Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for the automatic delivery to an animal of a beneficial agent such as analgesia by infusion with the pain of the animal being taken into account when determining the rate of dispensing the agent. As the pain experienced by an animal and therefore its distress is manifested in increased agitation, the apparatus includes elements for the measurement of the frequency and amplitude of an animal's movement and the generation of a trigger signal when the either the frequency or the amplitude exceeds a predetermined threshold. The trigger can be used to generate a visual or audible alarm. The apparatus also preferably includes a dispensing means for delivering doses of beneficial agent to the animal in response to the trigger signal. The apparatus serves primarily to reduce the post-operative distress experienced by an animal by providing for timely administration of analgesic compounds. The apparatus also aids the animal care-giver by reducing the amount of time spent assessing the animal and administering beneficial compounds.

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First Claim