Device for recording physiological parameters of an animal

Abstract

Device (1) for recording physiological parameters of an animal, in particular a dog or a cat, comprising at least a body (2) for receiving food, at least one sensor device (10) provided in or on the body (2) for recording measured values ​​during the use of the body (2) by the animal, a power supply device (6) for supplying the sensor device (10) with electrical energy, and a control and evaluation unit (SR) connected to the sensor device (10), wherein the control and evaluation unit (SR) is provided and configured to process the measured values ​​recorded by the at least one sensor device (10) and to determine and / or store at least one physiological and / or behavioral parameter from them.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for recording physiological parameters of an animal, in particular a dog or a cat.

[0002] In domestic animals, there is a practical need to record physiological states and their changes over extended periods in order to detect abnormalities early or to document the development of parameters. Current technologies for this purpose include, on the one hand, animal-worn sensors, such as collar or harness components, and on the other hand, point-by-point measurements.

[0003] However, such solutions can be disadvantageous in terms of wearing comfort, animal acceptance, measurement stability and accuracy in everyday use, and the repeatability of measurement conditions. Furthermore, measurements taken outside defined usage situations can be influenced by artifacts, such as movement, changes in position, or insufficient contact.

[0004] Based on this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for recording physiological parameters of an animal, in particular a dog or a cat, which avoids these disadvantages and enables simple, effective and reliable recording of physiological parameters of the animal with high measurement accuracy.

[0005] This problem is solved by a device for recording physiological parameters of an animal, in particular a dog or a cat, according to the features of independent claim 1. The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0006] According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a device for recording physiological parameters of an animal, in particular a dog or a cat. The device comprises at least one body for receiving food, at least one sensor device provided in or on the body for recording measured values ​​during the animal's use of the body, a power supply device for supplying the sensor device with electrical energy, and a control and evaluation unit connected to the sensor device. According to the invention, the control and evaluation unit is designed and configured to process the measured values ​​recorded by the at least one sensor device and to determine and / or store at least one physiological and / or behavioral parameter from them.The basic technical concept is to design the device in such a way that the measurement acquisition is coupled with an interaction typical of the animal at the feeding station, thereby obtaining measurements under practical conditions with recurring occurrences. This results in the following technical effects and advantages in particular: The measurements are acquired while the animal is eating or licking. This facilitates recurring measurement acquisition at times when the animal regularly interacts with the device, thus enabling a data basis that extends beyond individual measurement points. Furthermore, the measurement acquisition takes place without physical intervention or distractions to the animal. This reduces stress on the animal and the handling effort of the device, and facilitates everyday use. Moreover, the device according to the invention does not require any additional equipment to be worn by the animal.This reduces typical sources of error in animal-borne solutions, such as slippage, misplacement, or acceptance issues, while simultaneously reducing the operating effort for the animal owner. Since eating and licking processes occur repeatedly throughout the day, a regularly available measurement window with comparable data is utilized. This supports recurring or continuous data acquisition without the need for a separate measurement system. By coupling the sensor device with the control and evaluation unit, the recorded measurements can be processed directly and used for determining and / or storing parameters. This facilitates structured analysis across multiple usage sessions.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment, the body can be designed as a mat, toy, or plate and include a food and / or water bowl that is detachably or permanently connected to the body. It can also be provided that the food and / or water bowl interacts with the at least one sensor device. Furthermore, the food and / or water bowl can be designed to be inserted into a corresponding receptacle in the body, so that it can be detachably connected to the body. Alternatively, the food and / or water bowl can be designed as an integral part of the body, i.e., permanently connected to it. A form-fit and / or contact-locking insertion of the food and / or water bowl into this receptacle in the body enables a defined relative position between the food and / or water bowl and the sensor device of the apparatus.Depending on the design, the electrical coupling of the sensor device with the control and evaluation unit and the power supply unit can be achieved via fixed conductors / wires in a single-piece design or via plug-in or contact points in a bowl insert. This allows for reliable measurement data to be acquired and transmitted to the control and evaluation unit during eating or drinking. This design variant offers two key technical advantages. First, the defined placement of the food and / or water bowl on the animal's body creates a reproducible usage scenario, as the animal is typically positioned in a similar spatial relationship to its body while eating or drinking. This facilitates the comparability of repeatedly acquired measurements and reduces artifact-related variations that could result from changing positions or the movement of the food and / or water bowl.Secondly, the removable or fixed integration of the bowl enables functional modularity while maintaining the same sensor platform: The food and / or water bowl can be designed as an interchangeable or easy-to-clean element, while the sensor and evaluation unit remain in the rest of the device and can continue to be used unchanged. This simplifies everyday handling, especially cleaning and replacement, without compromising the measurement architecture.

[0008] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the body can be designed, at least in part, as a floor mat, wherein a licking area designed as a licking mat is provided in the section of the body designed as a floor mat. This licking area can be brought into contact with the tongue and / or the oral cavity of the animal during the intended use of the device, and the at least one sensor device is provided at least in the licking area of ​​the body. Advantageously, the section designed as a floor mat is designed as a flat licking mat into which the licking area is integrated as a defined contact zone, for example, by a surface, depression, or structure that is demarcated from the surroundings and promotes licking at a spatially predetermined location.The sensor device can be positioned in or directly beneath the surface of the licking area, which is designed as a licking mat. This allows measurements to be taken during licking, utilizing the direct contact of the tongue or oral cavity with the contact zone, and then transmitted to the control and evaluation unit. The design as a floor mat offers the advantage of providing a stable, large-area base at the feeding station, thus securing the device against displacement and creating a defined usage pattern. Furthermore, integrating the licking area into the floor mat section enables targeted spatial guidance of the animal's interaction with the sensors: The licking area represents a predetermined contact zone in which the sensor device is positioned, allowing measurements to be taken in a recurring, geometrically defined contact configuration.This improves the reproducibility of measurement data across multiple usage processes and reduces the dependence on random contact points or changing positions of the animal during use.

