WO2015081354A1

WO2015081354A1 - Method and device for the examination of animal hoofs or animal claws

Info

Publication number: WO2015081354A1
Application number: PCT/AT2014/000215
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Auer
Original assignee: Mkw Electronics Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-12-04
Filing date: 2014-12-03
Publication date: 2015-06-11
Also published as: AT514566B1; AT514566A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for examining animal hoofs or animal claws. With the aid of an ultrasonic head (4.1) of an ultrasonic probe (4), an ultrasonic oscillation is applied to an outer surface of the hoof or the claw (3). The time profile of the amplitude of the resulting oscillation reflected by the interior of the hoof or claw (3) to the outer surface of the hoof or claw (3) is measured. The geometric and/or physical parameters of the hoof or claw (3) are deduced from the time profile of the measurement results.

Description

Method and device for the examination of animal hooves or animal claws

The invention relates to a method and a device for the examination of animal hooves or animal claws, in particular horse hooves, cattle and pig claws.

The hoof or claw of an animal is the horn on the toe end of the animal. In horses one speaks of the hoof, in cattle, pigs, sheep and goats of the claw. Anatomically, said horn corresponds to the finger or toenail of the human. Especially in horses and cattle, but also in pigs, it is necessary to monitor the health of the hoof or the claw and possibly remove excessively grown horn.

Diseases and injuries to the hoof or claw are painful for the animals and are unfortunately often recognized very late. A constant monitoring of the claws is therefore important to avoid animal suffering. To wish for is a treatment before the disease or injury becomes visible or visible. Diseases and painful changes in the claw are usually difficult to recognize from the outside. Only by removing horn it is possible to diagnose and treat them. In addition to the expertise that hoof and hoof care professionals have learned from other people, hoof and hoof care professionals also have a wealth of experience and sensitivity in assessing the health of hooves and hooves, and in the removal of horn and the associated redefinition of the external geometry of the hoof Hoof or the claw to find the right dimensions.

According to the writings US 3999611 A and GB 2278198 A is closed to the health of hooves or claws by acceleration sensors are attached thereto and evaluated in the locomotion of the animal, the time course of their knife results.

According to DE 202013001026 U l, the health of hooves or claws is concluded by visually recording and analyzing movement patterns of the affected animal.

According to DE 102012007436 AI is on the health of hooves or claws closed by the affected animal runs over a provided with a microphone tread surface and the footfall sound is analyzed.

The documents US 6038935 A, DE 10057955 Al, EP 1363489 Bl, EP 1369036 Bl, US 7673587 B2, GB 2482192 A, DE 102011016344 AI, US 8182434 B2 and WO 2012097275 A2 are concerned with the diagnosis of hooves by attaching one or more force sensors to the tread surface and evaluating their results.

DE 102005012768 AI shows a hand-held measuring device which represents a combination of ruler and angle measuring device and which serves to geometrical data of the outer surface of Tierkla uen, in particular the claws of cattle to determine.

For the investigation on animals, for example in order to be able to draw conclusions about fat or water content of meat or to the thickness of a fat layer, inter alia the documents DE 2718601 AI, DE 2848140 A1, EP 76168 B1, GB 2213263 A, DE 3873742 T2 , WO 9711640 AI, WO 200015097 A2, EP 1063522 A2, DE 4391000 C2, US 6615661 B2, EP 1026516 Bl and EP 2051070 AI sonography before, ie an imaging method using ultrasound, wherein ultrasound is introduced into a medium and its reflected Proportion is measured.

The applicability of ultrasound to study organic tissue has been known since about the 1940's. In human medicine, the application for prenatal diagnosis is well known. In veterinary medicine, the most common proposals for use concern the assessment of the quantity and value of meat intended for human consumption.

