DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates, in general, to a device and system for removing parasites from aquatic organisms. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to removal of ectoparasites from fishes.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Marine Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing industries in the food sector and contributes significantly to the national economy of many countries. Globally commercial marine aquaculture has evolved into one of the most developed sectors in the food industry over the last decade.
[0003] However, marine aquaculture is plagued by parasitic infestation, diseases, harsh environmental conditions and predators leading to heavy losses.
[0004] Parasites, such as sea lice, are parasitic crustaceans that feed on the skin and mucous of aquatic organisms, like Salmon. Sea lice levels in an aquaculture reservoir are a health indicator and high parasite levels can have negative impact on the growth of the fish that affects the price of the fish. There are around 560 species in 37 genera, including approximately 162 Lepeophtheirus and 268 Caligus species. Lepeophtheirus salmonis and various Caligus species are adapted to saltwater and are major ectoparasites of farmed and wild Atlantic salmon.
[0005] Lepeophtheirus salmonis has become a major parasite in Norway, Scotland and Canada while Caligus Rogercresseyi has become a major parasite in Chile. Sea lice treatment methods in salmon farms include medicated feed, medicated bath treatments, natural predators, and mechanical barriers.
[0006] Existing solutions involving use of medications, such as Emamectin Benzoate and Ivermectin, that are administered to salmon through feed have been known to be most effective way of treating lice, in terms of lice delousing efficacy and ease of operations during treatment. Bath treatments are even more difficult since they need more manpower to administer the drug. Bath treatments require tarpaulins, well boats, or skirts to contain the drug, and hence are operationally a more challenging treatment method.
[0007] Bath treatments using Hydrogen Peroxide, Azamethiphos, Pyrethroids (Cypermethrin and Deltamethrin) are commonly used in salmon farms to control sea lice numbers. Hydrogen Peroxide is considered to be a “green” way of treating for sea lice, but this treatment method suffers from various drawbacks such as, limited efficacy, high mortality, and growing resistance to the treatment.
[0008] Natural predators such as cleaner fish, have shown promise in controlling lice number in salmon farms with no use of medications. Experiments on cleaner fish such as Wrasse fish and Lumpfish are being carried out in Norway and Canada. Wrasse fish seem to show promise in the smolt stage of salmon. A challenge in using cleaner fish, in exclusion to other methods, is that cleaner fish also feed on the biofouling accumulating on the nets, which is easily available, and compete for resources, thereby reducing the efficacy against the delousing and increasing the rates of lice infestations in salmon.
[0009] Further, there are some existing waterjet-based solutions that shoot water at high speeds at the subject fish to remove parasites. However, these systems are extremely expensive to install, maintain and operate. The high speed of the water also risks descaling and causing trauma, such as cuts and abrasions, on the skin, gills and scales of the fish.
[0010] Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a device and a system to effectively remove parasites from aquatic organisms efficiently and effectively without causing damage to the surfaces of the aquatic organism. Further, there is a need for a device and system for removing parasites from aquatic organisms that is inexpensive and safe for the aquatic organism’s health.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0011] A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a delouser device and a system to remove parasites from aquatic organisms.
[0012] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a delouser device for removing parasites without causing trauma to the aquatic organisms by using materials that are flexible and soft on contact.
[0013] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a delouser device and a system with improved parasite removal efficacy using perforated meshes.
[0014] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a delouser device and a system with a simple and modular for removing parasites from aquatic organisms, thereby reducing cost and complexity.
[0015] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system to pass the aquatic organisms through the delouser device using means that do not require human intervention.

SUMMARY
[0016] In an aspect, a delouser device for removing parasites from aquatic organisms, may include an inlet, an outlet, and a perforated mesh having a plurality of perforations, the perforated mesh being wrapped along perimeters of the inlet and the outlet to allow an aquatic organism such that when the aquatic organism may be passed through the delouser device from the inlet to the outlet, the perforated mesh engages with and removes one or more parasites from at least a portion of an outer surface of the aquatic organism.
