US Patent No. 9,585,867

A system and method of humanely dosing a human or animal with a formulation at a distance. A system capable of dosing a recipient with a formulation having a mass between 10 and 500 grains propelled at low-to-medium ballistic velocities (300 to 800 feet per second) and with medium-to-long range ballistic accuracy (10 to over 100 yards) without causing serious physical harm to, nor the death of, the recipient.

1. A spiraling ballistic flight projectile injection system for dosing a human or animal recipient with a formulation via injection at a ballistic distance, the system comprising: 

a housing having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein 

said housing has at least one cavity storing the formulation and at least one distal outlet port through which the formulation exits said housing; 

an injector head having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis in common with the housing longitudinal axis, including 

at least one proximal inlet port fluidly connected to the at least one distal outlet port of the housing, and including 

at least one curved distal hypodermic needle extending distally from the injector head offset from the housing and injector head longitudinal axis, 

the injector head proximal end mounted to the housing distal end along the housing and injector head longitudinal axis via a rotatable hub, 

the rotatable hub configured to allow the injector head to spin along the common longitudinal axis in respect to the housing, and wherein 

upon spiraling ballistic contact with the recipient, the at least one curved distal hypodermic needle, cooperatively with the direction of rotation of the housing and injector head along the common longitudinal axis of the housing and injector head, penetrates the dermis of the recipient to a depth facilitative of and suitable for subdermal bolus injection of the formulation, wherein 

the injector head when impacting the recipient constructively stops both distal and rotational movement along the common longitudinal axis, wherein 

the formulation exits the at least one cavity and passes through the at least one distal outlet port of the housing into the at least one proximal inlet port of the injector head and through the at least one curved distal hypodermic needle, 

so that the recipient is injected with the formulation without causing serious injury to or the death of the recipient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said projectile injection system is propelled by the group consisting of single-shot, semi-automatic, or fully automatic revolvers, pistols, shotguns, scatterguns, rifles, and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a plunger and a housing vent, wherein the housing vent allows for housing pressure equalization when and as the plunger displaces resulting in the injection of the formulation into the recipient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the injection system comprises a turbine or worm gear in communication with the rotatable hub, wherein when the housing continues rotation as the injector head remains constructively stationary, the turbine or worm gear forces the formulation through the at least one outlet port resulting in the injection of the formulation into the recipient.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is reusable.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the injector system utilizes inertial forces upon impact of the injector head with the recipient resulting in the injection of the formulation into the recipient.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the housing further includes a worm gear along the common longitudinal axis in communication with the plunger and in communication with the rotatable hub, whereby the continuing rotation of the housing along the common longitudinal axis in relation to the hypodermic injector head and after impact with the recipient causes the plunger to displace along the common longitudinal axis resulting in the injection of the formulation.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the housing further includes a gas under pressure, wherein when the gas is suddenly released, or comprises an explosive substance whereby when ignited expands, or comprises a spring under compression whereby when suddenly released, causes the plunger to displace resulting in the injection of the formulation.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one hypodermic needle further includes a barb.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one hypodermic needle is configured in an arc.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one hypodermic needle is configured in one or more cycloidal, epicycloidal, hypocycloidal, or other spiral arc.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the injector head further comprises at least one cooperative strut corresponding to the at least one hypodermic needle and configured in such a manner as to facilitate dermal penetration of the recipient by the at least one hypodermic needle and to facilitate the injection of the formulation into the recipient.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer circumference of the projectile injection system changes during ballistic flight.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer circumference of the projectile injection system changes after impacting the recipient.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotatable hub further includes or operates as a clutch between the housing and the injector head.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the injector head further includes an airfoil.

Veterinary uses represent one of the strongest and most immediately promising applications for this ballistic delivery system. The patent explicitly contemplates use in veterinary medicine, zoology, zoo-keeping, animal husbandry, animal control, and related fields, building on longstanding needs for remote, humane immobilization, medication, or sedation of animals.

Traditional remote drug delivery in veterinary work relies heavily on dart guns/projectors (often CO2-powered or similar) and blowpipes. These deliver hypodermic darts containing sedatives, anesthetics, vaccines, antibiotics, or other injectables. Common applications include wildlife immobilization/capture, zoo animal procedures, livestock treatment, and rescue of injured or dangerous animals.

