DETECTION DEVICE, RECOVERY METHOD THEREFOR AND MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20120088988A1
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nagaoka University of Technology
• Original Assignee: Nagaoka University of Technology
• Inventors: Sato, Shigeru, Mizuguchi, Hitoshi, Ito, Kazunori, Okita, Yasuo
• Granted Patent: US 10,349,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/007 Boluses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting

Abstract

A detection device is retained in the rumen of a cow by being orally administered to the cow, and detects the state of the inside of the rumen. The detection device wirelessly transmits measured values of the rumen pH as detection results. A monitoring unit (receiver and monitoring server) acquires information transmitted from the detection device, and monitors the state of the inside of the rumen. The detection device is configured to be recoverable orally from the rumen of the cow. The operating conditions of the detection device are recorded in the detection device ahead of time, and can be updated by means of a wireless signal transmitted from a setting unit to the detection device.

Claims

1. A detection device for detecting internal state of a rumen of a ruminant, comprising

a housing formed of a material having resistance to liquid component of contents in said rumen and having physical strength to withstand movement and inner pressure of said rumen, configured to enable oral administration to said ruminant and engageable with a recovery instrument orally inserted to the inside of said rumen;

wherein

said housing has an opening for introducing said liquid component to a first chamber inside said housing;

said detection device further comprising;

a separating portion for sectioning the inside of said housing to said first chamber and a second chamber not permitting entrance of said liquid component;

a measuring unit placed in said first chamber of said housing for measuring a parameter related to said liquid component;

a storage unit placed in said second chamber of said housing for storing information related to operational conditions of said detection device;

a control unit placed in said second chamber of said housing for generating data related to said parameter from result of measurement by said measuring unit, based on said information stored in said storage unit;

a communication unit placed in said second chamber of said housing for transmitting through wireless communication said data related to said parameter generated by a process by said control unit; and

a battery placed in said second chamber, for supplying electric power at least to said control unit and said communication unit.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

said recovery instrument is configured to be inserted to the inside of said rumen and to include a magnet used for taking out said detection device from the body of said ruminant;

said housing includes

a tapered portion tapered to be gradually narrower toward a front edge, and

a coupling portion formed of at least one of ferromagnetic body and paramagnetic body; and

a portion defining said second chamber of said housing is configured to allow opening and sealing.

3. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

said communication unit is configured to be capable of receiving through wireless communication new information for updating at least part of said operational conditions of said detection device;

and

said control unit updates said information stored in said storage unit with said new information, when said new information is received by said communication unit.

4. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

said information stored in said storage unit includes

a unique number of said detection device, and

transmission schedule of said data related to said parameter.

5. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

said parameter includes a pH value of said liquid component;

said measuring unit includes a pH sensor;

said pH sensor includes

a glass electrode,

a gel containing internal solution,

a comparison electrode at least partially arranged in said gel,

a liquid junction formed of porous resin for controlling amount of liquid junction of said internal solution flowing out from said gel, and

a temperature sensor for temperature compensation of pH measurement value of said liquid component by said glass electrode and said comparison electrode.

6. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein

said parameter includes a pH value of said liquid component;

said measuring unit includes a pH sensor;

said pH sensor includes

a glass electrode,

a potassium chloride saturated solution as an internal solution,

a comparison electrode at least partially immersed in said potassium chloride saturated solution,

a liquid junction formed of porous resin for controlling amount of liquid junction of said internal solution, and

a temperature sensor for temperature compensation of pH measurement value of said liquid component by said glass electrode and said comparison electrode.

7. The detection device according to claim 6, wherein

said detection device further includes an amplifier circuit for amplifying an output of said pH sensor;

and

said amplifier circuit includes

a reference voltage setting unit for setting potential of said comparison electrode to a reference potential, and

an amplifier for amplifying potential difference between potential of said glass electrode and said reference potential.

8. A monitoring system, comprising:

a detection device detecting internal state of a rumen of a ruminant;

wherein

said detection device includes

a housing formed of a material having resistance to liquid component of contents in said rumen and having physical strength to withstand movement and inner pressure of said rumen, configured to enable oral administration to said ruminant and engageable with a recovery instrument orally inserted to the inside of said rumen;

said housing has an opening for introducing said liquid component to a first chamber inside said housing;

said detection device further includes

a separating portion for sectioning the inside of said housing to said first chamber and a second chamber not permitting entrance of said liquid component;

a measuring unit placed in said first chamber of said housing for measuring a parameter related to said liquid component,

a storage unit placed in said second chamber of said housing for storing information related to operational conditions of said detection device,

a control unit placed in said second chamber of said housing for generating data related to said parameter from result of measurement by said measuring unit, based on said information stored in said storage unit,

a communication unit placed in said second chamber of said housing for transmitting through wireless communication said data related to said parameter generated by a process by said control unit, and

a battery placed in said second chamber, for supplying electric power at least to said control unit and said communication unit;

said monitoring system further comprising;

a communication device configured to be capable of wireless communication with said detection device, for receiving said data transmitted through wireless communication from said detection device; and

a monitoring device for collecting said data received by said communication device and for monitoring state of said rumen using said data.

9. The monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein

said communication unit of said detection device includes a first antenna for transmitting radio wave of transmission power of at most 10 mW;

said communication device includes a second antenna for receiving said data through wireless communication; and

said second antenna has higher gain than said first antenna.

10. The monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein

said communication device is at least arranged at one location and capable of receiving said data transmitted from each of a plurality of detection devices;

and

said monitoring device collects data received by said communication device.

11. The monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein

said communication unit of said detection device is configured to be capable of receiving through wireless communication new information for updating at least part of said operational conditions of said detection device;

said control unit updates said information stored in said storage unit with said new information, when said new information is received by said communication unit; and

said communication device includes

a receiver for receiving said data transmitted through wireless communication from said detection device and

a setting unit configured to be capable of transmitting through wireless communication said new information corresponding to each of the plurality of detection devices.

12. A recovery method for recovering a detection device placed in a rumen of a ruminant for detecting inner state of said rumen, wherein

said detection device includes

a housing formed of a material having resistance to liquid component of contents in said rumen and having physical strength to withstand movement and inner pressure of said rumen, configured to enable oral administration to said ruminant and engageable with a recovery instrument orally inserted to the inside of said rumen;

said housing has a through hole formed to introduce said liquid component to a first chamber inside said housing;

said detection device further includes

a measuring unit placed in said first chamber of said housing for measuring a parameter related to said liquid component;

said recovery method comprising the steps of;

inserting a recovery instrument having a portion engageable with said detection device retained in the body of said ruminant to said rumen;

engaging said recovery instrument with said detection device; and

recovering said recovery instrument and thereby taking out said detection device from the mouth of said ruminant.