In accordance with the general basic principle of sonography, directed ultrasound wave pulses are introduced into the tissue to be examined by means of an externally applied object driven to a pulse-like mechanical oscillation, the time profile of the amplitudes of the pulses reflected back from the tissue is measured and the measurement result is evaluated. It is important that the waves are mainly reflected by interfaces at which material regions with different characteristic impedances abut each other. Such interfaces are typically boundaries of organs or interfaces between zones of different tissue.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide a device and a method, with the help of which it is possible, the thickness of the horn shell on the hoof or claw of an animal living, as possible located in its usual environment Animal, measure. The measurement should be non-destructive for the horn shell and painless for the animal. To solve the problem, it is proposed to carry out the measurement by means of ultrasonography, that is to say the introduction of ultrasonic wave pulses and the measurement of the reflected ultrasonic wave pulses and the data-related evaluation of the measurement results. Surprisingly easy-to-use results can be achieved with surprisingly simple devices.

The invention is illustrated by means of sketches.

1 shows in a partial sectional view, by way of example, a foot region of a cattle including an ultrasound probe applied thereto according to the invention as a handheld device.

Fig. 2: shows in a partial side sectional view part of a system in which inventively used ultrasonic probes are installed in a soil.

The lower part of the outlined foot 1 according to FIG. 1 is the claw 3, which consists of horn and forms a kind of shell which comprises the so-called sclera 2. The dermis 2 also forms a kind of shell and directly comprises the blood-perfused lower region of the foot 1.

For example, in a healthy adult cattle in claw care about the outer part 3.2 of the claw 3 should be cut away leaving only the inner part 3.1, which is located at the bottom of the foot part called Sohlenhorn, which has a layer thickness of about 2 cm should have.

From the outside is not readily apparent how strong the layer thickness of the horn 3 really is. In the event that the animal suffers from a disease of the claws, the boundaries between the individual areas of the foot may be shifted from the position outlined, and pain sensitive tissue may extend closer than sketched to the outer surface of the untreated claw 3.

The ultrasound probe 4 shown has a transducer 4.1, which is driven relative to the housing and handle part 4.2 to swinging motion and which rests against the claw 3. On the surface at which claw 3 and transducer 4.1 are in contact, a layer of gel 5 is applied, which consists essentially typically of water and a thickener. It serves (as known per se) to improve the transmission of ultrasonic vibration between the transducer 4.1 and the part to be examined, in this case the claw 3. Typically, the transducer 4.1 is excited relative to the housing and handle part 4.2 by means of a piezoelectric drive to vibrational pulses. Thus, the required high-frequency and short-duration pulses are easily adjustable and vice versa, the piezoelectric actuator acts as a mechanical-electrical sensor, which movement of the scarf head comes to pass because from the shell her ultrasonic pulses impinge on the transducer, converts into evaluable electrical impulses. About the cable 4.3, the ultrasonic probe 4 is connected to a control evaluation display and power supply unit.

During normal operation, short ultrasound impulses are emitted from the transducer 4.1 to the claw 3 at intervals, the oscillation direction being preferably aligned normal to the contact surface of the transducer 4.1 with the claw 3. The vibration propagates in the claw 3, especially in the said direction, but is attenuated with increasing path through attenuation and reflected to a noticeably high proportion of the interface to the dermis 2 and thereby partially returned to the transducer 4.1.

After delivery of a vibration pulse is measured at the transducer 4.1, which reflected vibrations arrive.

From the temporal amplitude curve important conclusions can be drawn. Depending on the time that has elapsed since the emission of the last oscillation pulse, it is possible to calculate the extent to which the zone is removed, from which at the respective time reflected oscillation components arrive at the transducer 4.1, knowing the propagation velocity of the oscillation in the material of the claw. If the reflected signals have a particularly high amplitude, this is an indication that a boundary layer between two different materials lies at the relevant reflection zone. This may be the boundary between dermis 2 and claw 3, but it may also be a tear in the horn of claw 3. When evaluating the meaning of the amplitudes (as known per se) by a path-dependent Korrekturfa kort with to consider that the Signa strength decreases with increasing path even in homogeneous material according to damping.

In a preferred mode of operation, which is particularly easy to implement and work well, only vibrations in exactly one direction are emitted from the transducer 4.1 - namely normal to the contact plane with the claw 3 - and only vibrations which arrive from this one direction are measured and evaluated , At the thicknesses ^■ Measurement always recognizes exactly the thickness of the claw 3 in the direction normal to the contact surface to the transducer 4.1. In order to measure the claw 3 as a whole, the transducer 4.1 is moved along it and measured at the respective contact surface. The evaluation unit need only on the basis of the time at which the largest reflected amplitude is measured (- the path-dependent attenuation correction factor is taken into account) including the propagation speed on the removal of the most reflective zone to the transducer back and only this result on a Display device output, for example in the form of a numerical value and / or in the form of the length of a bar. With the least investment and ease of use so that person who uses the ultrasound probe 4 has a clear indication of how strong the layer thickness of the claw 3 is at each tested site. For the control in the course of routine hoof or claw care, the simple applicability and the simple, clear interpretation of the result are very advantageous.

With regard to the parameters of the applied ultrasonic vibration, one can work with the usual parameters from medical-diagnostic applications. Typically, one uses frequencies between 1 and 40 MHz, an average sound intensity of about 100 mW / cm 2 and a sound pressure of not more than 0.6 MPa.

Devices with which measurements according to the invention can be carried out are, with very useful functionality, so inexpensive to produce and easy to operate that the acquisition can not only count on veterinary institutions, but also for hoof and hoof care operators who drive from farm to farm, as well as for farms and riding stables from medium size. The hoof or claw care and the relevant health monitoring can be significantly improved compared to the current state for a high proportion of hoofed or clawed animals kept as livestock.

With the aid of the method according to the invention not only dimensions of continuous layer thicknesses of hooves or claws can be measured, but also material properties of the horn can be measured and assessed such as, for example, density, strength, porosity, moisture content. Such quantities affect the absorption capacity of the material for sound vibrations and thus change the height of the amplitude of the reflected measured vibration. From the data measured with it, it is possible, for example, to draw conclusions about health data or types of stress of a hoof or a claw. By evaluating the results of hoof or claw, inclusions, inflammations as well as other abnormal properties can be identified or zones with abnormal properties can be localized.

Within the scope of the invention, of course, the more common nowadays for medical diagnostic applications versions of ultrasound probes are used in which vibrations are emitted by the transducer in a defined time sequence in many directions of a plane or space and also the reflected incoming signals are assigned to certain directions. In the computer-based evaluation, a depth profile profile or even the shape of a surface in space is calculated and an image of it is displayed on a screen. This measurement, which is more complex with regard to the costs and the complexity of the required installation and generally does not provide such easy-to-interpret results, is recommended from an economic point of view even if there are suspicion factors for hoof or claw diseases, or if the animals to be monitored are extremely valuable.

In Fig. 2 are essential for the understanding of the function parts of a plant are sketched at which inventively applicable ultrasonic probes 4 angeord net in a soil 11 that animals whose hooves or claws are to be measured, just need to stand on it or slowly can go about it to allow the measurement.

In the bottom 11, a trough 10 is inserted flush with overhead opening. A horizontally oriented base plate 6 is disposed close to the bottom of the wire 10 and can be raised or lowered relative thereto by an actuator 7 in the vertical direction. Protruding from the baseplate 6 are ultrasound probes 4 vertically upward, each ultrasound probe 4 being resiliently supported by an elastic member, for example a coil spring 13, relative to the baseplate 4. The ultrasonic probes 6 protrude in vertical openings in a support grid 9, which is also used in the tub, upwards. In the individual openings of the support grid 9, the ultrasonic probes are comprised by guide bushes 5, which have the function of a sliding guide and can for example consist of PTFE. The upper surface of the support grid 9 is approximately flush with the surface of the bottom 11. One or more pressure force sensors 8 are installed between the support grid 9 and the tub 10. Besti m According to the law they detect when a tie sets a foot from above on the support grid 9 a.

If no Tie r is on the support grid 9 when the system is turned on, the U ltraschallsonden 4 are slightly lower compared to the upper surface of the support grid 9 and thus better protected than if they are flush with it or projecting upwards. As soon as an animal places a foot on the support grid 9, this is detected by the pressure force sensors 8 and the actuator 7 is controlled such that it raises the base plate 6 and with it the ultrasound probes 4 so far that individual transducers 4.1 under light pressure on the On the underside of the animal's foot, and thus come into contact with the hoof or the claw of the animal's foot.

