Method of administering a ruminant dispensing device comprising density member dispersed in hydrogel member

Claim 1

A method of administering to a ruminant a biologically active substance, said method comprising: (a) admitting orally into the ruminant a dispenser, the dispenser comprising: (1) a wall that surrounds and defines an internal lumen, the wall comprising a composition permeable to the passage of fluid and substantially impermeable to the passage of a biologically active substance; (2) carrier means int e lumen comprising a biologically active substance, said carrier means being a heat responsive composition comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a solid and semisolid carrier up to 24° C. that absorbs heat from the ruminant and thereby forms a dispensable composition at 24° C. to 45° C. for administering the biologically active substance; (3) at least one passageway in the dispenser communicating with the lumen for administering the biologically active substance from the dispenser; (4) hydrogel means in the lumen for applying pressure against the carrier means comprising the biologically active substance, said hydrogel means comprising, dispersed therein, a weight means for maintaining the dispenser in the ruminant over time, said weight means having a density greater than the density of a fluid present in the rumen of a ruminant; and, (b) administering the biologically active substance by the carrier means comprising the biologically active substance absorbing heat and the hydrogel means absorbing fluid for producing pressure applied against the carrier means, whereby said biologically active substance is delivered through at lest one passageway to the ruminant at a controlled rate over time.

Claim 2

A method of administering to a ruminant a biologically active substance, said method comprising: (a) admitting orally into the ruminant a dispenser, the dispenser comprising: (1) a wall that surrounds and defines an internal lumen, the wall comprising a composition permeable to the passage of fluid and substantially impermeable to the passage of a biologically active substance; (2) carrier means int e lumen comprising a biologically active substance, said carrier means being a heat responsive composition comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a solid and semisolid carrier up to 24° C. that absorbs heat from the ruminant and thereby forms a dispensable composition at 24° C. to 45° C. for administering the biologically active substance; (3) at least one passageway in the dispenser communicating with the lumen for administering the biologically active substance from the dispenser; (4) hydrogel means in the lumen for applying pressure against the carrier means comprising the biologically active substance, said hydrogel means comprising, dispersed therein, a weight means for maintaining the dispenser in the ruminant over time, said weight means having a density greater than the density of a fluid present in the rumen of a ruminant; and, (b) administering the biologically active substance by the carrier means comprising the biologically active substance absorbing heat and the hydrogel means absorbing fluid for producing pressure applied against the carrier means, whereby said biologically active substance is delivered through at lest one passageway to the ruminant at a controlled rate over time.

Claim 5

A method for eliminating an infestation in a ruminant, which method comprises: (a) admitting into the ruminant a dispenser, the dispenser comprising: (1) a wall that surrounds and defines an internal compartment, the wall comprising in at least a part a semipermeable composition that is permeable to the passage of fluid and substantially impermeable to the passage of a beneficial agent; (2) a dosage amount of the beneficial agent avermectin in the compartment and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for said avermectin, said carrier comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a solid and semisolid carrier up to 24° C. and forms a dispensable composition at 24° C. to 45° C. for administering the avermectin; (3) hydrogel means in the compartment for expanding and occupying an increasing volume of the compartment, said hydrogel means comprising a densifier that has a specific gravity of at least 1.0 for maintaining the dispenser in the ruminant during the administering of the beneficial agent; (4) at least one passageway in he dispenser for delivering the avermectin from the dispenser; and, (b) delivering the avermectin to the ruminant at a controlled rate by the hydrogel means imbibing fluid, expanding and urging the carrier that absorbs heat and formed a dispensable composition comprising the avermectin from the dispenser to the ruminant for eliminating the infestation.

Claim 6

A method for eliminating an infestation in a ruminant, which method comprises: (a) admitting into the ruminant a dispenser, the dispenser comprising: (1) a wall that surrounds and defines an internal compartment, the wall comprising in at least a part a semipermeable composition that is permeable to the passage of fluid and substantially impermeable to the passage of a beneficial agent; (2) a dosage amount of the beneficial agent avermectin in the compartment and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for said avermectin, said carrier comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a solid and semisolid carrier up to 24° C. and forms a dispensable composition at 24° C. to 45° C. for administering the avermectin; (3) hydrogel means in the compartment for expanding and occupying an increasing volume of the compartment, said hydrogel means comprising a densifier that has a specific gravity of at least 1.0 for maintaining the dispenser in the ruminant during the administering of the beneficial agent; (4) at least one passageway in he dispenser for delivering the avermectin from the dispenser; and, (b) delivering the avermectin to the ruminant at a controlled rate by the hydrogel means imbibing fluid, expanding and urging the carrier that absorbs heat and formed a dispensable composition comprising the avermectin from the dispenser to the ruminant for eliminating the infestation.