WO2013003892A1 - System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal - Google Patents

System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2013003892A1
WO2013003892A1 PCT/AU2012/000784 AU2012000784W WO2013003892A1 WO 2013003892 A1 WO2013003892 A1 WO 2013003892A1 AU 2012000784 W AU2012000784 W AU 2012000784W WO 2013003892 A1 WO2013003892 A1 WO 2013003892A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gas
stomach
housing
mammal
data
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2012/000784
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
André-Denis WRIGHT
Keith Ellis
Joy DEMPSEY
Leslie OVERS
Philip Valencia
David Paull
Chris MCSWEENEY
Original Assignee
Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation
Australian Wool Innovation Limited
Meat & Livestock Australia Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2011902611A external-priority patent/AU2011902611A0/en
Application filed by Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation, Australian Wool Innovation Limited, Meat & Livestock Australia Limited filed Critical Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation
Priority to MX2014000111A priority Critical patent/MX2014000111A/en
Priority to KR1020147002415A priority patent/KR20140096019A/en
Priority to AU2012278918A priority patent/AU2012278918A1/en
Priority to EP12807167.7A priority patent/EP2729787A4/en
Priority to US14/129,688 priority patent/US20150031963A1/en
Priority to CA2840253A priority patent/CA2840253A1/en
Priority to CN201280040546.9A priority patent/CN103930763A/en
Priority to JP2014517336A priority patent/JP2014525738A/en
Publication of WO2013003892A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013003892A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/42—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems
    • A61B5/4222—Evaluating particular parts, e.g. particular organs
    • A61B5/4238—Evaluating particular parts, e.g. particular organs stomach
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/01—Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/03—Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs
    • A61B5/036—Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs by means introduced into body tracts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/07—Endoradiosondes
    • A61B5/073—Intestinal transmitters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/07—Endoradiosondes
    • A61B5/076—Permanent implantations
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6846—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
    • A61B5/6867—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive specially adapted to be attached or implanted in a specific body part
    • A61B5/6871—Stomach
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
    • G01N1/2226—Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
    • G01N33/497—Physical analysis of biological material of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
    • G01N33/497—Physical analysis of biological material of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
    • G01N33/4975—Physical analysis of biological material of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
    • G01N33/497—Physical analysis of biological material of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
    • G01N33/4977—Metabolic gas from microbes, cell cultures or plant tissues
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2503/00—Evaluating a particular growth phase or type of persons or animals
    • A61B2503/40—Animals
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0002—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network
    • A61B5/0015—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network characterised by features of the telemetry system
    • A61B5/0022—Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0002—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network
    • A61B5/0031—Implanted circuitry
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6846—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
    • A61B5/6879—Means for maintaining contact with the body
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6846—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
    • A61B5/6879—Means for maintaining contact with the body
    • A61B5/6884—Clamps or clips
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C2270/00—Control; Monitoring or safety arrangements
    • F04C2270/04—Force
    • F04C2270/042—Force radial
    • F04C2270/0421—Controlled or regulated
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
    • G01N1/2226—Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
    • G01N2001/2229—Headspace sampling, i.e. vapour over liquid
    • G01N2001/2232—Headspace sampling, i.e. vapour over liquid using a membrane, i.e. pervaporation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
    • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry
    • G01N21/35—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light
    • G01N21/3504—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using infrared light for analysing gases, e.g. multi-gas analysis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
    • G01N21/59—Transmissivity
    • G01N21/61—Non-dispersive gas analysers

