Device for monitoring the health of an animal

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (V) for monitoring the health of an animal (1), wherein the device (V) comprises at least one collar or harness (2) with at least one detection unit (3) and an evaluation unit (4) communicating with the detection unit (3), characterized in that - the detection unit (3) comprises at least one motion sensor (3.1) and a communication unit (3.5), - wherein the motion sensor (3.1) is designed to count individual steps of the animal (1) and to transmit detected step count information via the communication unit (3.5) to the evaluation unit (4) for evaluation of the detected step count information.

Description

The invention relates to a device for health monitoring of an animal, comprising at least one neck strap or harness with at least one detection unit and an evaluation unit communicating with the detection unit.EP 4 206 991 A1 discloses a dog neck band for monitoring physiological parameters of a dog. The dog neck strap comprises a motion sensor unit configured to detect raw motion signals of the dog neck strap.DE 10 2014 108 443 A1 discloses a further monitoring device for animals.The object of the invention is to specify an improved device for monitoring the health of an animal.The object is achieved according to the invention by a device which has the features specified in claim 1.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.A device for health monitoring and for guiding an animal comprises at least one neck strap or a harness with at least one detection unit and an evaluation unit communicating with the detection unit. According to the invention, the detection unit comprises at least one motion sensor and one communication unit, wherein the motion sensor is configured to count individual steps of the animal and to transmit detected step number information via the communication unit to the evaluation unit for evaluating the detected step number information.In order to maintain the health and well-being of an animal, in particular a pet, and to ensure a good quality of life for the animal, the animal's guidance and activities should be regularly adapted. Depending on the animal breed, animal weight and / or animal age, more and less use of redness may be often made. As an animal holder, an assessment can often be difficult as to whether the guided animal also receives sufficient runout and / or resting phases. Insufficient leakage or even insufficient resting phases can lead to diseases, for example digestive problems and joint problems.The advantages achieved with the device according to the invention consist in particular in simplifying the guiding and holding of an animal. Suitable number of steps monitoring can promote the health and well-being of the animal and reduce a risk of overweight or obesity. Obesity in domestic animals is associated with increased risk for, for example, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, orthopedic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, airway diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and skin problems. Moreover, some dog and cat breeds tend to gain weight rapidly, even though the owner attempts to limit the animal's gain in weight by limiting food intake.The device can implement functions of a so-called "smart watch". In a development, the detection unit integrated in the neck strap or in the harness can be designed as a so-called "activity tracker".Communication between the evaluation unit and the detection unit can be effected wirelessly and / or by wire. The communication, in particular data transmission, between the evaluation unit and the detection unit can take place, for example, via radio technology and / or via another transmission standard for contactless exchange of data.The evaluation unit can be part of a mobile terminal. The evaluation unit can be provided by an application (App for short) or an application program or application software. The evaluation unit, in particular the app, can be used intuitively by the user.The mobile terminal can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer or another playback and output device.In one development, the evaluation unit itself can be designed as a terminal, in particular as a mobile terminal, for example as a tablet or smartphone.A user, for example the holder of the animal, has access at any time via the evaluation unit to information which is detectable or detected by the neck strap or harness carried by the animal, in particular by the integrated detection unit.The motion sensor can be a step counter, for example an electronic step counter or a pedometer. The motion sensor may count steps taken, i.e. steps travelled, by a wearer, in this case an animal.In one embodiment, the evaluation unit can have at least one memory in which a number of data sets relating to the animal can be stored or stored. The memory may be a database. The memory can be incorporated into the evaluation unit embodied as an app. The memory may be part of an external database. For example, the memory can be part of a so-called cloud memory, also called "cloud storage". The memory can be cloud-based. The memory may be a data memory or database in which digital data can be stored on external servers.At least one race of the animal and / or an age of the animal and / or a weight of the animal can be stored or stored as a data record. The holder of the animal, a veterinarian or an animal caregiver can use the evaluation unit to enter breeds of animals, age of animals and animal weight and optionally also further data, for example on diseases and pre-diseases. The