Estrous detection systems

Claim 1

A subcutaneously implantable apparatus for detecting and signaling estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: a substantially fluid-tight capsule made of tissue compatible material suitable for surgical subcutaneous implanation in said animal; a tissue connector connected to the capsule for aiding in attachment of the apparatus to tissue in said animal to thereby assist in maintaining the apparatus in a desired location under the hide of the animal: a self-contained electrical power source mounted within the capsule; a force responsive sensor connected to the capsule for detecting force applied thereto; a controller mounted within the capsule and connected to receive electrical power from the self-contained electrical power source; said controller being connected to receive information from the force responsive sensor which is indicative of application of force to the force responsive sensor; said controller being capable of producing a transmission activation signal; a transmitter mounted within said capsule and connected to receive electrical power from said self-contained electrical power source; said transmitter being capable of producing a telemetric signal which is capable of broadcast through the hide of said animal when the apparatus is implanted; said transmitter being connected to receive said transmission activation signal from the controller to control production of the telemetric signal by the transmitter; and an antenna connected to the capsule and electrically connected to receive the telemetric signal from said transmitter and to broadcast the telemetric signal.

Claim 18

An apparatus for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: a support; a self-contained electrical power source connected to the support; a force responsive sensor connected to the support with at least one outer flexible portion for changing in response to force and detecting force applied to the apparatus; a controller connected to the support and electrically connected to receive electrical power from the self-contained electrical power source; said controller being connected to receive information from the force responsive sensor which is indicative of application of force to the force responsive sensor; said controller being capable of producing a transmission activation signal; said controller further including a standing heat analyzer for analyzing and discriminating standing heat events from spurious mounting events; said standing heat analyzer comprising means for measuring duration of force detected by the force responsive sensor to determine mounting event duration and comparing the mounting event duration against a predetermined mounting event duration threshold; said controller still further including an estrous analyzer for counting a plurality of standing heat events to control production of said transmission activation signal; said estrous analyzer including means for counting a plurality of standing heat events and comparing frequency of standing heat events against a predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold, to control production of said transmission activation signal; a transmitter connected to said support and electrically connected to receive electrical power from said self-contained electrical power source; said transmitter being capable of producing a telemetric signal which can propagate from the apparatus; said transmitter being connected to receive said transmission activation signal from the controller to control production of the telemetric signal by the transmitter; and an antenna connected to the support and electrically connected to receive the telemetric signal from said transmitter and to broadcast the telemetric signal.

Claim 19

An apparatus for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: a support; a self-contained electrical power source connected to the support; a force responsive sensor connected to the support with at least one outer flexible portion for changing in response to force and detecting force applied to the apparatus; a controller connected to the support and electrically connected to receive electrical power from the self-contained electrical power source; said controller being connected to receive information from the force responsive sensor which is indicative of application of force to the force responsive sensor; said controller being capable of producing a transmission activation signal; said controller further including a standing heat analyzer for analyzing and discriminating standing heat events from spurious mounting events; said standing heat analyzer comprising means for measuring duration of force detected by the force responsive sensor to determine mounting event duration and comparing the mounting event duration against a predetermined mounting event duration threshold; said controller still further including an estrous analyzer for counting a plurality of standing heat events to control production of said transmission activation signal; said estrous analyzer including means for counting a plurality of standing heat events and comparing frequency of standing heat events against a predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold, to control production of said transmission activation signal; a transmitter connected to said support and electrically connected to receive electrical power from said self-contained electrical power source; said transmitter being capable of producing a telemetric signal which can propagate from the apparatus; said transmitter being connected to receive said transmission activation signal from the controller to control production of the telemetric signal by the transmitter; and an antenna connected to the support and electrically connected to receive the telemetric signal from said transmitter and to broadcast the telemetric signal.