Definitions

  • This present invention relates to a system, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal and more particularly, but not exclusively, to measurement of one or more greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants.
  • the livestock industry has invested large amounts of time and funds into developing mitigation strategies for reducing ruminant greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane emissions.
  • mitigation strategies for reducing ruminant greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane emissions.
  • enteric gas emissions from large numbers of individual animals. It is desirable to measure gas emissions in an autonomous fashion which does not significantly disturb or impede the animals in their natural grazing environment.
  • measurements in individual animals involves estimating the rate at which livestock exhale methane using a sulphur-hexafluoride (SF 6 ) tracer gas. More specifically, the technique involves placing a permeation device that releases SF6 in the rumen of the animal. The animal is then fitted with a sampling system, typically around their neck, which is arranged to collect exhaled air from the mouth and nostrils over an extended period of time. The air sample is analysed for methane and SF 6 and these
  • a gas measurement device for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of a mammal, the device comprising:
  • a housing for being located in the stomach and providing at least one gas sensor for detecting a gas, the housing being impermeable to liquid within the stomach;
  • controller disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the at least one gas sensor, the controller being arranged to periodically process an output from the at least one gas sensor to provide data indicative of the amount of the gas within the stomach, and the controller including a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data to a remotely located receiving device disposed externally of the mammal.
  • the mammal is a ruminant and the device is for being swallowed by the ruminant, the housing of the device including a retaining means preventing the device from being expelled from the stomach of the ruminant.
  • the retaining means can for example, comprise one or more wings retained in an initial position to facilitate swallowing of the device by the ruminant and for being released to project outwardly from the housing in the ruminant's stomach.
  • each gas sensor is disposed within the housing and the housing comprises at least one gas permeable portion for entry of the gas into the housing from the stomach for detection by the gas sensor(s).
  • the gas permeable portion is a gas permeable membrane which is impermeable to the liquid within the stomach.
  • the membrane is a bi- directional membrane to accommodate changes in gas concentration in the rumen and thereby responsive to a state of flux in such an environment.
  • the housing has one or more openings for passage of the at least one gas into the housing and the at least one membrane covers the openings.
  • the membrane may, for example, be formed of siloxane, polydimethyl siloxane or some other suitable gas permeable material.
  • the device includes two gas sensors, with each of the gas sensors being adapted to detect a different gas to one another.
  • a gas measurement device embodied by the invention may also comprise at least one of a temperature and/or pressure sensor wherein the outputs of the temperature and/or pressure sensor are evaluated when determining the amount of the gas within the mammal's stomach.
  • the housing may take the form of a tubular bolus formed of a liquid impermeable material such as polypropylene.
  • a sacrificial material can also be located within the housing for preventing acidic gas corrosion of the at least one sensor.
  • the controller further comprises a memory arranged to store a plurality of gas sensor readings wherein the readings are transmitted to the remote receiving device periodically in batches.
  • a power source is located within the housing for powering at least one of the controller and sensor(s).
  • a method for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of a mammal comprising: detecting the gas utilising a gas measurement device disposed within the stomach of the mammal, the device comprising a housing providing at least one gas sensor for detecting the gas and the housing being impermeable to liquid in the stomach; and
  • a method embodied by the invention may further comprise providing a ratio from the outputs of the at least one sensor to determine a relative amount of one the gases where more than one gas is being measured.
  • a method in accordance with the invention may also comprise the further step of correlating the determined gas amounts with gas readings indicative of gas levels emitted from the mammal and utilising the correlated data to evaluate a gas emission level for the mammal.
  • a method for predicting greenhouse gas emissions for ruminants comprising:
  • the one or more gases detected in accordance with the invention may be selected from the group consisting of methane and carbon dioxide amongst others.
  • a system for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of at least one mammal comprising one or more devices embodied by the invention, and a central controller located remotely of the mammal and arranged to wirelessly communicate with respective of the devices to receive the sensed data.
  • system further comprises an inter-mediate wireless repeater arranged to communicate the sensed data to the central controller.
  • the central controller may further comprise a processor arranged to process the received data to evaluate the emission of the gas from respective of the mammals.
  • tubular body for being retained in the stomach of a mammal and providing one or more gas sensors for detecting a gas within the mammals stomach;
  • a gas permeable membrane arranged to cover an opening in the tubular body, the opening being provided for entry of the gas into the interior of the tubular body for detection by the one or more gas sensors.
  • a data signal comprising a computer program code embodied by the invention.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic of a system for implementing an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 2a and 2b show an exploded and assembled view, respectively, of the gas measurement device of Fig. 1 in accordance with an embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a controller implemented by the device of
  • Figure 4 is a process flow illustrating method steps for measuring gas utilising the system of Fig. 1;
  • Figure 5 is a table showing test data outputted by the device of Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 1 there is shown a schematic illustration of a system 100 utilised to take intra-stomach greenhouse gas emission measurements, in accordance with the above-described embodiment.
  • enteric methane and carbon dioxide gas measurements can readily be taken from large numbers of grazing ruminants (in the presently described embodiment being in the form of cattle), essentially without impeding on the animals normal grazing habits.
  • Such a system advantageously overcomes or may ameliorate the limitations of conventional gas measurement technologies (such as respiration chamber techniques and the SF 6 tracer method described in the background) which make it difficult to reliably measure genetic and field variability and the effects of diverse farm management practices.
  • the system 100 includes a gas measurement device 102 for measuring both methane and carbon dioxide gas concentrations in the rumen 104 of the stomach of an animal 106.
  • a gas measurement device 102 for measuring both methane and carbon dioxide gas concentrations in the rumen 104 of the stomach of an animal 106.
  • the device 102 may be configured to measure only a single gas (e.g. methane).
  • the device 102 includes a housing in the form of a tubular bolus 108 which is designed to be retained within the rumen 104.
  • the bolus 108 is impermeable to liquid in order to protect the electronic components therein (described in more detail in subsequent paragraphs) from water and digesta present within the rumen 104.
  • the bolus 108 is formed of high density polypropylene and includes a pair of outwardly biased wings 110 which are initially held in a constrained or "closed" state by way of a dissolvable ring 1 12 (e.g., an elastic band), to facilitate the swallowing of the device 102 by the animal 106. This is best shown in Fig. 2b.
  • the wings 110 are arranged to project outwardly (see Fig. 2a.) to prevent the device 102 from being expelled from the rumen 104.
  • a removable end cap 109 is disposed at a distal end of the bolus 108 and is provided with a plurality of openings for reasons explained in subsequent paragraphs.
  • a pair of gas sensors 114a, 114b for detecting the intra-ruminal methane and carbon dioxide gases respectively. Temperature and/or pressure sensors may additionally be located within the bolus 108 with their outputs utilised in the gas concentration calculations, as will be well understood by persons skilled in the art.
  • the sensors 114 are in the form of miniaturised non-dispersive infrared sensors, such as the TDS0035 sensor manufacture by Dynament Ltd (Derbyshire, United Kingdom;
  • the sensors 114 are each arranged to measure the respective gases from 0 to 100% concentration, in increments of 0.01%.
  • the polypropylene bolus 108 is permeable to gas
  • the presently illustrated embodiment includes a gas permeable portion in the form of a membrane 116 which is also impermeable to liquid within the rumen 104, and which is located across openings provided in the end cap 109 to allow for faster gas diffusion rates into the interior of the bolus (in turn allowing for more dynamic gas readings by the sensors 114a, 114b).
  • the membrane may also or alternatively be arranged to cover holes or slits disposed along the barrel of the bolus 108 to provide greater surface area for gas diffusion.
  • the gas permeable membrane 116 may be formed of any suitable material, although in the embodiment described herein it is made of a siloxane material and preferable polydimethyl siloxane, which has been found to suitably withstand the rigours of the rumen environment and bonds well to the polypropylene bolus 108.
  • the membrane 116 is best shown in Fig. 2b.
