Scientific device for studying animals, in particular marine animals
By designing a scientific device including arrows, using the combination of arrow body, hollow cutting dart and insert, the problem of low success rate of marine animal marking and sample collection in the prior art is solved, and efficient and safe marking and collection effects are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411788410.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-12-07
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-10
AI Technical Summary
The prior art has a low success rate when labeling and sample collection of marine animals, especially sharks, and puts great pressure on the health of animals.
A scientific device including arrows was designed, which consisted of an arrow body, a hollow cutting dart and an insert. The hollow cutting dart pierces the animal's skin upon impact and drills the sample into its holes, and the insert is used to secure under the animal's skin to prevent it from falling off.
The success rate of labeling and sample collection to marine animals, especially sharks, reduces the impact on animal health, and enables safe assembly of labels and sample collection in a single operation.
Smart Images
Figure CN120114219A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a scientific device for studying animals, which is arranged to be launched towards an animal by a propulsion device for tagging the animal and collecting samples from the animal, and the device includes an arrow.
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of scientific experiments on live animals and more particularly on marine animals. Background Art
[0003] Placing a tracking tag on a live animal is a delicate and difficult operation. To attach the tag, scientists are seeking to avoid having to put the animal to sleep or having to capture marine or aquatic animals. This is to avoid subjecting the animal to great stress.
[0004] This also applies to tissue sampling, which is particularly difficult for wild animals, especially highly sensitive species such as sharks. The purpose of collecting tissue samples is to determine the health status of the animal and any pathological conditions or genetic abnormalities.
[0005] Trials have been successfully conducted on marking or sampling operations directly in the environment where the animals live, such as in the marine environment, and at a reasonable distance from the animals, using special propulsion devices to significantly reduce the stress caused by the operation. Other trials have been conducted to combine the tag attachment and sample collection operations in order to limit the investigation to a single contact with the animal, which also aims to reduce the impact on its health. In particular, the prior art discloses an arrow that allows the simultaneous attachment of tags and the collection of biological samples from these species. However, this method is not absolutely reliable because skin penetration usually does not occur, which means that neither tagging nor sample collection is possible, or although tagging occurs correctly, the animal's flesh does not adhere well to the sampling tube.
[0006] Therefore, the aim is to improve the reliability of the experimental device so that it is possible to attach tags and collect reliable samples in a single operation without failure. Summary of the Invention
[0007] The object of the present invention is to increase the success rate of combined tagging / sampling shooting towards animals, more particularly marine animals, and even more particularly sharks (e.g., hammerhead sharks).
[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a scientific device for studying animals, which is arranged to be launched towards an animal by a propulsion device for tagging the animal and collecting samples from the animal, and the device includes an arrow.
[0009] According to the present invention, the arrow comprises the following elements which are substantially coaxial about a longitudinal direction and removable from each other: an arrow shaft, a hollow cutting dart and at least one insert. The arrow shaft comprises, in a rear portion thereof, support means for the propulsion device and longitudinally supports the hollow cutting dart in a front portion thereof. The hollow cutting dart forms a sampling tube which is designed to pierce the skin of an animal upon impact and to core a sample of the animal in a hole in the hollow cutting dart. The at least one insert is carried externally by the hollow cutting dart and is designed to be fixed under the skin of the animal. The at least one insert is removable from the arrow shaft and from the hollow cutting dart and is designed to abut against a first front shoulder of the arrow shaft. The arrow shaft comprises, at the rear portion thereof, a second shoulder which is designed to prevent the arrow shaft from penetrating into the animal's body. Description of the Drawings
[0010] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] - Figure 1 A perspective view of a scientific device for studying animals is graphically shown. The device comprises a propulsion device arranged to project an arrow towards an animal observation and / or marking area, shown from left to right in the figure, a retrieval device for retrieving the arrow after sample collection, and an arrow specific to the present invention, which is shown in a plurality of assembled parts and comprises, from the rear to the front, an arrow shaft and a hollow cutting dart. The hollow cutting dart forms a container for the sample and carries an insert designed to be inserted under the skin of the animal. The insert carries a penetration cone which comprises elastic blades, which are shown here as being deployed in the free configuration of the arrow. When the arrow enters the animal's body in a stressed position, these elastic blades flatten along the hollow cutting dart and then they operate to radially expand, thus preventing the insert from coming out once inserted.
