JP7210825B2 - Delivery detection system and delivery notification method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a parturition detection system and parturition notification method for detecting and announcing the start of parturition of an animal.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, various animals are raised as livestock for various purposes such as livestock farming and dairy farming. For animals raised as livestock in this way, it is desirable to reduce the risk of childbirth. For example, in the case of large animals such as cattle, fetuses may not be delivered normally during childbirth, and if left to natural delivery, accidents such as death of the fetus or death of the mother may occur. In the case of cattle, the mortality rate due to childbirth is 5%, or 1 in 20 cows. Since such deaths occur during childbirth, caregivers accompany and assist in childbirth during childbirth.

In order to provide such delivery assistance, late-night monitoring is required during childbirth. Such monitoring imposes a heavy mental and physical burden on the pet owner.

As for such parturition, a temperature measurement/transmission module for predicting parturition of a cow has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). This temperature measuring/transmitting module is designed to be inserted into the cow's vagina to measure the intravaginal temperature and pushed out of the vagina upon rupture of the water or delivery.

However, this temperature measurement/transmission module has a problem because it is based on temperature measurement. In other words, even if the internal temperature of the cow is stable, the outside temperature differs between summer and winter, and between daytime and nighttime. Therefore, in order to make a stable determination at all times, it is necessary to improve the accuracy of temperature measurement.

JP 2007-296312 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a delivery detection system and a delivery notification method that can stably and reliably detect and report delivery.

The present invention comprises a detection device to be inserted into the vagina of an animal, and a notification device for receiving and reporting information from the detection device, wherein the detection device is positioned on the insertion tip side and has a space inside. a pressure deformation portion formed in the air, having a larger inner diameter than the vagina of the animal, and deformed so as to fit inside the vagina when the animal is inserted into the vagina and subjected to pressure from the vagina; a body portion located on the insertion rear end side and having a diameter smaller than that of the pressure deformation portion; a neck portion located between the pressure deformation portion and the body portion and having a diameter smaller than that of the body portion; a pressing force detection unit for detecting the pressing force applied to the pressure deforming portion from the pressure of the gas, the pressing force detected by the pressing force detecting unit; and a transmission unit that transmits the information based on the pressure of the gas to the detection device or the notification device, based on the pressing force. a determining unit for determining whether or not to notify the start of labor for notifying the start of labor according to whether or not the amount is equal to or greater than a certain amount , wherein the notification device includes a receiving unit for receiving the information; , and a notification means for notifying the delivery start information .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a delivery detection system and a delivery notification method that can stably and reliably detect and report delivery.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a delivery detection system according to Example 1 of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the external configuration of the detection device; Partial cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the detection device is attached to a cow 4 is a flowchart showing operations performed by a control unit of the detection device; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the received radio wave intensity of a 920 MHz radio wave in a graph along the time axis; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the received radio wave intensity of a 2.4 GHz radio wave in a graph along the time axis; The graph which shows the atmospheric|air pressure change amount according to the hardness of silicone rubber. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the received radio wave intensity of the radio wave of 920 MHz according to the modification of the present invention by graphing it along the time axis; Ditto. Ditto. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the received radio wave intensity of the radio wave of 2.4 GHz according to the modification by graphing it along the time axis;

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the delivery detection system 1. As shown in FIG.
The delivery detection system 1 is configured by connecting one management device 3 (annunciation device) and a plurality of detection devices 5 so as to be communicable by wireless communication.

The management device 3 includes a control unit 11 composed of a microcomputer or the like, a notification unit 12 (notification means) that notifies by voice or beep sound, etc., and a display unit 13 such as a liquid crystal display or a 7-segment display. , a radio communication unit 14 (receiving unit) that performs radio communication using appropriate radio waves such as radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band, and a power supply unit 15 that supplies power to each unit.

