Patent Application
20130014706
The present invention relates to apparatuses and methods for monitoring vital signs and health of animals, and, more particularly for monitoring the health and vital signs of pet animals, such as dogs and cats, and doing so using a specially designed collar.
When animals, including pets such as dogs and cats, are sick they tend by nature to withdraw and hide since they feel defenseless. This behavior makes treatment of the animal significantly more difficult. With regard to pet animals, such as dogs and cats, it is known for veterinarians to check the vital signs of a sick dog or a sick cat. However, this tends to occur long after the animal has contracted the medical problem either because the dog or cat was hiding and/or because it takes time to reach the veterinarian. Early detection is often not achieved yet is very important in order to achieve less suffering of the pet and less likelihood of acute disease, which can develop if detection occurs late. Regarding ear infections in a dog, for example, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), this is the most common medical condition affecting dogs in 2010 and “identifying changes or redness early will help dogs and cats avoid more irritating, painful and expensive ear infections. The longer a problem is allowed to persist, the more difficult it is to treat.”.
Moreover, stray dogs and cats, as well as dogs and cats whose owners are not constantly with them as a practical matter, and dogs and cats whose owners are on vacation, are more vulnerable to contracting an illness, exhibiting hiding behavior patterns and decreasing the chances of timely medical intervention.
In addition, monitoring the health of captive animals, for example animals in zoos, is an arduous and expensive task.
There is a compelling need to have an apparatus and method that will provide early detection and diagnosis of pet animals such as dogs and cats.
One aspect of the present invention is a collar for monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, comprising a band having a layer of an elastic material, the band for positioning on a neck of the animal; at least one sensor element at different points of the band, each sensor element having at least one elastic pin projecting from the band towards the neck, the at least one element configured to measure at least one bioparameter from the following bioparameters: temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, movement, the band having a first position for use in measuring the at least one bioparameter and a second position for use when not measuring the at least one bioparameter, the second position tighter around the neck than the first position
A further aspect of the present invention is a collar for monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, comprising a tubular band having a layer of an elastic material, the band for positioning on a neck of the pet animal; at least three sensor elements at different points of the band, each sensor element having at least one elastic pin projecting from the band towards the neck, each elastic pin for penetrating fur of the pet animal without causing the pet animal discomfort, the at least three sensor elements for measuring at least two bioparameters from temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, movement, each of the at least three sensor elements configurable remotely, the adjustable length band having a first position for measuring a first bioparameter and a second position for monitoring a second bioparameter; an actuator and a pump for pumping air into the tubular band at different amounts to tighten and loosen the band between a plurality of tightness positions including the first and second positions, a processor affixed to the collar and hard-wired to each of the at least three sensor elements and the motor, the processor for receiving sensor data from the sensor elements and for communicating data to a telecommunications system and the processor for controlling the motor
A still further aspect of the present invention is a method of monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, comprising providing a collar having a band whose tightness is configured to be adjusted remotely; implanting into the collar sensor elements at different points along a circumference of the band, each implanted sensor element having at least one elastic pin projecting from the band towards the neck, the sensor elements for measuring at least heart rate and respiration rate; configuring different tightness positions of the band, a first tightness position for when a vital sign is measured and a second tightness position for when vital signs are not being measured; and either (i) configuring a processor on the collar that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements to determine vital signs of the pet animal and transmitting a signal from the collar to a remote station, the signal reflecting vital sign measurements or (ii) configuring a remote processor that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements to determine vital signs of the pet animal, the signal reflecting vital sign measurements.