Claim 24

A system for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: a subcutaneously implantable apparatus including: a substantially fluid-tight capsule made of tissue compatible material suitable for surgical subcutaneous implantation in said animal; a tissue connector connected to the capsule for aiding in attachment of the apparatus to tissue in said animal to thereby assist in maintaining the apparatus in a desired location under the hide of the animal; a self-contained electrical power source mounted within the capsule; a force responsive sensor connected to the capsule for detecting force applied thereto; a controller mounted within the capsule and connected to receive electrical power from the self-contained electrical power source; said controller being connected to receive information from the force responsive sensor which is indicative of application of force to the force responsive sensor; said controller being capable of producing a transmission activation signal; a transmitter mounted within said capsule and connected to receive electrical power from said self-contained electrical power source; said transmitter being capable of producing a telemetric signal which is capable of broadcast through the hide of said animal when the apparatus is implanted; said transmitter being connected to receive said transmission activation signal from the controller to control production of the telemetric signal by the transmitter; and an antenna connected to the capsule and electrically connected to receive the telemetric signal from said transmitter and to broadcast the telemetric signal; and a receiver remote from the implantable apparatus for receiving the telemetric signal as an indication that said animal has experienced behavior indicating estrus.

Claim 25

A system for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: a subcutaneously implantable apparatus including: a substantially fluid-tight capsule made of tissue compatible material suitable for surgical subcutaneous implantation in said animal; a tissue connector connected to the capsule for aiding in attachment of the apparatus to tissue in said animal to thereby assist in maintaining the apparatus in a desired location under the hide of the animal; a self-contained electrical power source mounted within the capsule; a force responsive sensor connected to the capsule for detecting force applied thereto; a controller mounted within the capsule and connected to receive electrical power from the self-contained electrical power source; said controller being connected to receive information from the force responsive sensor which is indicative of application of force to the force responsive sensor; said controller being capable of producing a transmission activation signal; a transmitter mounted within said capsule and connected to receive electrical power from said self-contained electrical power source; said transmitter being capable of producing a telemetric signal which is capable of broadcast through the hide of said animal when the apparatus is implanted; said transmitter being connected to receive said transmission activation signal from the controller to control production of the telemetric signal by the transmitter; and an antenna connected to the capsule and electrically connected to receive the telemetric signal from said transmitter and to broadcast the telemetric signal; and a receiver remote from the implantable apparatus for receiving the telemetric signal as an indication that said animal has experienced behavior indicating estrus.

Claim 28

A system for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: an apparatus for connection to said animal, including: a support; a self-contained electrical power source connected to the support; a force responsive sensor connected to the support with at least one outer flexible portion for changing in response to force and detecting force applied to the apparatus; a controller connected to the support and electrically connected to receive electrical power from the self-contained electrical power source; said controller being connected to recieve information from the force response sensor which is indicative of application of force to the force responsive sensor; said controller being capable of producing a transmission activation signal; said controller further including a standing heat analyzer for analyzing and discriminating standing heat events from spurious mounting events; said standing heat analyzer comprising means for measuring duration of force detected by the force responsive sensor to determine mounting event duration and comparing the mounting event duration against a predetermined mounting event duration threshold; said controller still further including an estrous analyzer for counting a plurality of standing heat events to control production of said transmission activation signal; said estrous analyzer including means for counting a plurality of standing heat events and comparing frequency of standing heat events against a predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold, to control production of said transmission activation signal; a transmitter connected to said support and electrically connected to receive electrical power from said self-contained electrical power source; said transmitter being capable of producing a telemetric signal which can propagate from the apparatus; said transmitter being connected to receive said transmission activation signal from the controller to control production of the telemetric signal by the transmitter; an antenna connected to the support and electrically connected to receive the telemetric signal from said transmitter and to broadcast the telemetric signal; and a receiver remote from said apparatus for receiving the telemetric signal as an indication that said animal has experienced behavior indicating estrus.