The control unit 11 executes various calculations and operation control using information (data) stored in the information storage unit 25 according to registered programs. The control unit 11 includes a detecting device registration function unit 21 that performs processing for registering the detecting terminal 5 that performs wireless communication by the wireless communication unit 14 as a communication target, and a signal transmitted from the detecting device 5 by the wireless communication unit 14 . a determination function unit 23 that determines whether or not delivery has started based on the received signal; A notification function unit 24 and an information storage unit 25 for storing appropriate information are provided.

The determination function unit 23 executes determination based on the determination conditions. That is, if the atmospheric pressure change amount ΔP is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the notification unit 12 notifies delivery start confirmation information (delivery start information).

The detection device 5 includes a control unit 31 composed of a microcomputer or the like, a wireless communication unit 32 (transmitting unit) that performs wireless communication using appropriate radio waves such as radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band or 920 MHz band, and detects atmospheric pressure. An atmospheric pressure detection unit 33 for detecting the air pressure, a light emitting unit 34 for notifying an appropriate state such as the ON/OFF state of the power supply, and a power supply unit 35 for supplying power to each unit.

The control unit 31 executes various calculations and operation control according to registered programs. The control unit 31 includes a management device registration function unit 41 that performs processing for registering the management device 3 that performs wireless communication with the wireless communication unit 32 as a communication target, and a pressure deformation unit 51 (see FIG. ), a determination function unit 43 for determining whether or not to report delivery-related information based on the detected signal, and delivery-related information such as the detected signal and/or delivery start data. to the wireless communication unit 14 of the management device 3 by the wireless communication unit 32.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the external configuration of the detection device 5. As shown in FIG.
The detection device 5 is covered with an exterior part 50 made entirely of medical silicone rubber. The exterior portion 50 has a pressure deformation portion 51 on the insertion front end side, a main body portion 53 on the insertion rear end side, and a neck portion 52 between the pressure deformation portion 51 and the main body portion 53 . Here, the main body portion 53 is formed in the same shape as the constricted portion 52 or slightly smaller than the constricted portion 52 .

The pressure deformation portion 51 has an elliptical shape that is long in the insertion direction (long in the horizontal direction in the drawing). The pressure deformation portion 51 includes a pressing position holding portion 51c that is the widest, an insertion slope portion 51b that curves from the pressing position holding portion 51c and decreases in diameter toward the insertion tip, and an insertion tip. The insertion distal end portion 51a continues with a gentle curve.
Further, at the rear of the pressure deformable portion 51, a root inclined portion 51b whose diameter is reduced toward the body portion 53 while curving is provided. The body portion 53 side of the base inclined portion 51 b is connected to the constricted portion 52 .

A space E is formed inside the pressure deformation portion 51 . Accordingly, when pressure is applied to the pressure deformation portion 51 from the outside, the pressure deformation portion 51 can be freely deformed inward to some extent. The pressure deformable portion 51 is formed to have a uniform thickness from the insertion distal end portion 51a to the base inclined portion 51b, but the thickness is not limited to this and can be formed to an appropriate thickness that can be deformed by pressing force.

The pressure deformation portion 51 is formed such that the size of the pressing position holding portion 51c is slightly larger than the inner diameter of a general cow's vagina. That is, the pressure deformation portion 51 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the cow's vagina in the atmosphere, and the silicone rubber, which is the material of the pressure deformation portion 51, is inserted into the vagina and exerts a pressing force from the vagina. It is the softness (hardness) that deforms when subjected to it. Therefore, when the pressure deformable part 51 is inserted into the cow's vagina, it deforms so as to fit inside the vagina. As a result, when the detection device 5 is placed in the cow's vagina, the pressing position holding portion 51c is pressed and deformed by the cow's vagina. play a role.

A housing 60 is provided inside the constricted portion 52 and the body portion 53 .
A push-in hole 54 is formed in the center of the rear end in the insertion direction of the body portion 53 . Due to this push-in hole 54, when the detection device 5 is inserted into the cow's vagina, an appropriate member such as the push-in rod 30 can be brought into contact with the push-in hole 54 and the pressing can be continued.

The housing 60 has the board 30 provided therein, and includes a first housing 61 and a second housing 62 that are thin in the width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction.
Various electronic elements are mounted on the substrate 30 . An air pressure sensor 34a arranged facing the space E of the pressure deformation portion 51 and an LED illumination 34b beside it are provided in a manner connected to the substrate 30 . Further, the body portion 60 is provided with a push-down switch 35a for turning on/off the power.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a cross section of the detection device 5 near the entrance of the birth canal leading to the uterus B of the cow C. As shown in FIG. As shown, the detection device 5 is inserted into the cow's vagina.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing operations performed by the control unit 31 of the detection device 5 .
The control unit 31 reads the atmospheric pressure detected by the atmospheric pressure detection unit 33 (step S1), and calculates an atmospheric pressure change amount ΔP, which is the difference from the previously detected atmospheric pressure (step S2).

If the control unit 31 does not satisfy the predetermined condition that the air pressure change amount ΔP is larger than a predetermined value (20 hPa in this embodiment) (step S3: No), the process returns to step S1 and repeats. The predetermined condition here can be, for example, that the air pressure change amount ΔP is 20 hPa or more. By repeating steps S1 to S3 at predetermined time intervals such as every 1 minute or every 10 minutes, it is possible to constantly detect the presence or absence of delivery. When making this determination, the control unit 31 functions as a determination unit.

If the predetermined condition that the air pressure change amount ΔP is greater than a predetermined value (20 hPa in this embodiment) is satisfied (step S3: Yes), the control unit 31 notifies the wireless communication unit 32 that delivery has started. The delivery start information is transmitted to the management device 3 by radio waves (step S4), and the process ends. The information transmitted at this time may be any appropriate information, such as delivery start information including identification information (ID) for identifying the detecting device 5 and content notifying that delivery has started.

When the management device 3 receives this delivery start information, it notifies by voice that the delivery of the cow to which the detection device 5 is attached has started. Thus, it can be grasped that delivery of the notified cow among the plurality of cows about to give birth has started.

Note that the control unit 31 that performs step S4 may perform operations such as emitting light from the light emitting unit 34 or emitting sound from a sounding device (not shown). As a result, the start of delivery can be notified on the spot.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the atmospheric pressure detected by the atmospheric pressure detection unit 33 and the received radio wave intensity when the radio communication unit 14 receives the 920 MHz radio wave transmitted by the radio communication unit 32, graphed along the time axis. 5A shows the case where the exterior part 50 is made of silicone rubber with a hardness of 25°, and FIG. 5B shows the case where the exterior part 50 is made of silicone rubber with a hardness of 30°. 5(C) shows the case where the exterior part 50 is made of silicone rubber having a hardness of 40°.

5(A) to 5(C) show changes in data in a series of flows in which the detection device 5 is inserted into the cow's vagina from the air and released (taken out) from the cow's vagina again. The central part of the graph, where the value of the received radio wave intensity is low, is the intravaginal data.

The amount of air pressure change ΔP (difference between the air pressure inside the vagina and the peak air pressure when expelled from the inside of the vagina to the outside of the vagina) is 35 hPa when the silicone rubber of the exterior part 50 has a hardness of 25° (see FIG. 5A). ), 28 hPa at a hardness of 30° (see FIG. 5B), and 23 hPa at a hardness of 40° (see FIG. 5C). Therefore, the determination criterion in step S3 described above can be that the air pressure change amount ΔP is 23 hPa or more, and in this embodiment, it is 20 hPa or more.

The intensity of the received radio wave at 920 MHz is 59 when the silicone rubber of the exterior part 50 has a hardness of 25° (see FIG. 5A), and is 42 when the hardness is 30° (see FIG. 5B). , and 50 when the hardness is 40° (see FIG. 5(C)).

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the atmospheric pressure detected by the atmospheric pressure detection unit 33 and the received radio wave intensity when the radio communication unit 14 receives the 2.4 GHz radio wave transmitted by the radio communication unit 32 along the time axis. 6(A) shows a case where the exterior part 50 is made of silicone rubber with a hardness of 25°, and FIG. 6(B) shows a case where the exterior part 50 is made of silicone rubber with a hardness of 30°. 6(C) shows a case in which the exterior part 50 is formed of silicone rubber having a hardness of 40°.

6(A) to 6(C) show changes in data in a series of flows in which the detection device 5 is inserted into the cow's vagina from the air and released (taken out) from the cow's vagina again. The central part of the graph, where the value of the received radio wave intensity is low, is the intravaginal data.

The amount of air pressure change ΔP (difference between the air pressure inside the vagina and the peak air pressure when expelled from the inside of the vagina to the outside of the vagina) is 70 hPa when the silicone rubber of the exterior part 50 has a hardness of 30° (see FIG. 6B). ), and 32 hPa at a hardness of 40° (see FIG. 6(C)). Therefore, the determination criterion in step S3 described above can be that the air pressure change amount ΔP is 23 hPa or more, and in this embodiment, it is 20 hPa or more.

The received radio wave intensity of 2.4 GHz is not limited to the intensity of the silicone rubber of the exterior part 50, but is 110 when the hardness is 25° (see FIG. 6A) and 120 when the hardness is 30°. (See FIG. 6B), and 123 for hardness of 40° (See FIG. 6C). As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, when radio waves of 2.4 GHz are used, the radio waves do not reach the vagina of the cow. Also, in general, a wireless module with a transmission frequency of 2.4 GHz is more energy efficient, that is, consumes less power than a wireless module with a transmission frequency of 920 MHz. Therefore, the battery duration is longer when the 2.4 GHz radio wave is used. That is, the energy-saving detection device 5 can be realized or developed by applying the embodiment shown in the figure as it is or by further improving it.
FIG. 7(A) is a graph showing the atmospheric pressure change amount ΔP for each hardness of silicone rubber.

With the above configuration and operation, it is possible to provide a delivery detection system 1 and a delivery notification method that can stably and reliably detect and report delivery.

The pressure deformation portion 51 (exterior member 50) is made of a stretchable material (silicone rubber) and formed into a substantially balloon shape. formed. This makes it possible to properly measure the pressure inside the cow's vagina.

Since the detection device 5 is configured to determine whether or not the atmospheric pressure change amount ΔP satisfies a predetermined condition, it is possible to accurately notify the start of delivery with less erroneous recognition.
The pressing position holding portion 51c of the pressure deforming portion 51 is formed to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of a general cow's vagina. Can be discharged outside.

The notification of the start of delivery is executed when the atmospheric pressure change amount ΔP exceeds a predetermined amount. Consumption can be suppressed. That is, if wireless communication is performed all the time, the battery will be consumed during that time, but since wireless communication is not performed while the device is in the vagina, the power consumption can be reduced and the battery can be used for a long time. In particular, if wireless communication using radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band is also applied as shown in FIG. 6, power consumption can be further reduced.

In addition, since the notification of the start of delivery is executed when the air pressure change amount ΔP exceeds a predetermined amount, the start of delivery is reliably transmitted to the management device 3 with sufficient remaining electric power, and the management device 3 can The person who is pregnant can be notified of the start of labor.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various other embodiments are possible.
For example, as shown in the graph of FIG. 7B, the radio wave used for wireless communication is a radio wave of 920 MHz or the like that can be used for wireless communication from the inside of the cow's vagina to the outside. The communication unit 14 is configured to detect the signal strength of information received from the wireless communication unit 32, which is a transmission unit, and the determination unit (the control unit 31 that executes step S3) determines that the signal strength is higher than a predetermined value. When the intensity becomes strong, it may be determined that the delivery has started, and the delivery-related information may be the delivery start information. In this case, the management device 3 confirms whether or not the amount of change in the signal strength of the radio wave received by the wireless communication unit 14 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. It should be judged that In this case, the information storage unit 25 preferably stores information necessary to determine that delivery has started when the amount of change in signal intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
As a result, it is possible to determine whether the animal is in or out of the vagina based on the signal intensity, so that birth can be detected more appropriately.

Further, the determination unit (the control unit 31 that executes step S3) sets the first condition that the air pressure detected by the air pressure detection unit 33 is lower than a predetermined value (or the air pressure change amount ΔP is equal to or greater than a predetermined value), If one of the second conditions that the signal intensity is stronger than a predetermined value (or the amount of change in signal intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined value) is satisfied, it is determined that there is a possibility that the delivery has started, and the delivery is determined. The start information may be the information about the possibility of the start of labor, and if both conditions are met, it may be determined that the labor has definitely started, and the information about the start of labor may be the definite information about the start of labor. In this case, since the credibility of the delivery start information can be determined, it is possible to prevent labor due to erroneous reporting.

When the wireless communication unit 32 as a transmission unit performs wireless communication using radio waves in the 920 MHz band, the radio waves reach the management device 3 even when the detection device 5 is in the vagina of the cow. .

Further, since the detection device 5 is made of silicone rubber as a main material, even if the hardness is changed variously, the above-described effects of the present embodiment can be preferably obtained.

Here, in the present embodiment, the detecting device 5 includes a pressure deforming portion 51 that is larger than the inner diameter of the vagina and deforms to fit inside the vagina when it is inserted into the vagina and receives pressure from the vagina. , a pressure sensor 34a as a pressure detection unit for detecting the pressure applied to the pressure deformation unit 51, and a wireless communication unit 32 as a transmission unit for transmitting information based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 34a. Since the part (the control part 31 that executes step S3) determines whether or not to notify the childbirth-related information based on the pressing force, it realizes even higher detection accuracy. .

Especially in this embodiment, as described above, since wireless communication is not performed while the device is in the vagina, the power consumption can be reduced and the battery life can be extended. In particular, as shown in FIG. 6 described above, wireless communication using radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band is also applied to realize further power saving. More specifically, power can be saved by not emitting radio waves unless necessary, and erroneous operation can be prevented by emitting radio waves of 2.4 GHz only when necessary. That is, when the detection device 5 is released to the outside of the cow for a reason other than delivery, it does not detect delivery and does not transmit 2.4 GHz radio waves. Therefore, even if the detection device 5 is discharged to the outside of the cow for reasons other than childbirth, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of this as water breaking or childbirth.

<Modification>
Modifications of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 and 11. FIG. Concerning the modified example, the same reference numerals are given to the components corresponding to the components of the above embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

First, FIGS. 8 to 10 exemplify a case in which the main material constituting the detection device 5 is a highly stretchable rubber-like resin, unlike the above-described embodiments. 8 to 10, the wireless communication unit 32 performs wireless communication using radio waves in the 920 MHz band, so even when the detecting device 5 is in the vagina of the cow, the radio waves will reach the management device 3. It's becoming The internal structure of the detection device 5 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 is substantially the same as that of the above-described embodiment, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 shows the shape of the detection device 5 in FIG. The detection device 5 shown in FIG. 4A uses a highly stretchable rubber-like resin as the main material (of the exterior part 50), and the hardness is set to 27°.

FIG. 4(B) shows changes in data in a series of flows in which the detection device 5 is inserted into the cow's vagina from the air and released (taken out) from the cow's vagina again. The central part of the graph, where the value of is low, is the intravaginal data. The amount of air pressure change ΔP (the difference between the air pressure inside the vagina and the peak air pressure when exhaling from the inside to the outside of the vagina) is 27 hPa.

FIG. 9 shows the shape of the detection device 5 in FIG. The detection device 5 shown in FIG. 4A uses a highly stretchable rubber-like resin as the main material (of the exterior part 50), and the hardness is set to 50°.