A yet still further aspect of the present invention is a method of monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, comprising providing a collar having a band whose tightness is configured to be adjusted remotely; implanting into the collar an array of sensor elements at different points along a circumference of the band, each implanted sensor element having at least one elastic pin projecting from the band towards the neck, the sensor elements for measuring vital signs of the pet animal including at least respiration rate and heart rate; configuring a tightness of the band sufficient for measuring different vital signs by different sensor elements without the band being too tight that the pet animal is discomforted; and either (i) configuring a processor on the collar that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements to determine vital signs of the pet animal and transmitting a signal from the collar to a remote station, the signal reflecting vital sign measurements or (ii) configuring a remote processor that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements to determine vital signs of the pet animal, the signal to the processor reflecting vital sign measurements
A further aspect of the present invention is a pet animal collar for monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, comprising an adjustable length band having a layer of an elastic material, the band for positioning on a neck of the pet animal; at least four sensor elements at different points of the band, each sensor element having at least one elastic pin projecting from the band towards the neck and having a power source, the at least one sensor elements for measuring at least two bioparameters from temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, movement, each of the at least four sensor elements configurable remotely; and a processor affixed to the collar and in electronic communication with each of the at least four sensor elements for controlling a timing of an “ON” status of each sensor sufficient to trigger taking of a vital sign measurement, the processor configured to calculate the timing based on power requirements of the at least four sensors and a lifespan of the power source, the processor for receiving sensor data from the sensor elements and for communicating vital sign data to a remote location
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, descriptions and claims.
Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a schematic side view of a collar around a pet's neck and including pins of sensor elements projecting toward the neck and showing a controller, in is accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
b is a schematic side view of a collar showing pins of sensor elements projecting in a direction of a neck (not shown) of the pet, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The present invention generally provides a collar for pet animals such as dogs and cats. The collar may have sensor elements that can be activated remotely to check vital signs of the animal (such as respiration, pulse, temperature and movement) and a processor that can interpret the results of multiple vital sign readings. The collar may also have a two way communication device attached or integrated thereto that can alert the pet owner, a veterinarian or the authorities, when appropriate, that a pet animal is suffering from a particular condition or is exhibiting suspicious behavior or movements. This way, a veterinarian can remotely take a particular vital sign measurement when alerted of the data by signalling the processor to actuate a particular sensor element. The sensor elements embedded in the band of the collar gather data that can be processed on the collar itself or transmitted to a remote terminal, which can be a home computer, a hand-held device, or a main server computer. In order to dramatically improve signal to noise ratio (STN), an elastic layer may absorb noise from friction due to movement of the animal's head. The collar also may have the ability to adjust the tightness of the band around the neck of the pet animal to make the collar in condition to take a vital sign reading, or to make it suitable for a particular vital sign measurement. This may be accomplished, for example through use of a pump that injects air through a tubular compertment running along the circumference of the band of the collar. A safety mechanism releases the collar.
In contrast to prior art pet animal collars, which do not measure vital signs, the pet collar of the present invention may measure vital signs of the pet animal. For example, it may measure, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, temperature, movement, etc. In further contrast to the prior art pet animal collars, which are not automatically or remotely adjustable, the animal pet collar of the present invention to may be automatically and remotely adjustable in tightness around the pet's neck. This helps the collar measure different vital sign parameters depending on how tight or loose the collar is. For example, the collar may be tightened when the blood pressure is measured and loosened when respiration rate is measured. In still further contrast to prior art pet collars, the collar may include a processor and may interpret the interdependence of the vital sign measurements made by the sensor array to arrive at a tentative diagnosis that may be relayed to a veterinarian, the pet owner and/or to the authorities. In still further contrast to the prior art, the collar may have two-way communication so that a veterinarian can instruct the collar to measure a particular vital sign remotely. In contrast to prior art dog or pet collars, which may he adjustable in tightness, the collar of the present invention may be adjustable in tightness remotely by pumping air (or conversely by withdrawing or not pumping air) into an area along a length of the collar's band. In still further contrast to the prior art animal pet collars, such as dog collars, in which signal to noise ratio precludes remote telecommunication reception of vital sign parameters, the collar of the present invention may include a layer of elastic that improves the signal to noise ratio by absorbing friction from constant movement of the dog or pet's head. In contrast to the prior art collars, the collar of the present invention may also have a GPS and communications system for alerting remote personnel so that if the pet animal is ill, or if a captive animal in a zoo escapes its enclosure, an immediate alarm can be sounded and an alert transmitted to designated authorities and veterinarians.