Limitations of existing systems include:

• Effective ranges often limited to ~40–100 meters (optimized around 70 m in many cases), with accuracy degrading at distance or with larger-volume darts.
• Velocity and impact energy concerns — darts can cause tissue trauma, fractures, or excessive penetration, especially in sensitive species or thinner-skinned animals.
• Aerodynamic and stabilization issues leading to inaccurate shots or dart failure.
• Volume/payload constraints in many systems.
• Need for precise pressure/velocity calibration; risk to operators from ballistic properties.
• Stress to animals from close approach or multiple darts; prep time requirements; and variable induction/recovery depending on formulation and delivery consistency.

Recent experiments (e.g., drone-based dart delivery) aim to increase standoff distance and safety but introduce their own complexities like gravity-drop limitations or regulatory hurdles.

The invention’s design — spiraling ballistic flight for accuracy and stability, rotatable hub for kinetic energy dissipation, curved/spiral offset hypodermic needles that leverage rotation for controlled “drilling” penetration and injection, optional staged energy absorption (e.g., leading airfoil/nose cone), and compatibility with standard firearms/launchers — directly targets many of these pain points. It supports low-to-medium velocities (optimally 300–800 fps) and practical ranges (10–100+ yards) while prioritizing minimal harm.

Key potential veterinary advantages:

• Greater standoff distance and safety for handlers — Critical when dealing with dangerous, stressed, or unpredictable animals (e.g., large carnivores, ungulates, or injured wildlife). Reduces risk of injury to veterinarians, wildlife officers, or rescue teams.
• Improved accuracy and consistency via spin stabilization — Better hit rates at medium-to-longer ranges, fewer missed shots or multiple darts needed, and less stress/prolonged pursuit for the animal.
• Safer impact profile — Energy dissipation mechanisms (rotatable hub allowing continued housing spin, staged degradation) could reduce bruising, penetration trauma, or skeletal injury compared to conventional darts, improving animal welfare.
• Effective injection mechanics — Curved or spiraling needles (with optional barbs) designed for subdermal bolus delivery; rotation assists clean penetration and may enable reliable dosing even through fur, hide, or feathers.
• Payload and formulation flexibility — Supports meaningful volumes while managing mass/energy; pairs naturally with stable, long-shelf-life formulations (including the inventor’s related cannabinoid sedation/anesthesia work).
• Operational practicality — Less pre-assembly in some embodiments; usable with familiar tools (shotguns, rifles, 40 mm launchers); potential for reusable components.

1. Wildlife Management, Conservation, and Research Remote capture, collaring/tagging, health assessments, disease sampling/vaccination, or relocation of free-ranging animals (deer, bears, big cats, primates, marine mammals, birds, reptiles, etc.). Safer and less stressful than nets, traps, or close darting in remote or rugged terrain. Supports population monitoring, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and conservation translocations. Non-lethal options for certain management scenarios align with ethical priorities.
2. Zoo and Captive/Exotic Animal Care Medicating or sedating animals in enclosures for examinations, treatments, minor procedures, or transport without entering the space or using excessive restraint. Particularly valuable for large, dangerous, or highly stressed species where close approach is risky or counterproductive. Could facilitate routine care or emergency interventions with reduced animal anxiety.
3. Livestock and Farm Animal Husbandry Treating herds or individuals in pastures, feedlots, or extensive grazing systems (e.g., antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, vaccines, or sedatives for procedures like hoof trimming or examinations). Reduces labor, handler risk, and animal stress compared to physical restraint or close handling. Useful during disease outbreaks or in large-scale operations.
4. Animal Control, Rescue, and Rehabilitation Humane capture/sedation of stray, feral, escaped, or injured animals (including urban wildlife like deer or aggressive dogs). Enables safe transport and treatment; valuable for wildlife rehabilitators and rescue groups, especially in areas with delayed veterinary response. Supports alternatives to lethal methods where appropriate.
5. Non-Lethal or Specialized Hunting/Management Contexts As noted in the patent, potential in non-lethal sport or management hunting scenarios, or for targeted interventions (e.g., research sampling).

Overall Outlook This technology has the potential to meaningfully advance humane veterinary remote delivery by extending practical range and accuracy while improving safety margins for both animals and humans. In professional settings (wildlife agencies, zoos, large-animal practices, rescue organizations), it could become a valuable evolution of current dart systems — reducing stress, injury rates, and operational risks. Near-term impact is most likely in wildlife and zoo contexts, with livestock and rescue uses following validation.