Device and method for the early detection of cattle physiological variables and location in a remote and autonomous way

• US 9,504,387 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maria Victoria Alonsoperez Lanza
• Original Assignee: Maria Victoria Alonsoperez Lanza
• Inventors: Alonsoperez Lanza, Maria Victoria
• Primary Examiner(s): Henson, Devin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parker, Audrey J
• Application Number:
  US14/062,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20140121558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 119858-859, 3405731-5734
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A device or assortment of devices is provided for measuring temperature and/or other biological parameters, and locating cattle or other types of animals in a remote, continuous and autonomous way. This allows early detection of sickness and other biological states, especially epidemic outbursts or cattle rustling, thus facilitating the early reaction of owners and/or authorities.

Claims

1. A method for detection and control of animal sickness or theft, comprising:

measuring physiological parameters of an animal as animal specific data with at least one sensor embedded in the animal, including a subcutaneous chip implanted in a retro-auricular region of the animal;

transmitting the physiological parameters to an electronic collar including at least one transceiver, a renewable-energy power system, and a wire extending along the whole length of the electronic collar, wherein the renewable-energy power system recharges autonomously;

detecting and transmitting the physiological parameters including internal body temperature data to an informatics server, wherein the detection is automatic, autonomous, and continuous;

detecting and transmitting a geographical location of the animal to the informatics server, wherein the detection and transmission of the geographical location is automatic, autonomous, and continuous;

sending a first emergency message to the informatics server and to a cellular phone, if the wire in the electric collar is cut, indicating that the animal may be stolen;

sending a second emergency message to the informatics server and to the cellular phone if the animal is outside of a fixed predetermined area;

sending, via an SMS message over a data connection, the animal specific data including internal body temperature data, individual animal identification, and geographical location to the informatics server to display the animal specific data in real time to a user;

creating a database of the animal specific data that can be processed to generate statistics;

transmitting, from the informatics server, the statistics and alerts to authorities to facilitate, in real time, sanitary control;

providing a web-based platform to the user for viewing the animal specific data, the statistics and the alerts in the database;

providing a display to private personnel to view the alerts from all electronic collars transmitting to the informatics server;

comparing the animal specific data to the statistics to detect foot-and-mouth disease in the animal; and

sending a third emergency message to the cellular phone, if foot-and-mouth disease is detected.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting sickness through changes in the internal body temperature data of the animal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database includes the internal body temperature and the physiological parameters of the animal, environmental conditions, the individual animal identification, geographical coordinates, and movement of any number of animals.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the database to provide information on sickness, caloric stress and other conditions the animal must endure and which may affect the internal body temperature data or other physiological parameters, geographical positions and grazing habits, and a physiological state.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the physiological parameters allow monitoring of an estrous cycle, a pregnancy, and birth for a female animal without any vaginal or genital transmitter or sensor insertion.

6. The method according to claim 1, including at least one of the following elements:

a monitoring and localizing system, a radio frequency network, a cellular phone system, information technology systems, and power management systems allowing autonomous and continuous functioning without the need of being connected to a power grid.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending the physiological parameters in the animal together with the geographical location of the animal.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating statistics with the animal specific data recovered and stored in the database over time, the animal specific data, environmental conditions, and a physiological state; and

sending these statistics to a customer.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the renewable-energy power system includes batteries and solar cells.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein foot-and-mouth disease is detected if a predetermined internal body temperature threshold is reached.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic collar is autonomous without any need for physical user access.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the informatics server displays the geographical location of a sick or stolen animal on a map.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data connection is a general packet radio system.

14. An animal monitoring system, comprising:

at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag disposed subcutaneously in an animal in a retro-auricular region of the animal;

an electronic device disposed on a collar, the electronic device comprising;

at least two transceivers, a first transceiver connected to the at least one RFID tag and a second transceiver connected to a telecommunications base station;

a GPS receiver providing a geographical location of the animal;

a wire extending along the whole length of the collar and connected to the electronic device; and

a solar panel providing power to the electronic device, the electronic device being autonomous such that external power and regular user access are not needed;

an informatics server, including a database, connected to the telecommunications base station and receiving animal specific data including internal body temperature, individual animal identification, and geographical location in real time;

a first display providing a web-based platform to a customer to view the animal specific data and statistics in a database;

a second display allowing private personnel to view the database, the statistics, and alerts from all electronic collars transmitting to the informatics server;

a third display allowing government viewing of the alerts; and

a cellular phone connected to the telecommunications base station and receiving emergency messages,

wherein if the wire in the electric collar is cut, the informatics server transmits a first emergency message to indicate theft of the animal, wherein if the animal is outside of a fixed, predetermined area, the informatics server transmits a second emergency message, wherein the animal specific data is transmitted to the informatics server via SMS messages, each SMS message including at least the individual animal identification, the internal body temperature and the geographical location,

wherein the informatics server processes the animal specific data in the database to generate the statistics, wherein the informatics server compares the animal specific data to the statistics to detect foot-and-mouth disease in the animal, and the informatics server sends a third emergency message to the cellular phone, if foot-and-mouth disease is detected.