The principles and operation of a method and apparatus for a pet animal collar for health & vital signs monitoring, alert and diagnosis may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
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In general, sensor elements 30 may be at least one sensor element 30 designed or configured to measure at least one bioparameter from among temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and movement. Alternatively, the sensor element may be for measured a different vital sign. There could be more sensor elements and more bioparameters. For example, the at least one sensor element 30 may comprise at least two sensor elements 30 that may be configured or designed to measure at least two bioparameters from among temperature, heart rate, respiration and movement. Alternatively, the at least two sensor elements 30 may be for measuring at least two bioparameters from among temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and movement (or alternatively other vital signs). One sensor element may measure multiple bioparameters, for example, in the case of an acoustic sensor that measures respiration rate and heart rate. The at least two sensor elements may comprise four or more sensor elements designed to measure four or more bioparameters or specifically those four: temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and movement. In some preferred embodiments, the array of sensor elements 30 are designed to measure one or two bioparameters (in other preferred embodiments three or four) from the following bioparameters: temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, movement (for example horizontal and vertical movement).
The sensor elements 30 may be designed or configured to measure at least two different vital sign bioparameters as well as to measure certain bioparameters, such as movement, that may be useful in understanding a pet's vital signs when combined with other vital sign bioparameters. Each of the various sensor elements 30 on the band 20 may be designed for measuring a different vital sign parameter or in some cases there may be more than one sensor element measuring a particular vital sign bioparameter or more than one vital sign measured by a particular sensor element 30.
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Sensor array 30 may also include a microphone 30c. Sensor array 30 may further include a microphone 30c to listen to special noises made by a pet animal, for example a dog. In the case of a dog, there are about twenty-six separate sounds that they normally make. These include the following: barking sounds (including guarding/warning bark, alarm barking, playing, anxiety, need bark), yelping, growling, howling, eating, drinking, breathing (including normal breathing through the nose (inspiration and expiration), open-mouthed breathing, dry cough, wet cough, stertor, stridor, laryngeal paralysis, wheezing, rales/crackles, bronchio-vesicular sounds), vomiting/retching, regurgitation, grunting, groaning, and panting. Furthermore, each of these types of sounds may be further subdivided into sounds of those type made by a small dog, made by a large dog, made by a deep-chested dog and made by a puppy dog. Accordingly, the sounds picked up by microphone 30c may be interpreted by a processor 40 having an associated memory storage 67 (
The sensor array 30 may also include a gyroscope 30d for capturing the vertical and/or horizontal movement of the pet. In the ease of dogs, there are numerous basic dog postures that provide information as to what the dog is doing and thereby assist in interpreting vital sign measurements to arrive at a tentative diagnosis. The following basic dog postures that may be detected by sensor elements 30, for example a gyroscope, an accelerometer and/or a magnetometer: lying down laterally, lying down sternally (head up/down), lying on back, sitting, standing on four legs, standing on back legs, jumping, trotting, running, eating/drinking, urinating (male/female), defecating, limping hind leg, limping front leg, scratching hind leg, shaking leg, turning to lick, and stretching. The processor 40 make receive this information from the sensors 30 and utilize it in reaching a conclusion that it transmits remotely to the appropriate destination.
Each of the sensors 30 may be activated, de-activated, fine-tuned, set for predetermined repeated intervals or otherwise calibrated or controlled remotely, and in some embodiments also manually by a person located at the collar 10. “Remotely” means remote from the collar 10 and may include by a person in a vital sign monitoring station or a remotely stationed veterinarian or a medical center or the pet owner or the authorities or any other suitable location.
