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Abstract

The invention provides a device and a method for recording respiratory sounds in exercising horses thereby enabling the user identify upper airway abnormalities and/or evaluate athletic potential by, e.g., measuring expiratory and/or inspiratory times during exercise under field and/or actual racing conditions. In particular, the invention provides a respiratory monitoring system or device in which a transducer or microphone is placed in direct contact with the skin of the subject animal overlying the skull, e.g., the frontal sinus or nasal turbinates and thereby enable recording and analysis of upper airway respiratory sound from the exercising animal. In one embodiment, the invention provides a device wherein the transducer or microphone is positioned or embedded within a gel pad or other suitable medium and the device placed in direct contact with the skin of the animal overlying, e.g., the skull, sinus or nasal turbinates of the horse The device of the invention provides an acoustic monitoring system capable of direct attachment to the head of a racing horse which produces an output signal that is not diluted, attenuated or otherwise corrupted by noises such as wind, hoof beats and/or treadmill noises.

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First Claim