Animal monitoring and care system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system that remotely monitors the health status and behaviour of an animal by means of an implanted device. The device collects data such as temperature, heart rate, glucose levels and movement of the animal. Furthermore, the invention includes RFID technology to identify the animal, which allows identification data to be stored and transmitted together with the health data. The invention uses NFC and RFID wireless technologies to transmit all this information to a smartphone or another terminal, wherein the data can be stored and analysed in the cloud. The solution is ideal for animals that are not able to wear collars or external devices, improving their safety and comfort.

Description

[0001]SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND CARE OF AN ANIMAL TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the use of radio frequency identification and specifically to short-range radio frequency communications applied to the remote monitoring of physiological data of animals in order to assess the health and well-being of the animals. STATE OF THE ART Biometric, physiological data and / or movement or location data related to an animal (e.g., a pet) can have many uses in understanding the health status, well-being and behavior of animals. Collars capable of collecting some data on the animal's behavior are known from the state of the art.However, many animals do not wear collars or have limited ability to do so, such as due to the size of the animal, the collar being uncomfortable for the animal to wear, or because the animal's owners simply prefer not to wear one. In addition, there are other safety considerations surrounding collar use, especially the risk of the collar getting caught on something and, therefore, a risk of suffocation. Despite the various reasons why an animal does not wear a collar, it is important to collect data related to the animal. Therefore, as an alternative to the collar, which is an external device and has the shortcomings described above, it would be appropriate to implant a device within the animal capable of capturing data related to the animal's condition and behavior, enabling post-processing of said data to detect the animal's actual condition and provide comprehensive care.2 DESCRIPTION In order to overcome the deficiencies in the state of the art, the present invention provides a system for monitoring and caring for an animal as defined in the claims accompanying the description. The system of the invention comprises an electronic device intended to be implanted in an animal, for example, in a dog, where said device is manufactured from biocompatible materials suitable for this type of applications. The electronic device comprises detection means configured to determine parameter data related to physiological information of the animal, that is, physiological parameters of the animal. In one embodiment, the detection means comprise a sensor array, provided with at least one sensor configured to detect the body temperature of the animal. This arrangement of the detection means provided in the device that is in turn implanted in the animal, has important advantages.For example, in the case of the sensor for measuring the animal's temperature, this is done practically instantaneously and accurately, compared to the traditional measurement of animal body temperature, which is carried out using a thermometer. In this case, it takes too long to measure the animal's body temperature, which is difficult because the animal tends to move constantly, making the measurement difficult. Furthermore, the system comprises communication means configured to wirelessly communicate the parameter data determined by the detection means to an external terminal. In a preferred embodiment, these communication means employ NFC near-field communication for the wireless transmission of the data collected by the detection means.In another alternative embodiment, the communication means also employ radio frequency identification (RFID) for the wireless transmission of data incorporated in the device, such as, for example, the animal's identification and / or data collected by the detection means. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises dual data transmission, dual transmission mode. In this sense, the data of the parameters related to the animal are transmitted via NFC and other data, such as the animal's identification provided in the device, are transmitted via RFID. The system also comprises processing means configured to process the parameter data determined by the detection means. In one embodiment, the processing means comprise a processor (microcontroller, microprocessor, etc.) arranged in the device.In another alternative embodiment, the processing means are arranged in the external terminal, for example, a computer, server, or smartphone, where, preferably, said external terminal is in turn provided with computing means configured to execute a software application intended to manage the parameter data determined by the detection means and determine the state of the animal. Additionally, the system comprises storage means configured to store the parameter data determined by the detection means. In one embodiment, the storage means are arranged in the device. In another embodiment, the storage means are arranged in the cloud. In another more preferred embodiment, the storage means are arranged both in the device and in the cloud.Thus, in the case of dual-mode transmission, data such as the animal's identification are stored in the storage media provided in the device and are transmissible via RFID, while the animal's parameter data are transmitted via NFC to the cloud. In other embodiments of the system, the physiological parameters detected by the detection means correspond to at least one of glucose information related to the animal, heart rate information related to the animal, blood pressure information related to the animal, pulse information related to the animal, blood oxygen saturation information related to the animal, or respiratory rate information related to the animal.In this regard, the sensor array of the detection means comprises the necessary sensors configured to detect biometric parameters of the animal related to the glucose level and / or heart rate and / or blood pressure and / or heart pulse and / or blood oxygen saturation and / or respiratory rate. In other embodiments, the detection means are additionally configured to determine location or movement information related to the animal, i.e., location and / or movement parameters. With respect to this embodiment, the sensor array of the detection means comprises the necessary sensors configured to determine location or movement information of the animal, where such sensors are chosen from one or more of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer.As mentioned, in a preferred embodiment, the processing means of the system are provided in an external terminal, such as a Smartphone, where the data collected by the detection means of the device are transmitted via NFC to said Smartphone, which has an application installed through which the data is read and parameters of the device are controlled, where, from the Smartphone, the data is transferred to the cloud for storage and subsequent processing thereof. Likewise, in an even more preferred embodiment, data stored in the device, such as the animal's identification, are transmitted via RFID to the external terminal, the parameter data related to animal information via NFC and / or RFID are transmitted to said external terminal, and from the latter to the cloud or a server for subsequent processing.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which should be considered for illustrative and not limiting purposes, in which: Fig. 1 is a functional schematic view of the system for monitoring and caring for animals of the invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the device implantable in the animal body that is part of the system of the invention. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF EMBODIMENT Numerous specific details are set forth in the following detailed description by way of examples to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings can be practiced without such details.As shown in Figure 1, the present invention provides a system 1 for monitoring and caring for an animal A. The system 1 comprises an electronic device 2 configured to be implanted in the animal A at a subcutaneous level, where the electronic device 2, device 2 hereinafter comprising detection means 21 configured to determine parameter data related to physiological information of the animal and also determine parameters related to the position and movement of the animal A. In the preferred embodiment, as seen in Figure 2, the detection means 21 comprise a sensor array 22, where said sensor array 22 comprises a sensor configured to detect the body temperature of the animal as a physiological parameter, and at least one sensor of the accelerometer, gyroscope or magnetometer type configured to detect the movement and / or the position of the animal A as position and movement parameters of said animal A.The device 2 also comprises communication means 23, 24 prepared for the wireless transmission of the parameter data determined by the detection means 21 to an external terminal 3 and also for the transmission of data stored in the device 2. It is important to highlight that the device 2 comprises all the electronics necessary for the normal operation of its components and storage means (not shown) for the storage of data such as, for example, the identification of the animal A. Now, in the preferred embodiment, the communication means 23, 24 use the NFC near field transmission 23 for the transmission of the parameters detected by the detection means 21 related to information of the animal A and the RFID transmission for the transmission of identification data of the animal A and other data that by regulation or standard must be carried on the animal A.6 On the other hand, the system 1 comprises processing means configured to process the parameter data determined by the detection means 21, and storage means 4 configured to store the parameter data determined by the detection means 21. In the preferred embodiment, the communication means 23, 24 transmit the data to an external terminal 3, such as a smartphone, which is in turn provided with software that allows the data coming from the detection means 21 to be interpreted and / or processed.In this sense, the processing means and a part of the storage means 4 are those of the smartphone, such that the user has and can view instant data values ​​​​of the state and well-being of the animal A, such as temperature and / or activity level, depending on its movement and position, while the data stored in the device 2, transmitted by RFID 24, are interpreted by the external terminal 3. The measurement history can be stored in the storage means 4 of the external terminal 3, such that the current state can be compared with the historical data. Subsequently, the data can be transmitted by the external terminal 3 to the cloud 4 for storage and subsequent processing. The cloud can store a history of the data collected by the detection means 21 and compare them with the current data to compare the state of care and well-being of animal A.Furthermore, data on similar animals, of the same breed, age, etc., may be stored in the cloud to determine the condition of animal A compared to others. In this regard, the processed data is transmitted back from cloud 4 to external terminal 3 so that the user can view it. In alternative embodiments, external terminal 3 serves / operates as a link between device 2 and cloud 4, such that all processing of the data collected by detection means 21 is carried out on a server linked to cloud 4. 7.

Claims

1. A system (1) for monitoring and caring for an animal (A) comprising an electronic device (2) configured to be implanted in the animal (A), the electronic device (2) comprising: detection means (21) configured to determine parameter data related to physiological information of the animal (A); and communication means (23) (24) configured to wirelessly communicate the parameter data determined by the detection means (21) and information data of the animal (A) to an external terminal (3); processing means configured to process the parameter data determined by the detection means (21); and storage means (4) configured to store the parameter data determined by the detection means (21).System (1) according to claim 1, wherein the detection means (21) comprise a sensor array (22) provided with at least one sensor configured to detect the temperature of the animal (A).

3. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detection means (21) comprise a sensor array (22) provided with at least one sensor configured to detect at least one physiological parameter of the animal (A) related to at least one of glucose level, heart rate, blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation level, and respiratory rate.

4. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detection means (21) are additionally configured to determine position and movement parameters of the animal (A). 5.System (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the detection means (21) comprise a sensor array (22) provided with at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope or a magnetometer.

6. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication means (23) (24) employ the NFC near field transmission protocol for transmitting data of the parameters determined by the detection means (21).

8.

7. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication means (23) (24) employ the NFC near field transmission protocol (23) for transmitting the parameter data determined by the detection means (21), and said communication means (23) (24) employ the RFID radio frequency protocol (24) to transmit information data of the animal (A) stored in the device (2).

8. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the processing means are arranged in the external terminal (3), which in turn is provided with computing means configured to execute a software application intended to manage the parameter data determined by the detection means (21) of the device (2).

9. System (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the storage means (4) are arranged in the cloud.

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