evaluation unit can be designed to determine animal-appropriate posture recommendations on the basis of the entered and stored data sets. For example, the evaluation unit can access a plurality of external databases in which posture information about different animal breeds is predefined and stored as a function of an animal age and / or animal weight and / or diseases of the animal.In one possible embodiment, animal holders, veterinarians and animal caregivers can share, for example upload, their experiences and successes with different posture methods via an external database, for example a so-called cloud. The evaluation unit can be configured to access data of the external database. The uploading of collected health data depending on posture methods enables the evaluation unit to be able to determine and output suitable and health-promoting posture recommendations for the animal.The evaluation unit can be configured to machine causal relationships from a plurality of experience reports and success reports depending on posture methods. For example, machine learning is performed via a learned neural network using suitable algorithms.The evaluation unit is designed to determine a target number of steps of the animal on the basis of the stored data sets and to compare the target number of steps with the number of steps information transmitted by the detection unit. An actual step number can be detected by means of the detection unit. The evaluation unit, in particular in the form of an app, can indicate to the user how many steps the animal has already taken place, i.e. has run, and how many steps the animal still has to run in order to meet the setpoint step number for maintaining the health and well-being of the animal. If the setpoint number of steps is exceeded, the evaluation unit can issue a recommendation for initiating a rest phase for the animal. If the setpoint step number is undershot, the evaluation unit can accordingly output a recommendation for further movement of the animal.In a further embodiment, the detection unit can comprise at least one heart rate sensor and / or a breathing rate sensor and / or a positioning sensor, for example a GPS tracker, and / or other measurement sensors for detecting vital information or vital parameters of the animal. The evaluation unit can be configured to determine a physiological setpoint state of the animal on the basis of the stored data sets and to compare the setpoint state with heart rate information and / or breathing rate information and / or other vital information recorded by the recording unit. An actual state of the animal can be detected by means of the detection unit. The evaluation unit can output, for example display, current heart rate or heart beat information of the animal. The evaluation unit can determine whether the heart rate or heart beat information is suitable for the animal. The evaluation unit can indicate, for example, whether the heart beat is good, poor, too fast or too slow. The evaluation unit can thereby detect a causal relationship between heart rate / heart rate and an activity of the animal by means of the motion sensor, for example whether the animal is in a game drive, for example with other animals and / or with a person. The evaluation unit can additionally determine when the animal should initiate a rest phase, in particular a pause, in order to maintain well-being and health.The information detected by means of the detection unit, for example heart rate information, breathing rate information, vital information and number of steps information, can be stored in the memory of the evaluation unit. In a development, the acquired information can be used to carry out analyses, in particular health analyses. Analyses can be carried out in the evaluation unit, in particular the app. Optionally in addition, the acquired information and / or the determined analyses can be transmitted to third parties, for example veterinarians. For example, heart rate measurements of the animal provide an analytical facility for an veterinarian to determine the health of the animal and, for example, to determine irregularities. The evaluation unit can create a completely statistical analysis field on the basis of the information transmitted by the detection unit.The evaluation unit can be configured to carry out a health analysis on the basis of the comparison of data sets stored in the evaluation unit and currently determined information, in particular step number information, heart rate information etc., and to output a health evaluation and / or a posture recommendation for guiding the animal. Posture recommendation is understood to mean, for example, a request for initiation of an activity, such as, for example, for moving and running out the animal, or for initiation of a resting activity, such as, for example, a pause. Also, a posture recommendation may be a request for a visitor to visit.In a further embodiment, the evaluation unit can be configured to share location information detected by the detection unit in a network and / or to compare it with location information of third party located in the network. Users of the device and in particular of the app can use a search function for further users, known and / or friends, for example Gassi partners. Via the search function, animal holders can be found in a simple manner and together plan a walking maneuver and / or a departure. Animal holders can also find themselves spontaneously via the search function and join them together. The evaluation unit can access and display stored data sets relating to the breed, the age and / or the sex of an animal located in the