[0009] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the body can be designed, at least in part, as a floor mat, wherein a standing area for the animal is provided in the section of the body designed as a floor mat. This standing area can be brought into contact with the animal's feet or paws during the intended use of the device, and the at least one sensor device is provided at least in this standing area of ​​the body. Advantageously, the section designed as a floor mat is designed as a flat, non-slip surface that defines a standing zone, for example, by its dimensions, surface structure, markings, and / or geometric boundaries.The sensor device can be integrated across the entire surface or in zones within the standing area, for example, in or beneath a top layer of the mat material. This allows for reliable measurement data to be captured and transmitted to the control and evaluation unit when the animal places its paws within the standing area. Repeatable contact via the animal's paws is advantageous because the standing area serves as a defined contact zone, and the animal typically maintains a comparable standing position during normal use. This enables measurements to be recorded across multiple uses under similar contact conditions, increasing data comparability and reducing artifact-related variations, such as those caused by changing contact points.Furthermore, positioning the sensor device in the standing area allows for decoupled, user-oriented data acquisition, where measurements are obtained independently of attachment to the animal and without additional wearables. This improves everyday usability and can simultaneously increase measurement reliability, as contact with the standing area occurs regularly and without additional effort for the animal owner during use at the feeding station.

[0010] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one sensor device can be arranged zonally or over a surface, distributed within or on the body, particularly in the leakage area and / or standing area. The multiple sensor devices can be distributed as sensor zones across the respective area or form a single, surface-based sensor element, for example, as a sensor film, sensor layer, or sensor matrix, and be integrated into a layered structure of the body. The sensor zones can be positioned such that they detect the typical contact points during leakage or standing with a high degree of probability. The control and evaluation unit can acquire and process the measured values ​​of individual zones separately or combine several zones into a single overall signal to improve data quality.The robustness against variations in the animal's contact and position is advantageously increased because measurements can be taken not just at a single point, but across multiple zones or an area. This ensures reliable data acquisition even if the animal slightly changes its position while licking or standing, or doesn't always use the same contact point. Consequently, the zonal or area distribution also allows for quality-enhancing analysis through comparison and plausibility checks of measurements between individual zones. This enables, for example, the detection of outliers, artifact reduction, or the selection of the sensor zone that provides the best contact in a given usage situation. This promotes reproducible and meaningful data acquisition in practical operation.

[0011] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one sensor device located in the standing area can be designed to detect a weight-related parameter. For this purpose, the sensor device can, in particular, comprise or be designed as a piezoresistive thin-film sensor, a pressure sensor, especially an FSR sensor, and / or a capacitive mat sensor. The sensor device can be integrated into the standing area in such a way that, when the device is used as intended, load-dependent measurements are recorded by the animal standing on the floor mat. The control and evaluation unit can be designed and configured to determine, record, store, and / or analyze body weight, weight distribution, weight trend, and / or weight change over time from these measurements.

[0012] According to a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that at least one control and evaluation unit is designed and configured to select and / or determine one of the following physiological and / or behavioral parameters from the recorded measured values: (a) a blood flow-related parameter, (b) a pulse-related parameter and / or temporal variability, (c) microcirculatory and / or perfusion-related trends, (d) an oxygenation-related parameter, in particular oxygen saturation, (e) a temperature-related parameter of a tongue, oral surface or contact zone, (f) an optical parameter of the tongue or mouth surface and / or (g) a weight-related parameter, in particular body weight and / or weight change over time.

[0013] Within the scope of the present invention, "select" can be understood to mean that the control and evaluation unit determines, from a plurality of fundamentally available parameter types or evaluation routines, those parameters or parameter types for which the evaluation is performed in the specific operating state. The selection can be made, in particular, depending on a configuration, an operating mode, the type and availability of the sensor device, the current usage situation, the data quality, and / or predefined criteria. "Select" also includes activating or deactivating individual evaluation paths as well as deciding whether a parameter is to be output directly, stored, or used only internally for the plausibility check of other parameters.The term "determine" can be understood to mean that the control and evaluation unit derives at least one parameter value for a parameter from the acquired measured values ​​through signal processing and / or computational processing. Determination can include, in particular, filtering, normalization, aggregation, feature extraction, the calculation of characteristic values, and the derivation of a current value and / or a trend over time. "Determine" further includes providing the parameter as an absolute value, a relative value, a trend, a classification, or a status indicator, insofar as this is supported by the acquired measured values.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one sensor device may include, or be designed as, an optical sensor for detecting pulse- and / or blood flow-related parameters. For example, an optical measuring zone may be provided in or on the body, particularly in a licking area and / or a standing area, in which optical measurements can be detected at a contact surface that comes into contact with the animal's tissue. The optical sensor may include at least one optical receiver that detects light scattered back from the contact surface or passing through the tissue. Advantageously, a light source may also be provided to establish defined illumination conditions.The control and evaluation unit is designed to extract from temporal changes in the recorded optical measurements those signal components that correlate with periodic or quasi-periodic changes in blood volume or blood flow, and to derive pulse- and / or blood flow-related parameters from these. Advantageously, the sensor device, designed as an optical sensor, enables non-invasive, close-contact acquisition of pulse- and / or blood flow-related parameters during intended use of the device, without the need for additional devices attached to the animal. This simplifies everyday handling and simultaneously supports the acquisition of measurements in recurring usage situations.Optical analysis also allows for high temporal resolution and sensitivity to dynamic changes, as pulse-induced modulations of the optical signal are typically clearly structured over time. This facilitates the robust determination of pulse-related parameters and can further support the plausibility check and quality assurance of the measured values, for example, by detecting artifacts or selecting measurement segments with sufficient signal quality.

