Apparatus and Method for Detecting the Reproductive Status, in Particular the Oestrus Cycle, of a Mammal

• US 20080228058A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enrico Cinti
• Original Assignee: Agristudio S.r.l.
• Inventors: Cinti, Enrico
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/368
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0012 Ovulation-period determination for animals A61D17/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/002 for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus for humans A61B10/0012

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting the reproductive status, in particular the oestrus cycle, of a mammal, comprising detecting means (10) to detect a blood amount perfused in a predetermined region of the vagina canal of a mammal, and generating a corresponding main signal (20); the apparatus (1) further comprises a processing unit (40) associated with said detecting means (10) to determine the reproductive status of said mammal depending on said main signal (20). Also disclosed is a method of detecting the reproductive status, in particular the oestrus cycle, of a mammal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the reproductive status, in particular the oestrus cycle, of a mammal, comprising:

detecting means (10) to detect a blood amount perfused in a predetermined region of the vagina canal of a mammal and generate a corresponding main signal (20);

a processing unit (40) associated with said detecting means (10) to determine the reproductive status of said mammal depending on said main signal (20).

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means (10) comprises a sensor (11) preferably of the plethysmographic type.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein under use conditions said detecting means (10) is at least partly inserted into the vagina canal of said mammal.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising fastening means (30) to secure said detecting means (10) to said mammal'"'"'s vagina canal.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fastening means (30) comprises:

a preferably rod-like main body (31) extending along a respective longitudinal axis (X) and insertable into a hole formed in a vagina labium (2) of said mammal for engagement with said detecting means (10);

at least one contact element (32) having an abutment surface (32b) bearing against the vagina labium (2) of said mammal, said contact element (32) further having a through hole (32a) for engagement with said main body (31);

a closing member (33) associated with at least one axial end of said main body (31) to maintain an engagement between said detecting means (10) and said mammal'"'"'s vagina labium.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said closing member (33) comprises:

a pair of nut elements (34), each associated with a respective end of said main body (31) and slidable therealong;

at least one pair of headless screws (35a), each operatively associated with a respective one of said nut elements (34) to secure said nut element to said main body (31).

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said detecting means (10) has an engagement portion (15) having a through hole (15a), which through hole is suitable for engagement with said main body (31).

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said detecting means (10) has an engagement portion (15) provided with a narrowing area, said apparatus (1) comprising a locking element (19) fitted on said narrowing area and provided with a lug (19a) having a through hole (19b) for engagement of said main body (31).

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means (10) further comprises a housing (14) preferably of elongated shape for insertion into said mammal'"'"'s vagina canal.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said engagement portion (15) is a portion of said housing (14).

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing unit (40) comprises:

a memory (41) containing one or more reference parameters (41a) for the reproductive status of said mammal;

a comparison block (42) associated with said memory (41) to compare said one or more reference parameters (41a) with said main signal (20) and determine the reproductive status of said mammal depending on said comparison.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing unit (40) is adapted to determine the reproductive status of said mammal depending on the comparison between radiation emissions or radiation components to different wavelengths reflected by said predetermined region (Z) of the mammal'"'"'s vagina wall.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said different wavelengths comprise:

a first wavelength included in the range of 760 nm to 1400 nm;

at least one second wavelength included in the range of 400 nm to 760 nm.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sensor (11) comprises:

at least one emitter element (100) of an electromagnetic radiation (R1) directed onto said predetermined region (Z) of said mammal'"'"'s vagina canal, to obtain a corresponding reflected radiation (R2);

at least one receiver element (120) to receive said reflected radiation (R2), said main signal (20) being generated depending on said reflected radiation (R2).

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said electromagnetic radiation (R1) comprises at least one first and one second wavelengths different from said first wavelength, said first wavelength being preferably included within the range between 760 nm and 1400 nm, said second wavelength being included within the range between 400 nm and 760 nm.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said receiver element (120) comprises:

a first detector (121) adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation emissions to said first wavelength;

at least one second detector (122) adapted to detect electromagnetic radiation emissions to said second wavelength,

said main signal (20) being representative of an intensity of a component to the first wavelength of said reflected radiation (R2) and of an intensity of a component to the second wavelength of said reflected radiation (R2),

said processing unit (40) being operatively associated with said detectors (121, 122) to determine the reproductive status of said mammal depending on a comparison between said components.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said emitter element (100) comprises:

