WO2001033951A1

WO2001033951A1 - Animal urine collecting assistance apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2001033951A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/001382
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daira Valda Vella
Original assignee: Bewer Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-11-09
Filing date: 2000-11-09
Publication date: 2001-05-17

Abstract

An apparatus (10) assists with the collection of urine from animals by providing a contact portion (50) attached with a resilient portion (40) which is, in turn, attached to a base portion (20). The base portion (20) is held against the buttocks so that the contact portion (50) contacts the perineum region of the animal. The resilient portion (40) is preferably filled with a fluid and is pressurised to encourage contact between the contact portion (50) and the perineum region, while discouraging irritation or damage to the animal by moderating the contact pressure applied to the perineum. A deflector plate (60) is preferably attached with the contact portion (50) to discourage faeces mixing with the urine which is collected and passed for storage.

Description

ANIMAL URINE COLLECTING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to an apparatus suitable for use in assisting with the collection of urine from animals.

Background to the Invention

The collection of urine from pregnant mares is a substantial industry. The urine of pregnant mares includes conjugated oestrogens, which can be recovered from the urine and used in various pharmaceutical preparations. In particular, conjugated oestrogens harvested from pregnant mares is used for hormone replacement therapy in humans, and as a hormone growth stimulant for other animals.

Existing methods of urine collection are unsatisfactory from an animal welfare perspective. For example, one method of urine collection involves the placement of a funnel-like apparatus a short distance from the vulva such that the urine is gathered and passed from the funnel-like device to a tube and, from there, to a separate storage bucket.

The funnel-like apparatus is kept in position by ropes, pulleys, and the like which attached to the stall in which the mare is standing, requiring that the mare be standing quite still for extended periods. As a result, it is not unusual for the mare to be forced to stand in position permanently for periods of up to seven months in a confined stall approximately 2.4 metres long, 1 metre wide and 1.5 metres high. Although horses can sleep when standing, deep sleep can only occur when lying down. As a result, the injury, illness and mortality rate in mares confined in this manner is relatively high, as are the adverse psychological effects on the mare, as domesticated horses are accustomed to regular exercise.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to attempt to address these are other limitations of the existing prior art. Summary of the invention

The inventive concept resides in a recognition that urine can be advantageously collected from animals using an apparatus having a contact portion intended to contact the perineum region of the mare between the anus and vulva, and a resilient portion intended to preferably provide a relatively comfortably fit for the animal when the apparatus is attached to the buttocks of the animal.

Accordingly the invention provides an apparatus suitable for use in collecting urine from animals, the apparatus including: a base portion for placing against the buttocks of an animal; a resilient portion attached to said base portion; and a contact portion attached with said resilient portion for contacting the buttocks in the perineum region of the animal; wherein said resilient portion is able to resiiiently deform to moderate the pressure applied to the perineum region when said contact portion is in contact with the perineum region.

Preferably, a deflector plate is attached with said contact portion, and is able to deflect faeces produced by the animal from contacting said contact portion. Preferably, in use, an edge of the deflector plate is positioned against the profile of the buttocks of the animal, to minimise the risk of faeces running down the buttocks of the animal rather than being deflected over the deflector plate.

Preferably, the contact portion is relatively wedge-shaped and has an outer surface which is relatively smooth, soft and pliable, to avoid irritating the perineum of the animal.

Preferably, the pressure of the fluid of the hollow interior is able to be controlled to encourage contact of the contact portion with the perineum region, while discouraging irritation or damage to the perineum region by the contact portion.

Preferably, the apparatus includes an integral base portion which is able to be engaged with an integral mounting portion including the contact portion, the resilient portion and the deflector plate. Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of the components of an apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of an apparatus shown in Fig. 1 , when the components are engaged.

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view corresponding with that of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 , when the components are engaged and in an initial state of assembly.

Fig. 5 is a further rear perspective view similar to that of Fig. 4, but in a more advanced state of assembly.

Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a mounting portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of the mounting portion shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the mounting portion shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the mounting portion shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a front perspective view of a base of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a rear perspective view of the base shown in Fig. 10.

Description of preferred embodiments

The described embodiment of an apparatus 10 is illustrated in various states of assembly in Figs. 1 to 5. As shown in Fig. 1 , the apparatus 10 has two primary components, a base portion 12 and a mounting portion 14. Figs. 2 to 5 show the apparatus in successive states of assembly in which the mounting portion 14 is engaged with the base portion 12. Figs. 6 to 9 more clearly illustrate the mounting portion 14, while Figs. 10 and 1 1 mroe clearly illustrate the base portion 12.

As indicated in the drawings, the mounting portion 14 includes a resilient concertina portion 40 having a generally rectangular engaging portion 44 and a wedge-shaped contact portion 50, both joined by the concertina portion 40.

From one side of the contact portion 50 extends a deflector plate 60 as indicated in the drawings. The concertina portion 40 and the deflector plate 60 are more clearly shown in Figs. 6 to 9. The concertina portion 40 is attached via the engaging portion 44 to a base 20, illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. In particular, the engaging portion 44 is adapted to be secured to a central region 34 of the base 20 by means of force fit arrangement between the base 20 and the engaging portion 44.

As indicated in the drawings, the peripheral wall 36 of the base 20 and the circumferential wall 46 of the engaging portion 44 are of matching profiles to allow for mutual engagement in use. The ridges 38 are of semi-circular cross-sectional profile to allow said circumferential wall 46 to be forced against the ridges so that the ridges can be snap engaged in the shoulder 48.

Other embodiments may use alternative means such as grommets or the like to achieve a similar connection between the base 20 and the concertina portion 40. In other embodiments, plastic welding may be used to secure the base 20 and the engaging portion 44 together.

The concertina portion 40 is securely and sealingly attached to the engaging portion 44. The concertina portion 40 involves a "zig-zag" concertina arrangement most clearly represented in the side view of Fig. 8. This concertina arrangement allows the concertina portion 40 to achieve relative contraction and dilation of its longitudinal length respectively due to longitudinal movement of the concertina portion 40.

The base 20 has buttock plates 30 disposed at opposed ends of the base 20. Between the buttocks plates 30 is a angled section 32 which acts as a chute to allow for passage of urine. In use, the buttock plates 30 are placed against the buttocks of an animal such as a mare (not shown), in order to assist in collection of urine from the mare as later described.

On the base 20, there extends a generally rectangular peripheral wall 36 from the central region 34. Four ridges 38 extend outwardly from each of the respective four sides of the peripheral wall 36. Conversely, on the engaging portion 44 there is provided a wall 46 which is disposed slightly inwardly into the interior of the concertina portion 40 to define a shoulder 48, as indicated in Fig. 8.

The engagement of the mounting portion 14 and the base portion 12 is illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5. In Figs. 2 and 3 there is illustrated the firm-fit engagement of the engaging portion 44 of the mounting portion 14, and the engaging ridges 38 on the peripheral wall 36 of the base portion 12. Once these components are engaged, a elongate ratchet band member (not shown) can be placed within the groove of the wall 46 on the engaging portion 44 and fastened using a ratchet clasp mechanism to securely engage the mounting portion 14 with the base portion 12.

The band is of conventional construction and is of the type used in a variety of applications in which a secure fastener is required. A band is formed, the perimeter of which can be shortened but not lengthened due to the use of the ratchet mechanism which involves a series of teeth disposed along one part of the band, and an associated catch mechanism at the other end of the band. The band is severed at a position along its length to release it from the grooved wall 46.

At the end of the concertina portion 40 distal the engaging portion 44, there is securely and integrally attached with the concertina portion 40 a contact portion 50. The contact portion 50 has a tapered, wedge-shaped configuration most clearly represented in Figs. 6 and 8.

The contact portion 50 has an underside 56 bordered by two integrally attached sides 54. The underside 56 terminates at a tip 52. The upper side of the contact portion 50 is integrally attached with the deflector plate 50. The contact portion 50 is, in use, intended to brace the apparatus against the buttocks of the mare comfortably and securely, as described in further detail below.

The engaging portion 44, concertina portion 40, and contact portion 50 are preferably integral. Preferably they are made of a silicon, latex, gum rubber or plastics moulding. However, they may be made as separate components and attached by suitable means such as, for example, sonic welding.

Extending generally rearwardly and upwardly from tip 52 of contact portion 50 is a deflector plate 60 which is also preferably integral with the contact portion 50. The deflector plate 60 extends rearwardly beyond the concertina portion 40 and also preferably the engaging portion 44. Also, it is preferable that deflector plate 60 is wider than the concertina portion 40 and is, in effect, an extension of the wedgelike shape of contact portion 50. The deflector plate 60 also overhangs the tip 52 as well as the sides 54 of the contact portion 50. The deflector plate 60 terminates on both sides with tabs 66 in which are placed holes 68. Correspondingly, the base also has holes 22 extending over which are hook-like tabs 24.

In Figs. 4 and 5 it is illustrated how the deflector plate 60 is engaged with the base portion 12. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the holes 68 of the deflector plate 60 are hooked onto the tabs 24 of the base 20 to raise the ends 66 of the deflector plate 60 as shown. When this occurs, the deflector plate 60 becomes increasingly concave in shape. The frontal side 62 and the concave sides 64 of the deflector plate 60 are of a profile intended, when the deflector plate 60 is so arranged by engagement of holes 68 with tabs 24, to rest comfortably against the buttocks of the mare when the apparatus is in use.

The concertina portion 40 and the contact portion 50 have a hollow interior adapted to be filled with a suitable fluid such as air. In alternative embodiments, a fluid such as liquid silicone may be used. Preferably, the fluid is under slight pressure so there is a tendency for the tip 52 of contact portion 50 and the frontal side 62 of the deflector plate 60 to gently press against the perineal body of the mare. The amount of applied force is intended to be sufficient to maintain surface-to- surface contact, but sufficient to injure the perineal body, or provide irritation or infection to the mare. If the mare backs into a surface or other object, the resilient concertina portion 40 can compress to a certain extent to avoid excessive force being applied to the perineal body. The applied force increases according to the compression of the concertina portion 40 due to compression of the enclosed fluid, thus warning the horse to move away to correspondingly reduce the contact pressure.

An appropriate fluid pressure device (not shown) may be provided so that the hollow interior 34 can be filled with the fluid (preferably air) to determine the softness of the extension apparatus and the pressure of the contact portion 28 on the perineum body. Preferably, however, the hollow volume defined by the concertina portion 40 is sealed with studs 72 as described directly below.

When the deflector plate 60 is attached to the base 20 as indicated in Fig. 4, the end 70 of the deflector plate 60 can also be attached to the base 20 through the use of rubber or plastic studs 74 inserted through holes 72 in the end 70 of the deflector plate 60, which coincide with corresponding holes 26 in the central region 34 of the base 20.

As the anatomy of each mare's buttock region differs, stretching tabs 66 to catch holes 68 on tabs 24 ensures constant pressure to the buttock area which assists in preventing faeces running down the buttocks past the angled section 32 to ultimately contaminate collected urine.

As the deflector plate 60 is preferably fabricated of a relatively slippery material, faecal matter which contacts the deflector plate 60 can readily slide off the deflector plate 60. At least the outer surface of contact portion 50 and the edges 62, 64 are preferably made of a medical grade silicon having a smooth, relatively slippery finish so as to provide for appropriate deflection and removal of faecal matter, as well as avoiding irritation to the mare.

The engaging portion 44 is preferably of a material having sufficient hardness to allow for a sealing engagement of the concertina portion 40 and the base 20. For example, the mounting portion 10 may be made of a rigid polyvinyl chloride, or a hard silicone. The concertina portion 40 is preferably of a relatively flexible material to allow for contraction and dilation of its length by virtue of its concertina arrangement.

As the device is fitted to the animal with the tip 52 of the contact portion 50 and the front 62 and sides 64 in contact with the buttocks and perineum body of the mare. The design of the deflector plate 60 is intended to ensure that any faecal matter will contact the upper part of the outer surface of deflector plate 60 and thus be removed away from the urine.

In particular, it is intended that the design of the deflector plate 60 be such that even "runny" faeces having a relatively high fluid content is not able to run down the buttocks of the mare and thus potentially mix with the urine stream. In this respect, upturning tabs 66, using holes 68 to secure the tabs 66 on the hook-like tabs 24, creates a concave "spoon-drain" profile for the deflector plate 60 which assists in helping faecal matter to run away from the buttocks over the end 70 of the deflector plate 60.

The angular configuration of the deflector plate 60, as well as its concave profile and its contact against the buttocks at the front 62 and sides 64 of the deflector plate 60, all assist in removing faeces away from the buttocks of the mare and, more particularly, in avoiding contamination of urine collected using the collection device. Thus the urine stream can be shielded from contamination by the apparatus.

