TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure herein generally relates to a radio device for implantation in an animal, a method for making a radio device for implantation in an animal, a method for providing electrical power to a radio device attached to an animal, a method for implanting a radio device into an animal, an animal having implanted therein a radio device, and a radio device implanted in an animal.

BACKGROUND

Animal husbandry and animal experimentation, meat processing and animal health monitoring, for example, may require identification of an animal, or identification of each of a plurality of animals.

A passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag may be used to identify an animal. RFID tags are designed to be small to reduce discomfort to the animal. Passive RFID tags are powered by an externally generated electromagnetic wave in the form of an interrogation radio wave. RFID tags have a radio receiver for receiving the interrogation radio wave and a radio transmitter for transmitting a radio wave comprising identification information in response to the received interrogation radio wave.

The maximum distance that a RFID tag may be read is dependent on the power of the interrogation radio wave and the size of the RFID tag's antenna. The power of the interrogation radio wave may be limited by, for example, regulation or practicalities. While limited interrogation radio wave power may be somewhat compensated by increasing antenna size, the RFID tags used in animal identification, may generally not have sufficiently large antenna because of practical or welfare constraints.

The smallest commercially available RFID tags for animals, to the applicant's knowledge, have a length of 6 mm and a diameter of 1 mm. The size of a RFID tag limits where it can be implanted within an animal. An RFID tag of these dimensions may be disposed between the scapulae (“interscapularly”) of a rodent, for example, however may be to large to be disposed elsewhere.

RFID tags may migrate to other locations within the animal even when coated with material for bonding with surrounding tissue, which has been known to compromise the welfare of the animal or cause death. The animal may subsequently require handling to read the migrated RFID tag, which may stress the animal.

In view of their size, RFID tags may cause pain when implanted in an animal. Pain may be relieved with anaesthetic. Anaesthetics, however, may kill animals, cause animal stress, and increase the cost and time associated with an implantation procedure.

The RFID implantation procedure may require manual work by a highly trained and skilled professional. Human error, imprecision and/or misjudgement may result in an inoperable or compromised RFID tag, and stress, damage, or death of the animal. The current implantation devices are generally one time use only, resulting in a significant quantity of sharp waste.

The interrogation radio wave may be degraded and/or attenuated by the vasculature, bones and muscles, for example. Low (e.g. 125-134 KHz) or medium (e.g. 13.2-13.6 MHz) radio frequencies may be used as these may be attenuated and/or degraded less than other frequencies, however even these frequencies may be attenuated and/or degraded.

Current RFID tags for animals may generally operate at low radio frequencies because water, of which animals are significantly composed, attenuates higher radio frequencies that include but are not limited to radio frequencies in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band (300 MHz-3 GHz).

Low radio frequency tags may be more expensive to manufacture than is generally desirable. Low radio frequency RFID tags may have a coil for an antenna, which for 125 KHz radio frequencies may have over a hundred turns to produce an operational threshold current. A ferrite core may be used to increase the inductance of the coil, however a coil winding machine must then be used which increases cost. The coil antenna may also increase the size of the RFID tag. The rate of data transfer from a low radio frequency tag is constrained by the low radio frequency.

In the context of this specification, an animal may be generally any suitable non-human animal or human, including a laboratory animal, a rodent, a rat, a mouse, a cat, a dog, a rabbit, a bird including a poultry bird, livestock including cattle, sheep and horses, or generally any type of animal.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a radio device for implantation in an animal. The radio device comprises a capsule encapsulating at least one of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter.

An embodiment comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device encapsulated by the capsule. The radio-frequency identification device may be responsive to an interrogating radio wave in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band. The radio device may be a RFID tag wherein the RFID device comprises the radio receiver and the radio transmitter.

An embodiment comprises an antenna encapsulated by the capsule. The antenna may be in signal communication with the RFID device. The antenna may be more than 5 μm and less than 45 μm interior to an outer surface of the capsule. The antenna may be more than 10 μm and less than 20 μm interior to the outer surface. Alternatively or additionally, an embodiment comprises an antenna for the radio-frequency identification device, the antenna having a surface not surrounded by an outer surface of the capsule. The antenna may be at least one of on and at the outer surface. The antenna may be printed on the outer surface.

In an embodiment, the antenna comprises at least one of a monopole antenna, an inverted F antenna, a line dipole antenna, a meander antenna, a fractal antenna and a line antenna.

In an embodiment, the outer surface may comprise a biologically inert (“bio-inert”) outer surface.