[0015] The control and evaluation unit can also be configured to derive an oxygenation-related parameter, in particular an oxygen saturation, from the optical measured values, especially on the basis of multi-wave optical detection and / or a ratio of measurement signals of different wavelengths.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the optical sensor of at least one sensor device can be designed to perform photoplethysmography, also known as PPG, in particular to detect temporal changes of an optical signal modulated by changes in blood volume.

[0017] In particular, an optical measurement zone can be provided for this purpose, in which a light source shines light into a contact zone that is in optical contact with the animal's tissue during intended use, and an optical detector detects the light reflected and / or transmitted by this tissue. The control and evaluation unit is configured to process the acquired optical measurements as a time-dependent signal and to derive pulse- and / or blood flow-related parameters from the periodic or quasi-periodic signal components, which are attributable to changes in blood volume or perfusion. The evaluation can include, in particular, filtering, normalization, artifact reduction, and the determination of characteristic parameters of the PPG signal. An advantage of this design variant is that the PPG enables non-invasive and integrated detection of dynamic circulatory or blood flow parameters within the usage situation.Perfusion information is obtained without the need to attach a wearable device to the animal. A further technical advantage is that photoplethysmographic recording, due to the temporal structure of the signal, allows for an evaluation-friendly and signal-quality-oriented determination of pulse-related parameters. In particular, measurement segments with sufficient signal quality can be selected, and motion or contact artifacts can be reduced through appropriate signal processing, thus improving the robustness of parameter determination in everyday practice.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the optical sensor of the at least one sensor device may comprise at least one light source, in particular an LED, and at least one optical detector, wherein the optical detector detects light that is reflected and / or transmitted after interaction with the animal's tissue. It may be provided that the light source and the optical detector are spatially arranged in a common optical measuring zone such that the light emitted by the light source is coupled into a contact zone which, during the intended use of the device, is in optical measuring contact with the animal's tissue—for example, in the area of ​​the tongue or a mouth surface, or another contact zone.The optical detector can be positioned and oriented to measure either the light backscattered from the tissue surface (reflectivity measurement) or the light passing through the tissue (transmission measurement). The control and evaluation unit is designed and configured to extract from the detected time-dependent signal those signal components that are attributable to changes in blood volume and thus to perfusion- or pulse-related processes, and to derive corresponding parameters from these. The combination of light source and detector creates defined and reproducible illumination and detection conditions, which typically improves the measurement quality compared to purely passive optical acquisition.

[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control and evaluation unit can be designed and configured to determine at least one pulse-related parameter, in particular a heart rate and / or pulse variability, from the optical signal. The control and evaluation unit can process a time-dependent optical measurement signal that exhibits a characteristic modulation due to periodic changes in blood volume within the animal's tissue. For this purpose, the control and evaluation unit can, in particular, perform signal preprocessing, such as bandpass filtering, smoothing, and / or normalization, to reduce interfering influences such as ambient light components, drift, or transient artifacts. Subsequently, pulse-related characteristics can be determined by detecting periodic signal components or signal maxima / minima, or by frequency-based evaluation (e.g., spectral analysis).The heart rate can be determined from the detected periodicities as a time-averaged value or as an instantaneous value; pulse variability can be derived from the variation of successive pulse intervals, whereby the pulse variability can be provided and / or stored as a characteristic value over defined time windows. The evaluation of the optical signal allows the determination of dynamic circulatory parameters during the intended use of the device, without the need for additional devices attached to the animal. Furthermore, the algorithmic determination of heart rate and / or pulse variability enables standardized and automatable parameter derivation from recurring measurement data, making measured values ​​comparable across multiple usage sessions and allowing them to be used, for example, for trend analysis in the control and evaluation unit or in an external evaluation unit.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one sensor device may include or be designed as a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be arranged in or on the body, particularly in a leakage area and / or a standing area, such that the temperature sensor is in thermal contact or at least sufficiently thermally coupled with a contact zone during intended use. In the case of an arrangement in the leakage area, the temperature sensor may, for example, be positioned near the surface so that a temperature change caused by contact with the tongue or a mouth surface is detected. In the case of an arrangement in the standing area, the temperature sensor may be integrated into a zone where the animal's paws typically rest, in order to obtain temperature-related measurements during the standing phase.The control and evaluation unit is designed to read out the recorded temperature measurements, to verify their plausibility, to filter them if necessary, and to provide and / or store them as temperature-related parameters, in particular as tongue temperature and / or temperature of a mouth surface or contact zone.

