Equine wireless physiological monitoring system

• US 20060106289A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew M Elser VMD PC
• Original Assignee: Andrew M Elser VMD PC
• Inventors: Lawson, Thomas E., Morong, William H. III, Elser, Andrew H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0809 by impedance pneumography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

An accelerometer senses equine respiratory structural vibrations. The accelerometer includes a sensing surface configured to be attached to one of hair, skin, bone, ligament, cartilage, and other tissue of a horse. The accelerometer is responsive to respiratory structural vibrations of the horse and outputs a signal corresponding to the respiratory structural vibrations.

Claims

1. An accelerometer that senses equine respiratory structural vibrations comprising:

a sensing surface configured to be attached to one of hair, skin, bone, ligament, cartilage, and other tissue of a horse,

the accelerometer being responsive to respiratory structural vibrations of the horse and outputting a signal corresponding to the respiratory structural vibrations.

2. The accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the sensing surface is mounted to one of a maxillary region, a mandibular region, a masseteric region, a hyoid region, a laryngeal region, a tracheal region, a nasal region, a frontal region, a chest region, an orbital region, a supraorbital region, a temporal region, a parietal region and a parotid region of the horse.

3. The accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is one of a moving mass-spring accelerometer, a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer, a micro-machined silicon accelerometer, a piezoelectric accelerometer, a potentiometric accelerometer, a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) accelerometer, a variable reluctance accelerometer, a fiber-optic accelerometer and a variable capacitance accelerometer.

4. The accelerometer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a raw vibration data, acceleration, velocity and displacement can be determined from the signal.

5. A motion sensor that senses equine motion in multi-dimensional space comprising:

(a) at least one angular rate sensor configured to be mounted proximate to a horse so as to move with the horse, the at least one angular rate sensor detecting angular rotation data relative to a first-axis; and

(b) at least one accelerometer configured to be mounted proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the at least one accelerometer being mounted proximate to the at least one angular rate sensor and being configured to output multi-dimensional motion data of the horse.

6. The motion sensor according to claim 5, wherein the first-axis is one of a lateral-axis, a vertical-axis and a longitudinal-axis, the lateral-axis being defined through a width of the body of the horse as measured between the right and left lateral sides of the horse, the vertical-axis being defined through a height of the body of the horse as measured between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse and the longitudinal-axis being defined through a length of the horse as measured between the cranial and the caudal aspects of the horse.

7. A wireless equine physiological monitoring system comprising:

(a) a respiratory sensor configured to be mounted proximate to a horse, the respiratory sensor detecting respiratory data of the horse and outputting the detected respiratory data of the horse; and

(b) a memory that at least temporarily stores the detected respiratory data, the detected respiratory data being synchronized with respect to real time.

8. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the memory is mounted proximate to the horse.

9. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 7, further comprising a second sensor configured to output second sensor data, the second sensor being one of a lateral-axis angular rate sensor, a longitudinal-axis angular rate sensor, a vertical-axis angular rate sensor, an accelerometer, a speed sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configuration set, an electromyography (EMG) sensor configuration set, an electroencephalograph (EEG) sensor configuration set, electrooculogram (EOG) sensor configuration set, an impedance pneumogram (ZPG) sensor configuration set, a pressure sensor, a gas flow sensor, a gas detection sensor, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, an imaging sensor, an optical sensor and a blood constituent sensor, the memory at least temporarily stores the detected second sensor data, the detected second sensor data being synchronized with respect to time.

10. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is one of a microphone, a sound transducer, a sound sensor, a vibration transducer and a vibration sensor.

11. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor includes an electroacoustic transducer that responds to sound waves and outputs a corresponding electrical wave.

12. The equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the respiratory detection sensor includes an accelerometer having a sensing surface, the sensing surface being configured to mount directly to one of hair and skin of the horse.

13. A wireless equine physiological monitoring system comprising:

(a) a respiratory detection sensor configured to be mounted proximate to a horse, the respiratory detection sensor detecting respiratory data of the horse and outputting the detected respiratory data of the horse;

(b) a memory configured to be mounted proximate to the horse, the memory at least temporarily storing the detected respiratory data of the horse, the detected respiratory data being synchronized with respect to real time; and

(c) a real-time trend display that wirelessly receives the detected respiratory data, the trend display displaying the detected respiratory data with respect to time as the detected respiratory data is received.