Now wi rd as described above by means of the ultrasonic probes 4 is measured, preferably using that measuring principle a, after which ultrasound waves a from the individual ultrasound probes 4.1 are sent out in a single direction and also only the movement components arriving from this direction as a result of reflected waves be measured. You rch evaluation of the results of all in contact with the foot ß U ltraschaiisonden 4.1 can thus quite quickly the conclusions already described above be drawn, for example, a height map of the interface between H or claw and dermis of the foot are created or on inclusions , Injuries etc. of the Kla ue be closed.

Compared to the handset of Fig. 1, the device of Fig. 2, of course, already significantly more expensive. However, it is thus achieved that for surveying the foot of the animal, it is not necessary to lift it up and hold it in the raised position, and that the surveying can proceed much more quickly.

If a plurality of devices are used in a soil as in FIG. 2, or if such a device is dimensioned correspondingly large, all four hooves or claws of an animal can also be measured simultaneously.

It is particularly advantageous to equip the floor of a milking parlor with devices according to FIG. 2, since the animals to be milked are very well defined and calm and since at least in these animals monitoring of hoof health does not involve additional time caused. Instead of using in a device according to FIG. 2 a large number of ultrasound probes 4, which are quite simple in their construction and therefore can only measure in one direction, a smaller number of more complex ultrasound probes 4 can be used to achieve a comparable result provide, which can measure in each case in several directions and thus each can measure a larger area.

The material properties such as density, strength, porosity, moisture content mentioned above can also influence the propagation speed of the sound in the horn. If a very precise thickness measurement of the horn is desired, it is also recommended to measure the propagation velocity of the sound in the horn, typically by measuring the propagation time of sound over a known distance between transmitter (ultrasonic head) and receiver (mechanical-electrical transducer) which both abut the horn. From the knowledge of the velocity of propagation of the sound in the horn determined by measurement it is of course also possible to deduce properties of the horn.

Claims

claims

1. A method for the examination of animal hooves or animal claws characterized in that by means of an ultrasonic head (4.1) of an ultrasonic probe (4) an ultrasonic vibration to an outer surface of the hoof or the claw (3) is applied, that the time course of the amplitude Accordingly, from the inside of the hoof or the claw (3) forth to the outer surface of the hoof or the claw (3) reflected vibration is measured and that from the time course of the measurement result on geometric and / or physical parameters of the hoof or the Claw (3) is closed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the layer thickness of the hoof or the claw (3) is measured at that surface area at which the ultrasonic head (4.1) is applied.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the alignment of the amplitude of the ultrasonic head (4.1) in the hoof or the claw (3) introduced ultrasonic vibration with respect to the contact surface of the ultrasound head (4.1) with the hoof or the claw ( 3) is kept invariable.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the propagation velocity of sound in the horn is measured.

5. Apparatus for the examination of animal hooves or animal claws, characterized in that the device comprises an ultrasonic probe (4), which has an ultrasound head (4.1), which can be applied to the hoof or the claw (3) and can be driven to ultrasonic vibration and that the device further comprises a mechanical-electrical converter which converts mechanical vibration into electrical signals.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the ultrasonic head (4.1) is piezoelectrically driven, that the receiving surface of the mechanical-electrical converter and the contact surface of the ultrasonic head (4.1) with the hoof or the claw (3) and that of mechanical-electrical converter is a piezoelectric sensor.

7. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the ultrasound probe (4) with upwardly oriented ultrasound head (4.1) in a bottom surface (11) is inserted, which is entered by an animal.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the bottom (11) is to be entered by an animal to be milked bottom of a milking parlor.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the U ltraschallsonde (4) relative to the bottom surface by an actuator (7) can be raised or lowered.

10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the ultrasonic probe (4) relative to the bottom surface by an elastic member (13) is resiliently supported.

11. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that a plurality of ultrasonic probes (4) are arranged side by side.