Pressure Detection Unit for Companion Animal Biological Age Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a method to assess the health and biological age of companion animals accurately, as their mobility can vary from their chronological age due to factors like activity level, weight management, and disease, which affects their overall health and wellness, and existing methods lack a comprehensive approach for individualized health management programs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pressure detection unit with sensors to collect footfall data from companion animals as they ambulate, converting this data into movement data, which is then used in a biological age equation to determine their biological age, allowing for comparison to a representative class of animals and informing personalized health management programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional health assessment methods are used for companion animals, then veterinary examinations and biomarker tests can provide health information, but substantial investments in time, effort and financial resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex veterinary examination systems and biomarker testing systems with a pressure sensor-based mobility assessment system. The pressure detection unit captures footfall data that is converted to movement data, providing health assessment information through mechanical movement analysis rather than invasive or resource-intensive medical tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automated health monitoring where the companion animal's natural movement patterns are captured and analyzed without requiring active participation or cooperation from the animal beyond normal ambulation. The processing system automatically converts footfall data to movement data and generates biological age assessments, eliminating the need for veterinarian time for manual evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive health assessments including biomarkers and behavioral indicators are conducted, then accurate health and wellness information can be obtained, but financial resources and complexity of the assessment program increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential health assessment function from complex multi-parameter systems and isolates it to mobility pattern analysis. By focusing specifically on movement data from pressure sensors, the system extracts the key indicator of biological age without requiring the full suite of biomarkers, behavioral observations, and veterinary evaluations that would otherwise be needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure detection unit serves multiple functions: it captures footfall data, enables movement analysis, determines biological age, and provides baseline data for monitoring changes over time. This single device replaces multiple assessment tools including step counters, activity monitors, and veterinary examination equipment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining assessment comprehensiveness.
3Loss of information
If mobility is used as an indicator of biological age, then variance from chronological age can reveal health status, but accurate measurement of mobility patterns requires sophisticated detection and analysis systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pressure sensors to detect mechanical footfall patterns and replaces complex motion capture technology or video analysis systems. The pressure detection unit captures weight distribution and temporal patterns of footfalls, which are then converted to movement data through algorithmic processing, providing accurate mobility measurement without requiring sophisticated optical or mechanical tracking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a processing system as an intermediary that converts raw footfall data from pressure sensors into meaningful movement data. This intermediary layer translates complex sensor signals into standardized mobility metrics that can be used to determine biological age, simplifying the measurement process while preserving information accuracy.
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
This method provides a reliable assessment of a companion animal's biological age, enabling tailored health management recommendations that can improve or maintain their biological age through dietary, activity, and veterinary interventions, thereby enhancing their health and well-being.
Implementation Method 1
providing at least one pressure detection unit having one or more pressure sensors; ambulating the companion animal from a first region of the pressure detection unit to a second region of the pressure detection unit to collect footfall data
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining the biological age of the companion animal. A companion animal ambulates from a first region to a second region of a pressure detection unit and the footfall data is utilized in the determination of the biological age of the companion animal.