[0017] In an embodiment, the perforated mesh may be coated with persistent adhesive polymer.
[0018] In an embodiment, the persistent adhesive polymer may be Polybutene.
[0019] In an embodiment, the outlet may be elastic such that the outlet resiliently conforms to a body depth of the aquatic organism. In another embodiment, the outlet may be made of a shape adapted material such that the outlet resiliently conforms to a body depth of the aquatic organism. It may be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that shape adapted material, for example but in a non-limiting embodiment, may be shape-memory polymers (SMPs) that are polymeric smart materials (for example, Crystalline trans-polyisoprene) that have the ability to return from a deformed state (temporary shape) to their original (permanent) shape when induced by an external stimulus (trigger)) (body depth of the aquatic organism in this case).
[0020] In an embodiment, each perforation from the plurality of perforations has a diameter between about 0.3mm and about 7mm.
[0021] In another aspect, a system for removing one or more parasites from aquatic organisms includes one or more passages that allow one or more aquatic organisms to pass therethrough, wherein each of the one or more passages may be configured with one or more delouser devices inside the one or more passage. The system may include a first pump configured to pump a fluid having the one or more aquatic organisms through the one or more passages, wherein the fluid may be pumped from a reservoir to the one or more passages. When first pump pumps the fluid having the one or more aquatic organisms through the one or more passages, the one or more delouser devices of the one or more passages remove one or more parasites from the one or more aquatic organisms passing therethrough.
[0022] In an embodiment, the one or more passages may include a kinked portion filled with a stationary fluid, the kinked portion having at least one of the one or more delouser devices that remove the one or more parasites in the stationary fluid such that the one or more parasites from the one or more aquatic organism may be suspended in the stationary fluid after removal, and sink to the bottom of the kinked portion.
[0023] In an embodiment, the one or more passages may include at least one portion that exposes at least one of the one or more delouser devices to an external environment. In an embodiment, the system may include a second pump configured to direct a pressurized fluid to the exposed delouser device such that the pressurized fluid removes the one or more parasites from the one or more aquatic organisms.
[0024] In an embodiment, the system may include a parasite collection bag that may be removably configured to the one or more delouser devices, the parasite collection bag being configured to collect the one or more parasites removed from the one or more aquatic organisms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further illustrate aspects of the present disclosure. The disclosure may be better understood by reference to the drawings in combination with the detailed description of the specific embodiments presented herein.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates an example representation a device for removing parasites from aquatic organisms, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIGs. 2A-2B illustrate example representations of a system for removing parasites from aquatic organisms having a single passage, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIGs. 3A-3D illustrate example representations of the system having one or more passages, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[0030] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0031] Throughout the present disclosure, the term ‘about’ means approximately or nearly, and in the context of a numerical value or range set forth means ±10% of the numeric value.
[0032] Throughout the present disclosure, the term ‘substantially’ means being largely but not necessarily wholly or completely so as to allow for deviations from an absolute value or a perfect state, but sufficient to serve an intended purpose.
[0033] The present disclosure relates, in general, to a device and system for removing parasites from aquatic organisms. Specifically, the invention relates to removal of ectoparasites from fishes.
[0034] The present disclosure provides a delouser device and a system for removing parasites from aquatic organisms. The delouser device and the system remove parasites by passing the aquatic organism through a perforated mesh that engages with the parasites by engaging with surfaces of the aquatic organism such that the parasites on the aquatic organism adhere to the perforated mesh. Through this mechanical process, the delouser device and the system disclosed herein can remove parasites from the aquatic organism efficiently and effectively, without causing trauma to the surfaces of the aquatic organism. Further, the delouser device is inexpensive and safe for the aquatic organism’s health.
[0035] The present disclosure can be described in enabling detail in the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary representation a delouser device 100 for removing parasites from aquatic organisms, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, a device 100 for removing parasites 230 from one or more aquatic organisms 110 (hereinafter referred to as the aquatic organisms 110) is disclosed. In some embodiments, the delouser device 100 may include an inlet 120, an outlet 160, and a perforated mesh 140. The perforated mesh 140 may have a plurality of perforations. The perforated mesh 140 may be wrapped along perimeters of the inlet 120 and the outlet 160 to allow an aquatic organism 110 such that when the aquatic organism 110 is passed through the delouser device 100 from the inlet 120 to the outlet 160, the perforated mesh 140 engages with and removes one or more parasites from at least a portion of an outer surface of the aquatic organism 110.
[0038] The delouser device 100 may be configured to remove the one or more parasites, such as parasites 230 (hereinafter referred to as parasites 230) of FIGs. 2A-2B, from one or more aquatic organisms 110 (hereinafter referred to as aquatic organisms 110). In some embodiments, the aquatic organisms 110 may include, but not limited to, fishes, aquatic mammals such as dolphins, invertebrates such as molluscs and squids, and other animals that reside in water. In some embodiments, the parasites 230 may include, but not limited to, copepodic, arthropodic, algal and fungal, bacterial, viral, and other ectoparasites organisms, which may latch on to the aquatic organisms 110, such as loused aquatic organism 110A, and cause distress thereto. The delouser device 100 may be configured to remove the parasites 230 from the aquatic organisms 110, like deloused aquatic organism 110B.
[0039] In some embodiments, the aquatic organisms 110 may be sucked from a reservoir, such as reservoir 500 shown in FIGs. 2A-3D. The reservoir 500 may include, but not be limited to fish tanks, ponds, lakes, aquaponics or raceways, rivers, and the like.
[0040] In some embodiments, the inlet 120 and the outlet 160 may have substantially annular with either a polygonal contour, such as triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, and the like, or circular contour. In some embodiments, the inlet 120 and the outlet 160 may be made of rigid or elastic materials, and the ends of the perforated mesh 140 may be attached along the perimeters of the inlet 120 and the outlet 160 by means including, but not limited to, stitching, fastening, adhesives, nailing, welding, and the like. The cavity of substantially annular the inlet 120 and the outlet 160 may allow an aquatic organism 110 to pass therethrough. In some embodiments, the outlet 160 may be elastic such that the outlet 160 may be resiliently expandable/resiliently conforms to the body depth of the aquatic organism 110. In some embodiments, the longest diagonal the inlet 120 may be greater than the longest diagonal of the outlet 160, thereby providing the delouser device 100 with a substantially frustoconical contour. In some embodiments, the longest diagonal of the outlet 160 may be less than a body depth of the aquatic organism 110. The body depth may be indicative of the longest diagonal of any cross-section of the aquatic organism 110.
[0041] In some embodiment, the outlet may be made of a shape adapted material such that the outlet resiliently conforms to a body depth of the aquatic organism. It may be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that shape adapted material, for example but in a non-limiting embodiment, may be shape-memory polymers (SMPs) that are polymeric smart materials that have the ability to return from a deformed state (temporary shape) to their original (permanent) shape when induced by an external stimulus (trigger)) (body depth of the aquatic organism in this case).
[0042] In some embodiments, the perforated mesh 140 may include a plurality of perforations. In some embodiments, the plurality of perforations may allow the perforated mesh 140 to adhere to at least a portion of an outer surface of the aquatic organisms 110. In some embodiments, the perforated mesh 140 may adhere to the parasites 230 such that the parasites 230 are removed/deloused from the aquatic organisms 110 when the aquatic organisms 110 are passed through the delouser device 100. In some embodiments, each perforation from the plurality of perforations may have a diameter between about 0.3mm and about 7mm. In a preferred embodiment, each perforation from the plurality of perforations may have a diameter between about 0.5mm and about 5mm
[0043] In some embodiments, mesh 140 may connect the inlet 120 and the outlet 160 along at least a portion the perimeters thereof. In some embodiments, the perforated mesh 140 may be wrapped around the perimeters of the inlet 120 and the outlet 160 to form a substantially cylindrical or conical geometric profile. In other embodiments, the perforated mesh 140 may connect the inlet 120 and the outlet 160 partially around the perimeters thereof. The perforated mesh 140 may be made from materials including, but not limited to, metals, fabric, plastics, polymers, ceramics, woods, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the perforated mesh 140 may be coated with a persistent adhesive polymer, such as including, but not limited to, Polybutene. The persistent adhesive polymer may be hydrophobic and may be resistant to moisture or water such that adhesive properties thereof may be unaffected for use under water. Such materials and coatings may make the perforated mesh 140 soft and flexible so as to allow the perforated mesh 140 to resiliently conform to the sizes and contours of the aquatic organism 110 passing therethrough, and a adhere to the parasites 230. Further, the flexibility of the perforated mesh 140 may prevent trauma due to including, but not limited to, scaling, cuts or abrasions, on any surface, such as skin, gills, scales, etc., of the aquatic organism 110. Furthermore, the sizes, materials, perforation densities, and orientation of the perforated mesh 140 may be suitably adapted based on size of aquatic organism 110, size and type of parasites, and other requirements.
[0044] In some embodiments, the aquatic organisms 110 may be made to pass through the delouser device 100 for removing parasites 230 therefrom. The aquatic organism 110 may be made to enter the delouser device 100 through the inlet 120. In some embodiments, the aquatic organism 110 may be pushed into the delouser device 100 through inlet 120 by force of a fluid, such as water, generated by a pump. In some embodiments, a first pump, such as first pump 240, may be configured to create a continuous flow of the fluid from the inlet 120 to the outlet 160, which may cause the aquatic organism 110 to be pushed through the delouser device 100. In other embodiments, the aquatic organism 110 may be made to pass through the delouser device 100 by force of gravity. In such embodiments, the aquatic organism 110 may be dropped from an elevation into the delouser device 100 such that gravity forces the aquatic organism 110 to pass through the delouser device 100. In yet other embodiments, the aquatic organism 110 may pass through the delouser device 100 on its own volition.
[0045] In some embodiments, the aquatic organism 110 may pass through the perforated mesh 140, as the aquatic organism 110 is made to pass through the delouser device 100. In some embodiments, the perforated mesh 140 may engage with or abut at least a portion of the outer surface of the aquatic organism 110. The plurality of perforations may allow the perforated mesh 140 to abut the outer surface of the aquatic organism 110. As the aquatic organism 110 passes through the perforated mesh 140, the perforated mesh 140 may remove the parasites 230 by adhering to and scrubbing the parasites 230 therefrom. In some embodiments, the parasites 230 may be immobilized by the perforated mesh 140, and the persistent adhesive material coated thereon.
[0046] In some embodiments, the delouser device 100 may include a parasite collection bag 250 configured to collect and store the parasites 230 removed from by the delouser device 100. The size and form factor of the parasite collection bag 250 may be suitably adapted based on requirements. In some embodiments, the parasite collection bag 250 may be placed in proximity to the delouser device 100. In some embodiment, at least one device 100 may be configured at a location having stationary fluid. In such embodiments, the parasites 230 may be suspended in the fluid once removed. The parasite collection bag 250, in such embodiments, may collect the parasites 230 when said parasites 230 settle to the bottom of the stationary fluid. In some embodiments, the parasite collection bag 250 may be periodically removed, cleaned, and replaced to once the parasites 230 accumulate up to a predetermined weight or volume.
[0047] In some embodiments, the perforated mesh 140 may be periodically replaced and/or cleaned to dispose the parasites 230 so removed from the aquatic organism 110.