  • the gas permeable membrane can be bonded to the exterior or interior of the bolus in any suitable manner to provide a liquid impermeable barrier to entry of liquid into the bolus, such as with the use of an appropriate adhesive, or by sonic or heat welding techniques or the like.
  • the membrane 116 may be fabricated from, for instance, Kraton polymersTM, low density polyethylene films or a copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene film, polyurethanes and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymers.
  • each gas sensor may be mounted within the bolus immediately behind a different gas permeable membrane. That is, through openings may be provided in different regions of the bolus wherein the openings in each of the regions are covered by a respective gas permeable membrane, and a different one of the gas sensors is disposed within the bolus behind each of the membranes.
  • one gas sensor may be arranged at one end of the interior of the bolus and another gas sensor located at the opposite end.
  • the gas permeable membrane may be a bi-directional membrane to accommodate for changes in gas concentration in the rumen and thereby responsive to a state of flux in such an environment.
  • An electronic device controller 120 in the form of a Nano microcontroller manufactured by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO, Australia) (details of which can be found at URL http://www.ict.csiro.au/) is electrically coupled to the sensors 114, as is best shown in Fig. 2a. Power is supplied to the device controller 120 by way of three rechargeable 1.5v AAA batteries 121 beatable within the bolus 108 or any other battery type suitable for this application.
  • the device controller 120 includes a processor 302 which is arranged to implement various modules for determining, and
  • a determination module 304 is arranged to determine a percentage concentration of the two gases based on outputted voltage levels received from the sensors via input module 306. It will be appreciated that other parameters, such as molarity, may also be estimated by the determination module 304, depending on the desired application and sensor configuration. As will be understood, rather than the amount of the relevant gases being determined by the determination module 104, the amount of the gas(es) can be determined by a central controller 150 described further below that is disposed remotely from the animal(s). For the estimation of molarity or other concentration parameter of the each gas measured, an estimate of the internal volume of the rumen may be utilised.
  • the device controller 120 also includes a flash memory 308 for logging the methane and carbon dioxide measurements in association with a date and time stamp.
  • the device controller 120 may also log temperature, pressure and battery voltage with the gas measurements.
  • Fig. 5 shows an example table listing raw data downloaded from a device 102 showing 56 readings taken initially at fifteen minute intervals for a rumen- fistulated sheep.
  • a transceiver 310 is arranged to transmit the logged data to the central controller 150 for subsequent processing and analysis, as will be described in more detail in subsequent paragraphs.
  • the transceiver 310 communicates with the central controller 150 over a wireless network in the form of a radio network 152.
  • the central controller 150 is in the form of a laptop computer enabled with a USB mounted antenna which is arranged to communicate with the transceiver 310 over the 915MHz ISM frequency band.
  • the central controller 150 may be embodied in a server computer system arranged to communicate with the transceiver 310 over any suitable form of private or public wireless network including, for example, the GSM mobile communications network.
  • the transceiver 310 is arranged to transmit the logged data to the central controller 150 either in real time or in batches (e.g. when it is established that the transceiver is in wireless range of the central controller 150).
  • the transceiver 10 is also arranged to communicate with the central controller 150 for receiving adjustment instructions.
  • the central controller 150 may send an instruction to the device controller 120 to adjust the sampling time period for the gas sensors (e.g. to adjust the sampling period from several minutes to several hours while the animal is at pasture, for preserving battery life).
  • the central controller 150 may send an instruction to the device controller to be on standby for an indefinite period of time until the controller reactivates the sensors in sample mode which is another method of preserving battery life.
  • the transceiver functionality also advantageously allows the central controller 150 to interrogate a particular device 120 where multiple devices are simultaneously in operation, for example in a herd situation.
  • a method for measuring intra-rumen gas emissions utilising the above system 100 will now be described with reference to the flow chart 400 of Figure 4.
  • SI a first step (SI) the device 102 is swallowed by the animal 106.
  • the sensors 114a, 1 14b are actuated for sensing methane and carbon dioxide gas levels within the rumen 104 (step S2).
  • the sensor outputs are processed, by the device controller 120 to determine the percentage concentrations of the respective gases within the rumen 104.
  • the concentration data is transmitted to the central controller 150 (either instantaneously, or in batches as previously described).
  • the central controller 150 is arranged to process the data received from the device 102 to provide an estimate of the greenhouse gas emissions for the animal 106. In one or more embodiments, this can involve correlating the data provided by the gas measurement device 102 with gas data output obtained from ruminant(s) of the same type in a sealed respiration chamber (which is under various experimental and grazing conditions), and utilising the correlated data to predict an emission level of the greenhouse gas or gases from the grazing field animal(s). More particularly, in the current system the infrared gas sensors 114a, 114b measure a change in voltage differential (0.4V - 2.4V) as the gas concentration increases from 0 - 100% in a linear manner.
  • gas concentration (%) ((sensor voltage reading - 0.4)/2)* 100.
  • the respiration chambers estimate gas emissions from animals placed within for a set period of time (usually 24 hours) by periodically sampling air being drawn through the chamber.
  • a variable speed electric fan draws air through a 35mm diameter opening in the front of the chamber and then past the animal and into a similar sized manifold situated on the back wall of the chamber.
  • a flexible plastic hose (35mm diameter) mounted onto the rear manifold draws air into a flow meter for determination.
  • a small diameter hose (2mm) samples air prior to entering the flow meter and runs this sample via a multiplexer into a gas analyser for methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oxygen.
  • Each chamber can be sampled sequentially and gas concentration calculated every six minutes for just two chambers and every 15 minutes for six chambers, depending on the number of chambers in operation at any one time.
  • Software provided by Columbus Instruments as part of their "Oxymax Calorimeter System” package calculates gas emissions incorporating gas concentration and air flow rate through the system. The subsequent data are produced in a table and is also plotted on a graph for all measured gases over time as well as cumulated gas readings for the 24 hour period of animal experimentation.
  • the outputs from the respective gas sensors 114 can be utilised to provide an estimate of the amount of the respective individual gases measured or a ratio of the amount of one of the gases relative to the other.
  • a ratio is particularly useful for providing an indication of the impact of changed feed, grazing, pasture or farm conditions or the like on the emission of one or more greenhouse gases by the animal(s).
  • useful information can nevertheless be provided without the need to determine actual concentrations of each of the gases.
  • any other gases may be measured in the stomach of the relevant mammal.
  • non-greenhouse gases that may be measured in accordance with the invention include, for instance, ammonia ( ⁇ 3 ⁇ 4), oxygen (0 2 ), hydrogen (H) and hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S).
  • the device 102 may implement sensors arranged to determine the concentration of ammonia in the rumen.
  • ammonia concentration in the rumen is an end product of microbial metabolism reflecting the amount of nitrogenous compounds in the rumen undergoing degradation and the nitrogen degrading activity of the rumen microbiota.
  • the ammonia concentration determined by the device 102 can be used to interpret nitrogen input to the rumen and rate of degradation which are important for determining efficiency of nitrogen use in the rumen and potential nitrogen excretion.
  • the data (which are stored in memory 308) may instead be downloaded from the device 102 by way of a physical connection.
  • the device 102 may be located in a fistulated animal and once sufficient data has been obtained it is removed through a fistula in the animal and connected to a computer by way of a USB port. It will be appreciated that other techniques for physically downloading data from the device 102 are within the purview of the skilled person.
  • the ruminant may be any member of the order Artiodactyla, non-limiting examples of which include cattle, sheep, goats, giraffes, water buffalo, deer, camels, alpacas, llamas, elk, yak and moose.
  • devices and methods embodied by the invention are particularly suitable for measurement of gas emissions by ruminants, it will be understood that devices and methods of the invention can equally be utilised for taking measurements of any form of gas within the stomach of other mammals.
  • embodiments may extend to measuring gas concentrations within the stomach of a member of the porcine, canine, feline, or primate family, or for instance, the stomach of a human.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Urology & Nephrology (AREA)
  • Gastroenterology & Hepatology (AREA)
  • Physiology (AREA)
  • Endocrinology (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Optical Measuring Cells (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

