Patent ID: 6860859

Claim:
An apparatus, useful for monitoring the estrus-state and/or non-pregnancy of a tailed mammal, comprising: (a) a housing, suitable for being maintained within the vagina of said tailed mammal for at least about 48 hours and having interior space suitable for installation of one or more means for monitoring, intra-vaginally, at least one physiological parameter(s) indicative of said estrus-state; (b) monitoring means, suitable for being disposed within said interior space, for: (i) measuring each of said parameters, and (ii) converting the resulting measurements into one or more signals representing each of said parameters; (c) means for transmitting said signal(s) to a receiving station located outside the mammal and capable of receiving and interpreting said signal(s) to indicate whether the mammal is in estrus, and (d) a relatively inflexible arm connecting said housing with said transmitting means such that, when the housing is within the mammal's vagina, said transmitting means is capable of being substantially external and proximal to the mammal's body.