a first emitting device (101) for generating a first electromagnetic radiation to a first wavelength included within the range of 760 nm to 1400 nm;

at least one second emitting device (102) for generating a second electromagnetic radiation to a second wavelength included within the range of 400 nm to 760 nm.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said detecting means (10) comprises a control unit (80a) operatively associated with said first and second emitting devices (101, 102) to selectively drive the latter and cause electromagnetic radiation emissions to different wavelengths during different time intervals.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said receiver element (120) comprises:

a detector (120a) capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation emissions to said first wavelength and said second wavelength,

said processing unit (40) being operatively associated with said detector (120a) to determine the reproductive status of said mammal depending on a comparison between at least one reflected radiation generated by an electromagnetic radiation to said first wavelength and at least one reflected radiation generated by an electromagnetic radiation to said second wavelength.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said electromagnetic radiation (R1) and/or said reflected radiation (R2) have a wavelength included between 760 nm and 1400 nm, or between 500 nm and 760 nm.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said housing (14) has:

a first portion (14a) having axially opposite first and second ends (14b, 14c);

a second portion (14d) associated with the first end (14b) of the first portion (14a) within which said sensor is housed;

a flexible elongated element (17) preferably made of elastomeric material, for connecting said second portion (14d) to the first end (14b) of the first portion (14a).

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a tubular structure (18) engaged to the second portion (14d) of the housing (14) to maintain the same to a predetermined position within the mammal'"'"'s vagina canal.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said tubular structure (18) comprises:

a radially internal first tubular body (18a) which is preferably substantially rigid;

a radially external second tubular body (18b) which is preferably made of flexible material, said tubular structure (18) preferably having an opening (18d) in a side surface thereof for housing said sensor (11) at least partly.

24. A method of detecting the reproductive status of a mammal, in particular the oestrus cycle, comprising the following steps:

detecting a blood amount perfused in a predetermined region (Z) of the vagina canal of a mammal;

generating a corresponding main signal (20) representative of said blood amount;

determining the reproductive status of said mammal depending on said main signal (20).

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of determining the reproductive status of said mammal comprises:

comparing said main signal (20) with one or more reference parameters (41a) for said mammal'"'"'s reproductive status;

determining the reproductive status of said mammal depending on said comparison.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a step of inserting detecting means (10) into said mammal'"'"'s vagina canal for detecting said blood amount, said detecting means (10) preferably comprising a sensor (11) in particular of the plethysmographic type.

27. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of detecting the blood amount perfused in the predetermined region (Z) of the mammal'"'"'s vagina canal comprises a step of comparing with each other radiation emissions or radiation components to different wavelengths reflected by said predetermined region (Z) of the mammal'"'"'s vagina canal, the reproductive status of said mammal being determined depending on said comparison.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said different wavelengths comprise:

a first wavelength included in the range of 760 nm to 1400 nm;

at least one second wavelength included in the range of 400 nm to 760 nm.

29. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of detecting the blood amount perfused in the predetermined region (Z) of the vagina canal comprises:

generating at least one electromagnetic radiation directed onto said predetermined region (Z) to obtain a corresponding reflected radiation;

receiving said reflected radiation,

said main signal (20) being generated depending on said reflected radiation.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said electromagnetic radiation comprises at least one first and one second wavelengths, said first wavelength being included within the range between 760 nm and 1400 nm, said second wavelength being included within the range between 400 nm and 760 nm.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the step of receiving said reflected radiation comprises:

filtering a first component to said first wavelength;

filtering at least one second component to said second wavelength,

the reproductive status of said mammal being determined depending on a comparison between said first and second components.

32. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the step of generating said at least one electromagnetic radiation comprises:

generating a first electromagnetic radiation to a first wavelength included within the range of 760 nm to 1400 nm;

generating a second electromagnetic radiation to a second wavelength included within the range between 400 nm and 760 nm.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said first and second electromagnetic radiation emissions are selectively generated in different time intervals, the reproductive status of said mammal being determined depending on a comparison between at least one reflected radiation generated by an electromagnetic radiation to said first wavelength and at least one reflected radiation generated by an electromagnetic radiation to said second wavelength.

34. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein said main signal (20) is representative of an intensity of a radiation having a wavelength included between 760 nm and 1400 nm or between 500 nm and 760 nm reflected by said predetermined region (Z).

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising a step of emitting a radiation having a wavelength included between 760 nm and 1400 nm or between 500 nm and 760 nm onto said predetermined region (Z) for generating said reflected radiation.