FIG. 4(B) shows changes in data in a series of flows in which the detection device 5 is inserted into the cow's vagina from the air and released (taken out) from the cow's vagina again. The central part of the graph, where the value of is low, is the intravaginal data. The air pressure change amount ΔP (difference between the air pressure inside the vagina and the peak air pressure when exhaling from the inside to the outside of the vagina) is 8 hPa.

FIG. 10 shows the shape of the detection device 5 in FIG. The detection device 5 shown in FIG. 4A uses a highly stretchable rubber-like resin as the main material (of the exterior part 50), and the hardness is set to 50°.

FIG. 4(B) shows changes in data in a series of flows in which the detection device 5 is inserted into the cow's vagina from the air and released (taken out) from the cow's vagina again. The central part of the graph, where the value of is low, is the intravaginal data. The air pressure change amount ΔP (difference between the air pressure inside the vagina and the peak air pressure when exhaling from the inside to the outside of the vagina) is 13 hPa.

Therefore, the criterion in step S3 described above can be set to 20 hPa or more in the detection device 5 shown in FIG. 8, but is set to a different value in the detection device 5 shown in FIGS. There is a need.

As described above, in this modified example, unlike the silicone rubber used for the material of the detecting device 5 in the above-described embodiment, it is made of highly elastic rubber-like resin, and the shape and hardness are variously changed. However, it has become clear that this modified example can also be suitably used in the delivery detection system 1 according to the present invention, as in the above-described embodiment.

Other modifications of the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 6 in the above embodiment, when the transmission frequency of the wireless communication unit 32 is 2.4 GHz, when the detection device 5 enters the cow's vagina, the received radio wave intensity at the management device 3 outside the cow's body becomes zero, and when a 2.4 GHz radio wave is used, the radio wave does not reach the inside of the cow's vagina.

Therefore, in this modified example, the detection device 5 shown in FIG. 11 is used. Specifically, the detection device 5 is designed to be simpler in appearance than those disclosed in the above embodiments and modifications. This modification will be described in detail below.

That is, the delivery detection system 1 according to this modification includes a detection device 5 and a management device 3 that is a notification device similar to the above-described embodiment, and the detection device 5 performs wireless communication using radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band. A radio communication unit 32 is provided as a transmission unit, and a control unit 31 is provided as a determination unit for determining whether or not to notify the detection device 5 or the management device 3 of delivery-related information related to delivery. , a delivery detection system 1 comprising a receiving section for receiving delivery-related information and an informing section 12 as an informing means for informing delivery-related information.

In other words, the detection device 5 according to the present modification differs from the above-described embodiment and modifications in that the pressure deformation portion 51 and the pressure sensor serving as the pressure detection portion for detecting the pressure received by the pressure deformation portion 51 are included. 34a.

However, according to the detection device 5 shown in FIG. 11, as described in the above embodiment, when using radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band, the radio waves do not reach the vagina of the cow. By doing so, the radio waves of the 2.4 GHz band are detected only when the detection device 5 is discharged from the inside of the cow's vagina to the outside. As a result, a delivery detection system 1 and a delivery notification method that can stably and reliably detect and report delivery are realized in the same manner as in the above embodiments.

More specifically, before the scheduled delivery start date, the detection device 5, which is a water breakage detection sensor, is placed inside the vagina of the pregnant cow C. As shown in FIG. Although this detection device 5 always emits radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band, it cannot detect the radio waves when it is in the cow C's vagina. When a large amount of water breaks at the time of primary rupture of the cow C, the detection device 5 is expelled from the cow's body, detects radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band for the first time, and notifies the delivery start timing to the delivery assistant. procedure.

In particular, the detection device 5 according to this modification shown in FIG. 11 is advantageous over the above-described embodiment and modification in that not only the internal structure of the detection device 5 but also the outer shape can be made simpler. It is mentioned as a point. Specifically, due to this point, the mold for forming the outer shape of the detection device 5 can be simplified, and the degree of freedom in designing the outer shape of the detection device 5 itself is increased, so that various It is possible to apply the detection device 5 having a shape, and to effectively reduce the number of electrical components to be loaded inside.

