Calf bolus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of monitoring the physiological parameters of a ruminant animal, comprising:
- disposing a bolus in the reticulorumen of said ruminant animals;
enabling or disabling one or more sensors in said bolus by execution of a computer code contained in a non-transitory computer readable media communicatively coupled to a processor, said enabling or disabling of said one or more sensors coordinated with a plurality of life stages in a lifespan of said ruminant animal;
generating a sensor signal from said one of more sensors when enabled, where said sensor signal varies based on a corresponding change in one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal; and
transmitting encoded physiological data indicative of the physiological parameters of said ruminant animal.
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Abstract
An animal monitoring device configured as a bolus for oral administration to reside in the reticulorumen of a ruminant animal. The animal monitoring device includes a memory element, a processor in communication with the memory element and a computer code contained in the memory element. The computer code includes a power management module executable by the processor to regulate power use by the bolus based on determination of remaining energy stored in an energy source and the determined power requirements over a pre-determined life cycle of the bolus.
48 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring the physiological parameters of a ruminant animal, comprising:
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disposing a bolus in the reticulorumen of said ruminant animals; enabling or disabling one or more sensors in said bolus by execution of a computer code contained in a non-transitory computer readable media communicatively coupled to a processor, said enabling or disabling of said one or more sensors coordinated with a plurality of life stages in a lifespan of said ruminant animal; generating a sensor signal from said one of more sensors when enabled, where said sensor signal varies based on a corresponding change in one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal; and transmitting encoded physiological data indicative of the physiological parameters of said ruminant animal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of monitoring physiological parameters of a ruminant animal, comprising:
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generating a sensor signal from one or more sensors contained in a bolus orally administered to said ruminant animal, said sensor signal varies based on a corresponding change in one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal; encoding said sensor signal from said one or more sensors as encoded physiological data corresponding to said one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal; and storing said encoded physiological data in a non-transitory computer readable media, enabling a radio signal generator located within said bolus; activating said radio signal generator at pre-determined intervals to generate a radio signal to carry said encoded physiological data; and generating said radio signal having a frequency of between about 700 MHz to about 1 GHz. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method of monitoring physiological parameters of a ruminant animal, comprising:
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determining a remaining amount of energy stored in a power source located within a bolus orally administered to said ruminant animal; determining an amount of energy required by said bolus to operate through a pre-determined period of time based on current programming of a computer code contained in a non-transitory computer readable media contained in said bolus; comparing said amount of energy required by said bolus to operate through said pre-determined period of time to said remaining amount of energy stored in said power source; and calculating a difference in said amount of energy remaining in the power source and said amount of energy required by said bolus to operate through said pre-determined period of time; and performing one or more power regulation events to offset said difference in said amount of energy remaining in the power source and said amount of energy required by said bolus to operate through said pre-determined period of time.
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9. A method of monitoring physiological parameters of a ruminant animal, comprising:
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generating a sensor signal from one or more sensors contained in a bolus orally administered to said ruminant animal, said sensor signal varies based on a corresponding change in one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal; encoding said sensor signal from said one or more sensors as encoded physiological data corresponding to said one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal; storing said encoded physiological data in a non-transitory computer readable media; enabling a radio signal generator located within said bolus; activating said radio signal generator to generate a radio signal to carry said encoded physiological data; and transmitting said radio signal with an antenna having a pair of electrically conductive loops disposed a distance apart and further comprising transmitting said radio signal through said antenna. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring physiological parameters of a ruminant animal, comprising:
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administering a bolus to said ruminant animal enabling or disabling one or more sensors in said bolus by execution of a computer code contained in a non-transitory computer readable media communicatively coupled to a processor; generating a sensor signal from said one or more sensors which varies based on a corresponding change in one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal; receiving a radio signal containing programming data; and re-programming said computer code contained within said non-transitory computer readable medium based on the radio signal containing programming data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring physiological parameters of a ruminant animal, comprising:
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generating a sensor signal from a first sensor located within a bolus disposed in the reticulorumen of said ruminant animal; analyzing said sensor signal generated by said first sensor by execution of a power management module contained in a non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled to a processor contained within said bolus; comparing said sensor signal from said first sensor to a first pre-selected activation match threshold contained within a first pre-selected activation code; and activating said bolus when the first pre-selected activation match threshold contained within the first pre-selected activation code is met. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification