Calf Bolus

Abstract

Generally, an animal monitoring device configured as a bolus for oral administration to reside in the reticulorumen of a ruminant animal having a memory element, a processor in communication with the memory element and a computer code contained in the memory element including a power management module executable by the processor to regulate power use by the bolus based on determination of remaining energy stored in an energy source and the determined power requirements over a pre-determined life cycle of the bolus.

1 . A bolus, comprising:
 one or more sensors each capable of generating a sensor signal which varies based on a corresponding change in one or more physiological parameters of a ruminant animal;   a memory element;   a processor in communication with said memory element; and   a computer code contained in said memory element, said computer code containing a power management module executable by said processor to enable and disable one or more of said one or more sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The bolus of  claim 1 , wherein said power management module is further executable to enable or disable said one or more sensors based upon elapsed duration of time from activation of said bolus. 
     
     
         3 . The bolus of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more sensors is selected from the group consisting of: a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a microphone, an inductance sensor, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The bolus of  claim 1 , where said power management module further includes a bolus activation element executable to:
 monitor said sensor signal from said one or more sensors;   compare said sensor signal from said one or more sensors to a first pre-selected activation code; and   activate said bolus upon generation of said sensor signal from said one or more sensors which by comparison to said first pre-selected activation code exceeds a first pre-selected activation match threshold.   
     
     
         5 . The bolus of  claim 4 , where said bolus activation element is further executable to:
 compare said sensor signal from said one or more sensors to a second pre-selected activation code; and   activate said bolus upon generation of said sensor signal from said one or more sensors which by comparison to said first and said second pre-selected activation codes exceeds said first and a second pre-selected activation match threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The bolus of  claim 4 , wherein said computer code is further executable upon activation of said bolus to:
 encode said sensor signal from said one or more sensors as encoded physiological data corresponding to said one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal; and   store said encoded physiological data in said memory element.   
     
     
         7 . The bolus of  claim 6 , further comprising a radio signal generator capable of generating a radio signal to carry said encoded physiological data, and wherein said power management module is further executable to:
 enable said radio signal generator; and   activate said radio signal generator at pre-determined intervals to generate said radio signal to carry said encoded physiological data.   
     
     
         8 . The bolus of  claim 1 , further comprising an energy source which supplies energy to operate said bolus, and wherein said power management module is further executable to periodically determine a remaining amount of energy stored in said energy source. 
     
     
         9 . The bolus of  claim 8 , wherein said power management module further comprises a power sensor element executable to:
 determine an amount of energy required by said bolus to operate through a pre-determined period of time based on current programming of said computer code;   compare said amount of energy required by said bolus to operate through said pre-determined period of time to said remaining amount of energy stored in said energy source; and   calculate a difference in said amount of energy remaining in the power source and said amount of energy required by said bolus to operate through said pre-determined period of time.   
     
     
         10 . The bolus of  claim 9 , wherein said power management module is further executable to:
 perform one or more power regulation events to offset said difference in said amount of energy remaining in the power source and said amount of energy required by said bolus to operate through said pre-determined period of time.   
     
     
         11 . The bolus of  claim 10 , wherein said one or more power regulation events is selected from the group consisting of: disable one or more of said sensors; interrupt encoding of said sensor signal from said one or more sensors; deactivate a radio signal generator, adjust intervals of time between operational time periods of said radio signal generator, adjust operational time periods of said radio signal generator. 
     
     
         12 . The bolus of  claim 1 , wherein a radio signal generator generates a radio signal having a frequency selected from the group consisting of: between about 700 MHz to about 800 MHz, 750 MHz to about 850 MHz, about 800 MHz to about 900 MHz, 850 MHz to about 950 MHz, 900 MHz to about 1 GHz. 
     
     
         13 . The bolus of  claim 12 , further comprising a matching elements configured to adjust said frequency of said radio signal to compensate for change in said frequency upon passing through a mass of said animal. 
     
     
         14 . The bolus of  claim 12 , wherein said radio signal generator generates said radio signal having only one frequency. 
     
     
         15 . The bolus of  claim 12 , further comprising an antenna capable of transmitting said radio signal, wherein said antenna comprises a pair of electrically conductive loops disposed a distance apart, and wherein said pair of electrically conductive loops comprise a loop of conductive sheet material having an inner annular edge and an outer annular edge which join opposed loop faces. 
     
     
         16 . A bolus, comprising:
 one or more sensors each capable of generating a sensor signal which varies based on a corresponding change in a corresponding one or more physiological parameters of a ruminant animal;   a memory element;   a processor in communication with said memory element;   a computer code contained in said memory element, said computer code executable by said processor to:   encode said sensor signal from said one or more sensors as encoded physiological data corresponding to said one or more physiological parameters of said ruminant animal;   activate a radio signal generator to generate a radio signal to carry said encoded physiological data; and   a housing providing an outermost external surface of said bolus, wherein said outermost external surface of said housing has a length disposed between a pair of ends and a width along said length of not greater than about 20 millimeters.   
     
     
         17 . The bolus of  claim 16 , wherein said outermost external surface of said housing comprises a substantially spherical external surface having a diameter of not greater than about 20 millimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The bolus of  claim 16 , wherein said outermost external surface of said housing comprises a substantially cylindrical external surface, said width along said length having a substantially circular cross section of not greater than about 20 millimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The bolus of  claim 16 , further comprising a bolus density of between about 2.3 grams per centimeter cubed to about 3.3 grams per centimeter cubed (“g/cm3”). 
     
     
         20 . The bolus of  claim 19 , wherein said bolus density is selected from the group consisting of: about 2.3 g/cm3 to about 2.5 g/cm3, about 2.4 g/cm3 to about 2.6 g/cm3, about 2. g/cm3 to 25 about 2.7 g/cm3, about 2.6 g/cm3 to about 2.8 g/cm3, about 2.7 grams g/cm3 to about 2.9 g/cm3; about 2.8 g/cm3 to about 3.0 g/cm3, about 2.9 g/cm3 to about 3. g/cm3; about 3.0 g/cm3 to about 3.2 g/cm3, and about 3.1 g/cm3 to about 3.3 g/cm3.