Abstract

A gas measurement device for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of a mammal, the device comprises a housing for being located in the mammal's stomach and providing at least one gas sensor for detecting the gas. The housing is impermeable to liquid within the stomach. The device may also comprise a controller disposed within the housing and which is electrically coupled to the at least one gas sensor. The controller is arranged to periodically process an output from the gas sensor(s) to provide data indicative of the amount of the gas within the stomach. The controller can include a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data to a remotely located receiving device disposed exterior to the mammal.

Description

SYSTEM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING A GAS
IN THE STOMACH OF A MAMMAL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This present invention relates to a system, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal and more particularly, but not exclusively, to measurement of one or more greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Over the past decade there has been a great deal of attention paid to the issue of global warming and the detrimental effect it has on the planet. Greenhouse gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide, are known to be a major cause of global warming and significant efforts are being made to mitigate such greenhouse gas emissions, particularly anthropogenic emissions. Cattle and sheep emit quantities of methane and carbon dioxide gas as a digestive by-product. In Australia, for example, methane emissions from ruminant livestock account for over 70% of agricultural methane emissions and at least 11% of the net emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents.
The livestock industry has invested large amounts of time and funds into developing mitigation strategies for reducing ruminant greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane emissions. However, in order to develop, monitor and validate such mitigation strategies it is necessary to be able to readily measure enteric gas emissions from large numbers of individual animals. It is desirable to measure gas emissions in an autonomous fashion which does not significantly disturb or impede the animals in their natural grazing environment.
The most widely adopted technique for such free-ranging methane
measurements in individual animals involves estimating the rate at which livestock exhale methane using a sulphur-hexafluoride (SF6) tracer gas. More specifically, the technique involves placing a permeation device that releases SF6 in the rumen of the animal. The animal is then fitted with a sampling system, typically around their neck, which is arranged to collect exhaled air from the mouth and nostrils over an extended period of time. The air sample is analysed for methane and SF6 and these
concentrations along with the known release rate allow calculation of the methane emission rate.
However, such tracer based measurement techniques have been found to generate relatively inaccurate readings. For example, some tests have shown large variability in recordings between and within animals when measured on consecutive days. One of the causes for such variability can be attributed to dust or water entering and blocking the capillary tubing within the sampling system, or through leaks in the PVC yokes utilised to retain the sampling system about the animal's neck. Another cause can be attributed to the non-uniform rate of release of the tracer gas which can greatly influence the results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a gas measurement device for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of a mammal, the device comprising:
a housing for being located in the stomach and providing at least one gas sensor for detecting a gas, the housing being impermeable to liquid within the stomach; and
a controller disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the at least one gas sensor, the controller being arranged to periodically process an output from the at least one gas sensor to provide data indicative of the amount of the gas within the stomach, and the controller including a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data to a remotely located receiving device disposed externally of the mammal.
Typically, the mammal is a ruminant and the device is for being swallowed by the ruminant, the housing of the device including a retaining means preventing the device from being expelled from the stomach of the ruminant.
The retaining means, can for example, comprise one or more wings retained in an initial position to facilitate swallowing of the device by the ruminant and for being released to project outwardly from the housing in the ruminant's stomach.
Typically, each gas sensor is disposed within the housing and the housing comprises at least one gas permeable portion for entry of the gas into the housing from the stomach for detection by the gas sensor(s).
Typically, the gas permeable portion is a gas permeable membrane which is impermeable to the liquid within the stomach. In an embodiment, the membrane is a bi- directional membrane to accommodate changes in gas concentration in the rumen and thereby responsive to a state of flux in such an environment.
Typically, the housing has one or more openings for passage of the at least one gas into the housing and the at least one membrane covers the openings. The membrane may, for example, be formed of siloxane, polydimethyl siloxane or some other suitable gas permeable material.
Typically, the device includes two gas sensors, with each of the gas sensors being adapted to detect a different gas to one another. A gas measurement device embodied by the invention may also comprise at least one of a temperature and/or pressure sensor wherein the outputs of the temperature and/or pressure sensor are evaluated when determining the amount of the gas within the mammal's stomach.
The housing may take the form of a tubular bolus formed of a liquid impermeable material such as polypropylene.
A sacrificial material can also be located within the housing for preventing acidic gas corrosion of the at least one sensor.
Moreover, in at least some embodiments the controller further comprises a memory arranged to store a plurality of gas sensor readings wherein the readings are transmitted to the remote receiving device periodically in batches.
Typically, a power source is located within the housing for powering at least one of the controller and sensor(s).
In accordance with another aspect of the inventio there is provided a method for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of a mammal, the method comprising: detecting the gas utilising a gas measurement device disposed within the stomach of the mammal, the device comprising a housing providing at least one gas sensor for detecting the gas and the housing being impermeable to liquid in the stomach; and
periodically processing an output from the at least one gas sensor to provide data indicative of the amount of the gas within the stomach; and wirelessly transmitting the data to a remotely located receiving device disposed externally to the mammal.
In some forms, a method embodied by the invention may further comprise providing a ratio from the outputs of the at least one sensor to determine a relative amount of one the gases where more than one gas is being measured.
A method in accordance with the invention may also comprise the further step of correlating the determined gas amounts with gas readings indicative of gas levels emitted from the mammal and utilising the correlated data to evaluate a gas emission level for the mammal.
Hence, in another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for predicting greenhouse gas emissions for ruminants, the method comprising:
obtaining data indicative of an amount of at least one gas within the stomach of a ruminant, the data being derived from the output of at least one gas sensor provided by a gas measurement device disposed within the ruminant's stomach;
correlating the received data with emitted gas data obtained from one or more respiration chamber readings for the ruminant; and
processing the correlated data to predict a greenhouse gas emission for the ruminant.
The one or more gases detected in accordance with the invention may be selected from the group consisting of methane and carbon dioxide amongst others.
In another aspect there is provided a system for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of at least one mammal, the system comprising one or more devices embodied by the invention, and a central controller located remotely of the mammal and arranged to wirelessly communicate with respective of the devices to receive the sensed data.
Typically, the system further comprises an inter-mediate wireless repeater arranged to communicate the sensed data to the central controller.
The central controller may further comprise a processor arranged to process the received data to evaluate the emission of the gas from respective of the mammals. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a bolus comprising:
a tubular body for being retained in the stomach of a mammal and providing one or more gas sensors for detecting a gas within the mammals stomach;
a gas permeable membrane arranged to cover an opening in the tubular body, the opening being provided for entry of the gas into the interior of the tubular body for detection by the one or more gas sensors.
In another aspect there is provided computer program code comprising at least one instruction which, when executed by a processor, implements a method embodied by the invention.
In another aspect there is provided a computer readable medium comprising the program code embodied by the invention. .
In yet another aspect there is provided a data signal comprising a computer program code embodied by the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic of a system for implementing an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 2a and 2b show an exploded and assembled view, respectively, of the gas measurement device of Fig. 1 in accordance with an embodiment;
Figure 3 is a block diagram of a controller implemented by the device of
Fig. 2;
Figure 4 is a process flow illustrating method steps for measuring gas utilising the system of Fig. 1; and
Figure 5 is a table showing test data outputted by the device of Fig. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The following embodiments are described in the context of a system, device and method for measuring ruminant greenhouse gas emissions and specifically, methane and carbon dioxide gas emissions.
With reference to Fig. 1 there is shown a schematic illustration of a system 100 utilised to take intra-stomach greenhouse gas emission measurements, in accordance with the above-described embodiment. Utilising the proposed system 100, enteric methane and carbon dioxide gas measurements can readily be taken from large numbers of grazing ruminants (in the presently described embodiment being in the form of cattle), essentially without impeding on the animals normal grazing habits. Such a system advantageously overcomes or may ameliorate the limitations of conventional gas measurement technologies (such as respiration chamber techniques and the SF6 tracer method described in the background) which make it difficult to reliably measure genetic and field variability and the effects of diverse farm management practices.