An embodiment may be configured to be electrically coupled with the animal when implanted therein for receiving an electrical current from the animal. The electric current may be generated by irradiating the animal with a radio wave, for example a RFID device interrogation radio wave.

In an embodiment, the capsule may comprise a tunneling tool for tunneling into the animal. The capsule may comprise a tunneling tool for tunneling into the animal's skin. The tunneling tool may narrow towards an end thereof. The tunneling tool may be at an end of the capsule. The tunneling tool may comprise at least one of a wedge and a point.

In an embodiment, the capsule may be no more than 4.2 mm long. The capsule may be no more than 4 mm long. The capsule may have a maximum transverse dimension of less than 500 μm. The capsule may have a height of no more than 0.2 mm.

Disclosed herein is a method for making a radio device for implantation in an animal. The method comprises the step of encapsulating at least one of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter in a capsule.

An embodiment comprises the step of encapsulating in the capsule a RFID device. The step of encapsulating in the capsule the radio-frequency identification device may comprise encapsulating in the capsule a radio-frequency identification device that is responsive to an interrogating radio wave in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band.

In an embodiment, the step of encapsulating at least one of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter in the capsule comprises the step of encapsulation an antenna in the capsule. The antenna may be in signal communication with the at least one of the radio receiver and the radio transmitter. The antenna may be more than 5 μm and less than 45 μm interior to an outer surface of the capsule. The antenna may be more than 10 μm and less than 20 μm interior to the outer surface. The antenna may comprise at least one of a monopole antenna, an inverted F antenna, a line dipole antenna, a meander antenna, a fractal antenna and a line antenna.

In an embodiment, the outer surface comprises a biologically inert outer surface.

An embodiment comprises the step of attaching to the capsule an antenna for at least one of the radio receiver and the radio transmitter. The antenna may have a surface not surrounded by an outer surface of the capsule.

In an embodiment, the step of attaching to the capsule the antenna comprises the step of printing the antenna on the outer surface. The antenna may comprise at least one of a monopole antenna, an inverted F antenna, a line dipole antenna, a meander antenna, a fractal antenna and a line antenna.

In an embodiment, the capsule comprises a biologically inert outer surface.

An embodiment comprises the step of configuring the at least one of the radio receiver and the radio transmitter for receiving an electrical current from the animal. The electrical current may be generated by irradiating the animal with a radio wave, for example a RFID device interrogation radio wave.

In an embodiment, the capsule comprises a tunneling tool for tunneling into the animal. The tunneling tool may be for tunneling into the animal's skin. The tunneling tool may narrow towards an end thereof. The tunneling tool may be at an end of the capsule. The tunneling tool may comprise at least one of a wedge and a point.

Disclosed herein is a method for providing electrical power to a radio device attached to an animal. The method comprises the step of electrically coupling the radio device to the animal. The method comprises the step of irradiating the animal with an electromagnetic wave to generate an electric current within the animal, whereby the electric current is conducted from the animal to the radio device.

In an embodiment, the radio device comprises a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device. The radio device may comprise a capsule encapsulating the RFID device.

An embodiment comprises the step of implanting the radio device in the animal. The radio device may be implanted in the animal's tail. The radio device may be implanted in the animal's tail skin.

The animal or a part thereof, for example the animal's tail, may collect and communicate to the radio device an interrogation radio wave. The tail in cooperation with the radio device may broadcast an identification radio wave comprising animal identification information in response to the interrogation radio wave. The tail of the animal may generally act as an antenna itself.

In an embodiment, the step of electrically coupling the radio device implanted in the animal thereto comprises the step of electrically capacitive coupling the radio device implanted in the animal thereto. Alternatively or additionally, the step of electrically coupling the radio device implanted in the animal thereto comprises the step of electrically directly coupling the radio device implanted in the animal thereto.

Collecting electrical current generated in the tail may enable the use of smaller radio devices, and may reduce the need for an antenna to be integral to the radio device. This may reduce animal distress and pain during implantation of the radio device, may enable implantation into parts of the animal previously not suitable for receiving a radio device, and may provide more power to the radio device which may increase the interrogation range, and/or enable additional functionality and applications that require more power.

The antenna, when implanted in the skin, may operate at frequencies at which other antennas not in the animal's skin may not be operable, in view of the reduced attenuation of transmitted and received radio waves. The animal's tail epidermis may be thinner than another part of the animal's epidermis. For example, the thickness of the mouse's tail epidermis may be approximately 30 μm. Electromagnetic waves (for example electromagnetic waves that are transmitted or received by the radio device) that have propagated through the mouse tail's epidermis may be less attenuated than those that have passed through the full thickness of the skin. UHF waves are absorbed relatively strongly by skin tissue.