[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the optical sensor of at least one sensor device can be designed to detect optical measurements of the tongue or mouth surface, in particular to determine tongue color. The optical sensor can be arranged and oriented such that it detects the tongue or mouth surface within the relevant field of vision during intended use. For this purpose, the optical sensor can, for example, comprise an imaging sensor or a color sensor that detects intensity and / or color channels, whereby optical shielding and / or a defined geometry of the leakage area can be used to promote reproducible detection conditions.The control and evaluation unit is designed and configured to derive color characteristics from optical measurements, normalize or classify these characteristics as needed, and determine and / or store tongue color as a parameter. Optical measurement of the tongue or mouth surface enables contactless or usage-based data acquisition in a natural interaction situation, without requiring any additional components worn by the animal. Furthermore, determining tongue color provides an additional, independent measurement dimension that can be stored as a separate parameter in the control and evaluation unit and / or used to validate other measurements, for example, by relating optical measurements to simultaneously acquired contact or physiological measurements to detect artifacts or assess data quality.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one sensor device can be designed and configured as a contact sensor device for recording blood flow, pulse, and / or temperature-related parameters, as well as for detecting the presence of the animal. The standing area of ​​the floor mat is at least partially designed as an electrically conductive surface for contact via the paws, and / or the licking area of ​​the floor mat is at least partially designed as an electrically conductive contact surface for contact with the tongue. The contact sensor device, incorporating the control and evaluation unit, is designed to perform a bioelectrical impedance measurement. In particular, the impedance measurement can be performed via a measuring path: standing surface – animal – contact surface.Advantageously, the body can be designed, at least in sections, as a floor mat with a standing area that can be brought into contact with the animal's paws during intended use, and a licking area that can be brought into contact with the animal's tongue or mouth. The standing area can be designed, at least in sections, as an electrically conductive surface, allowing for defined electrical contact via paw contact. Additionally or alternatively, the licking area can be designed, at least in sections, as an electrically conductive contact surface, enabling electrical contact via the tongue. The contact sensor device can comprise one or more electrically conductive electrode surfaces integrated into or on the floor mat and connected to the control and evaluation unit via conductive traces.Presence detection can be derived from the occurrence of an electrical contact state or from characteristic changes in measured electrical parameters as soon as the animal enters the standing area or uses the licking area. Based on this, the contact sensor device, incorporating the control and evaluation unit, can be configured to perform a bioelectrical impedance measurement. Here, a measuring current or an alternating current signal is injected between at least two contact points, and a corresponding measurement signal is acquired to obtain electrical measurements from which an impedance can be determined. In particular, the impedance measurement can be performed via a measuring path: standing surface – animal – contact surface, so that the animal's body is part of the electrical measuring path. This enables measurement in a recurring usage situation at the feeding station without requiring any additional components to be attached to the animal.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control and evaluation unit is designed and configured to use an alternating current in the µA range for impedance measurement, and measures are taken to determine resistance (R), reactance (Xc), and / or total impedance (Z). The control and evaluation unit may inject an alternating current excitation signal with a defined amplitude in the microampere range into the measurement path via the conductive contact surfaces and simultaneously or with a time delay acquire a corresponding measurement that describes the voltage drop and / or current waveform and thus the complex impedance of the measurement path.From the relationship between the excitation and response signals, the control and evaluation unit can derive the impedance as a complex quantity and decompose it into a resistive component (resistance R) and a reactive component (reactance Xc). Alternatively or additionally, the total impedance Z can be determined as a magnitude and / or as a complex value. The use of an alternating current in the µA range enables measurement with low electrical load and supports a practical implementation of impedance measurement within the device, whereby the acquired measurements can be used by the control and evaluation unit for further processing, storage, and, in particular, trend analysis.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control and evaluation unit can be designed and configured to determine impedance-based body parameters as trends from the measured values ​​of the measured variables, in particular a hydration status as a trend and / or a change in body composition over time, and especially a total body water trend as a trend derived from conductivity changes. The control and evaluation unit can be configured to not only consider impedance measurements, especially values ​​for R, Xc, and / or Z, as individual values, but also to store them over multiple measurement points and evaluate them as a temporal sequence. For this purpose, the control and evaluation unit can, for example, relate the measured values ​​to one another, normalize them, and / or aggregate them over defined time windows in order to separate long-term changes from short-term fluctuations and to generate a trend-based indicator.In this way, a hydration status can be derived as a trend and / or a change in body composition over time, whereby trend determination is explicitly understood as a relative change or evaluation of a trend. Specifically, a total body water trend can be derived from conductivity changes by having the control and evaluation unit determine changes in conductivity or the resistive impedance component over time and provide a trend-based indicator. By limiting the analysis to trend determination, the evaluation can be made robust against interindividual differences, factors dependent on the measurement setup, and varying contact conditions, since absolute parameter values ​​are not necessarily required, but rather the temporal change within an individual animal is the primary focus.This allows for practical, everyday tracking of processes, which can be used in particular to observe changes between multiple uses at the feeding site.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control and evaluation unit can be designed and configured to perform multi-frequency impedance measurements and to determine trends in extracellular and intracellular changes. Advantageously, the control and evaluation unit can perform the impedance measurement not only at a single excitation frequency, but sequentially or cyclically at several different frequencies, recording measurements for impedance determination at each frequency. The frequency-dependent impedance values ​​obtained in this way can be appropriately correlated by the control and evaluation unit to utilize frequency-dependent signal components that, in bioimpedance analysis, can typically be assigned to different conductivity and storage components of the tissue.In practical implementation, the control and evaluation unit can, for example, derive frequency-dependent parameters, ratios, or curve parameters from the measured values ​​and store and evaluate them across multiple measurement points. Multi-frequency measurement improves trend determination regarding extracellular and intracellular changes compared to single-frequency measurement because the frequency-dependent evaluation provides additional information about the temporal changes in tissue properties. At the same time, the evaluation remains practical due to its explicit focus on trends and relative changes, as it does not necessarily assert absolute values ​​but rather emphasizes the development within an animal over time.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control and evaluation unit can be designed and configured to combine impedance measurement with optical acquisition of pulse- and / or blood flow-related parameters in the tongue area. In particular, it can be provided that, during intended use of the device, at least intermittently, both (i) impedance measurements via the measurement path between the base, the animal's body, and the contact surface, and (ii) optical measurements from an optical sensor located in the licking area, are acquired and transmitted to the control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit can synchronize the measurements or at least correlate them temporally by defining measurement windows in which both types of measurements are acquired in parallel or in rapid succession.This provides the control and evaluation unit with two physically different measurement sources, both derived from the same usage situation. A significant technical advantage of this combination of both measurement methods is the ability to detect measurement artifacts and / or validate measured values. For example, the control and evaluation unit can deduce from the optical signal whether stable tissue contact and sufficient signal quality exist within the relevant measurement window and use this information to evaluate the simultaneously acquired impedance measurements. Conversely, conspicuous changes in the impedance measurements, which may be due to contact interruptions, insufficient contact, or motion artifacts, can be identified, flagged, or given less weight in trend calculations based on the simultaneously available optical parameters.By combining both measurement methods, more robust measurement data acquisition can be supported in everyday operation, in particular by automatically detecting measurement sections with insufficient contact or signal quality and excluding them from further evaluation or correcting them accordingly.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the acquisition of measured values ​​by the control and evaluation unit can be carried out continuously or event-dependently. More specifically, the control and evaluation unit can operate the sensor device either in continuous measurement mode or activate measurement mode only when a defined trigger event occurs. In continuous operation, measured values ​​are acquired and processed continuously or at regular sampling intervals, resulting in a temporally dense database. In event-dependent operation, on the other hand, the control and evaluation unit can provide for a standby state and only then start or restart the acquisition process.The sampling rate increases when an event is detected that indicates intended use, such as contact in the licking or standing area, the presence of the animal in a standing area, licking movement, or a defined change in the sensor signal. Recording can be stopped after a predetermined usage period or if the event ceases, or switched to an energy-saving mode. This design variant reduces energy consumption through event-dependent recording, as the sensors and evaluation are only fully operational when a relevant usage situation actually exists. This is particularly advantageous for battery-powered or energy-autonomous versions.