It is intended that the actual collection of urine be attempted using existing techniques involving a collection device, such as, for example, a diaper-like collection device or "nappy", or other type of collection device (not shown). The angled section 32 allows the urine to be run off to an appropriate passage or compartment of the collection device. The collection device is fitted to the mare using a suitably designed harness to hold the collection device and hence the apparatus 10 securely in place. When the apparatus 10 is held to a mare, the buttocks plates 30 are placed against the mare's buttocks so that the concertina portion 40 and deflector plate 60 is angled upwardly to the perineum of the mare. The apparatus is preferably attached to the mare using an arrangement of straps, or through attachment to a collection device which is in turn harnessed to the mare as described above.

In particular, it is preferred that two buttocks straps from the rear of the mare and two side straps from respective sides of the mare are used to firmly and securely hold the apparatus in place against the mare's buttocks. Otherwise, the holes 28 in the buttocks plates 30 of the base 20 are used to allow a portion of the base 20 to be securely attached within such a collection device. This can be achieved using existing techniques, such as PVC welding.

In this way, urine can be collected free from faecal contamination which degrades desired active components of the urine. Use of the apparatus in conjunction with the associated collection device is relatively non-intrusive as the mare is free to wander in fields, thus reducing illness rates, injury rates, and mortality rates, associated with the limitations of less sophisticated collection methods existing in the prior art. Collection devices can also be arranged, or removed as required, to allow mares to lactate to foals at foot. This obviates the need for unnecessary culling of foals which, in many instances, is standard practice when prior art collection methods are used which require the mare to be constrained for extended periods.

Furthermore, with the use of a suitable collection device in conjunction with the described embodiment, the mare can lie down without escape of collected urine from the collection device. Also, it is desirable that a canopy be provided generally over the deflector plate 60 in use to minimise the risk of water mixing with the urine stream when mares are wandering outside while it is raining. Preferably, the canopy is attached with the harness arrangement used to secure the collection device and projects rearwardly from the rear of the mare over the apparatus.

While a preferred embodiment of an apparatus suitable for collecting urine from pregnant animals has been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications of design or construction may be made without departing from the present invention.

In particular, an embodiment of the invention is described above in connection with the collection of urine from a mare. However, embodiments of the invention are also appropriate for use with any other female animal such as a cow, sow or jenny etc. Further, while it can be desirable to collect urine from pregant female animals, embodiments of the invention can also be used, with suitable modification if required, with male animals.

It will also be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1 Apparatus suitable for use in collecting urine from animals, the apparatus including:

a base portion for placing against the buttocks of an animal;

a resilient portion attached to said base portion; and

a contact portion attached with said resilient portion for contacting the buttocks in the perineum region of the animal;

wherein said resilient portion is able to resiliently deform to moderate the pressure applied to the perineum region when said contact portion is in contact with the perineum region.

2 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said resilient portion has a hollow interior which is adapted to be filled with a fluid.

3 Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, where said resilient portion is sealed with a fluid to assist in enhancing the resilience of said resilient portion.

4 Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said fluid is air.

5 Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said resilient portion includes a hollow member with side walls having a concertina form.

6 Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the contact portion has a tapered profile suitable to be placed between the buttocks of a horse.

7 Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further including a base fitting attached to said base portion, and a mounting fitting attached to said resilient portion, wherein said base fitting and said mounting fitting are engagable for attachment of said base portion with said resilient portion.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, further including a deflector plate attached with said contact portion for deflecting faeces produced by the animal from contacting said contact portion.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said deflector plate is integral with said contact portion.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said deflector plate is wider than said resilient portion.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the deflector plate extends beyond the profile of the contact portion so that a forward edge of the deflector plate contacts the buttocks of the animal.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein an end of said deflector plate extends rearwardly beyond said base, and includes holes for securing said deflector plate to said base portion.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said deflector plate is generally concave in shape, when said deflector plate is secured to said base portion, to assist in collection of faeces produced by the animal.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said base portion includes two end portions attached by an intermediate portion.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said two end portions are adapted to be held against the buttocks of the animal with the assistance of an external holding means.

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein said intermediate portion includes a base fitting for engaging said engaging portion of said resilient portion. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, further including a chute portion adjacent said intermediate portion and attaching said two end portions, wherein said chute portion is angled with respect to said intermediate portion to assist in the passage of urine from the animal.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said engaging portion, said resilient portion, and said contact portion are integral.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said contact portion has an outer surface which is relatively smooth, soft and pliable to minimise discomfort when the apparatus is fitted to the animal.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure of the fluid in the resilient portion assists in minimising damage to the perineum region by the contact portion, while ensuring that said contact portion remains in contact with the perineum region.