, the partial barrier at least partially defining an object receiving opening that is in communication with the passageway and sufficiently sized to receive the object, wherein, when the device is in a first position, the partial barrier prevents the object from entering the passageway even when the plunger is inserted into the object receiving opening, wherein, when the device is moved to a second position, the passageway is aligned with the object, such that, upon movement of the plunger towards the distal end of the cannula, the plunger engages the object and pushes it through the object receiving opening towards the exit aperture.