[0012] - Figure 2 Is graphically shown Figure 1 a front view of the arrow in
[0013] - Figure 3 Is graphically shown Figure 1 a cross-sectional view, taken axially along a cutting plane AA in Figure 2 of a first alternative embodiment of the arrow in
[0014] - Figure 4 Is graphically shown Figure 1 a close-up cross-sectional view, taken axially, of a second alternative embodiment of the arrow in Detailed Description of the Invention
[0015] In order to allow marking and sample collection without causing significant harm to the animal, the present invention relates to a scientific device 100 for studying animals, which is arranged to be launched towards the animal by a propulsion device for marking the animal and collecting samples from the animal, and the device includes an arrow 1.
[0016] The arrow 1 includes: a rigid part forming a support, called the arrow shaft 2; and a removable tip. The support is a structural part for projecting the arrow 1 and for withdrawing it after sample collection. The removable tip, called the hollow cutting dart 3, performs two functions: piercing the animal's body and collecting samples.
[0017] Preferably, as shown in the figure, the removable tip carries a removable insert; in another alternative embodiment not shown, the arrow shaft carries the removable insert.
[0018] The term "insert" is understood in the broadest sense to mean any insert intended to remain in the animal's body, for example, as shown in the figure, an attachment element 52 for attaching a cable 53 for towing a tag 60, especially a radio position transmission tag, or directly attaching such a tag and / or sensor permanently inserted into the animal's body, but for example, also includes an element allowing treatment and / or closing the animal's wound; thus, two or more inserts can be inserted into the animal's body in a single operation, and the inserts are arranged one after another on the removable tip.
[0019] Therefore, according to the present invention, the arrow 1 includes: an arrow shaft 2, a hollow cutting dart 3, and at least one insert 5 that are substantially coaxial around the longitudinal direction D and removable from each other.
[0020] The arrow shaft 2 includes support means for the propulsion device in the rear part 22. In the front part 21, it longitudinally supports the hollow cutting dart 3.
[0021] The hollow cutting dart 3 forms a sampling tube, which is intended to pierce the animal's skin upon impact and drill a sample of the animal tissue in the hole 4 of the hollow cutting dart 3.
[0022] More specifically, the hollow cutting dart 3 externally carries at least one insert 5, which is arranged to be fixed under the animal's skin. At least one of these inserts 5, or the insert 5 (if only one exists as shown in the figure), can be removed from the arrow shaft 2 and from the hollow cutting dart 3, and is arranged to rest against the first front shoulder 6 of the arrow shaft 2.
[0023] The arrow shaft 2 has a second shoulder 7 at the rear part 22, which is intended to prevent the arrow shaft 2 from piercing into the animal's body.
[0024] More specifically, the insert 5 carries a penetration cone 50 outside the hollow cutting dart 3, the penetration cone 50 including resilient blades 51 which are arranged to radially expand under the skin of the animal and prevent the insert 5 from falling off after being inserted under the skin of the animal. These resilient blades form a fan-shaped expanding cone in the free state, as Figure 1 seen. These resilient blades 51 which expand when the arrow is in the free configuration flatten along the hollow cutting dart when the arrow enters the body of the animal in the stressed position and then operate to radially extend so as to prevent the insert from coming out once inserted.
[0025] More specifically, the penetration cone 50 is made of a plastic material. Advantageously, the penetration cone 50 is longitudinally blocked by an attachment element 52 or radial lugs included in the insert 5.
[0026] In a particular alternative embodiment, the insert 5 is made of a biodegradable material or a biodegradable plastic material to release the tag 60 after a set period of time.
[0027] In another alternative embodiment, the body of the tag 60 is made of a biodegradable material or a biodegradable plastic material to release the tag 60 after a set period of time.
[0028] In another alternative embodiment, the cable 53 towing the tag 60 is made of a biodegradable material or a biodegradable plastic material to release the tag 60 after a set time.
[0029] More specifically, each insert 5 is mounted on the hollow cutting dart 3 in a tight sliding fit.
[0030] More specifically, the arrow shaft 2 includes a front fastening device 23 for reversibly fastening the hollow cutting dart 3 which includes a complementary front fastening device 32 and includes a discharge channel 8 in the extension of the hole 4, the discharge channel 8 being arranged for discharging liquid through at least one discharge opening 9 which is adjacent to the front fastening device 23. Each discharge opening 9 extends obliquely from the discharge channel 8 towards the periphery of the arrow shaft 2, obliquely from the distal end of the hollow cutting dart 3 towards the rear part 22 of the arrow shaft 2 and is open along the discharge direction to assist this. Thus, the arrow 1 is very suitable for the case of marine animals and has a very short water discharge route which reduces the overpressure in the tube when the hollow cutting dart 3 pierces the skin of the animal and thus increases the likelihood and amount of tissue collection. The alternative embodiment shown in the figure has three such discharge openings 9 for water discharge which are open along the discharge direction to assist this.