[0048] In some embodiments, the aquatic organism 110 may exit the delouser device from the outlet 160. In an embodiment, the longest diagonal of the outlet 160 is smaller than the body depth of the aquatic organism 110 to ensure sufficient contact takes place between the perforated mesh 140 and aquatic organism 110. In such an embodiment, the outlet 160 may also be elastic such that the outlet 160 that resiliently conforms to the contours of the aquatic organism 110. As the aquatic organism 110 passes through the outlet 160, the outlet 160 may resiliently conform to the shape and size of the aquatic organism across its length. As the outlet 160 contours to the surface of the aquatic organism 110, the outlet 160 comes in contact with all surfaces of the aquatic organism 110 with pressure sufficient to dislodge the parasites 230 on the surfaces of the said aquatic organism 110. In some embodiments, the aquatic organism 110 may be forced through the delouser device 100 with pressures sufficient to prevent the aquatic organism 110 from being stuck in the outlet 160.
[0049] In another embodiment, the outlet may be made of a shape adapted material such that the outlet resiliently conforms to a body depth of the aquatic organism. It may be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that shape adapted material, for example but in a non-limiting embodiment, may be shape-memory polymers (SMPs) that are polymeric smart materials that have the ability to return from a deformed state (temporary shape) to their original (permanent) shape when induced by an external stimulus (trigger)) (body depth of the aquatic organism in this case).
[0050] In some embodiments, the aquatic organism 100 may be passed through the delouser device 100 manually by a human operator, where the human operator physically picks up the aquatic organism 110, and passes it through the delouser device 100. In another embodiment, a pump may pull the aquatic organisms 110 from the reservoir 500, and force the aquatic organism through the delouser device 100.
[0051] FIGs. 2A-2B, and FIGs. 3A-3D illustrates an exemplary representation of system 200 for removing the parasites 230 from the aquatic organisms 110, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGs. 2A-2B illustrate embodiments where the system 200 includes one passage 220, and FIGs. 3A-3D illustrate embodiments where the system 200 includes one or more of the passages 220.
[0052] As shown, the system 200 may include one or more passages 220 (hereinafter collectively referred to as the passages 220). The passages 220 may allow the aquatic organisms 110 to pass therethrough. In some embodiments, each of the one or more passages 220 may include one or more delouser devices 100 (hereinafter collectively referred to as delouser devices 100) placed inside the one or more passages 220. In some embodiments, the one or more delouser devices 100 may be placed along the length of the one or more passages 220. In some embodiments, the delouser devices 100 may be configured inside the passages 220 such that the aquatic organisms 110 are forced to pass through the delouser devices 100 in order to pass through the passages 220. The delouser devices 100 may be configured to remove the parasites 230 from the aquatic organisms 110 passing through the passages 220.
[0053] In some embodiments, the system 200 may include a first pump 240 configured to pump a fluid having the aquatic organisms 110 through the passages 220. In some embodiments, the fluid may be pumped from a reservoir 500 to the passages 220. In some embodiments, the parasites 230 may be removed from the aquatic organism 110 as the aquatic organism 110 passes through the delouser device 100 in the passages 220.
[0054] In some embodiments, the passages 220 may include a passage inlet 222, and a passage outlet 224 to allow for entry and exit of the aquatic organisms 110 respectively. In some embodiments, the passage inlet 222 may be placed inside the reservoir 500. In some embodiments, the passage outlet 224 may be placed in proximity to the same or a different reservoir.
[0055] In some embodiments, the passages 220 may any one or combination of including, but not be limited to, a pipe, a tube, a channel, or any passage that allows an aquatic organism 110 to be transported from one of its ends to the other. In some embodiments, the passages 220 may be either enclosed, or partially open on at least one portion thereof. While in FIGs. 2A and 2B three delouser devices are shown, viz. first, second, and third delouser devices 100-1, 100-2, and 100-3 respectively, it may be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the passages 220 may have any number of delouser devices 100.