[0028] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control and evaluation unit can be configured for signal processing of the measured values ​​from at least one sensor device and for data storage, wherein the data storage is particularly event-based, time-controlled, or usage-dependent. Advantageously, a processing chain can be implemented in the control and evaluation unit, which first processes incoming measured values, for example by filtering, normalization, plausibility checks, and / or feature extraction, and then stores selected data in a memory. The storage can be directed to raw measured values, to preprocessed measured values, and / or to parameter values ​​derived therefrom.Event-based storage can ensure that data is only saved when a defined event is detected, such as intended use, a contact state in the leak or standstill range, a start / stop signal, or a state change. Time-controlled storage can ensure that data is acquired and saved at predefined time intervals or defined points in time. Usage-dependent storage can be specifically linked to the duration, frequency, or intensity of use, for example, by saving only measurement windows of a certain minimum duration or measurement segments with sufficient signal quality. The combination of signal processing and selective storage offers the advantage of efficient use of storage resources because it is not necessary to permanently store all raw data; instead, storage can be focused on relevant measurement segments or parameter values.

[0029] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device may have a wireless communication interface for data transmission to an external evaluation unit, wherein the wireless communication interface includes, in particular, WLAN and / or Bluetooth.

[0030] The control and evaluation unit can be equipped with a radio module and a protocol implementation for wireless data transmission, particularly according to WLAN and / or Bluetooth, via which measured values ​​and / or derived parameter values ​​can be packetized and transmitted. The wireless communication interface can be integrated into the control and evaluation unit. Depending on the embodiment, transmission can be continuous, time-controlled, or event-driven, for example, after the completion of a measurement window or when certain status or quality criteria are met. The data can be transmitted in a format that allows for unambiguous assignment to measurement times and usage processes, for example, through timestamps, identification data, and / or quality indicators. The external evaluation unit can be designed as a mobile app and / or as a cloud-based platform.In a mobile app, the transmitted data can be used primarily for display and local storage. Furthermore, a time-series analysis can be provided, comparing measured values ​​or parameters across multiple usage sessions. A cloud-based platform can additionally or alternatively enable server-side storage, aggregated analysis, and cross-device data storage. This allows the external evaluation unit to be used, in particular, to detect changes over time, for example, by comparing current values ​​with historical reference values ​​or by evaluating trend indicators. The external evaluation unit can also be used to configure device controls, such as setting measurement modes, measurement intervals, event triggers, storage rules, or optional output functions.This allows the device to be flexibly adapted to different use cases and usage patterns without requiring any changes to the hardware.

[0031] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one controllable light source can be arranged in or on the body. This light source is designed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation into the animal's oral cavity for germ and / or bacteria reduction, particularly during intended use in the licking area. The light source can be positioned and oriented such that, upon contact of the tongue or oral cavity with the licking area, the emitted radiation couples into the oral cavity or is directed onto the surface of the mouth or tongue. In one embodiment, the radiation emission can be provided to support hygiene-related effects, particularly in connection with germ and / or bacteria reduction.The device can be designed to enable reproducible emission of electromagnetic radiation in defined operating states without requiring additional handling steps by the animal keeper.

