Patent US4784155A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4784155A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for automated detection of estrus in farm animals
Assignee: Data Sciences International Inc
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Filing: 1987-07-17
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Granted: 1988-11-15
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Expires: 2007-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A telemetry system includes a transmitter, which is either placed in the vagina or is implanted in the vulvular or vaginal tissue, and a receiver. The transmitter is capable of measuring physiological parameters which are indicative or predictive of the occurrence of estrus. These parameters may include but are not limited to tissue impedance, temperature and activity of the animal. This provides a pulsed method of measuring impedance of vulvular or vaginal tissue which enhances the marketability of such a device by reducing its size, weight and complexity without sacrificing accuracy or reliability. Data telemetered from this device is preferably collected by a computer and automatically analyzed to provide a report to the farm manager as to which animals are in estrus or are expected to be in estrus at a given time.
Inventors
- 👤 Perry A. Mills
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/0012; A61B5/00; A61B5/0002; A61D; A61D17/00; A61D17/002; A61B2010/0016; A61B2010/0019; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A transmitter for transmitting an output signal which is a function of resistive and reactive components of impedance of tissue in a reproductive system of a female animal, the transmitter comprising: first and second electrode means for making electrical contact with the tissue; means for supplying pulses of first and second different pulse widths to the first and second electrode means at first and second time intervals which are a function of the impedance between the first and second electrode means, so that differences in the first and second time intervals are a function of the reactive component of the impedance of the tissue, and duration of the first time intervals is a function of the resistive component; and output means for producing the output signal with a characteristic which is a function of the first and second time intervals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A transmitter for transmitting an output signal which is a function of resistive and reactive components of impedance of tissue in a reproductive system of a female animal, the transmitter comprising: first and second electrode means for making electrical contact with the tissue; means for supplying pulses of first and second different pulse widths to the first and second electrode means at first and second time intervals which are a function of the impedance between the first and second electrode means, so that differences in the first and second time intervals are a function of the reactive component of the impedance of the tissue, and duration of the first time intervals is a function of the resistive component; and output means for producing the output signal with a characteristic which is a function of the first and second time intervals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transmitter of claim 1 and further comprising: housing means for containing the means for supplying pulses and the output means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The transmitter of claim 2 wherein the first and second electrode means are supported on an exterior surface of the housing means adjacent first and second ends, respectively, of the housing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The transmitter of claim 3 wherein the housing means is generally cylindrical, and wherein the first and second electrode means comprise first and second conductive, partial circumferential rings adjacent the first and second ends of the housing means, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the output means comprises RF transmitter means for producing the output signal as a burst of RF energy each time a pulse is supplied by the pulse generator means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the means for supplying pulses comprises: means for supplying current pulses to the first and second electrode means; means for deriving first signals from the first and second electrode means which are produced in response to the current pulses and are a function of the resistive and reactive components of impedance between the first and second electrode means; means for comparing the first signals with a second reference signal to produce a third signal which has first and second states; and means for triggering the means for supplying current pulses in response to a transition of the third signal from the second to the first state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The transmitter of claim 6 wherein the output means comprises: RF transmitter means for producing the output signal as a burst of RF energy; and means for triggering the RF transmitter means in response to a transition of the third signal from the first to the second state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The transmitter of claim 7 wherein the burst of RF energy produced by the RF transmitter means has a time duration which is less than a time period during which the third signal is in the second state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The transmitter of claim 7 and further comprising: means for separating in time the producing of the burst of RF energy and the deriving of the first signal such that the burst of RF energy does not adversely affect measurement of the impedance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The transmitter of claim 6 wherein the means for supplying current pulses alternately produces the current pulses with first and second, different pulse widths.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A transmitter for transmitting an output signal which is a function of resistive and reactive components of impedance of tissue in a reproductive system of a female animal, the transmitter comprising: first and second electrode means for making electrical contact with the tissue; means for supplying first and second current pulses of first and second different pulse widths to the first and second electrode means; means for sampling a holding a first voltage and a second voltage produced across the first and second electrode means as a result of the first and second current pulses, respectively; means for converting the first and second voltages to first and second time periods; and means for producing an output signal which is a function of the first and second time periods.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A transmitter for transmitting an output signal which is a function of resistive and reactive components of impedance of tissue in a reproductive system of a female animal, the transmitter comprising: first and second electrode means for making electrical contact with the tissue; means for supplying first and second current pulses of first and second different pulse widths to the first and second electrode means; means for sampling a holding a first voltage and a second voltage produced across the first and second electrode means as a result of the first and second current pulses, respectively; means for converting the first and second voltages to first and second time periods; and means for producing an output signal which is a function of the first and second time periods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
153 words
A transmitter for transmitting an output signal which is a function of resistive and reactive components of impedance of tissue in a reproductive system of a female animal, the transmitter comprising: first and second electrode means for making electrical contact with the tissue; means for supplying first and second current pulses of first and second pulse widths to the first and second electrode means, the first pulse width being short enough that a voltage produced between the electrode means in response to the first current pulse is a function of the resistive component only, and the second pulse width is long enough that a voltage produced between the electrode means in response to the second current pulse is a function to both the resistive component and the reactive component and output means for producing the output signal as a function of the voltages produced in response to the first and second current pulses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
A transmitter for transmitting an output signal which is a function of resistive and reactive components of impedance of tissue in a reproductive system of a female animal, the transmitter comprising: first and second electrode means for making electrical contact with the tissue; means for supplying first and second current pulses of first and second pulse widths to the first and second electrode means, the first pulse width being short enough that a voltage produced between the electrode means in response to the first current pulse is a function of the resistive component only, and the second pulse width is long enough that a voltage produced between the electrode means in response to the second current pulse is a function to both the resistive component and the reactive component and output means for producing the output signal as a function of the voltages produced in response to the first and second current pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
A transmitter for transmitting an output signal which is a function of resistive and reactive impedance of tissue in a reproductive system of a female animal, the transmitter comprising: first and second electrode means for making electrical contact with the tissue; means connected to the first and second electrode means for providing a first signal which is a function of measured resistive impedance between the first and second electrode means; means connected to the first and second electrode means for providing a second signal which is a function of measured reactive impedance between the first and second electrode means; and output means responsive to the first and second signals for transmitting an output signal from which separate values of measured resistive and reactive impedance can be derived.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
127 words
A transmitter for transmitting an output signal which is a function of resistive and reactive impedance of tissue in a reproductive system of a female animal, the transmitter comprising: first and second electrode means for making electrical contact with the tissue; means connected to the first and second electrode means for providing a first signal which is a function of measured resistive impedance between the first and second electrode means; means connected to the first and second electrode means for providing a second signal which is a function of measured reactive impedance between the first and second electrode means; and output means responsive to the first and second signals for transmitting an output signal from which separate values of measured resistive and reactive impedance can be derived.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-15 | 1992-05-16 | 1992-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-15 | 1996-05-16 | 1996-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-15 | 2000-05-16 | 2000-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |