Electricity: measuring and testing – Particle precession resonance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-27
2001-09-11
Patidar, Jay (Department: 2862)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Particle precession resonance
C600S443000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288539
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to animal measuring systems and more particularly to measuring an embryo within the animal, a mammary gland, testicles and other body parts of the animal. Even more particularly, the invention relates to measuring the embryo within the animal, mammary glands, testicles and other body parts through Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In modern times it has been very important for domestic livestock producers to determine if individual cow's reproductive organs are healthy and if the cow is or is not pregnant. Just as importantly, is the need to know if the bulls reproductive organs are able to maintain maximum fertility. It is also important to know if other areas of the animal are healthy such as the milk secretion cells of the mammary glands, the digestive tract, lungs, heart, skeleton and even teeth. Each of these body parts are directly related to the productivity and reproductivity of the animal. The function of each of these body parts is directly related to the very economic base of maintaining a profitable herd. They become even more important when the animal is sold for breeding stock or as a production unit for another herd.
There have been several means to measure the embryo in the pregnant cow. For many years a skilled veterinarian or technician could palpate the uterus of the cow and determine at 70 to 90 days if an embryo (about the size of a golf ball) was present. Ovaries could also be palpated to detect healthy functions or problems such as a cyst. Some prior art systems use ultra-sound to detect an embryo. These methods have several drawbacks. Both require a skilled technician and on occasion the method of palpation can cause harm to the cow or even dislodge the embryo causing an abortion.
The mammary glands or udder of the dairy cow is extremely important to the productivity of the cow. Several diseases such as mastitis can cause severe scar tissue within the milk secretion cells of the udder. Also, any severe blow to the mammary glands, such as a kick from another cow can cause scar tissue. Once scarred, the milk secretion cells fail to produce milk causing the cow's production to drop drastically. A teat canal can also be damaged preventing the milk flow from the milk secretion cells to exit the udder through the teat. If one or two of the four mammary glands are totally damaged, the cow is often culled from the herd because milk production can be reduced by 25 to 50 percent. Some prior methods have had limited success in determining the amount of scar tissue in an udder or teat. Palpation will detect the presence of scar tissue but cannot determine the amount of scar tissue deep within the mammary gland. Other prior art systems such as ultra-sound using a skilled technician can detect the presence of scar tissue. However, the “speckle” found in the ultra-sound scanning can make it very difficult to accurately measure the actual amount or percentage of scar tissue.
Modern research has shown that there is a positive correlation to the circumference of the bulls testicles and the bulls future fertility. The larger circumference when measured at a young age adds value to the future fertility of the bull. The current means for measuring the testicles is very slow, wherein a soft tape measure is used to simply encircle the testicles at the largest diameter. Again, the accuracy is dependent on the technician and no measurement is taken of the sperm producing cells within the testicles.
Additionally, there is a need to measure, evaluate and compare numerous damaged or unhealthy animal body parts with those that are healthy such as vital organ tissue, digestive tract tissue, respiratory tract tissue, cardiovascular system tissues, skeletal tissue, bone joints, ligaments, tendons, teeth and horns (or antlers). There is on occasion a similar need to evaluate any of the above animal body tissue of the carcass of an animal. Current methods have several drawbacks including inaccuracy, lack of speed, inability to diagnose without surgery and often the need of a skilled technician.
It is thus apparent that there is a need in the art for an improved method or apparatus which provides information about an embryo within the animal, milk secretion cells, testicles, and other vital animal body parts while increasing the speed, eliminating the inaccuracies of palpation, while reducing the skill required to operate the system. The present invention meets these and other needs in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide information about an embryo and reproductive tract inside a female animal.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide information about the milk secretion cells within the mammary glands of the udder of an animal.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide the circumference, diameter, and the size of the testicles of a male animal.
A further aspect of the invention is to measure, evaluate and compare many of the animal's body parts to determine the health or damage of those body parts.
The above and other aspects of the invention are accomplished in a computerized system that scans the animal using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The scan data is analyzed within the computer to determine if an embryo is present. The scan is further analyzed to determine the size of the embryo in the early stages of pregnancy, as early as 25 to 30 days into the pregnancy.
The scan data is produced as digital pixel values within scan wave lines. Multiple rapid scans of scan wave lines can be used to create real-time images. The pixel values are coded as gray scale values wherein the gray scale values of each pixel is representative of the type of tissue scanned. The computer system thus classifies each pixel, based upon its gray scale value, muscle, cartilage, ligament, tendons, fat, skeletal tissue, bone joints, scar tissue, vital organ tissue, reproductive tract tissue, teeth, horns, antlers, etc.
Once classified, the pixel data can be presented on the screen of the computer system. The diameter and the circumference of the embryo can be defined by separating the embryo tissue from the surrounding muscle tissue of the uterus. Once the circumference of the embryo tissue is defined for a particular animal, the embryo can be classified by size by comparing and ranking within like kinds of animals to determine the age of the embryo. As the embryo grows, the sex of the embryo can be determined. If no embryo is present then the animal is recorded as not pregnant.
Also, once the pixel data is classified from a scanned area such as the udder of a cow, the percentage of scar tissue in the mammary glands can be calculated when compared to the total amount of healthy milk secretion cells within the representative scanned wave lines.
The data from a scanned area such as the testicles of a bull can be used to calculate the diameter and circumference of the testicles by separating the testicle tissue from the surrounding skin tissue. Once the perimeter of the testicles is defined, the size and the density of the sperm producing cells can be calculated and an average of all wave lines representing each testicle can be calculated.
Once the embryo size, percentage of mammary gland scar tissue, testicle evaluations, or any other animal body parts have been determined for a particular animal, the animal is rated and classified for ranking within like kinds of animals.
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Doyle E. Wilson Et Al., Scanning Into the Future, Department of Animal Science, Jan. 1, 1998, Publisher: Iowa State University, Published in: Ames, Iowa
Patidar Jay
Pheno Imaging, Inc.
Shrivastav Brij B.
Young James R.
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