The system 100 includes a gas measurement device 102 for measuring both methane and carbon dioxide gas concentrations in the rumen 104 of the stomach of an animal 106. As afore-described, it will be understood that embodiments should not be seen as being limited to measuring these two gases only and could be modified to additionally or alternatively monitor other gases present within the stomach (e.g.
hydrogen, oxygen, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, etc.), depending on the desired application. Equally, depending on the desired application, the device 102 may be configured to measure only a single gas (e.g. methane).
With additional reference to Fig. 2, the device 102 includes a housing in the form of a tubular bolus 108 which is designed to be retained within the rumen 104. The bolus 108 is impermeable to liquid in order to protect the electronic components therein (described in more detail in subsequent paragraphs) from water and digesta present within the rumen 104. In the presently described embodiment, the bolus 108 is formed of high density polypropylene and includes a pair of outwardly biased wings 110 which are initially held in a constrained or "closed" state by way of a dissolvable ring 1 12 (e.g., an elastic band), to facilitate the swallowing of the device 102 by the animal 106. This is best shown in Fig. 2b. Once the ring 112 has dissolved, the wings 110 are arranged to project outwardly (see Fig. 2a.) to prevent the device 102 from being expelled from the rumen 104. A removable end cap 109 is disposed at a distal end of the bolus 108 and is provided with a plurality of openings for reasons explained in subsequent paragraphs.
Located within the bolus 108 is a pair of gas sensors 114a, 114b for detecting the intra-ruminal methane and carbon dioxide gases respectively. Temperature and/or pressure sensors may additionally be located within the bolus 108 with their outputs utilised in the gas concentration calculations, as will be well understood by persons skilled in the art. In the presently described embodiment the sensors 114 are in the form of miniaturised non-dispersive infrared sensors, such as the TDS0035 sensor manufacture by Dynament Ltd (Derbyshire, United Kingdom;
http://www.dvnament.com ) or the IR15TT-R sensor manufactured by e2v technologies (Essex, United Kingdom; http://www.e2v.com/). The sensors 114 are each arranged to measure the respective gases from 0 to 100% concentration, in increments of 0.01%. Whilst the polypropylene bolus 108 is permeable to gas, the presently illustrated embodiment includes a gas permeable portion in the form of a membrane 116 which is also impermeable to liquid within the rumen 104, and which is located across openings provided in the end cap 109 to allow for faster gas diffusion rates into the interior of the bolus (in turn allowing for more dynamic gas readings by the sensors 114a, 114b). The membrane may also or alternatively be arranged to cover holes or slits disposed along the barrel of the bolus 108 to provide greater surface area for gas diffusion. The gas permeable membrane 116 may be formed of any suitable material, although in the embodiment described herein it is made of a siloxane material and preferable polydimethyl siloxane, which has been found to suitably withstand the rigours of the rumen environment and bonds well to the polypropylene bolus 108. The membrane 116 is best shown in Fig. 2b. The gas permeable membrane can be bonded to the exterior or interior of the bolus in any suitable manner to provide a liquid impermeable barrier to entry of liquid into the bolus, such as with the use of an appropriate adhesive, or by sonic or heat welding techniques or the like. In other embodiments, the membrane 116 may be fabricated from, for instance, Kraton polymers™, low density polyethylene films or a copolymer of polypropylene and polyethylene film, polyurethanes and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymers.
To minimise gas diffusion effects in the interior of the bolus 108, respective of the gas sensors are desirably mounted within the bolus so as to be situated as close to the gas permeable membrane as practicable. In at least some embodiments, each gas sensor may be mounted within the bolus immediately behind a different gas permeable membrane. That is, through openings may be provided in different regions of the bolus wherein the openings in each of the regions are covered by a respective gas permeable membrane, and a different one of the gas sensors is disposed within the bolus behind each of the membranes. For instance, in this embodiment, one gas sensor may be arranged at one end of the interior of the bolus and another gas sensor located at the opposite end. Also, in a particular embodiment, the gas permeable membrane may be a bi-directional membrane to accommodate for changes in gas concentration in the rumen and thereby responsive to a state of flux in such an environment.
An electronic device controller 120 in the form of a Nano microcontroller manufactured by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO, Australia) (details of which can be found at URL http://www.ict.csiro.au/) is electrically coupled to the sensors 114, as is best shown in Fig. 2a. Power is supplied to the device controller 120 by way of three rechargeable 1.5v AAA batteries 121 beatable within the bolus 108 or any other battery type suitable for this application.
With reference to the schematic of Fig. 3, the device controller 120 includes a processor 302 which is arranged to implement various modules for determining, and
communicating to a central controller 150 (Fig. 1), data indicative of an amount of the respective gases within the rumen 104, based on the sensor outputs. According to the presently described embodiment, a determination module 304 is arranged to determine a percentage concentration of the two gases based on outputted voltage levels received from the sensors via input module 306. It will be appreciated that other parameters, such as molarity, may also be estimated by the determination module 304, depending on the desired application and sensor configuration. As will be understood, rather than the amount of the relevant gases being determined by the determination module 104, the amount of the gas(es) can be determined by a central controller 150 described further below that is disposed remotely from the animal(s). For the estimation of molarity or other concentration parameter of the each gas measured, an estimate of the internal volume of the rumen may be utilised.
The device controller 120 also includes a flash memory 308 for logging the methane and carbon dioxide measurements in association with a date and time stamp. The device controller 120 may also log temperature, pressure and battery voltage with the gas measurements. Fig. 5 shows an example table listing raw data downloaded from a device 102 showing 56 readings taken initially at fifteen minute intervals for a rumen- fistulated sheep.
A transceiver 310 is arranged to transmit the logged data to the central controller 150 for subsequent processing and analysis, as will be described in more detail in subsequent paragraphs. In the illustrated embodiment the transceiver 310 communicates with the central controller 150 over a wireless network in the form of a radio network 152. More specifically the central controller 150 is in the form of a laptop computer enabled with a USB mounted antenna which is arranged to communicate with the transceiver 310 over the 915MHz ISM frequency band. It will be understood that in alternative embodiments, the central controller 150 may be embodied in a server computer system arranged to communicate with the transceiver 310 over any suitable form of private or public wireless network including, for example, the GSM mobile communications network.
The transceiver 310 is arranged to transmit the logged data to the central controller 150 either in real time or in batches (e.g. when it is established that the transceiver is in wireless range of the central controller 150). The transceiver 10 is also arranged to communicate with the central controller 150 for receiving adjustment instructions. For example, the central controller 150 may send an instruction to the device controller 120 to adjust the sampling time period for the gas sensors (e.g. to adjust the sampling period from several minutes to several hours while the animal is at pasture, for preserving battery life). Likewise, the central controller 150 may send an instruction to the device controller to be on standby for an indefinite period of time until the controller reactivates the sensors in sample mode which is another method of preserving battery life. The transceiver functionality also advantageously allows the central controller 150 to interrogate a particular device 120 where multiple devices are simultaneously in operation, for example in a herd situation. A method for measuring intra-rumen gas emissions utilising the above system 100 will now be described with reference to the flow chart 400 of Figure 4. In a first step (SI), the device 102 is swallowed by the animal 106. After a short period of time, acids, digestive juices, enzyme(s) and/or liquids present within the rumen 104 cause the ring 112 to dissolve in turn allowing the wings 110 to project outwardly so as to modify the size and shape of the bolus thereby preventing the bolus 108 from being regurgitated during rumination from the gut and into the mouth and being expelled from the oral cavity. Upon instruction from the device controller 120 the sensors 114a, 1 14b are actuated for sensing methane and carbon dioxide gas levels within the rumen 104 (step S2). At step S3 the sensor outputs are processed, by the device controller 120 to determine the percentage concentrations of the respective gases within the rumen 104. At step S4, the concentration data is transmitted to the central controller 150 (either instantaneously, or in batches as previously described).
The central controller 150 is arranged to process the data received from the device 102 to provide an estimate of the greenhouse gas emissions for the animal 106. In one or more embodiments, this can involve correlating the data provided by the gas measurement device 102 with gas data output obtained from ruminant(s) of the same type in a sealed respiration chamber (which is under various experimental and grazing conditions), and utilising the correlated data to predict an emission level of the greenhouse gas or gases from the grazing field animal(s). More particularly, in the current system the infrared gas sensors 114a, 114b measure a change in voltage differential (0.4V - 2.4V) as the gas concentration increases from 0 - 100% in a linear manner. The gas concentration for the Dynament gas sensors 1 14a, 114b is calculated in the following formula: gas concentration (%) = ((sensor voltage reading - 0.4)/2)* 100. The respiration chambers estimate gas emissions from animals placed within for a set period of time (usually 24 hours) by periodically sampling air being drawn through the chamber. A variable speed electric fan draws air through a 35mm diameter opening in the front of the chamber and then past the animal and into a similar sized manifold situated on the back wall of the chamber. A flexible plastic hose (35mm diameter) mounted onto the rear manifold draws air into a flow meter for determination. A small diameter hose (2mm) samples air prior to entering the flow meter and runs this sample via a multiplexer into a gas analyser for methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and oxygen. Each chamber can be sampled sequentially and gas concentration calculated every six minutes for just two chambers and every 15 minutes for six chambers, depending on the number of chambers in operation at any one time. Software provided by Columbus Instruments as part of their "Oxymax Calorimeter System" package calculates gas emissions incorporating gas concentration and air flow rate through the system. The subsequent data are produced in a table and is also plotted on a graph for all measured gases over time as well as cumulated gas readings for the 24 hour period of animal experimentation.
