Abrégé

2. When the number of contractions in the second period of time equal or exceed a certain amount, an alarm is raised. The method and system are such that they can be adjusted for different animals. It is envisaged that less false alarms and less missed births will result as a consequence of this method and apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail
• A61B 5/11 - Mesure du mouvement du corps entier ou de parties de celui-ci, p. ex. tremblement de la tête ou des mains ou mobilité d'un membre
• A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic Identification des individus

Abrégé

This invention relates to a birthing sensor for mounting on the tail of a pregnant animal. The birthing sensor comprises a casing and an adjustable strap for securing the casing to the tail of a pregnant animal. The casing houses monitoring equipment, communication equipment and a power supply. There is further provided a padding insert, which comprises a resiliently deformable material for placement intermediate the birthing sensor and the tail of a pregnant animal. The padding insert further comprises a plurality of spaced apart, resiliently deformable frusto-pyramidal members. In use, the resiliently deformable members are downwardly-depending.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail

Abrégé

This invention relates to a method, system and apparatus for detecting when an animal is in heat. The invention further relates to a method of alerting a responsible individual that the animal is in heat. The method for detecting when an animal is in heat comprises the steps of, using a sensor mounted on a bull, monitoring the activity of the bull in the proximity of the animal. Thereafter, the activity of the bull is analysed before finally it is determined, based on the analysed activity of the bull, whether or not the animal is in heat. The invention shifts the focus from the animal, such as a cow, to the bull and leans on the natural instincts of the bull to determine when the cow is in heat. By implementing such a system, a more reliable and/or less expensive system than many of the existing offerings is provided.

Classes IPC  ?

• A01K 29/00 - Autres appareils pour l'élevage
• A01K 11/00 - Marquage des animaux

Abrégé

This invention relates to a methods and apparatus for detecting and providing indication of the oncoming parturition in livestock. Existing methods and apparatus can generate false alarms and late alerts, which lead to missed births. Disclosed herein is a tail mounted sensor that is mounted on the tail of an animal. The tail mounted sensor detects whether the tail is raised or lowered. Each time that the tail is raised by at least a fixed angle θ of, say 10°, for a certain period of time T1, the sensor records this as a contraction. The sensor then monitors the number of contractions over a given second period of time, T2. When the number of contractions in the second period of time equal or exceed a certain amount, an alarm is raised. The method and apparatus are such that they can be adjusted for different animals.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail

Abrégé

This invention relates to a method of providing an indication of the oncoming parturition in livestock and an apparatus for carrying out the method. A tail mounted sensor is mounted on the tail of an animal such as a cow or a horse and the tail mounted sensor detects whether the tail is raised or lowered. Each time that the tail is raised by at least a fixed angle Θ of, say 10°, for a certain period of time Τ1, the sensor records this as a contraction. The sensor then monitors the number of contractions over a given second period of time, T2. When the number of contractions in the second period of time equal or exceed a certain amount, an alarm is raised. The method and system are such that they can be adjusted for different animals. It is envisaged that less false alarms and less missed births will result as a consequence of this method and apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail

Abrégé

This invention relates to a birthing sensor (1) for mounting on the tail of a pregnant animal. The birthing sensor comprises a casing (3) and an adjustable strap (5) for securing the casing to the tail of the pregnant animal. The casing houses monitoring equipment, communication equipment and a power supply. There is provided a padding insert (7, 37, 47) for location between the casing, the strap and the animal's tail. The padding insert comprises a sheet of resiliently deformable material, such as rubber, having a plurality of ventilation passageways formed therein. The ventilation passageways allow passage of air over the cow's tail underneath the sensor and further allow escape of urine and faeces from under the sensor. The passageways may be formed by having a plurality of upstanding bosses (9) on the surface of the padding insert and the passageways are the spaces between these upstanding bosses (9).

Classes IPC  ?

• A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic Identification des individus
• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail

Produits et services

Downloadable software; Downloadable computer software for remote monitoring and analysis; software for birthing sensor for use in the detection of an impending birthing event; software for detection sensor for use in the detection of when an animal is in heat or in season. Veterinary apparatus and instruments; veterinary diagnostic, examination and monitoring equipment; animal monitoring sensors and alarms for veterinary use; animal monitoring sensors for monitoring the movement patterns of one or more animals and alarms therefore for veterinary use; electronic monitoring instruments for veterinary use; physiological monitoring apparatus for veterinary use; detecting instruments for veterinary use; veterinary obstetric apparatus; birthing sensor for use in the detection of an impending calving event for veterinary use; birthing sensor for use in the detection of an impending foaling event for veterinary use; birthing sensor for use in the detection of an impending lambing event for veterinary use; birthing sensor for use in the detection of an impending birthing event of an animal for veterinary use; detection system for determining when a cow is in heat for veterinary use; detection system for determining when a horse is in season for veterinary use; detection system for determining when a sheep is in season for veterinary use; detection system for determining when an animal is in heat or in season for veterinary use. Providing temporary use of non-downloadable software; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software applications accessible via a website; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software for use in the management of a birthing event; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software for use in the management of an insemination event, specifically for use in managing when an animal is in season or in heat.