[0032] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one light source can emit light in the blue, red, and / or violet spectral range and can be configured, in particular, as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or electroluminescent (EL) films. According to a further advantageous embodiment, several light sources can be provided, wherein the light sources emit light in the blue, red, and / or violet spectral range and can be configured, in particular, as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or electroluminescent (EL) films. In more detail, the light sources can be configured to emit light in the blue spectral range with wavelengths of approximately 400 nm to 470 nm and in the red spectral range with wavelengths of approximately 630 nm to 700 nm.If a particular embodiment has only one light source, this light source is preferably designed to generate red light. Advantageously, the device always has at least one red light source. In embodiments with multiple light sources, the device may include at least one red light source and at least one other blue light source, so that a combination of both wavelengths can be generated. Thus, the device always has at least one red light source. This allows for the simultaneous emission of light in the red and blue spectral ranges. It may also be provided that at least one of the light sources is designed to simultaneously generate both wavelengths, i.e., blue and red light.In particular, this light source can be configured as a bicolor LED or multilayer OLED, so that light in the blue and red ranges can be generated simultaneously using such a light source. Alternatively or cumulatively, it can also be advantageously provided that at least one of the light sources is configured as a switchable light source that emits electromagnetic radiation in at least two different wavelength ranges depending on control by the control device. A light source that can generate different wavelengths can be understood, in particular, as a light source that emits electromagnetic radiation in at least two different wavelength ranges depending on an electrical control signal.The light source can therefore be designed to switch between different wavelength ranges or, alternatively, to generate them simultaneously. Technically, such a light source can be designed, for example, as a multicolor LED, in which several light-emitting structures are integrated into a single component. The individual light-emitting structures are each designed to emit light in a defined wavelength range and can be controlled independently or together, thus enabling color switching or the superposition of multiple wavelengths.

[0033] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one light source can interact with the control and evaluation unit to control the light source based on control signals from the control and evaluation unit. In particular, the light emission can be controlled with respect to brightness, intensity, timing, pulse frequency, duration, and / or zonal activation. Additionally or alternatively, the control can be event-driven, for example, based on detected activity in the leakage zone, and / or based on measured values ​​from the at least one sensor device, such as for temporally coupling the radiation output to defined measurement windows or for adapting the light emission to operating or environmental conditions.This enables controlled and reproducible operation of the light source, in which the radiation emission is specifically targeted in predetermined time periods and under predetermined control parameters.

[0034] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a set comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims and an external device, in particular a mobile terminal in the form of a smartphone, wherein the device has a wireless communication interface for data transmission to the external device, and wherein application software, in particular an app, is installed on the external device, which is designed and configured to display and / or evaluate measured values ​​transmitted by the device and / or physiological and / or behavioral parameters determined from the measured values. Advantageously, the app may be designed and configured to store the measured values ​​transmitted by the device and / or the determined parameters locally.Furthermore, it may be advantageous for the app to be designed and configured to assign the measured values ​​and / or specific parameters transmitted by the device to a specific time period and to display them as a trend. It may also be advantageous for the app to be designed and configured to compare currently transmitted measured values ​​and / or specific parameters with historical measured values ​​and / or parameters. The app may also be designed and configured to determine and / or output trend indicators from the transmitted measured values ​​and / or specific parameters. In addition, the external device may be a smartphone or tablet.

[0035] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1. An advantageous embodiment of a device for recording physiological parameters of an animal is shown only in a sketchy and roughly schematic manner. Fig. 2 A sketchy and roughly schematic top view of one embodiment of the device.

[0036] For identical or similarly functioning elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used in the figures, where appropriate. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals necessary for describing the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The invention is also presented in the figures only as a schematic view to illustrate its operation. In particular, the representations in the figures serve only to explain the fundamental principle of the invention.

[0037] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a device 1 for recording physiological parameters of an animal, in particular a dog or a cat. The device 1 comprises a body 2 for receiving food. In more detail, the body 2 can have a top surface OS and a bottom surface US opposite the top surface OS. The bottom surface US of the body 2 forms a base by means of which the body 2 of the device 1 stands on a ground surface.

[0038] The body 2 is designed in the figures as a floor mat 5 with a licking area LB and a standing area SB. Furthermore, the device 1 includes a food and / or water bowl 20 that is detachably or permanently connected to the body 2. The food and / or water bowl 20 can interact with one or more sensor devices 10 provided in or on the body 2.

[0039] In the figures shown, the body 2 is designed in greater detail as a floor mat 5. Within the body 2, designed as a floor mat 5, a licking area LB is provided, which can be brought into contact with the animal's tongue and / or mouth during the intended use of the device 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the body has several sensor devices 10 within the licking area LB. Furthermore, the body 2, designed as a floor mat 5, also includes a standing area SB for the animal, which can be brought into contact with the animal's paws during the intended use of the device 1. This standing area SB of the body also has several sensor devices 10 in the exemplary embodiment. The sensor devices 10 are distributed across the entire surface of the body 2, specifically in both the licking area LB and the standing area SB.The sensor devices 10 provided in the standing area SB can furthermore be designed to detect a weight-related parameter and may for this purpose include in particular a piezoresistive thin-film, pressure sensors, in particular FSR sensors, and / or capacitive mat sensors.

[0040] As from Fig.As can be seen in Figure 2, the body 2 has a surface OF on its upper surface OS, which is translucent in areas 8. A sensor device 10 or a light source 4 can be accommodated within the body 2 below the respective translucent area 8, allowing the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light source 4 or the measurement signal sent by the sensor device 10 to pass through the corresponding translucent area 8 of the surface OF for the purpose of acquiring measured values. Alternatively, it is also possible for the entire surface OF on the upper surface OS of the body 2, including in particular the standing area SB and the leakage area LB, to be translucent. In this case, the surface OF on the upper surface OS of the body 2 is configured as a translucent area 8.

[0041] The device 1 also includes a power supply unit 6 in the form of a mains connection 7 for supplying electrical energy to the sensor devices 10, as well as a control and evaluation unit SR connected to the sensor devices 10, which has a display unit with an input device 9. The control and evaluation unit SR is designed and configured to process the measured values ​​acquired by the sensor devices 10 and to determine and / or store at least one physiological and / or behavioral parameter from them.The control and evaluation unit SR is designed and configured in more detail to select and / or determine one of the following physiological and / or behavioral parameters from the recorded measured values, namely a blood flow-related parameter, a pulse-related parameter and / or temporal variability, microcirculatory and / or perfusion-related trends, a temperature-related parameter of a tongue, mouth surface or contact zone and / or an optical parameter of the tongue or mouth surface.