The outputs from the respective gas sensors 114 can be utilised to provide an estimate of the amount of the respective individual gases measured or a ratio of the amount of one of the gases relative to the other. A ratio is particularly useful for providing an indication of the impact of changed feed, grazing, pasture or farm conditions or the like on the emission of one or more greenhouse gases by the animal(s). Likewise, by determining a ratio of one gas to another as described above, useful information can nevertheless be provided without the need to determine actual concentrations of each of the gases.
Whilst the above embodiments have been described in connection with the measurement of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (C02) and/or methane (CH4), any other gases may be measured in the stomach of the relevant mammal. For example, non-greenhouse gases that may be measured in accordance with the invention include, for instance, ammonia (Ν¾), oxygen (02), hydrogen (H) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S). In one specific non-limiting example, the device 102 may implement sensors arranged to determine the concentration of ammonia in the rumen. As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, ammonia concentration in the rumen is an end product of microbial metabolism reflecting the amount of nitrogenous compounds in the rumen undergoing degradation and the nitrogen degrading activity of the rumen microbiota. Thus, the ammonia concentration determined by the device 102 can be used to interpret nitrogen input to the rumen and rate of degradation which are important for determining efficiency of nitrogen use in the rumen and potential nitrogen excretion.
In an alternative embodiment to that described above, rather than wirelessly transmitting the gas emission data to the central controller 150 the data (which are stored in memory 308) may instead be downloaded from the device 102 by way of a physical connection. For example, the device 102 may be located in a fistulated animal and once sufficient data has been obtained it is removed through a fistula in the animal and connected to a computer by way of a USB port. It will be appreciated that other techniques for physically downloading data from the device 102 are within the purview of the skilled person.
The ruminant may be any member of the order Artiodactyla, non-limiting examples of which include cattle, sheep, goats, giraffes, water buffalo, deer, camels, alpacas, llamas, elk, yak and moose. Moreover, whilst devices and methods embodied by the invention are particularly suitable for measurement of gas emissions by ruminants, it will be understood that devices and methods of the invention can equally be utilised for taking measurements of any form of gas within the stomach of other mammals. For example, embodiments may extend to measuring gas concentrations within the stomach of a member of the porcine, canine, feline, or primate family, or for instance, the stomach of a human.
In addition, although the invention has been described with reference to the present embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that alterations, changes and improvements may be made and equivalents may be substituted for the elements thereof and steps thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, many modifications may be made to adapt the invention to a particular situation without departing from the central scope thereof. Such alterations, changes, modifications and improvements, though not expressly described above, are nevertheless intended and implied to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. The above described embodiments are therefore not to be taken as being limiting in any respects.
Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge of the skilled addressee in Australia or elsewhere.
In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A gas measurement device for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of a mammal, the device comprising:
a housing for being located in the stomach and providing at least one gas sensor for detecting a gas, the housing being impermeable to liquid within the stomach; and
a controller disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the at least one gas sensor, the controller being arranged to periodically process an output from the at least one gas sensor to provide data indicative of the amount of the gas within the stomach, and the controller including a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data to a remotely located receiving device disposed externally of the mammal.
2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a ruminant and the device is for being swallowed by the ruminant, the housing of the device including a retaining means for preventing the device from being expelled from the stomach of the ruminant.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the retaining means comprises one or more wings retained in an initial position to facilitate swallowing of the device by me ruminant and for being released to project outwardly from the housing in the ruminant's stomach.
4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each gas sensor is disposed within the housing and wherein the housing comprises at least one gas permeable portion for entry of the gas into the housing from the stomach for detection by the gas sensor(s).
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the gas permeable portion is a gas permeable membrane which is impermeable to the liquid within the stomach.
6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the housing has one or more openings for passage of the at least one gas into the housing and the at least one membrane covers the openings.
7. A device in accordance with claim 5 or 6, wherein the gas permeable membrane is a siloxane membrane.
8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 including two gas sensors, the gas sensors being adapted to detect a different gas to one another.
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one gas is selected from the group consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen, hydrogen sulphide and oxygen.
10. A method for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of a mammal, the method comprising:
detecting the gas utilising a gas measurement device disposed within the stomach of the mammal, the device comprising a housing providing at least one gas sensor for detecting the gas and the housing being impermeable to liquid in the stomach; and
periodically processing an output from the at least one gas sensor to provide data indicative of the amount of the gas within the stomach; and
wirelessly transmitting the data to a remotely located receiving device disposed externally to the mammal.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one gas sensor is located within the housing, the housing being permeable to the gas.
12. A method according to claim 10 or 11 , further comprising utilising two or more of the gas sensors, the gas sensors being adapted to detect a different gas to one another.
13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising comparing a ratio of the outputs from at least two said sensors to determine a relative amount of the gases within the stomach.
14. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, further comprising measuring at least one of a pressure and temperature within the stomach, the pressure and/or temperature being evaluated together with the sensor output(s) for determination of the amount of the gas within the stomach.
15. A method in accordance with any one of claims 10 to 14, comprising the further step of correlating the determined gas amounts with gas readings emitted from the mammal and utilising the correlated data to evaluate a gas emission level for the mammal.
16. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein the at least one gas is selected from the group consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen, hydrogen sulphide and oxygen.
17. A method for predicting greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants, the method comprising:
obtaining data indicative of an amount of at least one gas within the stomach of a ruminant, the data being derived from the output of at least one gas sensor provided by a gas measurement device disposed within the ruminant's stomach;
correlating the received data with emitted gas data obtained from one or more respiration chamber readings for the ruminant; and
processing the correlated data to predict a greenhouse gas emission for the ruminant.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the data is indicative of a ratio of two or more gas levels within the stomach of the ruminant.
19. A method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the at least one gas is selected from the group consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen, hydrogen sulphide and oxygen.
20. A system for measuring at least one gas in the stomach of at least one mammal, the system comprising one or more devices as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, and a central controller located remotely from the mammal and arranged to wirelessly communicate with respective of the devices to receive the data from the devices.
21. A system in accordance with claim 20, further comprising an inter-mediate wireless repeater arranged to communicate the data to the central controller.
22. A system in accordance with claim 21 or 22, wherein the central controller further comprises a processor arranged to process the received data to evaluate the emission of the gas from respective of the ruminants.
23. A bolus comprising:
a tubular body for being retained in the stomach of a mammal and providing one or more gas sensors for detecting a gas within the mammal's stomach;
a gas permeable membrane arranged to cover an opening in the tubular body, the opening being provided for entry of the gas into the interior of the tubular body for detection by at least one said gas sensor.
24. A computer readable medium providing a program code comprising at least one instruction which, when executed by a processor, implements a method as defined in any one of claims 10 to 19.
PCT/AU2012/000784 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal WO2013003892A1 (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
MX2014000111A MX2014000111A (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal.
KR1020147002415A KR20140096019A (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
AU2012278918A AU2012278918A1 (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
EP12807167.7A EP2729787A4 (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
US14/129,688 US20150031963A1 (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
CA2840253A CA2840253A1 (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
CN201280040546.9A CN103930763A (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
JP2014517336A JP2014525738A (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and apparatus for measuring gas in the stomach of a mammal

