CA2349287A1 - Container arrangement and method for transporting equine semen - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to simply and safely transport a sample of semen.
the semen is mixed and diluted with a dual sugar (sucrose and glucose) extender in a ratio of up to 10:1 (v/v) by inducting the semen into a semen storage device, e.g., a large volume syringe having extender therein and optionally disposed within a form-fitting. radiation blocking, sleeve.
The semen storage device is placed on a support member located on the floor of a rigid foamed plastic container and covered with a thermoregulating plate also made of a rigid foamed plastic. A refrigerant pack with solid foam coolant is placed on top of the themoregulating plate, and the con-tainer is closed using a lid having a central boss that fits snugly into the mouth of the container, and further has a continuous ridge that fits into a recess formed in the upper edge of the container. The closed container is then placed in a light weight double-walled cardboard box that exhibits considerable structural strength, increases the insulation, absorbs ambient moisture and protects the rigid foamed plastic container during transit. The cooling rate achieved by the present invention is no more than about 0.20° C./min.
preferably about 0.10° C/min, and most preferably about 0.01 C./min. over a temperature range of about 38° C. The about 5° C., preferably from about 15° C. to about 5° C.
The optimum transport temperature of the semen sample during transport is preferably about 5° C. to about 10° C., most preferably about 7.5° C. to about 8.5° C.

Description

CONTAINER ARRANGEMENT AND
METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING EQUINE
SEMEN
R1~.ATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
This application is basod on U.S. provisional patent application Scr. Nos. 60/066,925, filed Nov. 2$. 1997, and ti0/072,74b. filed lan. 27. 1998. the entire disclosures of which are incacpocated herein by mference_ FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to 8 thermally insulated transport container arsangcment and tn~hod foe using same to h3aspoct equine semen. Mare speci5cally, the present invention relate to an inexpensive, solf-contained, thermally insulated. disposable, rcfiigaatcd transport con-tains acrangenxnt that can greatly eattcnd the length of time over which the spermatozoa of equine semen can be msio-tained motile and fertile. and thus render it possible to cffcrtivciy transport this type of material ova long dis-tADCCS.
BACKGROUND OF THE IIVVBNTION
Ttattsporting semen (gamplasm), e.g., equine oe canine semen. is beneficial to brocdars for several reasons. Shipping semen is less costly than transporting female hoses or dogs to an unfamiliar facility. Stress and risk of disease are minimized when female horses or dogs can remain at home.
Further. using artificial insemination allows a stallion to service more marts than he could using flatiual service. and allows the stallion to continue to show err pafoem during the breeding season. When shipped semen is handled proparly Pr'~~~Y ~a those achieved using natural sec vice. Scmcn destined foe aanspoct is eolledod from a malt, examined and ~cooted for shipment. The davelq~t of conventional systems allowing controlled oaoling has been instrumental. The advantages of using cooled semZen malcr: it a valuable addition to breeding pavgnams and has been used to increase the gendic pool in many breeds.
However. numacous faaoc~s influence pregnancy rafts achieved when mares arc boned with transported.. cooled stallion semen. For instance. sperm are very sensitive to many environmental factors. including ttmpeta0ure. light.
physical trauma. and a variety of chemicals. Any fadoe that impacts the ability of sperm to resist cavironmeatally-induced damage well adversely affect fa'tllity aclniwed when using cooled transported semen. Semen must be handled from collection to insemination in such a manna as to not shock nor damage the spcsm.. ff oollcdion or storage devices arc oontamirmtod by badcria. chemicals, err even soap residue. the survivubiiity of the sperm odl; can be severely diminished. Proper tempe<ahtrc control of semen prior to cooling and prior oo inscmInation is czndel. For example, ff semen is initially mixed with tattcndrt that is too cod a too warm. damage will lilocly ooanr.