[0042] However, the embodiments of the device 1 shown in the figures each comprise several sensor devices 10 and at least one controllable light source 4, which is provided in the body 2. The light source 4 is designed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation into the animal's oral cavity for germ and / or bacteria reduction. The light source 4 emits light in the blue, red, and / or violet spectral range and is designed as a light-emitting diode, OLED, or electroluminescent film.In addition, the light source 4 is also supplied with electrical energy by the power supply unit 6 and works together with the control and evaluation unit SR to control the light source 4 depending on control signals from the control and evaluation unit SR, whereby the light emission can be controlled with regard to brightness, intensity, timing, pulse frequency, duration and / or zonal activation as well as depending on events and / or depending on measured values ​​of the sensor device 10.

[0043] As can be seen from the figures, the device comprises sensor units 10, which are configured as optical sensors 12 for detecting pulse and / or blood flow-related parameters. The optical sensors 12 are configured for performing photoplethysmography, in particular for detecting temporal changes in an optical signal modulated by changes in blood volume. The optical sensors 12 comprise at least one light source, in particular an LED, and at least one optical detector, wherein the optical detector detects light that is reflected and / or transmitted after interaction with the animal's tissue. The control and evaluation unit SR is designed and configured to determine at least one pulse-related parameter, in particular a heart rate and / or pulse variability, from the optical signal.In more detail, the control and evaluation unit SR is designed and configured to determine at least one blood flow-related parameter, one pulse-related parameter and / or temporal variability, microcirculatory and / or perfusion-related trends, one oxygenation-related parameter, in particular oxygen saturation, one temperature-related parameter, in particular tongue temperature, of a tongue, mouth surface or contact zone, one optical parameter of the tongue or mouth surface and / or one weight-related parameter, in particular body weight and / or weight change over time, from the optical signal. The optical sensor 12 is further designed to acquire optical measurements of the tongue or mouth surface, in particular to determine tongue color.

[0044] As can also be seen from the figures, the device 1 also includes sensor devices 10, which are configured as temperature sensors 14. Furthermore, the device 1 includes sensor devices 10, which are configured and set up as contact sensor devices 16 for detecting blood flow, pulse, and / or temperature-related parameters, as well as for detecting the presence of the animal. In addition, the sensor devices 10 provided in the standing area SB can be configured to detect load-dependent measured values, from which the control and evaluation unit SR can determine, record, store, and analyze body weight, weight changes over time, and / or weight distribution. In particular, the contact sensor devices 16 are provided in the standing area SB and in the licking area LB of the floor mat 5.The standing area SB and the licking area LB of the floor mat 5 are each designed, at least in sections, as electrically conductive standing surfaces for contact via the paws or tongue. The contact sensor devices 16, incorporating the control and evaluation unit SR, are designed to perform bioelectrical impedance measurements, with the impedance measurement taking place via a measuring path: standing surface - animal - contact surface. The control and evaluation unit SR is designed and configured to use an alternating current in the µA range for impedance measurement and to acquire measured values ​​for determining resistance, reactance, and / or total impedance.The SR control and evaluation unit is further designed and configured to determine impedance-based body parameters as trends from the measured values ​​of the measured variables, in particular a hydration status as a trend and / or a change in body composition over time, whereby a total body water trend can be derived as a trend from conductivity changes. The SR control and evaluation unit is also designed and configured to perform a multi-frequency impedance measurement and to determine extracellular and intracellular changes as trends from this measurement. Furthermore, the SR control and evaluation unit is designed and configured to combine the impedance measurement with the optical acquisition of pulse- and / or blood flow-related parameters in the area of ​​the tongue.

[0045] The acquisition of measured values ​​by the control and evaluation unit SR is carried out continuously or event-dependently. The control and evaluation unit SR is designed for signal processing of the measured values ​​from the sensor device 10 and for data storage, whereby data storage is event-based, time-controlled, or usage-dependent.

[0046] Furthermore, the device 1 has a wireless communication interface 18 for data transmission to an external evaluation unit, wherein the wireless communication interface 18 comprises WLAN and / or Bluetooth. The wireless communication interface 18 can be integrated into the control and evaluation unit SR.

[0047] The device 1 can be configured as a set together with an external device 40, wherein the external device 40 is, in particular, a mobile device in the form of a smartphone or tablet. Application software, in particular an app, can be installed on the external device 40, which receives, displays, stores, and / or evaluates the measured values ​​transmitted by the device 1 via the communication interface 18 and / or the physiological and / or behavioral parameters determined from the measured values. In particular, the app can assign the transmitted measured values ​​and / or parameters to a time period, display them as a trend, compare them with historical data, and / or output trend indicators.

