in a preferred embodiment , the new invention can be used to inject a sealant into a cow teat . in this embodiment , the syringe tip is generally short and blunt . in other embodiments , the syringe tip could be long and sharp ( i . e ., needle ). the invention principle works in either case . for convenience , a cow teat embodiment will be described , but for those knowledgeable in the art other applications using the retractor principle are also feasible . in another preferred embodiment , this invention helps to ensure the teat skin is in good condition , maintain skin moisture and natural elasticity and helps the teat to restrict the development of hyperkeratosis . using a high quality teat disinfectant ( or even antibiotic in some cases ), carefully applied , helps to reduce hyperkeratosis . a standard syringe barrel is employed with an open tip on distal end and finger grips near proximal end . a typical syringe plunger is employed that fits within the barrel with a piston on one end and a thumb surface on the other . compared to prior art syringes containing only barrel and plunger , in new invention a syringe retractor is used . the retractor is connected to the syringes plunger at its proximal end . the retractor is generally coaxial with the syringe barrel and larger in diameter . when the user advances the plunger , the retractor advances as well . it is adjacent but slideable with regard to the syringe barrel . the plunger and retractor could be manufactured as one assembly and , as is apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art , the plunger and retractor can be made of biodegradable plastic for ease of use or alternatively one use before being disposed . as illustrated in fig5 , the three elements ( barrel , plunger , and retractor ) and the target surface are shown schematically . 2 . the plunger and retractor are advanced relative to the barrel until the retractor makes contact with surface . during this movement , the plunger and retractor generally advance towards the surface while the barrel remains generally stationary relative to the surface . 3 . when retractor advancement is stopped by the surface , the plunger can be further advanced relative to barrel by retracting the barrel away from the surface . while the invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof , those skilled in the art may make various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention . the terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and not meant as limitations . in particular , although the present invention has been described by way of examples , a variety of compositions and processes would practice the inventive concepts described herein . although the invention has been described and disclosed in various terms and certain embodiments , the scope of the invention is not intended to be , nor should it be deemed to be , limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved , especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended . those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other variations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims and their equivalents .
this invention encompasses products and methods for preventing teat infections in cows resulting from a variety of causes . more specifically , this invention relates to products and methods for blocking a cow &# 39 ; s teat and teat canal to prevent infection during a non - lactating period .