Mares will ovulate 24 to 48 hours before the end of heat and pregnancy rafts from cooled stallion semta arc the highest when mares are inseminated wlthia 2d hours fol-lowing xmcn collection. Some stallion semen is still highly viable up to 48 hours following collection. Semen trans-ported and stored for up to 72 hours may appear to have good motility. but fertilization capabilities arc typically poor.
Thus. when it is required to dransport equine semen samples ovcx loug distances or even overseas. it is typically ncccs-sacy to maintain the motility and fertility of the spermatozoa z for 48 hours, at the very minimum. and ideally foe nwre than 72 hours, in o~rdcr that samples reach its destination and can be effectively used- However, until the development of the present invention. it has been virtually impossible, when using conventional postal/courirr scxvices. to achieve this.
More specifically, although semen apec;imcns can be trans-poctod far such prolonged periods of time if special motor-ized nc6cigeration units arc used. the coats of such apparatus and the weight penalties inaca~ed when air mail/frciight is o involved- are prohibitive. Thus. there has been a long felt aced far an incxpeasive and disposable container that is self-contained (viz.. passively cooled) and suffeicntly light to enable ready dispatch by conventional ddiveryhnail services.
Oae example of a passively cookd, self-contained trans-portation container. that has been proposed to transport equine semen is disdosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,530.816 issued to Douglas-Hamilton on 3u123. 1985. In this aQangemcnt.
whicf~ has been noarlCeted under the name FquitaincrT~. the t spociman is enclosed In a plastic bag and placed In a metal cup is a manner wherein it is aandwlehed between bags of liquid. such as water, which act as so called tttcimal ballast.
Thc lower portion of the oontaina is filled with a ~frigaant can filled with ict or gdaninizod toe. A thernnat insulating ; layer, made of a wlcanizod robber. is disposed between the rcfriga~ant (ice) and the metal cup (made of cop~pa~ shoot 'hi" thicfG for ale) in which the sample and the thermal ballast bags am disposed- The '816 patent discloses that the oQti.mum steady state tcmperattue is dose to. but slightly grcatrr than. 0° G. and is a tempCrature range of from 4° C.
to 10° G When the seamen spoc:imen, which is enclosed in a plastic bag, 3s plaaod in the moral cup, it is allowed m cool at a rate of 0.3° Gmin until the tet>ipa'aturc of the specimen rcad~es about S° G. it may be staved for about 30 hours.
Spmmatozoa from most animal species are suse~'ble to irreversible damage if exposed to a sudden drop in t~mpaadu~, also ~nav~ra~ as "cold shock" Tt is known that stallion spermatozoa arc moan susceptible to cold shock than .
bovines ovine, or po~c~cinc spermatozoa. CoM shock is gen-erally oonsiderod to be the reutlt of rapid cooling ffotn 20°
G to 8° C_ It is mown that semen ran be coolest relatively quickly from about 37 ° C_ (99° F ) down to about 20° G, but most be slow aoolod at a rate of .OS C°/min fram 20° C. to 5° G (47° F). The above dcsaribed and other shipping containers have bona developed which pucpoit to cool stallion semen at a cored. par~an'bed rate. Generally. these conventionally available ooaminas gcnaally cool semen over a 10 hour period, and hold the sern~cn at S° G (47° F ).
it is suspodcd that the coding rate adtievod by these devices is, is at least a artain tcmpa~aatee range. too rapid. and undaaabk "cold shocY' frequeatty occurs t0 a poraon Of a se>ixat spodmcn_ Dutiring the development of the present invention. however. it was disoovctrd than after the tem-peraau~e of callccxed semen has fallen to about 1S° G, the sensitivity of the se:>aea to cold sbodc is heig~teflai In overioolang this fact. it is believed that oomrcntionally available aontaincrs undesirably reduce the viabiluy of semen samples transpocted/stored. therein.