[0056] In some embodiments, the system 200 may include a first pump 240, and a second pump 260. The first and second pump 240, 260 may be any one or combination of including, but not limited to, centrifugal pumps, diaphragm pumps, peristaltic pumps, positive displacement pumps, siphon pumps, and the like. In some embodiments, the first pump 240 may be a negative pressure pump configured to circulate the fluid, such as water, from the reservoir 500 to the passages 220. In some embodiments, the first pump 240 may be a water pump that creates a continuous water current from the passage inlet 222 to the passage outlet 224 of the passages 220, thereby allowing the aquatic organisms 110 to pass therethrough. In other embodiments, the first pump 240 may be configured to move the aquatic organisms 110 at sufficiently high speeds that the aquatic organism 110 to prevent the aquatic organisms 110 from getting stuck at any device 100 or any segment in the passages 220.
[0057] FIG. 2A shows the aquatic organism 110 with parasites, such as the loused aquatic organism 110A, passing through the passage 220. In some embodiments, the first pump 240 may pump the loused aquatic organism 110A from the passage inlet 222, and pushes, through the fluid, the aquatic organism 110A along the length of the passages 220. As the aquatic organism 110A passes through the passages 220, the aquatic organism 110A may also pass through the delouser devices 100 that remove the parasites 230 from the aquatic organism 110A. On passing through the first, the second, and the delouser devices 100-1, 100-2, and 100-3, the parasites 230 may be removed/deloused from the aquatic organism 110A. In such embodiments, the aquatic organism 110 may be deloused, as depicted by deloused aquatic organism 110B. The deloused aquatic organism 110B may exit the passages 220 from the passage outlet 224. The delouser devices 100 in the passages 220 may be periodically replaced and/or cleaned to disposed the parasites 230 so removed from the aquatic organism 110 by the delouser device 100.
[0058] The aquatic organism 110 may be passed through the system 200 manually by a human operator, where the human operator physically picks up the aquatic organism 110 and passes the aquatic organism 110 through the system 200. In another embodiment, the same operation may also be performed by a machine that pushes the aquatic organism 110 through the system 200. In yet another embodiment, the system 200 may be positioned in a manner that allows the aquatic organism 110 to pass through the system 200 on its own volition. In such embodiments, the aquatic organisms 110 may be conditioned to pass through the system 200 using an incentive therefor.
[0059] FIG. 2B illustrates the system 200 with the passages 220 having a kinked portion 226. In some embodiments, the kinked portion 226 may include a stationary fluid that is unaffected by the circulation of fluid by the first pump 240. In some embodiments, the stationary fluid in the kinked portion 226 may include, but is not limited to, distilled water, salt water, water treated with anti-biotics, and the like. In some embodiments, the kinked portion 226 may have at least one of the delouser devices 100 that remove the parasites 230 in the stationary fluid. In some embodiments, the aquatic organisms 110 may enter the kinked portion 226 and pass through the delouser devices 100 therein. In such embodiments, the parasites 230 removed by the delouser device 100 may be suspended in the stationary fluid after removal from the aquatic organisms 110, and may sink to the bottom of the kinked portion 226 since the parasites 230 are not buoyant and are incapable of moving independently. In some embodiments, the parasite collection bag 250 may be configured in proximity to the kinked portion 226, and may be replaced periodically based on volume and weight of the parasites 230 accumulated therein.
[0060] FIGs. 3A to 3D illustrate the system 200 having more than one passages 220. In some embodiments, the system 200 may be placed in an acrylic tank. The configuration and orientation of the passages 220, the first and second pump 240, 260, the stationary reservoir 304, the supply pipe 302, and other components of the system 200 may be suitably adapted based on the dimensions and geometric profile of the acrylic tank.
