A NOSE RING

Abstract: The invention relates to a device which is suitable for being fitted with the aid of fastening means to and/or in and/or through the nose (3) of preferably an animal, such as e.g. a cow. The device (2) further comprises measuring means (6) for determining the physical condition of the individual belonging to the nose and/or administration means (7) for providing the individual with biologically active components, such as e.g. medicaments, minerals, vitamins and similar, and/or identification means (12) for establishing the identity of the individual belonging to the nose.

Description: A NOSE RING The invention relates to a device which is suitable fo*' being fitted with the aid of fastening means to and/or in and/or through the nose of preferably an animal, such as a cow. The known device is e.g. applied as a nose ring for a cow or a bull for the purpose of keeping the animal under control . The invention aims at rendering the above-mentioned device more multifunctional. In accordance with the invention this is achieved in that the device comprises measuring means for determining the physical condition of the individual belonging to the nose and/or administration means for providing the individual with biologically active components, such as e.g. medicaments, minerals, vitamins and similar, and/or identification means for establishing the identity of the individual belonging to the nose. According to an inventive feature, the identification means comprise a transponder and/or a label. In the case that a cow enters a concentrate station or e.g. a milk box with a milking robot, it is possible to read in a very simple manner which animal is entering a relevant milk box and/or a relevant feeding station. According to another inventive feature, the measuring means and/or the administration means are disposed in or near the fastening means. Because of the fact that the fastening means are provided in the vicinity of the nasal mucous membrane, it is possible to carry out very accurate measurements and to administer substances via the administration means in an effective manner. It will be obvious that for other sensors, to be mentioned hereafter, which sensors do not carry out measurements on the nasal mucous membrane directly, it will be possible to be disposed at another place in the device than in the vicinity of the fastening means . A further improvement may be achieved in that the measuring means and/or the administration means comprise a contact element which is in close contact with the nasal mucous membrane after the device has been fastened. According to again another inventive feature, the measuring means may comprise various sensors, such as e.g. temperature sensors, heartbeat sensors, respiration rhythm sensors, respiration analysis equipment, sensors by means of which the glucose and/or protein content and/or the hormone level in the nasal mucous membrane and/or the blood and/or the excretions of the nasal mucous membrane are measured and sensors by means of which a microbiological diagnosis of the nasal mucous membrane and/or the excretions thereof is made. It is further possible to register the animal's behaviour by providing the measuring means with motion sensors with the aid of which the movements of the head are measured and recorded and on the basis of which measurements there is established whether an animal is e.g. on heat and/or ill. Such an indication is also obtained by means of a sensor that measures colour changes and/or the degree of humidity of the nose and/or the nasal mucous membrane. For recording colour changes there is preferably used an optical sensor. According to again another inventive feature, the administration means comprise one or more receptacles for storing biologically active components. For the purpose of administering the substances simultaneously or separately or selectively via the administration means, the administration means comprise switch means. The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to an embodiment in which: Figure 1 shows schematically the head of a cow 1 wearing a device 2 according to the invention through the nasal septum of the nose 3. In the present embodiment the device 2 is designed as a nose ring. The nose ring comprises a circular body 4 which is provided with fastening means 5 with the aid of which the nose ring can be fitted in the nose 3. The nose ring is further provided with measuring means 6 with the aid of which the physical condition of in this case the cow can be determined. The nose ring is further provided with administration means 7 with the aid of which biologically active components can be administered to the body of a cow 1. Both the measuring means 6 and the administration means 7 comprise a contact element 8 which is in contact with the nasal mucous membrane of the nose 3 after the nose ring has been fastened. The contact element 8 of the measuring means 6 is connected with various, (non-shown) sensors 9 by means of which the physical condition of the animal can be determined. These sensors 9 may comprise e.g. a temperature sensor, a sensor for recording the heartbeat, a sensor for recording the respiration rhythm, a respiration analysis device by means of which e.g. the C0 2 and/or the H2O and/or the O2 content of the exhaled air is determined and another sensor by means of which the glucose and/or protein content and/or the hormone level in the nasal mucous membrane and/or the blood and/or the excretions of the nasal mucous membrane are measured. It is further possible for the contact element 8 to be connected with a sensor by means of which a microbiological diagnosis of the nasal mucous membrane and/or the excretions thereof can be made. It is further possible to have a motion sensor built in into the nose ring, by means of which motion sensor movements of the head are measured and recorded. It is also possible to provide the measuring ring with a sensor by means of which colour changes and/or the degree of humidity of the nose and/or the nasal mucous membrane are measured. As shown in Figure 1, the administration means 7 comprise two receptacles 10 and 11 for storing biologically active components, which receptacles 10 and 11 are in connection with the contact element 8. With the (non-shown) switch means the biologically active components from the receptacles 10 and 11 can be administered selectively. The nose ring is further provided with identification means 12 with the aid of which the identity of the animal is established. In the present embodiment the identification means 12 comprise a bar code. However, it will be obvious that the identification means 12 may comprise any other suitable form of means, such as e.g. a transponder by means of which the animal can be identified.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device which is suitable for being fitted with the aid of fastening means to and/or in and/or through the nose (3) of preferably an animal, such as a cow, characterized in that the device (2) comprises measuring means (6) for determining the physical condition of the individual belonging to the nose and/or administration means (7) for providing the individual with biologically active components, such as e.g. medicaments, minerals, vitamins and similar, and/or identification means (12) for establishing the identity of the individual belonging to the nose. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the identification means (12) comprise a transponder and/or a transmitter and/or a label. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the measuring means (6) and/or the administration means (7) are disposed in or near the fastening means (5). 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the measuring means (6) and/or the administration means (7) comprise a contact element (8) which is in contact with the nasal mucous membrane after the device (2) has been fastened. 5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (6) comprise a temperature sensor (9). 6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (6) comprise a sensor (9) by means of which the heartbeat can be measured. 7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (6) comprise a sensor (9) by means of which the respiration rhythm can be measured. 8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (6) comprise a respiration analysis device (9) by means of which i.a. the acetone content and/or the CO 2 and/or the H 2 O and/or the O 2 content of the exhaled air can be measured. 9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (6) comprise a sensor (9) by means of which the glucose and/or protein content and/or the hormone level in the nasal mucous membrane and/or the blood and/or the excretions of the nasal mucous membrane are measured. 10. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (6) comprise a sensor (9) by means of which a microbiological diagnosis of the nasal mucous membrane and/or the excretions thereof is made. 11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (6) comprise a motion sensor (9) by means of which the movements of the head are measured. 12. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring means (6) comprise a sensor (9) by means of which colour changes and/or the degree of humidity of the nose and/or the nasal mucous membrane are measured. 13. A device as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the sensor (9) comprises an optical sensor (9). 14. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the administration means (7) comprise one or more receptacles (10, 11) for storing the biologically active components . 15. A device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the administration means (7) comprise switch means with the aid of which a specific substance from a specific receptacle is selectively administered. 16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is designed as a nose ring.

Inventors: RICHARD XAVIER, RICHARD, XAVIER
Applicants: MAASLAND NV, RICHARD XAVIER, MAASLAND N.V., RICHARD, XAVIER
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01K15
IPC codes: A01K11, A01K15, A01K29, A61D7, A61D17