Capsule for the electronic identification of ruminants of any weight and age

• US 20070152821A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rumitag SL (Province of Québec)
• Original Assignee: Rumitag SL (Province of Québec)
• Inventors: Garin De Nardo, Daniel, Caja Lopez, Gerardo, Vilaseca Vintro, Joan, Ghirardi Quinodoz, Juan
• Application Number:
  US10/563,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152821A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/007 Boluses

Abstract

Capsule (1) for the electronic identification of ruminants, adapted to be administered orally and to be housed in the animal'"'"'s second stomach, which comprises a body (2), of ceramic material and provided with a cavity (3) to enclose a data exchange device (4), which is characterized in that it comprises a compound of a non-ferrous element of a density equal to or over 4 g/cm³; it has a specific gravity of over 3; a total weight comprised between 8 g and 90 g; an effective weight between 5 g and 85 g; and it has an oblong shape, which is cylinder-like, with a ratio between the length and the diameter comprised between 3 and 6. The capsule (1) object of the invention, is applicable to animals of different weighs and measurements.

Claims

1. A capsule (1) for the electronic identification of ruminants, adapted to be administered orally and to be housed in the animal'"'"'s second stomach (reticulum or reticulo-rumen), said capsule comprising a body (2), of ceramic material resistant to the animal'"'"'s gastric juices and provided with a cavity (3) to enclose a data exchange device (4), characterised in that:

the ceramic material of the capsule body comprises a compound of a non-ferrous element of a density equal to or over 4 g/cm³;

the specific gravity of said body is equal to or greater than 3;

the total weight of the capsule is comprised between 8 g and 90 g;

the effective weight of the capsule between 5 g and 85 g; and

the capsule is oblong-shaped, cylinder-like with slightly rounded edges with a diameter comprised between 8 mm and 25 mm and a length comprised between 30 mm and 110 mm.

2. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the ceramic material of the body (2) comprises zirconium oxide (ZrO2).

3. The capsule (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the composition in zirconium oxide is comprised between 30% and 80% by weight, and the specific weight between 3.5-4.0.

4. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the ceramic material that constitutes the body (2) comprises one or more of the following components:

silicon oxide from 17-50% by weight;

magnesium oxide from 0.02-0.05% by weight;

aluminum oxide from 3-6% by weight;

calcium oxide from 1.20-2.60%;

potassium oxide from 0.12-0.40% by weight;

titanium oxide from 1.00-3.20% by weight;

sodium oxide from 0.01-0.03% by weight;

iron oxide from 0.02-0.15% by weight; and

phosphoric oxide 0.01-0.03% by weight.

5. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the ratio between the length and diameter of the capsule is comprised between 3-6.

6. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, for ruminant animals weighing over approximately 25 kg, characterised in that the length of the body (2) is comprised between 50 mm and 110 mm, the diameter between 12 mm and 25 mm;

the total weight between 40 g and 90 g; and

the effective weight between 35 g and 85 g.

7. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, for ruminant animals weighing under approximately 25 kg, characterised in that the length of the body (2) is comprised between 35 mm and 75 mm, the diameter comprised between 8 mm and 15 mm;

the total weight is comprised between 8 g and 50 g; and

the effective weight is comprised between 5 g and 45 g.

8. The capsule (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is fitted with an elastic element (5), arranged in at least one of the rounded ends of the body (2) and secured by a bracket (6) of biodegradable material.

9. The capsule (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the ratio between the length and diameter of the capsule is a value close to 4.5.