[0048] The invention has been described above using an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that numerous modifications or adaptations are possible without departing from the underlying inventive concept. Reference symbol list 1 Device 2 bodies 4 light sources 5 floor mat 6 Energy supply unit 7 Network connection 8 translucent area 9 Display setup 10 Sensor setup 12 optical sensors 14 Temperature sensor 16 Contact sensor device 18 Communication interface 20 food and / or water bowls 40 devices SR Control and Evaluation Unit OF surface OS top US subpage LB Leakage Area SB Stand area

Claims

Device (1) for recording physiological parameters of an animal, in particular a dog or a cat, comprising at least a body (2) for receiving food, at least one sensor device (10) provided in or on the body (2) for recording measured values ​​during the use of the body (2) by the animal, a power supply device (6) for supplying the sensor device (10) with electrical energy, and a control and evaluation unit (SR) connected to the sensor device (10), wherein the control and evaluation unit (SR) is provided and configured to process the measured values ​​recorded by the at least one sensor device (10) and to determine and / or store at least one physiological and / or behavioral parameter from them. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (2) is designed as a floor mat (5), toy, or plate, and wherein the device (1) comprises a food and / or water bowl (20) that is detachably or permanently connected to the body (2). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body (2) is designed at least partially as a floor mat (5), wherein in the section of the body (5) designed as a floor mat (5) a licking area (LB) designed as a licking mat is provided which can be brought into contact with the tongue and / or the mouth of the animal during the intended use of the device (1), wherein the at least one sensor device (10) is provided at least in the licking area (LB) of the body (2). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (2) is designed at least partially as a floor mat (5), wherein a standing area (SB) for the animal is provided in the section of the body (2) designed as a floor mat (5), which can be brought into contact with the animal's paws during the intended use of the device (1), wherein the at least one sensor device (10) is provided at least in the standing area (SB) of the body (2). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one sensor device (10) is arranged zonally or planarly distributed in or on the body (2), in particular in the leakage area (LB) and / or standing area (SB) of the body (2). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one control and evaluation unit (CU) is provided and configured to select and / or determine one of the following physiological and / or behavioral parameters from the recorded measured values: (a) a blood flow-related parameter, (b) a pulse-related parameter and / or temporal variability, (c) microcirculatory and / or perfusion-related trends, (d) an oxygenation-related parameter, in particular oxygen saturation, (e) a temperature-related parameter, in particular tongue temperature and / or a temperature-related parameter of a mouth surface or contact zone, (f) an optical parameter of the tongue or mouth surface, and / or (g) a weight-related parameter, in particular body weight and / or weight change over time. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor device (10) provided in the standing area (SB) is designed to detect a weight-related parameter and for this purpose comprises in particular a piezoresistive thin-film, a pressure sensor, in particular an FSR sensor, and / or a capacitive mat sensor or is designed as such. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (SR) is provided and configured to determine, record, store and / or analyze a body weight, weight distribution, weight change over time and / or weight trend from the measured values ​​acquired by the sensor device (10). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor device (10) comprises an optical sensor (12) for detecting pulse and / or blood flow-related parameters. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the optical sensor (12) of the at least one sensor device (10) is designed to perform photoplethysmography, in particular to detect temporal changes of an optical signal modulated by changes in blood volume. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the optical sensor (12) of the at least one sensor device (10) comprises at least one light source, in particular an LED, and at least one optical detector, wherein the optical detector detects light that is reflected and / or transmitted after interaction with tissue of the animal. Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (CR) is provided and configured to determine at least one pulse-related parameter, in particular a heart rate and / or a pulse variability, from the optical signal. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor device (10) comprises at least one temperature sensor (14). Device according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the optical sensor technology (12) of the at least one sensor device (10) is designed for detecting optical measured values ​​of the tongue or mouth surface, in particular for determining a tongue color. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor device (10) is designed and configured as a contact sensor device (16) for detecting blood flow, pulse and / or temperature-related parameters as well as for detecting the presence of the animal, wherein the standing area (SB) of the floor mat (5) is designed at least partially as an electrically conductive standing surface for contact via the paws and / or the licking area (LB) of the floor mat (5) is designed at least partially as an electrically conductive contact surface for contact with the tongue, and wherein the contact sensor device (16) is designed to carry out a bioelectrical impedance measurement by incorporating the control and evaluation unit (SR). Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the acquisition of the measured values ​​by means of the control and evaluation unit (SR) is provided and configured to use an alternating current in the µA range for impedance measurement, and wherein measured quantities are acquired to determine a resistance, a reactance and / or a total impedance. Device according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (SR) is designed and configured to determine impedance-based body parameters as a trend from the measured values ​​of the measured variables, in particular a hydration state as a course and / or a change in body composition over time and in particular a total body water trend as a course from conductivity changes. Device according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (SR) is designed and configured to perform a multi-frequency impedance measurement and to determine extracellular and intracellular changes as a trend from this. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (SR) is designed and configured to combine impedance measurement with optical detection of pulse and / or blood flow-related parameters in the area of ​​the tongue. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acquisition of the measured values ​​by means of the control and evaluation unit (SR) is carried out continuously or depending on events. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and evaluation unit (SR) is designed for signal processing of the measured values ​​of the at least one sensor device (10) and data storage, wherein the data storage is in particular event-based, time-controlled or usage-dependent. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1) has a wireless communication interface (18) for data transmission to an external evaluation unit, wherein the wireless communication interface (18) particularly includes WLAN and / or Bluetooth. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one controllable light source (4) is arranged in or on the body (2), which is designed and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation for germ and / or bacteria reduction into the oral cavity of the animal. Device according to claim 23, characterized in that the at least one light source (4) emits light in the blue, red and / or violet spectral range and is designed in particular as light-emitting diodes, OLEDs or electroluminescent films. Device according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the at least one light source (4) interacts with the control and evaluation unit (SR) to control the at least one light source (4) depending on control signals of the control and evaluation unit (SR), wherein in particular the light emission is controllable with regard to brightness, intensity, timing, pulse frequency, duration and / or zonal activation, and / or event-dependent and / or depending on measured values ​​of the at least one sensor device (10). Set comprising a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims and an external device (40), in particular a mobile terminal in the form of a smartphone, wherein the device (1) has a wireless communication interface (18) for data transmission to the external device (40), and wherein application software, in particular an app, is installed on the external device (40), which is designed and configured to display and / or evaluate measured values ​​transmitted by the device (1) and / or physiological and / or behavioral parameters determined from the measured values.

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