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2011902611A AU2011902611A0 (en) 2011-07-01 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
AU2011902610A AU2011902610A0 (en) 2011-07-01 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
AU2011902611 2011-07-01
AU2011902610 2011-07-01
AU2011903645A AU2011903645A0 (en) 2011-09-08 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
AU2011903645 2011-09-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013003892A1 true WO2013003892A1 (en) 2013-01-10

Family

ID=47436372

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2012/000784 WO2013003892A1 (en) 2011-07-01 2012-06-29 System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US20150031963A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2729787A4 (en)
JP (1) JP2014525738A (en)
KR (1) KR20140096019A (en)
CN (1) CN103930763A (en)
AR (1) AR087022A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2012278918A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2840253A1 (en)
CL (1) CL2013003802A1 (en)
MX (1) MX2014000111A (en)
WO (1) WO2013003892A1 (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103175943A (en) * 2013-02-27 2013-06-26 北京师范大学 Garden green-land carbon sinking capacity detecting system based on automatic sampling analysis
DE102014101875A1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Gea Farm Technologies Gmbh Method and device for monitoring the diet, in particular the fermentation in the rumen of a ruminant
WO2015121220A1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Gea Farm Technologies Gmbh Method and apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in a rumen of a ruminant
WO2018032032A1 (en) * 2016-08-15 2018-02-22 Royal Melbourne Institute Of Technology Gas sensor capsule
EP3194950A4 (en) * 2014-09-02 2018-08-22 Royal Melbourne Institute Of Technology Gas sensor nanocomposite membranes
EP3837971A1 (en) * 2019-12-19 2021-06-23 GEA Farm Technologies GmbH Apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in the rumen of a ruminant
WO2022023367A1 (en) 2020-07-29 2022-02-03 Modus Iot Limited Determination of methane emitted by ruminants

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5942956B2 (en) 2013-10-11 2016-06-29 セイコーエプソン株式会社 MEASUREMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, INFORMATION DEVICE, MEASUREMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND MEASUREMENT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
JP2015073826A (en) * 2013-10-11 2015-04-20 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Biological information measuring instrument
CN110811549B (en) * 2015-01-30 2022-11-01 Toto株式会社 Body information detection system
EP3619526A4 (en) * 2017-05-05 2021-03-03 Royal Melbourne Institute Of Technology Multi-gas sensing system
US20200214636A1 (en) * 2017-07-03 2020-07-09 Check-Cap Ltd. Bacteria sampling and dispersion capsule
JP7115676B2 (en) * 2018-03-26 2022-08-09 国立大学法人岩手大学 Method for detecting drinking behavior, method for estimating position of sensor device, method for estimating pH, method for monitoring ruminants, device for monitoring ruminants, and program
CN108614047A (en) * 2018-04-27 2018-10-02 内蒙古自治区农牧业科学院 A kind of assay method and system of methane discharge of ruminant
CN109875560A (en) * 2019-03-27 2019-06-14 上海理工大学 One kind can swallow formula alimentary canal gas detecting system
KR102112177B1 (en) * 2020-02-11 2020-05-19 주식회사 유라이크코리아 Biological Information Capsule and Method for Measuring Methane Gas in the Rumen of Livestock
FI20205189A1 (en) * 2020-02-24 2021-08-25 Ds Deep Sensing Tech Oy A device for collecting gas samples
JP6861878B1 (en) * 2020-09-10 2021-04-21 太平洋工業株式会社 Wireless terminal, livestock monitoring system and livestock monitoring method
JP6921289B1 (en) * 2020-10-02 2021-08-18 太平洋工業株式会社 Handset terminal and monitoring system and wireless transmission method
MX2023006678A (en) 2020-12-08 2023-08-22 Ruminant Biotech Corp Ltd Improvements to devices and methods for delivery of substances to animals.
KR102275131B1 (en) 2021-03-09 2021-07-09 주식회사 유라이크코리아 Shrinkage pressure measuring apparatus for ruminant stomach and measuring method thereof
WO2022220233A1 (en) * 2021-04-16 2022-10-20 株式会社トクヤマ Gas measuring device for measuring gas in digestive organs of livestock
JP7261931B1 (en) * 2022-11-10 2023-04-20 太平洋工業株式会社 ambiguity detector and ambiguity monitoring system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0679006B2 (en) * 1985-01-14 1994-10-05 ブリティッシュ・テクノロジー・グループ・リミテッド Electrochemical sensor
US20030195400A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2003-10-16 Arkady Glukhovsky Method for measurement of electrical characteristics of tissue
US7062308B1 (en) * 2001-07-05 2006-06-13 Jackson William J Remote physiological monitoring with the reticulum of livestock
US7118531B2 (en) * 2002-09-24 2006-10-10 The Johns Hopkins University Ingestible medical payload carrying capsule with wireless communication
GB2455700B (en) * 2007-10-10 2011-12-28 Ecow Ltd Bolus

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2300261B (en) * 1992-10-16 1997-04-02 Instrumentarium Corp Method and apparatus for analyzing a sample
JP3020376B2 (en) * 1993-03-26 2000-03-15 サージミヤワキ株式会社 Internal body identification device for animals
US5617850A (en) * 1994-03-24 1997-04-08 Gold Standard Medical Corp. Gas probe
DE29923993U1 (en) * 1999-03-17 2001-11-15 Foerster Martin Device for controlling the condition of mammals
US20040133079A1 (en) * 2003-01-02 2004-07-08 Mazar Scott Thomas System and method for predicting patient health within a patient management system
JP4748296B2 (en) * 2004-03-24 2011-08-17 株式会社高杉製作所 Gas generation amount measuring method and gas generation amount measuring apparatus
AU2006273679B2 (en) * 2005-07-26 2012-05-03 Menachem P. Weiss Extending intrabody capsule
US20090048498A1 (en) * 2007-08-17 2009-02-19 Frank Riskey System and method of monitoring an animal
CN104473619A (en) * 2008-04-18 2015-04-01 西门子公司 Method of detecting specific germs and application of endocapsule
JP5113654B2 (en) * 2008-07-18 2013-01-09 シャープ株式会社 Gas measuring device
JP5355169B2 (en) * 2009-03-24 2013-11-27 オリンパス株式会社 Capsule type medical device and capsule type medical system
JP5569911B2 (en) * 2009-06-19 2014-08-13 国立大学法人岩手大学 DETECTING DEVICE, ITS RECOVERY METHOD AND MONITORING SYSTEM