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The adjustable length band 20 may have a first position (or a first tightness position) for use when the collar is worn and no vital sign bioparameters (or any bioparameters) are being measured and a second position (or a second tightness position) for use when the collar is worn and one or more vital sign bioparameters are being measured. For example, the second position may indicate that the band 20 is tighter around the neck than the first position. For example, as seen in
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Controller 49 may also include a memory storage for storing health information history of the pet animal, the memory storage accessible by the processor 40. The memory storage can be a flash memory 67 as shown in
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The collar 10 and/or server computer 70 or other part of the system may issue an alert based on predefined parameters (e.g. unique prior knowledge regarding the specific animal) and/or behavioral (e.g. erratic or uncharacteristic movements) or vital signs parameters. The specific measurements of the animal (height, length, weight etc.) and relevant history may be loaded into the device and/or the system during a registration procedure. The unique identification data of the animal can also include: the pet animal's name, owner's names, personal details (address, phone number etc.), medical information concerning the pet and any other relevant data. The information may be included in the processing by processor 40 when the processor 40 analyzes data from the sensor elements 30.
A GPS device may be incorporated into collar 10. The UPS device could take the form, for example, of an integrated circuit or an RFID. Other location awareness technology may also be incorporated into the collar 10.
A receiving unit 68 attached to or incorporated into the collar 10 may be a smart phone, mobile (and/or hand-held) device, or any other communication/messaging device, or a specifically designed receiver or reader. The receiving unit 68 may be connected to the collar 10 in a wired and/or wireless manner as mentioned above. The receiving unit 68 may be detachable from the collar 10 for direct connection to a computer terminal 69 (
The collar 10 and/or system may gather analytical information including statistics, trend analysis, comparative analysis etc. regarding particular pets, particular breeds of pets or particular species of animals. The system may incorporate a social network for other animal owners for the purpose of sharing information.
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Method 100 may have a step 130 of configuring different tightness positions of the band 20, preferably remotely. For example, one tightness position may be set, for example remotely, in preparation for one or more vital signs being measured. A second tightness position may be set, or it may be the default tightness position, for when vital signs are not being measured. A further step 140 of method 100 may involve either (i) configuring a processor on the collar that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements to interpret the sensor element data and determine vital signs of the pet animal and transmits a signal reflecting the vital sign determinations and measurements, from the collar to a remote station or (ii) configuring a remote processor that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements to determine vital signs of the pet animal, the signal reflecting vital sign measurements.
Method 100 may in some preferred embodiments have a further step of comprising reducing signal to noise ratio of the signal transmitted from the pet animal by including a layer of an elastic material on the collar to absorb noise from friction derived from movement of the pet animal's head. Animals tend to move their heads when walking and during any other movements such as when the animal is standing but moving. The signal to noise ratio may be significantly, if not dramatically reduced by absorbing the friction by means of the elastic layer on the band. This may allow the signal from the sensor array to be transmitted to the processor in a form that as a practical matter allows interpretation of the signal. The STN ratio reduction is particularly helpful for signals produced by the temperature sensor 30b. Since fur on the neck of the animal is an insulator against heat, measuring the body temperature of the pet animal is difficult. Since the signal derived from the temperature sensor is expected to be weak (due to the fur), it is that much more important for the noise to be lessened.
The method may also include, in some embodiments, a step of transmitting vital sign measurements to the pet owner, a veterinarian, a remote computer server or the authorities when the vital sign measurement exceeds a threshold level. Accordingly, processor 40 may be programmed to compare data received from the sensor elements to threshold levels of respiration rate, heart rate, temperature, movement, blood pressure, and/or other physiological data, such as noises made by a dog. Furthermore, the processor may have access to software in controller 49 that utilizes a function or a formula to relate combinations of the sensor element data. For example, if a dog moves in a certain way and utters a certain noise, that may trigger a particular alert or diagnosis. In addition, the programmer 40 may have access to its own data comparing the physiological data of a particular vital sign or combination of vital signs to the average vital sign data for pets of that species, that breed and that geographical location, taking into consideration the ambient temperature and the medical history of the pet. The controller/processor may transmit an alert to the pet owner, to a veterinarian or to the authorities.