Abrégé

This invention relates to a birthing sensor (1 ) for mounting on the tail of a pregnant animal. The birthing sensor comprises a casing (3) and an adjustable strap (5) for securing the casing to the tail of the pregnant animal. The casing houses monitoring equipment, communication equipment and a power supply. There is provided a padding insert (7, 37, 47) for location between the casing, the strap and the animal's tail. The padding insert comprises a sheet of resiliently deformable material, such as rubber, having a plurality of ventilation passageways formed therein. The ventilation passageways allow passage of air over the cow's tail underneath the sensor and further allow escape of urine and faeces from under the sensor. The passageways may be formed by having a plurality of upstanding bosses (9) on the surface of the padding insert and the passageways are the spaces between these upstanding bosses (9).

Classes IPC  ?

• A01K 29/00 - Autres appareils pour l'élevage
• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail

Abrégé

This invention relates to a birthing sensor (1 ) for mounting on the tail of a pregnant animal. The birthing sensor comprises a casing (3) and an adjustable strap (5) for securing the casing to the tail of the pregnant animal. The casing houses monitoring equipment, communication equipment and a power supply. There is provided a padding insert (7, 37, 47) for location between the casing, the strap and the animal's tail. The padding insert comprises a sheet of resiliently deformable material, such as rubber, having a plurality of ventilation passageways formed therein. The ventilation passageways allow passage of air over the cow's tail underneath the sensor and further allow escape of urine and faeces from under the sensor. The passageways may be formed by having a plurality of upstanding bosses (9) on the surface of the padding insert and the passageways are the spaces between these upstanding bosses (9).

Classes IPC  ?

• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail

Produits et services

Downloadable software; Downloadable computer software for remote monitoring and analysis; software for birthing sensor for use in the detection of an impending calving event. Veterinary apparatus and instruments; veterinary diagnostic, examination and monitoring equipment; animal monitoring sensors and alarms for veterinary use; electronic monitoring instruments for veterinary use; physiological monitoring apparatus for veterinary use; detecting instruments for veterinary use; veterinary obstetric apparatus; birthing sensor for use in the detection of an impending calving event for veterinary use. Providing temporary use of non-downloadable software; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software applications accessible via a website; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software for use in the management of a calving event.

Abrégé

This invention relates to a birthing sensor (1) of the type that is quasi-permanently mounted on a pregnant animal. Birthing sensors are used to monitor the pregnant animal and issue an alert to a farmer or veterinarian when the animal is about to go into labour. Some of the known types of birthing sensor require intervention by a veterinarian in order to implant the birthing sensor into an orifice of the animal. Other birthing sensors are mounted externally but take a long time to mount and furthermore are prone to damage caused by the animal. The birthing sensor (1) described herein comprises a casing (3) and a continuous securing strap (31) that are used to mount the birthing sensor on the tail (30) of the animal. Due to the simplicity of design and construction, the birthing sensor may be mounted with the minimum amount of time, skill and training.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail

Abrégé

This invention relates to a method of alerting a responsible individual to the impending birth of an animal and a birthing sensor (1) for use in the method. Heretofore, many of the known methods of detecting the impending birth of an animal and alerting a responsible person to the impending birth have been labour intensive and not particularly accurate. Often, an alert results in a farmer or veterinarian being called out several hours before the delivery. The method according to the present invention comprises mounting a new construction of birthing sensor (1) onto the tail of the animal and monitoring the body and tail (30) movements of the animal. These movements are compared by a microcontroller (41) with an impending birth movement indicator and if the movements match the indicator, the animal is deemed to be in labour and an alert is transmitted by the birthing sensor to the responsible person. The time frame to birth is shorter and more accurate than before. Furthermore, the sensor (1) is easier to place and the method is easier to implement.

Classes IPC  ?

• A61D 17/00 - Dispositifs pour signaler des troubles pendant que l'animal est en travail