14. A wireless equine physiological monitoring system comprising:

(a) a speed sensor configured to be mounted proximate to a horse, the speed sensor detecting speed data of the horse and outputting the detected speed data of the horse; and

(b) a real-time trend display that wirelessly receives the detected speed data, the trend display displaying the detected speed data with respect to time as the detected speed data is received.

15. A wireless equine physiological monitoring system comprising:

(a) a single-axis angular rate sensor configured to be mounted proximate to a horse so as to move with the horse, the single-axis angular rate sensor detecting and outputting angular rotation data relative to the single-axis,

the single-axis being one of a lateral-axis, a vertical-axis and a longitudinal-axis, the lateral-axis being defined through a width of the body of the horse as measured between the right and left lateral sides of the horse, the vertical-axis being defined through a height of the body of the horse as measured between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse and the longitudinal-axis being defined through a length of the horse as measured between the cranial and the caudal aspects of the horse; and

(b) a real-time trend display that wirelessly receives the detected angular rotation data relative to the single-axis, the trend display displaying the detected angular rotation data relative to the single-axis with respect to time as the detected angular rotation data relative to the single-axis is received.

16. A wireless equine physiological monitoring system comprising:

(a) a respiratory detection sensor configured to be mounted proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the respiratory detection sensor detecting respiratory data of the horse and outputting the detected respiratory data of the horse;

(b) a second sensor configured to be mounted proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the second sensor detecting and outputting detected second sensor data, the second sensor being at least one of a lateral-axis angular rate sensor, a longitudinal-axis angular rate sensor, a vertical-axis angular rate sensor, an accelerometer, a speed sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configuration set, an electromyography (EMG) sensor configuration set, an electroencephalograph (EEG) sensor configuration set, electrooculogram (EOG) sensor configuration set, an impedance pneumogram (ZPG) sensor configuration set, a pressure sensor, a gas flow sensor, a gas detection sensor, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, an imaging sensor, an optical sensor and a blood constituent sensor,

the lateral-axis being defined through a width of the body of the horse as measured between the right and left lateral sides of the horse, the vertical-axis being defined through a height of the body of the horse as measured between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse and the longitudinal-axis being defined through a length of the horse as measured between the cranial and the caudal aspects of the horse; and

(c) one of a trend display and a computer that wirelessly receives the detected respiratory data and the detected second sensor data, the respective one of the trend display and the computer displaying at least one of the detected respiratory data and the detected second sensor data, the detected respiratory data and the detected second sensor data being synchronized with respect to real time.

17. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the trend display is a chart recorder.

18. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 17, wherein the chart recorder is one of a paper chart recorder and a virtual chart recorder.

19. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 17, wherein the trend display is graphically displayed through one of a video display and a projector.

20. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the video display is one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display and a plasma screen display.

21. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the respiratory detection sensor is one of a microphone, a sound transducer, a sound sensor, a vibration transducer and a vibration sensor.

22. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the respiratory detection sensor includes an electroacoustic transducer that responds to sound waves and outputs a corresponding electrical wave.

23. The equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the respiratory detection sensor includes an accelerometer having a sensing surface, the sensing surface being configured to mount directly to one of hair and skin of the horse.

24. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the detected respiratory data and the detected second sensor data are sent to a controller and are at least temporarily stored in a memory.

25. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the speed sensor includes an accelerometer that detects acceleration and deceleration in a longitudinal-axis of a horse, the longitudinal-axis being defined through a length of the horse as measured between the cranial and the caudal aspects of the horse, the accelerometer being configured to be mounted proximate to the horse, the speed being derived from the detected acceleration and deceleration in the longitudinal-axis of the horse.

26. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the speed sensor includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives GPS data from GPS satellites, the GPS receiver updating position data at least once per second, one of the controller and the GPS receiver calculating speed of the horse from the updated GPS data.

27. The wireless equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the speed sensor includes a Doppler transceiver that transmits an electromagnetic signal and receives a reflected or transponded version of the electromagnetic signal, the Doppler transceiver being configured to be mounted proximate to a horse so as to move with the horse, one of the controller and the Doppler transceiver calculating speed of the horse based on the difference in time/frequency between the transmitted and received electromagnetic signal.