[0061] In some embodiments, each of the passages 220 may have the passage inlet 222 thereof placed inside the reservoir 500. In other embodiments, each of the passages 220, such as the passage 220-1, 220-2, may be placed inside a stationary reservoir 304, as shown in FIGs. 3B and 3D. In some embodiments, the aquatic organisms 110 may be allowed to swim feely in the stationary reservoir 304. In some embodiments, the stationary reservoir 304 may be detachable and portable from the system 200. In some embodiments, the first pump 240 may be configured to pump the fluid having the aquatic organisms 110 from the reservoir 500 to the stationary reservoir 304 via the supply pipe 302. In some embodiments, the first pump 240 may be a negative pressure pump. In other embodiments, the supply pipe 302 may be configured to communicate the fluid having the aquatic organisms 110 through the passages 220, without the stationary reservoir 304, as shown in FIGs. 3A and 3C.
[0062] In FIGs. 3A and 3B, Example representation 300A and 300B of the system 200 may include the passages 220 in a substantially horizontal orientation with respect to the ground. In such embodiments, the passages 220 may be configured to force the aquatic organisms 110 therethrough, and through the delouser devices 100 such as the first, second, and third delouser device 100-1, 100-2, and 100-3 respectively, by the force of the fluids pumped by the first pump 240. The first pump 240 may be configured to pump the fluid with the aquatic organisms 110 to the stationary reservoir 304.
[0063] In some embodiments, the passages 220 may include at least one portion 305 thereof where at least one of the delouser devices 100, such as the third delouser device 100-3, is exposed to an external environment. Further, in some embodiments, the system 200 may include a second pump 260 configured to direct a pressurized fluid to the exposed delouser device 100 such that the pressurized fluid removes the parasites 230 from aquatic organisms 110 passing through the exposed portion 308 of the passages 220. In some embodiments, the force of the pressurized fluid directed at the exposed portion 308, and the delouser device 100 of the passages 220 may cause the parasites 230 to be dislodged from the aquatic organisms 110. The parasites 230 dislodged therefrom may be collected by the parasite collection bag 250 placed below the exposed portion 308 of the passages 220.
[0064] In FIGs. 3C and 3D, example representation 300D and 300C of the system 200 may include the passages 220 configured to allow the aquatic organisms 110 to be made to pass through the passages 220 by force of gravity. the system 200 In such embodiments, the first pump 240 may pump the fluids with the aquatic organisms 110 to the passages 220 or the stationary reservoir 304 based on the embodiment.
[0065] As shown, the passages 220 may have a substantially vertical orientation, in some embodiments. The substantially vertical orientation of the passages 220 may allow the force of gravity to cause the aquatic organisms 110 to pass through the passages 220 and the delouser devices 100 therein. The continuous circulation of fluid provided by the first pump 240 may allow the parasites 230 removed from the aquatic organisms 110 to be washed from the delouser devices 100. Further, the parasite collection bag 250 may be configured below the passages 220 to allow the parasites 230 removed by the delouser devices 100 to flow into the parasite collection bag 250 through the fluid.
[0066] In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 3D, the system 200, aside from having the passages 220 in a substantially vertical orientation, may include at least one horizontally oriented passage 220 having the exposed portion 308. In such embodiments, the each of the passages 220 may be configured to a corresponding parasite collection bag 250. In an example, the vertically oriented passages 220-1 and 220-2 may be configured to a first parasite collection bag 250-1, and the horizontally oriented passages 220-3 may be configured to a second parasite collection bag 250-2.
[0067] Once the aquatic organisms 110 pass through the system 200, and are deloused by the delouser devices 100, the aquatic organisms 110 may be conveyed to the reservoir 500, or any other reservoir. In some embodiments, the passage outlet 224 may be configured in proximity to the reservoir 500 to allow the aquatic organism 110 to be transferred to the reservoir 500. Once in reservoir 500, the aquatic organisms 110 may be allowed to grow without the risk of parasitic infestation.
[0068] The present disclosure discloses a device 100 and a system 200 that provides enhanced results when compared to conventional solutions.