network. Users, in particular animal holders, can connect to one another and come into contact with one another by means of the app, i.e. by means of the respective evaluation unit, and search for and find suitable gassi partners, for example on the basis of the stored data sets.In a further embodiment, the evaluation unit can be configured to perform and store daily, weekly and / or monthly health analyses and / or to transmit them to third parties. This allows a daily analysis of the step numbers of the animal made to be carried out. Daily health analyses and health evaluations for the animal can likewise be carried out on the basis of the further information which can be detected by the detection unit.Furthermore, statistics can be made on weekly and monthly step numbers of the animal. This allows monitoring of an increase in the activity and a decrease in the activity of the animal.The neck strap or harness may comprise a rolling line having a handle housing and a cable extendable and retractable from the handle housing. A connecting element can be arranged on the neck strap or the harness for coupling the neck strap or the harness to the cable, which connecting element corresponds to a further connecting element arranged on a free end of the cable. The handle housing can have an operating element for automatically releasing the coupling between the connecting element on the neck strap or the harness and the further connecting element on the cable. An actuator can be integrated into the handle housing, which is designed to automatically move, in particular to fire, the further connecting element arranged on the cable drawn into the handle housing, when the operating element is actuated and the handle housing held in the direction of the connecting element, in the direction of the connecting element arranged on the neck strap or the harness, and to automatically couple these to one another when the connecting elements are in contact.Further embodiments of the apparatus for health monitoring an animal may include combinations of all or some of the features described above.The device enables a complete health harness to be provided for the animal, for example for the dog. The device can easily carry good tips for keeping specific breeds in view of the health and well-being of the animal.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.The following shows: FIG. 1 schematically shows an apparatus according to the invention for health monitoring of an animal.The single FIG. 1 shows a device V for health monitoring of an animal 1, which is shown in simplified form. the animal 1 is, for example, a dog and is referred to below as dog 1.The device V comprises a harness 2, for example a chest harness. The harness 2 can be connected to a rolling line, not shown in detail.Alternatively or additionally to the tableware 2, the device V can also have a neck strap.The harness 2 comprises an integrated detection unit 3.The detection unit 3 comprises a motion sensor 3.1. The motion sensor 3.1 is a step counter and is designed to count individual steps of the dog 1 in real time.Furthermore, the detection unit 3 comprises at least one heart rate sensor 3.2 which is designed to detect heart rates or heart beats of the dog 1 in real time.In a development, the detection unit 3 comprises at least one respiration rate sensor 3.3, which is designed to detect respiration rates, for example a number of breaths per unit time, of the dog 1 in real time.The detection unit 3 may also comprise a number of pulse oximetry sensors.In a development, the detection unit 3 comprises at least one positioning sensor 3.4, for example a so-called GPS tracker. The position sensor 3.4 is designed, for example, to record position information of the dog 1 in real time.The device V comprises an evaluation unit 4 which is designed to evaluate the information recorded by means of the recording unit 3 and to output it to a user of the device V, for example an animal holder.Furthermore, the detection unit 3 comprises at least one communication unit 3.5, which is designed to communicate uni-directionally or bi-directionally with the evaluation unit 4 via at least one communication interface. The evaluation unit 4 can be, for example, a mobile terminal 5 or can be part of a mobile terminal 5, for example in the form of an application program, also referred to as an app for short. The mobile terminal 5 can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet or a personal computer. The evaluation unit 4 can be installed as an app or application program or application software on the mobile terminal 5.A detected number of steps of the dog 1 can be transmitted from the detection unit 3 to the evaluation unit 4 for evaluation via the communication unit 3.5 at a predeterminable, predetermined or desired point in time.A detected heart rate information item of dog 1 can be transmitted from detection unit 3 to evaluation unit 4 for evaluation via communication unit 3.5 at a predefinable, predefined or desired time.A detected item of breathing frequency information of dog 1 can be transmitted from detection unit 3 to evaluation unit 4 for evaluation purposes at a predefinable, predefined or desired point in time.Via the communication unit 3.5, recorded location information of the dog 1 can be transmitted from the recording unit 3 to the evaluation unit 4 at a predefinable, predefined or desired point in time.The evaluation unit 4 comprises a user interface 4.1, for example a user interface, also called a GUI (for short for: Graphic User Interface). A user of the evaluation unit 4 can intuitively input, transmit and display data via the