A Radio Transmitter for Telemetering Body Temperatures of Chickens

Abstract THE conventional method for measuring physiological variables is to attach the sensor, which is appropriately located on the animal, to indicating or recording equipment with electric wires. With subjects other than human, it is necessary to restrain or anesthetize the animal to prevent tangling of the connecting wires. This procedure is especially undesirable in environmental studies since the restraining procedure may mask or distort the environmental effects. With the advent of solid-state electronics and miniaturized components, the concept of measuring physiological variables and transmitting data via radio from a relatively unrestrained subject is a reality. Deboo and Fryer (1965) described a miniature transmitter 1.9 centimeters in diameter, 0.5 centimeters thick, and 2 grams in weight which is capable of transmitting any biopotential “above a few microvolts.” A similar FM transmitter was reported by Fryer et al. (1966), and the transmitter was used by Winget et al. (1965) to telemeter chicken . . .