Rumen Nutrition Monitoring Systems for Specialized Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857347_0004_PTD

Published: October 28, 2025

Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Rumen Nutrition Monitoring Systems for Specialized Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857347_0004_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857347_0004_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,347.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept disclosed herein relates to specialized rumen nutrition monitoring systems designed for specific, narrow market or unique operational environments, such as aquatic, high-security, disaster relief, or extreme weather conditions.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed an apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in the rumen of a ruminant. However, the apparatus may not be suitable for specific, challenging environments. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by providing specialized variations of the apparatus for unique operational environments.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The new inventive concept comprises a family of systems and methods for monitoring nutrition in ruminants, each tailored to a specific environment. For aquatic environments, a submersible sensor unit detects dissolved carbon dioxide in the rumen. For extreme weather conditions, a hermetically sealed apparatus powered by a solar-powered energy harvester is used. For high-security needs, a tamper-evident casing with secure data storage is employed. For disaster relief operations, a lightweight, portable apparatus powered by a hand-crank energy harvester is utilized. For extreme temperatures, a thermally insulated sensor unit with temperature-controlled data storage is designed.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces novel, non-obvious variations of the original apparatus, each adapted to a specific environment, thereby providing a unique solution for specialized markets or operational conditions.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include using different types of sensors, energy harvesting methods, or casing materials to further adapt the systems to specific environments. Variations may also include integrating the systems with other monitoring technologies or using machine learning algorithms to enhance data analysis.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has potential commercial applications in various industries, including agriculture, livestock, environmental monitoring, and disaster relief. The target market includes farmers, researchers, and organizations operating in specialized environments, seeking to optimize rumen nutrition monitoring and improve animal health and productivity.

CPC Classifications

Section	Class	Group
A	A61	A61B5/6861
A	A01	A01K29/00
A	A61	A61B5/01
A	A61	A61B5/073
A	A61	A61B5/1459
A	A61	A61B5/1495
A	A61	A61B5/14507
A	A61	A61B5/4238
A	A61	A61B2503/40
A	A61	A61B2560/0214

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Veterinary biomedical monitoring technologies, specifically ruminant nutrition and physiological sensing systems, involving medical instrumentation, biosensors, and animal health monitoring devices

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or veterinary technology specialist with expertise in sensor design, medical instrumentation, environmental adaptation of monitoring systems, and knowledge of ruminant physiology

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the source patent's fundamental rumen monitoring apparatus provides a flexible technological platform that can be readily adapted to specialized environmental conditions using standard engineering techniques. The PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the core monitoring technology by applying known sensor and energy harvesting strategies to different operational contexts. These modifications would be considered routine design variations within the skill set of an ordinary practitioner in veterinary monitoring technologies.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Hermetic casing providing protection from external environment (Claim 5)

PTD Variation

Specialized hermetic casings for high-security, extreme temperature, and aquatic environments

Obviousness Reasoning

A PHOSITA would recognize that modifying casing materials and sealing techniques for specific environmental challenges is a standard engineering design choice with predictable results

Source Patent Element

Infrared light sensing for rumen monitoring (Claims 2-4)

PTD Variation

Alternative sensor types like dissolved CO2 detection for aquatic environments

Obviousness Reasoning

Substituting equivalent sensing modalities to measure fermentation parameters is an obvious variation using known measurement techniques

Source Patent Element

Apparatus designed for permanent rumen contact (Claim 1)

PTD Variation

Portable and lightweight versions for disaster relief and specialized deployment scenarios

Obviousness Reasoning

Adapting the core monitoring concept to different mobility requirements represents a predictable engineering modification

Source Patent Element

Rumen nutrition monitoring apparatus

PTD Variation

Integration of alternative energy harvesting methods like solar and hand-crank power

Obviousness Reasoning

Applying known energy harvesting technologies to medical monitoring devices is an obvious technical adaptation within the state of the art

Source Patent Element

Basic rumen monitoring sensor unit

PTD Variation

Adding secure data storage and machine learning data analysis capabilities

Obviousness Reasoning

Enhancing data management through standard computing techniques represents an obvious technological improvement

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857347, the present publication demonstrates that the claimed variations in rumen monitoring apparatus represent obvious extensions of the prior art, employing standard engineering techniques to adapt a fundamental monitoring technology to diverse environmental conditions. A person having ordinary skill in the art would find the disclosed variations to be predictable modifications lacking inventive complexity, thus rendering potential derivative claims obvious and unpatentable.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,857,347
Title	Apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in the rumen of a ruminant