user interface 4.1.The evaluation unit 4 comprises a memory 4.2 in which a number of data sets relating to the dog 1 can be stored or are stored. A race of dog 1 and / or an age of dog 1 and / or a weight of dog 1 can be stored as a data record.The evaluation unit 4 can communicate with an external database 6 via a communication unit 4.3, for example in order to upload or download data.The evaluation unit 4 is designed to determine a target step number of the dog 1 on the basis of the stored data sets and to compare the target step number with an actual step number which is detected by the detection unit 3.Furthermore, the evaluation unit 4 is designed to determine a physiological setpoint state of the dog 1 with respect to a suitable heart and / or breathing rate on the basis of the stored data sets and to compare the physiological setpoint state with an actual physiological state detected by the detection unit 3.The evaluation unit 4 is configured to carry out a health analysis on the basis of the respective comparison of the setpoint values with the actual values and to output a health evaluation and / or a posture recommendation for guiding the dog 1.If the setpoint step number and / or the physiological setpoint state is undershot, an animal owner can be requested to carry out a further walking maneuver and / or a further playing unit using dog 1. If the desired step number and / or the physiological desired state are exceeded, an animal owner can be requested to initiate a resting phase for the dog 1 for a specific period of time.The evaluation unit 4 is designed to carry out and store daily, weekly and / or monthly health analyses and / or to transmit them to third parties, for example to veterinarians. This allows the user, for example the dog holder, to regularly monitor and monitor well-being and health of the dog 1.In a development, the evaluation unit 4 is designed to divide location information detected by the detection unit 3 in a network 7 and / or to compare it with location information of third parties located in the network 7. Users of the device V and in particular of the evaluation unit 4 present as an app can use a search function for further users, known and / or friends, for example gassi partners. Via the search function, animal holders can be found in a simple manner and together plan a walking maneuver and / or a departure. Animal holders can also find themselves spontaneously via the search function and join them together.LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS1 Animal, in particular dog 2 harness 3 detection unit 3.1 movement sensor 3.2 heart rate sensor 3.3 breathing rate sensor 3.4 locating sensor 3.5 communication unit 4 evaluation unit 4.1 user interface 4.2 memory 4.3 communication unit 5 terminal 6 database 7 network V device

Claims

Device (V) for health monitoring of an animal (1), wherein the device (V) comprises at least one neck strap or harness (2) with at least one detection unit (3) and an evaluation unit (4) communicating with the detection unit (3), characterized in that - the detection unit (3) comprises at least one motion sensor (3.1) and a communication unit (3.5), - wherein the motion sensor (3.1) is configured to count individual steps of the animal (1) and to transmit detected step number information via the communication unit (3.5) to the evaluation unit (4) for evaluating the detected step number information, - wherein the evaluation unit (4) is configured to determine a target step number of the animal (1) on the basis of stored data sets and to compare an actual step number detected by means of the detection unit (3) with the target step number, wherein the evaluation unit (4) indicates how many steps the animal has already taken and how many steps the animal (1) still has to run in order to meet the target step number for maintaining the health and well being of the animal.Device (V) according to claim 1, characterised in that the motion sensor (3.1) is a step counter.Device (V) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the evaluation unit (4) has at least one memory (4.2), in which a number of data sets relating to the animal (1) can be stored or is stored.Device (V) according to claim 3, characterised in that at least - a race of the animal (1) and / or - an age of the animal (1) and / or - a weight of the animal (1) can be stored or is stored as a data record.Device (V) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection unit (3) comprises at least - a heart rate sensor (3.2) and / or - a breathing rate sensor (3.3) and / or - a locating sensor (3.4).Device (V) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit (4) is designed to determine a physiological setpoint state of the animal (1) on the basis of the stored data sets and to compare the setpoint state with heart rate information and / or breathing rate information recorded by the recording unit (3).Device (V) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit (4) is designed to carry out a health analysis on the basis of the comparison and to output a health evaluation and / or a posture recommendation for guiding the animal (1).Device (V) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit (4) is designed to divide location information detected by the detection unit (3) in a network (7) and / or to compare it with location information from third parties located in the network (7).Device (V) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit (4) is designed to carry out and store daily, weekly and / or monthly health analyses and / or to transmit them to third parties.

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