Non-invasive Animal Monitoring via Thermal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring body temperature and physical activity in animals during drug screening are invasive, time-consuming, and prone to human error, causing stress to the animals and potential health risks for researchers, while also limiting data collection to few manual readings.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an enclosure with heat image cameras positioned above to record 2D images of animals, processing data to calculate center-of-heat points and distance traveled, allowing for automated and simultaneous monitoring of multiple animals, reducing manual intervention and stress, and providing real-time data visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rectal temperature measurement and manual counting are used, then body temperature and physical activity can be measured, but the method is time-consuming, causes stress to animals, and exposes personnel to health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods (rectal thermometers and hand-held counting machines) with an automated video-based system using heat image cameras and computer processing. This substitution eliminates the need for direct physical contact with animals while continuously monitoring temperature and activity parameters, thereby reducing measurement time and animal stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses heat image cameras to create thermal copies or representations of the animals' body temperature distribution. Instead of physical contact measurement, the system captures and processes thermal images to determine body temperature, enabling non-invasive, continuous, and rapid measurement without exposing personnel to health risks.
2Measurement precision
If manual rectal temperature measurement is performed, then body temperature data can be obtained, but the procedure is tedious and alters animal behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical rectal measurement process with a non-contact optical measurement system. Heat image cameras capture thermal radiation from the animals' bodies, and computer algorithms process these images to determine body temperature, completely eliminating the stress caused by physical contact and restraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a thermal copy of the animal's body through heat image camera imaging. This optical copy allows temperature measurement without physical interaction, preserving the animal's natural behavior while obtaining accurate temperature data continuously over time.
3Productivity
If automated heat image camera system is used, then simultaneous monitoring of multiple animals is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional system where heat image cameras simultaneously perform multiple tasks: capturing thermal images for temperature measurement, tracking animal movements for activity monitoring, and providing visual records for behavioral analysis. This universal approach enables monitoring of multiple animals with a single integrated system, improving productivity despite increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer as an intermediary that processes complex image data from heat image cameras. The computer runs algorithms to automatically extract temperature and activity information from thermal images, managing the system's complexity by automating data processing and enabling simultaneous monitoring of multiple animals without requiring manual intervention for each animal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate, non-invasive, and cost-effective simultaneous monitoring of body temperature and physical activity in real-time, reducing animal stress and researcher risk, while allowing for detailed data analysis and improved accuracy in drug screening and behavioral studies.
Implementation Method 1
providing a heat image camera for capturing heat images, which are 2D images
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method, particularly an observational screening method, more particularly a drug screening method, comprising the steps of providing an enclosure for at least one animal with outer sidewalls, preferably 4 outer sidewalls; providing temperature sensing means for sensing a body temperature of at least one animal and/or activity measurement means for measuring at least one parameter related to physical activity of at least one animal; sensing a body temperature of at least one animal and/or measuring at least one parameter related to physical activity of at least one animal; providing data processing means; and processing data related to body temperature and/or to the parameter related to physical activity.