28. A wireless equine physiological monitoring system comprising:

(a) a speed sensor configured to be mounted proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the speed sensor detecting and outputting at least one of detected raw data for calculating instantaneous speed and calculated instantaneous speed data;

(b) a second sensor configured to be mounted proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the second sensor detecting and outputting detected second sensor data, the second sensor being at least one of a lateral-axis angular rate sensor, a longitudinal-axis angular rate sensor, a vertical-axis angular rate sensor, an accelerometer, a respiratory detection sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configuration set, an electromyography (EMG) sensor configuration set, an electroencephalograph (EEG) sensor configuration set, electrooculogram (EOG) sensor configuration set, an impedance pneumogram (ZPG) sensor configuration set, a pressure sensor, a gas flow sensor, a gas detection sensor, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, an imaging sensor, an optical sensor and a blood constituent sensor,

the lateral-axis being defined through a width of the body of the horse as measured between the right and left lateral sides of the horse, the vertical-axis being defined through a height of the body of the horse as measured between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse and the longitudinal-axis being defined through a length of the horse as measured between the cranial and the caudal aspects of the horse; and

(c) one of a trend display and a computer that wirelessly receives the detected second sensor data and at least one of detected raw data for calculating instantaneous speed and calculated instantaneous speed data, the respective one of the trend display and the computer displaying the detected second sensor data and at least one of the detected raw data for calculating instantaneous speed and the calculated instantaneous speed data, the detected second sensor data and at least one of the detected raw data for calculating instantaneous speed and the calculated instantaneous speed data being synchronized with respect to time.

29. An equine physiological monitoring system comprising:

(a) a portable controller having a memory, the portable controller being configured to be mounted proximate to a horse so as to move with the horse;

(b) a lateral-axis angular rate sensor configured to be mounted proximate to a horse so as to move with the horse, the lateral-axis angular rate sensor being in communication with the controller and sending the controller detected angular rotation data relative to the lateral-axis, the lateral-axis being defined through a width of the body of the horse as measured between the right and left lateral sides of the horse;

(c) a vertical-axis angular rate sensor configured to be mounted proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the vertical-axis angular rate sensor being in communication with the controller and sending the controller detected angular rotation data relative to the vertical-axis, the vertical-axis being defined through a length of the body of the horse as measured between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse;

(d) an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configuration set configured to be mounted directly to the horse, the ECG electrode configuration set being in communication with the controller and sending the controller detected ECG data;

(e) a respiratory detection sensor configured to be mounted proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the respiratory detection sensor being in communication with the controller and sending the controller detected respiratory data,

the memory at least temporarily storing the detected angular rotation data relative to the lateral-axis, the detected angular rotation data relative to the vertical-axis, the detected ECG data and the detected respiratory data,

the detected angular rotation data relative to the lateral-axis, the detected angular rotation data relative to the vertical-axis, the detected ECG data and the detected respiratory data being synchronized with respect to time.

30. The equine physiological monitoring system according to claim 29, further comprising:

(f) a speed sensor configured to be mounted proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the speed sensor being in communication with the controller and sending the controller at least one of detected speed data and calculated speed data of the horse, the memory at least temporarily storing at least one of detected speed data and calculated speed data of the horse.

31. A method of monitoring physiological data of an exercising horse comprising:

(a) mounting a sensing surface of an accelerometer directly to one of hair and skin of a horse, the accelerometer detecting respiratory structural vibration data;

(b) exercising the horse; and

(c) storing, at least temporarily in a memory, the detected respiratory structural vibration data.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

(d) displaying, on one of the trend display and the computer, the respiratory structural vibration data.

33. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

(d) playing back the respiratory structural vibration data stored in the memory as one of a graphical trend and an audible sound.

34. A method of monitoring physiological data of an exercising horse comprising:

(a) mounting a sensing surface of an accelerometer directly to one of hair and skin of a horse, the accelerometer detecting respiratory structural vibration data;

(b) exercising the horse;

(c) converting the respiratory structural vibration data to a corresponding signal and wirelessly transmitting the corresponding signal;

(d) receiving the wirelessly transmitted corresponding signal at an audio generating device, the audio generating device emitting audible sound in generally real time based on the corresponding signal; and

(e) storing, at least temporarily in a memory, the detected respiratory structural vibration data.