Claim 29

A system for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: an apparatus for connection to said animal, including: a support; a self-contained electrical power source connected to the support; a force responsive sensor connected to the support with at least one outer flexible portion for changing in response to force and detecting force applied to the apparatus; a controller connected to the support and electrically connected to receive electrical power from the self-contained electrical power source; said controller being connected to recieve information from the force response sensor which is indicative of application of force to the force responsive sensor; said controller being capable of producing a transmission activation signal; said controller further including a standing heat analyzer for analyzing and discriminating standing heat events from spurious mounting events; said standing heat analyzer comprising means for measuring duration of force detected by the force responsive sensor to determine mounting event duration and comparing the mounting event duration against a predetermined mounting event duration threshold; said controller still further including an estrous analyzer for counting a plurality of standing heat events to control production of said transmission activation signal; said estrous analyzer including means for counting a plurality of standing heat events and comparing frequency of standing heat events against a predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold, to control production of said transmission activation signal; a transmitter connected to said support and electrically connected to receive electrical power from said self-contained electrical power source; said transmitter being capable of producing a telemetric signal which can propagate from the apparatus; said transmitter being connected to receive said transmission activation signal from the controller to control production of the telemetric signal by the transmitter; an antenna connected to the support and electrically connected to receive the telemetric signal from said transmitter and to broadcast the telemetric signal; and a receiver remote from said apparatus for receiving the telemetric signal as an indication that said animal has experienced behavior indicating estrus.

Claim 32

A method for obtaining information indicative of estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: surgically implanting an apparatus for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus at a subcutaneous location on upper portions of said animal's hindquarters; exposing said animal to other herd members; sensing mounting of said animal by other herd members using said apparatus; recording data in said apparatus indicative of mounting sensed in said sensing step; controllably communicating a telemetric signal from said apparatus while implanted which is capable of indicating that said animal has experienced standing heat behavior indicative of estrus; bringing said animal with implanted apparatus into proximity with a suitable receiver for receiving said telemetric signal from said apparatus while implanted; receiving any telemetric signal controllably communicated from said apparatus implanted in said animal; indicating estrus condition using an estrous signal indicator which is perceivable by a herdsman.

Claim 33

A method for obtaining information indicative of estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: surgically implanting an apparatus for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus at a subcutaneous location on upper portions of said animal's hindquarters; exposing said animal to other herd members; sensing mounting of said animal by other herd members using said apparatus; recording data in said apparatus indicative of mounting sensed in said sensing step; controllably communicating a telemetric signal from said apparatus while implanted which is capable of indicating that said animal has experienced standing heat behavior indicative of estrus; bringing said animal with implanted apparatus into proximity with a suitable receiver for receiving said telemetric signal from said apparatus while implanted; receiving any telemetric signal controllably communicated from said apparatus implanted in said animal; indicating estrus condition using an estrous signal indicator which is perceivable by a herdsman.

Claim 38

A method for obtaining information indicative of estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: placing an apparatus for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus at upper portions of said animal's hindquarters; exposing said animal to other herd members; comparing duration of force detected by said apparatus to a predetermined mounting event duration threshold; discriminating standing heat events which exceed said mounting event duration threshold from spurious mounting events; counting a plurality of standing heat events; determining frequency of standing heat events from said plurality of standing heat events; comparing the frequency of standing heat events to a predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold; selectively emitting a telemetric signal if said frequency of standing heat events exceeds the predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold; bringing said animal with said apparatus into proximity with a suitable receiver for receiving a telemetric signal from said apparatus which indicates that said animal has experienced standing heat behavior indicative of estrus; receiving any telemetric signal from said apparatus; producing an estrous signal indicator which is perceivable by a herdsman to thus indicate estrus.

Claim 39

A method for obtaining information indicative of estrus in a female animal which exhibits standing heat behavior, comprising: placing an apparatus for detecting, analyzing and signaling estrus at upper portions of said animal's hindquarters; exposing said animal to other herd members; comparing duration of force detected by said apparatus to a predetermined mounting event duration threshold; discriminating standing heat events which exceed said mounting event duration threshold from spurious mounting events; counting a plurality of standing heat events; determining frequency of standing heat events from said plurality of standing heat events; comparing the frequency of standing heat events to a predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold; selectively emitting a telemetric signal if said frequency of standing heat events exceeds the predetermined standing heat event frequency threshold; bringing said animal with said apparatus into proximity with a suitable receiver for receiving a telemetric signal from said apparatus which indicates that said animal has experienced standing heat behavior indicative of estrus; receiving any telemetric signal from said apparatus; producing an estrous signal indicator which is perceivable by a herdsman to thus indicate estrus.