Wireless Veterinary Thermometer With Ambient Heat Stress Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rectal thermometers lack the capability to measure ambient temperature and humidity conditions, leading to inaccurate determinations of an animal's body temperature and inadequate treatment decisions due to hyperthermic or hyperpyrexic conditions, which can result in over-treatment or under-treatment of livestock.
Innovation Solution
A wireless veterinary thermometer that includes ambient temperature and humidity sensors, integrated with a mobile communication device, to calculate a temperature heat index (THI) and provide treatment recommendations based on both body and ambient conditions, enabling data storage and analysis in a cloud solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rectal thermometer is used to measure animal body temperature, then body temperature measurement is achieved, but ambient temperature and humidity conditions cannot be measured leading to inaccurate determination of hyperthermic vs hyperpyrexic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The thermometer device is enhanced with additional ambient temperature and humidity sensors, transforming it from a single-function body temperature measurement tool into a multi-function device that simultaneously measures body temperature, ambient temperature, and humidity. This enables comprehensive assessment of both hyperpyrexic (fever) andhyperthermic (heat stress) conditions.
2Productivity
If treatment decisions are made based solely on body temperature, then treatment speed is maintained, but over-treatment or under-treatment occurs due to inability to distinguish hyperthermic fromhyperpyrexic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides immediate feedback through a display showing both body temperature and ambient conditions (temperature and humidity). This enables the operator to quickly distinguish betweenhyperpyrexic (fever requiring antibiotic treatment) andhyperthermic (heat stress requiring cooling) conditions, ensuring accurate and timely treatment decisions without delays.
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
Enhances treatment accuracy by considering ambient factors, reducing economic and biological consequences through precise treatment recommendations.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor especially adapted for measuring a rectal temperature of an animal
Implementation Method 2
an ambient temperature sensor that records an ambient temperature
Implementation Method 3
a humidity sensor that records a present humidity condition
Data Source
AI summary
The invention includes a wireless multifunction veterinary thermometer device that communicates with a mobile communication device running an application software or “app” that is used to record animal temperature data and to display animal treatment options considering the recorded data and ambient weather conditions. Treatment options may be determined by logic programmed within the app or by another computer program associated with a remote server and database. Data transfer takes place between the mobile device and the remote server/database. A heat stress indicator is displayed for the user. If the indicator represents a high heat stress level, the app logic or remote computer program may automatically generate a recommended treatment option, or the user may determine an appropriate treatment. User interfaces are provided for displaying and recording a wide range of additional data concerning the animal.