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0679006B2 (en) * 1985-01-14 1994-10-05 ブリティッシュ・テクノロジー・グループ・リミテッド Electrochemical sensor
US20030195400A1 (en) * 2000-05-31 2003-10-16 Arkady Glukhovsky Method for measurement of electrical characteristics of tissue
US7062308B1 (en) * 2001-07-05 2006-06-13 Jackson William J Remote physiological monitoring with the reticulum of livestock
US7118531B2 (en) * 2002-09-24 2006-10-10 The Johns Hopkins University Ingestible medical payload carrying capsule with wireless communication
GB2455700B (en) * 2007-10-10 2011-12-28 Ecow Ltd Bolus

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103175943A (en) * 2013-02-27 2013-06-26 北京师范大学 Garden green-land carbon sinking capacity detecting system based on automatic sampling analysis
US10905100B2 (en) 2014-02-14 2021-02-02 Gea Farm Technologies Gmbh Method and apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in a rumen of a ruminant
DE102014101875A1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Gea Farm Technologies Gmbh Method and device for monitoring the diet, in particular the fermentation in the rumen of a ruminant
WO2015121220A1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Gea Farm Technologies Gmbh Method and apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in a rumen of a ruminant
EA038483B1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2021-09-03 Геа Фарм Технолоджиз Гмбх Method and apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in a rumen of a ruminant
AU2019279916B2 (en) * 2014-02-14 2020-11-05 Gea Farm Technologies Gmbh Method and apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in a rumen of a ruminant
EP3194950A4 (en) * 2014-09-02 2018-08-22 Royal Melbourne Institute Of Technology Gas sensor nanocomposite membranes
WO2018032032A1 (en) * 2016-08-15 2018-02-22 Royal Melbourne Institute Of Technology Gas sensor capsule
CN109891227A (en) * 2016-08-15 2019-06-14 皇家墨尔本理工大学 Gas sensor capsule
US11419519B2 (en) 2016-08-15 2022-08-23 Royal Melbourne Institute Of Technology Gas sensor capsule
EP3837971A1 (en) * 2019-12-19 2021-06-23 GEA Farm Technologies GmbH Apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in the rumen of a ruminant
WO2021123038A1 (en) * 2019-12-19 2021-06-24 Laporte Uribe Jose A Apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in the rumen of a ruminant
US11857347B2 (en) 2019-12-19 2024-01-02 José A. LAPORTE-URIBE Apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in the rumen of a ruminant
WO2022023367A1 (en) 2020-07-29 2022-02-03 Modus Iot Limited Determination of methane emitted by ruminants

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20150031963A1 (en) 2015-01-29
MX2014000111A (en) 2014-09-15
EP2729787A1 (en) 2014-05-14
KR20140096019A (en) 2014-08-04
AU2012278918A1 (en) 2013-04-18
JP2014525738A (en) 2014-10-02
AR087022A1 (en) 2014-02-05
EP2729787A4 (en) 2016-05-25
CN103930763A (en) 2014-07-16
CL2013003802A1 (en) 2014-11-21
CA2840253A1 (en) 2013-01-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20150031963A1 (en) System, method and device for measuring a gas in the stomach of a mammal
Hammond et al. Review of current in vivo measurement techniques for quantifying enteric methane emission from ruminants
US9164081B2 (en) Method and device for determining greenhouse gas, in particular methane, emitted by a ruminant, in particular a dairy animal
US11419519B2 (en) Gas sensor capsule
DK2438812T3 (en) A sensing device AND MONITORING SYSTEM THEREOF
EP2816352A1 (en) Concentration measurements with a mobile device
ES2221596T1 (en) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS ANALYSIS FOR DIAGNOSIS.
EP3315965B1 (en) Device for measuring the amounts of gases ejected when an animal belches
Goopy et al. A comparison of methodologies for measuring methane emissions from ruminants
CN110290747B (en) Method and apparatus for breath analysis
RU2013133854A (en) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING CARBON DIOXIDE DISTRIBUTED IN THE PROCESS OF NON-INVASIVE LUNG VENTILATION
PL425316A1 (en) Portable device intended for detection of biomarkers in exhaled air and method for detection of biomarkers in exhaled air
US20220233086A1 (en) Device and method for detecting a pressure in a rumen of a ruminant
FR2895667A1 (en) Female mammal or woman`s physiological state e.g. fertile state, determining device, has housing coupled to unit processing data items from sensors and to unit transmitting collected data items and results obtained by data processing
EP1359834B1 (en) Respiratory oxygen consumption measuring device and method
WO2008146662A1 (en) Body fat measuring device
US20240060959A1 (en) Continuous methane monitoring device
TR2023019139U5 (en) MULTIFUNCTIONAL RUMEN BOLU SYSTEM
Washburn et al. Field-scale Monitoring of Feedlot Produced Methane and Ammonia using Dual Comb Spectroscopy
FI12015U1 (en) Sensor device mounted on the ear of the animal
CZ21641U1 (en) Apparatus for continuous measurement of ammonium ion concentration in paunch
JP2024066997A (en) Method for estimating breath components for animals and sensing system for breath components for animals
CZ2010819A3 (en) Device for continuous measurement of ammonium ion concentration in ruminant rumen

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 12807167

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2012278918

Country of ref document: AU

Date of ref document: 20120629

Kind code of ref document: A

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2014517336

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2840253

Country of ref document: CA

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: MX/A/2014/000111

Country of ref document: MX

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 20147002415

Country of ref document: KR

Kind code of ref document: A

REEP Request for entry into the european phase

Ref document number: 2012807167

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2012807167

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 14129688

Country of ref document: US

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: BR

Ref legal event code: B01A

Ref document number: 112013033467

Country of ref document: BR

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: BR

Ref legal event code: B01E

Ref document number: 112013033467

Country of ref document: BR

Free format text: IDENTIFICAR O SIGNATARIO DA PETICAO NO 018130041736, DE 26/12/2013, E COMPROVAR QUE O MESMO TEM PODERES PARA ATUAR EM NOME DO DEPOSITANTE, UMA VEZ QUE, BASEADO NO ARTIGO 216, DA LEI 9.279/1996, DE 14/05/1996 (LPI): OS ATOS PREVISTOS NESTA LEI SERAO PRATICADOS PELAS PARTES OU POR SEUS PROCURADORES, DEVIDAMENTE QUALIFICADOS.

Ref country code: BR

Ref legal event code: B01E

Ref document number: 112013033467

Country of ref document: BR

ENPW Started to enter national phase and was withdrawn or failed for other reasons

Ref document number: 112013033467

Country of ref document: BR