As a result, not only the effective use of the delivery detection system 1 according to the present invention, but also the introduction cost can be reduced, and in addition, the maintenance cost and running cost of the delivery detection system 1 can be reduced.

In addition, the air pressure change amount ΔP [hPa], which is the difference between the baseline and peak value of the air pressure fluctuation data, corresponds to the SN ratio (Signal-to-noise ratio), but the larger the value, the more the delivery The reliability of start timing detection can be increased. It was found that by decreasing the hardness value of the detection device 5 (making the material softer), the value of the atmospheric pressure variation ΔP can be increased. Various modifications and further improvements are possible for the present invention by using these findings.

For example, the detection device 5 may be provided with an appropriate timer function unit, and when the atmospheric pressure detection function unit 42 detects a change in atmospheric pressure and the determination function unit 43 determines that delivery has started, the notification content is changed every predetermined time. good too. In this case, when the management device 3 receives a 2.4 GHz radio wave and notifies the start of labor, the management device 3 determines how long the first received signal has passed since the start of labor, and notifies accordingly. can be performed by the notification unit 12 . As a result, when time elapses from the start of parturition until the detecting device 5 is discharged to the outside of the cow and detected, the feeder can be notified that the notification by the notification unit 12 is delayed from the start of parturition. can be grasped, and the caretaker can provide appropriate assistance.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY This invention can be used in industries related to animal birth.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Childbirth detection system 3... Management apparatus 5... Detection apparatus 12... Notification part 14... Wireless communication part 31... Control part 32... Wireless communication part 33... Air pressure detection part 34a... Pressure sensor 51... Pressure deformation part

Claims (8)

a detection device inserted into the animal's vagina;
A notification device that receives and notifies information from the detection device,
The detection device is
It is located on the insertion tip side, has a space inside, is larger than the internal diameter of the animal's vagina in the atmosphere, and is inserted into the vagina and receives a pressing force from the vagina. a pressure deformation portion that deforms to fit in the
a body portion located on the insertion rear end side and having a diameter smaller than that of the pressure deformation portion;
a constricted portion positioned between the pressure deformation portion and the main body portion and having a smaller diameter than the main body portion;
a pressing force detection unit that includes a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the gas in the pressure deformation portion, and that detects the pressure applied to the pressure deformation portion from the pressure of the gas;
A transmitting unit that transmits the information based on the pressing force detected by the pressing force detection unit,
to the detection device or the notification device,
Delivery start for notifying the start of delivery according to whether the pressure of the gas is equal to or less than a predetermined value or whether the amount of change in the pressure of the gas is equal to or greater than a predetermined value based on the pressing force. Provided with a determination unit for determining whether to notify information,
The notification device is
a receiving unit that receives the information;
and a notification means for notifying the delivery start information. A push-in hole is formed in the center of the rear end of the detection device in the direction of insertion for pressing when the detection device is inserted into the vagina of the animal.
The delivery detection system of claim 1. 3. The delivery detection system according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pressure deformable portion is made of an elastic material and has a substantially balloon shape. The determination unit is
When the change in the pressing force detected by the pressing force detection unit satisfies a predetermined condition, it is determined that the delivery has started and the delivery start information is to be notified. 4. The delivery detection system of paragraph 1 , 2, or 3 . The determination unit is provided in the detection device,
The transmission unit is inserted into the vagina of the animal, and is in a standby state in which it waits without transmitting information in a state where it is not determined by the determination unit that notification of the start of delivery is to be performed . 5. The delivery detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when it is determined that the start information is to be notified, the system enters an information transmission state for transmitting the information. 6. The delivery detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmission unit performs wireless communication using radio waves in the 920 MHz band. The transmitting unit
Performs wireless communication using radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band
A delivery detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Using the delivery detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
having inserted the detection device into the vagina of the pregnant animal;
A childbirth notification method, wherein when the determination unit determines to notify the childbirth start information, the notification means notifies a breeder of the animal that assistance in childbirth is required.

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