Patent ID: 8842497
Filing Date: 2014-09-23
Classification: A61B,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring behavior and activity of a marine mammal in a body of water, comprising the steps of: disposing into the body of water a buoyant capsule having a hydrophone, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a memory chip, a radio frequency (RF) generator, software, and a battery enclosed within a shell; inducing the marine mammal to ingest the capsule; detecting temperature changes of the capsule by the temperature sensor; activating the capsule electronics when an internal body temperature of the marine mammal is detected; detecting sound data via the hydrophone, including sonar transmitted by a monitoring ship, and detecting pressure data via the pressure sensor, then saving the sound data and the pressure data on the memory chip; detecting a water temperature of the body of water, after excretion of the capsule by the marine mammal, to trigger a communication means that would allow the capsule to be recovered on the surface of the body of water; and retrieving said sound, pressure and temperature data from the recovered capsule via wireless transmission.