[0031] More specifically, in Figure 3In a first alternative embodiment, the front fastening device 23 includes an internal thread arranged to cooperate in a complementary manner with one of the complementary front fastening devices 32, in particular an external thread on the hollow cutting dart 3, which hollow cutting dart 3 includes at least one manipulation notch 33, such as a radial hole, to make it easier to tighten or loosen.
[0032] More specifically, in Figure 4 In a second alternative embodiment, the hollow cutting dart 3 is fastened to the arrow shaft 2 by at least one radial assembly element, such as a radial screw 75, a pin, etc. For example, the front fastening device 23 of the arrow shaft 2 includes at least one implant that includes a radial hole 72 and a support counterbore 71 along the radial direction R, and the complementary front fastening device 32 includes at least one radial internal thread 73 along the radial direction R; then, the hollow cutting dart 3 and the arrow shaft 2 are made integral with each other by at least one radial screw 75 including an external thread 74, which radial screw 75 is arranged to abut against the support counterbore 71 and cooperate with the internal thread 73 through the radial hole 72. Figure 4 Two such opposing radial screws 75 are shown. This second alternative embodiment avoids weakening the hollow cutting dart due to axial screwing.
[0033] More specifically, the arrow 1 has a rear fastening device 11 in the rear part 22 and opposite to the hollow cutting dart 3 for fastening a rod or cable for retrieving the arrow 1.
[0034] More specifically, the hollow cutting dart 3 has a plurality of internal barbs 31, and / or the hole 4 of the hollow cutting dart 3 has a rough internal profile for holding an animal sample when the arrow 1 is withdrawn. Even more specifically, as can be seen in Figure 3 the hollow cutting dart 3 has a plurality of internally helically arranged barbs 31 in order to minimize mechanical weakening. The presence of the barbs 31 entering the tube at the tip makes it possible to retain tissue when the arrow 1 is retrieved.
[0035] More specifically, the hollow cutting dart 3 has cutting edges 30 at its distal front part, and these cutting edges 30 are arranged to pierce the skin of an animal. Even more specifically, the hollow cutting dart 3 has at least three cutting edges 30 at its front part to ensure an inclined penetration under the skin of an animal. This design with three cutting edges at the end of the tip ensures that when the arrow 1 hits the skin of an animal obliquely, regardless of the orientation of the arrow 1, one cutting edge first contacts the skin.
[0036] More specifically, the hollow cutting dart 3 is interchangeable and made of a material suitable for piercing the skin of the type of animal of interest. It constitutes a removable and interchangeable tip, thus allowing the choice of the material of the tip in order to maximize its mechanical properties and thus reduce the risk of deformation when piercing the skin. The internal thread 23 in the arrow shaft 2 is preferably not flush at the end, so that the area of the hollow cutting body 3 that is subject to the greatest mechanical stress is not threaded, thus preventing its weakening.
[0037] More specifically, the materials used to manufacture the arrow shaft 2 and the hollow cutting dart 3 are materials resistant to corrosion in a marine environment, such as stainless steel, titanium, etc. An example of an interesting material pairing is a 304 stainless steel arrow shaft 2 (corrosion resistance, accompanied by good workability) and a grade 5 titanium hollow cutting dart (very good corrosion resistance, accompanied by high yield strength).
[0038] More specifically, the scientific device 100 for studying animals includes a propulsion device 200 intended to project the arrow towards the observation and / or marking area of such an animal, and / or includes a retrieval device 300 that includes a rod or cable for retrieving the arrow 1 that encloses the animal sample in the hollow cutting dart 3 after the insert 5 has been inserted under the skin of the animal.
[0039] In short, the device described in the present invention allows the assembly of the tag and the collection of the sample in a single operation and safely, while protecting the animal being studied as much as possible.