The radio device, implanted in the animal's tail may migrate less (or not at all) than a radio device disposed within another part of the animal. Handling of the animal for locating a migrated radio device may be reduced or unnecessary.

A radio device and/or antenna within the animal's tail may improve internal imaging of the animal's body. For example, distortion of MRI torso, head, and leg images (by metal within the radio device or a antenna, for example) may be reduced or eliminated.

Disclosed herein is a method for implanting a radio device into an animal. The method comprises the step of making an opening in the skin of the animal. The method comprises the step of inserting the radio device through the opening.

An embodiment comprises the step of inserting an end of a cannula into the opening in the skin. The method comprises the step of the radio device exiting the cannula and entering the animal via the opening.

An embodiment comprises the step of attaching an antenna to the animal. The step of attaching the antenna to the animal's skin may comprise attaching the antenna to the animal for electrically coupling the antenna to the radio device. The step of attaching the antenna to the animal's skin may be such that the antenna and the radio device are co-located. The step of attaching an antenna to the animal comprises the step of applying an electrically conductive tattoo to the animal's skin

In an embodiment, the opening in the skin is an incision. Alternatively, the opening in the skin is a piercing.

Disclosed herein is an animal having implanted therein a radio device in accordance with the disclosure above.

In an embodiment, the radio device is within the animal's tail. The radio device may be proximally disposed within the animal's tail. The radio device may be within the animal's skin.

The radio device may be within the animal's dermis. The radio device may be electrically coupled with an external antenna attached to the animal's skin. The external antenna may comprise an electrically conductive tattoo within the animal's skin. The radio device may be co-located with the electrically conductive tattoo. The electrically conductive tattoo may be configured to define at least one externally visible symbol. The at least one externally visible symbol may be human readable. The at least one externally visible symbol may be machine readable. The electrically conductive tattoo may be within the animal's dermis. The electrically conductive tattoo may be within an outer portion of the animal's dermis. The electrically conductive tattoo may be located between 50 μm to 100 μm beneath the surface of the animal's skin. The electrically conductive tattoo may be configured as one of a monopole antenna, an inverted F antenna, a line dipole antenna, a meander antenna, a fractal antenna and a line antenna.

Tattooing the antenna may be easier and/or cheaper than fabricating an RFID tag with an attached antenna. A tattooed antenna may be longer than an antenna that is integral with the radio device, and may improve the performance of the radio device. Generally, animal welfare issues arising from the implantation procedures related to larger RFID tags limit the length of an integrated antenna. A tattooed antenna may enable smaller radio devices to be implanted, improving animal welfare.

The at least one externally visible symbol may be for any one or more or of visual identification of the animal, identifying a feature of the animal including but not limited to the animal's sex, and conveying generally any information. The electrically conductive tattoo may be configured as a meander antenna defining the at least one externally visible symbol. The at least one externally visible symbol may comprise at least one alphanumeric character.

In an embodiment, the animal is a non-human animal. The animal may be any one of a laboratory animal, a rodent, a rat, a mouse, a cat, a dog, a rabbit, a bird including a poultry bird, and livestock.

Disclosed herein is a radio device in accordance with the above disclosure implanted in an animal.

In an embodiment, the radio device is implanted in the animal's tail. The radio device may be implanted at a proximal end of the animal's tail. Alternatively or additionally, the radio device may be implanted in the animal's skin.

In an embodiment, the radio device may be co-located with the electrically conductive tattoo. The electrically conductive tattoo may be configured to define at least one externally visible symbol. The at least one externally visible symbol may be human readable. The at least one externally visible symbol may be machine readable. The electrically conductive tattoo may be within the animal's dermis. The electrically conductive tattoo may be within an outer portion of the animal's dermis. The electrically conductive tattoo may be located between 50 μm to 100 μm beneath the surface of the animal's skin. The electrically conductive tattoo may be configured as one of a monopole antenna, an inverted F antenna, a line dipole antenna, a meander antenna, a fractal antenna and a line antenna.

The at least one externally visible symbol may be for any one or more or of visual identification of the animal, identifying a feature of the animal including but not limited to the animals sex, and conveying generally any information. The electrically conductive tattoo may be configured as a meander antenna defining the at least one externally visible symbol. The at least one externally visible symbol may comprise at least one alphanumeric character.

In an embodiment, the radio device may be electrically coupled with an external antenna attached to the animal's skin. The external antenna may comprise an electrically conductive tattoo within the animal's skin.

Any of the various features of each of the above disclosures, and of the various features of the embodiments described below, can be combined as suitable and desired.