[0069] The embodiments of the present disclosure described above provide several advantages. The present disclosure solves the need for removing parasites 230 from the aquatic organisms 110 efficiently and effectively, without causing damage to the surfaces of the aquatic organism 110. Further, the delouser device 100 and the system 200 disclosed herein are inexpensive to operate and maintain due to their simple and modular design, and are safe for the aquatic organism 110 health.
[0070] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus 100 of the disclosure may be provided using some or all the mentioned features and components without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, it will be clear that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as described in the claims.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0071] The present disclosure provides a delouser device and a system to remove parasites from aquatic organisms.
[0072] The present disclosure provides a delouser device for removing parasites without causing trauma to the aquatic organisms by using materials that are flexible and soft on contact.
[0073] The present disclosure provides a delouser device and a system with improved parasite removal efficacy using perforated meshes.
[0074] The present disclosure provides a delouser device and a system with a simple and modular for removing parasites from aquatic organisms, thereby reducing cost and complexity.
[0075] The present disclosure provides a system to pass the aquatic organisms through the delouser device using means that do not require human intervention.
,CLAIMS:1. A delouser device (100) for removing parasites (230) from aquatic organisms (110), comprising:
an inlet (120);
an outlet (160); and
a perforated mesh (140) having a plurality of perforations, the perforated mesh (140) being wrapped along perimeters of the inlet (120) and the outlet (160) to allow an aquatic organism (110) such that when the aquatic organism (110) is passed through the delouser device (100) from the inlet (120) to the outlet (160), the perforated mesh (140) engages with and removes one or more parasites (230) from at least a portion of an outer surface of the aquatic organism (110).

2. The delouser device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the perforated mesh (140) is coated with persistent adhesive polymer.

3. The delouser device (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the persistent adhesive polymer is Polybutene.

4. The delouser device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet (160) is elastic such that the outlet (160) resiliently conforms to a body depth of the aquatic organism (110).

5. The delouser device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlet (160) is made of a shape adapted material such that the outlet (160) resiliently conforms to a body depth of the aquatic organism (110), wherein the shape adapted material is shape-memory polymers (SMPs).

6. The delouser device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each perforation from the plurality of perforations has a diameter between about 0.3mm and about 7mm.

7. A system (200) for removing one or more parasites (230) from aquatic organisms (110), comprising:
one or more passages (220) that allow one or more aquatic organisms (110) to pass therethrough, wherein each of the one or more passages (220) are configured with one or more delouser devices (100) inside the one or more passage (220); and
a first pump (240) configured to pump a fluid having the one or more aquatic organisms (110) through the one or more passages (220), wherein the fluid is pumped from a reservoir (500) to the one or more passages (220),
wherein when first pump (240) pumps the fluid having the one or more aquatic organisms (110) through the one or more passages (220), the one or more delouser devices (100) of the one or more passages (220) remove one or more parasites (230) from the one or more aquatic organisms (110) passing therethrough.

8. The system (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one or more passages (220) comprise a kinked portion (226) filled with a stationary fluid, the kinked portion (226) having at least one of the one or more delouser devices (100) that remove the one or more parasites (230) in the stationary fluid such that the one or more parasites (230) from the one or more aquatic organism (110) are suspended in the stationary fluid after removal, and sink to the bottom of the kinked portion (226).

9. The system (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one or more passages (220) comprise at least one portion that exposes at least one of the one or more delouser devices (100) to an external environment, and wherein the system (200) comprises a second pump (260) configured to direct a pressurized fluid to the exposed delouser device (100) such that the pressurized fluid removes the one or more parasites (230) from the one or more aquatic organisms (110).

10. The system (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system (200) comprises a parasite collection bag (250) that is removably configured to the one or more delouser devices (100), the parasite collection bag (250) being configured to collect the one or more parasites (230) removed from the one or more aquatic organisms (110).