Claims
1. A scientific device (100) for studying animals, said device being arranged to be launched towards an animal by means of a propulsion device in order to mark said animal and collect samples from said animal, said device comprising an arrow (1), characterised in that The arrow (1) comprises the following elements coaxially about a longitudinal direction (D) and removable from one another: a shaft (2) comprising support means for the propulsion device in a rear portion (22) and longitudinally supporting the hollow cutting dart (3) in a front portion (21), the hollow cutting dart (3) forming a hole (4) intended to pierce the skin of an animal upon impact and to extract a specimen of the animal in a hole (4) in the hollow cutting dart (3) and at least one insert (5). The hollow cutting dart (3) externally carries at least one insert (5), which is intended to be fixed under the skin of the animal, and the at least one insert (5) can be removed from the arrow body (2) and from the hollow cutting dart (3), and is intended to abut against a first front shoulder (6) of the arrow body (2), and the arrow body (2) includes a second shoulder (7) at the rear part (22), and the second shoulder (7) is intended to prevent the arrow body (2) from penetrating into the animal body.
2. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insert (5) carries a penetration cone (50) outside the hollow cutting dart (3), the penetration cone (50) comprising elastic blades (51) arranged to expand radially under the skin of the animal and prevent the insert (5) from falling out after being inserted under the skin of the animal.
3. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to claim 2, characterized in that: The penetration cone (50) is made of plastic material.
4. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The insert (5) comprises an attachment element (52) for attaching a cable (53) of a tow tag (60).
5. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to claim 4, characterized in that: The insert (5) and / or the cable (53) and / or the body of the tag (60) are made of a biodegradable material or a biodegradable plastic material to release the tag (60) after a set period of time.
6. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: Each of the inserts (5) is mounted on the hollow cutting dart (3) with a close sliding fit.
7. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The shank (2) comprises front fastening means (23) for reversibly fastening the hollow cutting dart (3), the hollow cutting dart (3) comprising complementary front fastening means (32) and comprising a discharge channel (8) in the extension of the hole (4), the discharge channel (8) being arranged for discharging liquid through at least one discharge opening (9), the discharge opening (9) being adjacent to the front fastening means (23), each of the discharge openings (9) extending obliquely from the discharge channel (8) towards the periphery of the shank (2), from the distal end of the hollow cutting dart (3) towards the rear part (22) of the shank (2) and being open in the discharge direction to facilitate this.
8. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to claim 7, characterized in that: The front fastening means (23) comprises an internal thread arranged to cooperate in a complementary manner with an external thread (32) comprised in the hollow cutting dart (3), the hollow cutting dart (3) comprising at least one manipulation notch (33) to make it easier to tighten or loosen.
9. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to claim 7, characterized in that: The hollow cutting dart (3) is fastened to the shaft (2) by at least one radial assembly element (75).
10. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to claim 9, characterized in that: The front fastening means (23) of the arrow body (2) comprises at least one implant, the implant comprising a radial hole (72) and a supporting countersunk hole (71) in a radial direction (R), and the complementary front fastening means (32) comprises at least one radial internal thread (73) in a radial direction (R); thereby the hollow cutting dart (3) and the arrow body (2) are integrated with each other by at least one radial screw (75) comprising an external thread (74), the radial screw (75) being arranged to abut against the supporting countersunk hole (71) and to cooperate with the internal thread (73) through the radial hole (72).
11. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The arrow (1) has a rear fastening device (11) in the rear portion (22) opposite the hollow cutting dart (3), the rear fastening device (11) being used to fasten a rod or cable for retrieving the arrow (1).
12. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The hollow cutting dart (3) has a plurality of internal barbs (31), and / or the hole (4) of the hollow cutting dart (3) has a rough internal profile for retaining the animal specimen when the arrow (1) is withdrawn.
13. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to claim 12, characterized in that: The hollow cutting dart (3) has a plurality of internal barbs (31) arranged helically in the bore (4).
14. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The hollow cutting dart (3) has a cutting edge (30) at its distal front portion, the cutting edge (30) being arranged to pierce the skin of the animal.
15. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to claim 14, characterized in that: The hollow cutting dart (3) has at least three cutting edges (30) at the front portion thereof to ensure oblique penetration under the skin of the animal.
16. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The hollow cutting darts (3) are interchangeable and are made of a material suitable for penetrating the skin of the animal type of interest.
17. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The arrow shaft (2) is made of 304 stainless steel, and the hollow cutting dart (3) is made of grade 5 titanium.
18. The scientific device (100) for studying animals according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The scientific device (100) for studying animals comprises a propulsion device (200) intended to project the arrow towards an observation and / or marking area of such animal and / or comprises a retrieval device (300) comprising a rod or a cable for recovering the arrow (1) surrounding the animal specimen in the hollow cutting dart (3) after the insertion of the insert (5) under the skin of the animal.