35. A method of monitoring interactions of physiological events of an exercising horse comprising:

(a) placing a respiratory detection sensor proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the respiratory detection sensor detecting and outputting detected respiratory data;

(b) placing a second sensor configured proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the second sensor detecting and outputting detected second sensor data,

the second sensor being at least one of a lateral-axis angular rate sensor, a longitudinal-axis angular rate sensor, a vertical-axis angular rate sensor, an accelerometer, a speed sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configuration set, an electromyography (EMG) sensor configuration set, an electroencephalograph (EEG) sensor configuration set, electrooculogram (EOG) sensor configuration set, an impedance pneumogram (ZPG) sensor configuration set, a pressure sensor, a gas flow sensor, a gas detection sensor, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, an imaging sensor, an optical sensor and a blood constituent sensor,

the lateral-axis being defined through a width of the body of the horse as measured between the right and left lateral sides of the horse, the vertical-axis being defined through a height of the body of the horse as measured between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse and the longitudinal-axis being defined through a length of the horse as measured between the cranial and the caudal aspects of the horse;

(c) wirelessly receiving, at one of a trend display and a computer, the detected respiratory data and the detected second sensor data, the detected respiratory data and the detected second sensor data being synchronized with respect to time; and

(d) displaying, on one of the trend display and the computer, at least one of the received respiratory data and the received second sensor data.

36. A method of monitoring interactions of physiological events of an exercising horse comprising:

(a) placing a speed sensor proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the speed sensor detecting and outputting at least one of detected raw data for calculating instantaneous speed and calculated instantaneous speed data;

(b) placing a second sensor proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the second sensor detecting and outputting detected second sensor data,

the second sensor being at least one of a lateral-axis angular rate sensor, a longitudinal-axis angular rate sensor, a vertical-axis angular rate sensor, an accelerometer, a respiratory detection sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configuration set, an electromyography (EMG) sensor configuration set, an electroencephalograph (EEG) sensor configuration set, electrooculogram (EOG) sensor configuration set, an impedance pneumogram (ZPG) sensor configuration set, a pressure sensor, a gas flow sensor, a gas detection sensor, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, an imaging sensor, an optical sensor and a blood constituent sensor,

the lateral-axis being defined through a width of the body of the horse as measured between the right and left lateral sides of the horse, the vertical-axis being defined through a height of the body of the horse as measured between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse and the longitudinal-axis being defined through a length of the horse as measured between the cranial and the caudal aspects of the horse; and

(c) wirelessly receiving, at one of a trend display and a computer, the detected second sensor data and at least one of raw data for calculating instantaneous speed and calculated instantaneous speed data, the detected second sensor data and the at least one of the detected raw data for calculating instantaneous speed and the calculated instantaneous speed data being synchronized with respect to time; and

(d) displaying, on one of the trend display and the computer, the received second sensor data and the received at least one of raw data for calculating instantaneous speed and calculated instantaneous speed.

37. A method of monitoring interactions of physiological events of an exercising horse comprising:

(a) mounting a lateral-axis angular rate sensor proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the lateral-axis angular rate sensor detecting angular rotation data relative to the lateral-axis, the lateral-axis being defined through a width of the body of the horse as measured between the right and left lateral sides of the horse;

(b) mounting a vertical-axis angular rate sensor proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the vertical-axis angular rate sensor detecting angular rotation data relative to the vertical-axis, the vertical-axis being defined through a length of the body of the horse as measured between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse;

(c) mounting a speed sensor proximate to the horse so as to move with the horse, the speed sensor detecting speed data of the horse;

(d) mounting an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configuration set directly to the horse, the ECG electrode configuration set detecting ECG data;

(e) mounting a sensing surface of a respiratory detection transducer directly to one of hair and skin of the horse, the respiratory detection transducer detecting respiratory data;

(f) exercising the horse;

(g) receiving, at one of a trend display and a computer, the detected angular rotation data relative to the lateral-axis, the detected angular rotation data relative to the vertical-axis, the detected speed data, the detected ECG data and the detected respiratory data; and

(h) displaying, on one of the trend display and the computer, the detected angular rotation data relative to the detected lateral-axis, the detected angular rotation data relative to the vertical-axis, the detected speed data, the detected ECG data and the detected respiratory data,

the detected angular rotation data relative to the detected lateral-axis, the detected angular rotation data relative to the vertical-axis, the detected speed data, the detected ECG data and the detected respiratory data being synchronized with respect to time.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising:

(i) storing, at least temporarily in a memory, the detected angular rotation data relative to the lateral-axis, the detected angular rotation data relative to the vertical-axis, the detected speed data, the detected ECG data and the detected respiratory data.

39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising:

(j) playing back the detected respiratory structural vibration data stored in the memory as one of a graphical trend and an audible sound.