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Method 200 may also have a step 230 of configuring a tightness of the band sufficient for measuring one or more different vital signs by different sensor elements (or in some embodiments by the same sensor element) without the band being too tight that the pet animal is discomforted. Method 200 may include a step 240 of either (i) configuring a processor on the collar that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements to determine vital signs of the pet and transmitting a signal from the collar 10 (for example on a dog or cat) to a remote station, the signal reflecting vital sign measurements or (ii) configuring a remote processor that is in electronic communication with the sensor elements to determine vital signs of the pet animal, the signal to the processor reflecting vital sign measurements.
In one preferred embodiment of the collar 10 of the present invention, for monitoring vital signs of a pet animal, an adjustable tightness band 20 has a layer of an elastic material, the band for positioning on a neck of the pet animal. The collar may include at least one or at least two or at least three or at least four sensor elements at different points of the band, each sensor element having at least one elastic pin projecting from the band 20 towards the neck of the pet animal and having a power source, the array of sensor element for measuring at least two bioparameters (or in other preferred embodiments at least three or at least four) from temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, movement, each of the at least one or at least two or at least three or at least four sensor elements may be configurable remotely from the collar.
A processor 40 affixed to the collar 10 may be in electronic communication with each of the at least four sensor elements. The processor 40 may control a timing of an “ON” status of each sensor sufficient to trigger taking of a vital sign measurement. Memory storage 67 (
Particular features described in the context of one embodiment may be able to be incorporated into other embodiments for which that feature was not specifically mentioned. To take one example, while the release mechanism may have been described with respect to one particular embodiment, it may be applicable to any of the embodiments. Similarly, the two-way communication, the remote configurability of the tightness of the band 20, the pump and motor, the processor controller and their functionalities and other features may be applicable to all of the embodiments.
The following are non-limiting examples of vital sign and/or other physiological data for dogs acquired from sensor elements 30. In general, dog sounds recorded by the microphone 30c may be combined with information from other sensor elements 30 regarding dog postures and dog movements and this may be further combined with information from other sensor elements 30 such as temperature, respiration rate and pulse and other available data such as the time of day, the ambient temperature, the pet's normal behavior, the context etc. The processor 40 may reach conclusions about the presence of a high probability of medical conditions suffered by dogs or cats or other pet animals, such as hypothermia, hyperthermia, slow heart rate, normal or abnormal sinus arrhythmia, ear infections, torn ligaments, gastric dilatation, dyspnea, gastritis, pruritus and osteoarthritis. For example, hypothermia occurs when heat loss/output exceeds heat production. It can happen in cold weather, especially to small or sick animals, or under sedation or anesthesia. If low body temperature is recorded by the sensor elements 30 at a time when the ambient temperature is very cold, an alert may be sent. In another case, if a slower than normal heart rate is detected by sensor elements 30 in a pet animal the movements of the pet animal may be checked to determine if an alert needs to be sent. In general, the pulse rate may be compared to the respiration rate over time to see if the heart rate increases when the animal takes a breath. Regarding ear infections in a dog, if the sensor 30 input indicates movements consistent with an ear infections and the microphone sensor indicates sounds of pain when the ears are touched, an alert may be sent. Inflammation of the bones and joints is a common disease of older dogs. If the sensor input indicates decreased or change in activity relative to the time of day and sounds of pain, an alert may be transmitted.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. Therefore, the claimed invention as recited in the claims that follow is not limited to the embodiments described herein.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/507,679 filed Jul. 14, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/522,327 filed Aug. 11, 2011
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61507679 | Jul 2011 | US | |
| 61522327 | Aug 2011 | US |