Of the factors believed to iu~uence the length of time over which viable semen specimens can be successfully transpoated. water is partIcatlarly touc and exposure to even small amounts of moisture is highly injurious to semen. The fad that the preferred refrigerant disclosed in the ' 816 patent is ice or a mixduc of ice and gelatin wafer. is also suspected to have an adverse effect on the longevity of a semen sample transported therein. pactieularly after the ice melts and assumes a fluid liquid form. A drawback with this prior art arrangement is that it tends to promote the aattDOxtlation of substantial amounts of oondeasation. suds as water, which not only aggravates the problems associated with the spilt/
extended semen (causing objectionable odnrs_ and providing an environment in which various types of nua~oarganisms essay spawn and render it very difficult to maintain aseptic conditions), but. as mcationod above. also effectively func-tions as a powerful spcrznicida Accordingly, during trans-pod this condcasate can seep into the contains in which the semen is stored. and present a suious risk of catastrophic damage to the semen sample. It is also noted that plastic thermal ballast bags of the kind disclosed is the contains of the ' 816 patent are filled with a colored liquid that has a high thermal inertia (higft heat c~padty) as does water. Leakage of these containers. which may occur dozing a rough transit.
and/or poor stocagcfiandling by the end user prior to dis-position in the container. also ptzscats the same pmoblcm because oondcnsate tends to accttmttlate.
One attempt to improve upon the azrangGineat disclosed in the '816 patent took the form of a foamed plastic container that was marketed under the name Equine F~tpccssT''z. This arrangement providod a simple plug-like door and a con~ma~ially avaiiable bottle: type of refrigerant pack that was placed in the coataincx on cop of a tha~nal insulating layer which was interposed between the re6riger-ant pack and the samples. Howevtr, this estrangement proved to be unable to oooi and maintain the sample in the required condition for tnorc than about 45 harts. as is shown In test results reported her~~n Accordingly. there remains a naed for a container that allows for transposing samples of equiac semen over long distances while at the same time maintaining the motrlity and fertility of the transpo:tod spa~ma<ozoa for at least 48 hours without the attendant disadvantages of conventionally avaiiablc containers and methods.
SiTMrIIARY OF THE I1WF.N'1'ION
It is an objux of the pttrsent inve~ion to provide an arrangensez<t that castles the sltipmant of oqttine sGtnen ova long distances. including shipment ovorseas, whcrda delays ofuen ocasr. e.g.. at customs and at any of multiple transfers between different modes of iz'anspart 1t is a finther object of the prcseat invention to pmvidc an arrangctsscnt that enables an equine scmca sample to be mainiaincd in a motile sad fattqe condition for spermatozoa for a prolonged period of at least three days from the time of collcaron.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an arrangement whic4 enables the ernaotnic aansport of a highly dcgtadablc malarial. such as equine semen. in a disposable. totally sdf~ontained. passively cooled. incat-pcnsivc contains- that has essentially no maviug pants. and that is not equipped with elaborate the~ostafically con-trolled coodiag arrangemcats or the L7ce. four periods of time approxiusatiag at least about tlscee sad a third days.
It is yd another object of the prescat iavcntion to provide an aaangcnncnt that is both disposable. capable of rcaivlng approval from the USDA-APl3IS, and which can be peop-afy sealed and used far intereoadaental aaasit, f~ examQlt.
The above and other objocis arc alished by a container arrangctncnt for transporting semen, such as equine semen. comprising:
at least oar semen storage device or container for storing equine semen;
a rigid foamed plastic container comprising:

an Lttaior with a boaom;
a Boor located on the bottom of the interior, at least one support member contoured to support the at least one semen storage device;
an upper end; and an upper edge locatod at the upper end and containing a recess therein extending continuously thereabout for t~ectiving at least one ridge extending from a lid.
the lid for dosing the upper end of the rigid foamed plastic oonralnrr whoa It is opea_ wherein the lid is formed with at least one ridge that extends ooutinu-ously about a lower surface of the &d lxnoimate as edge of the rid, wha~cin the at least one ridge is adapted to be received in the mess of the rigid foamed plastic containrr in a manner that faros a s sul when the lid is pcasod onto the upper end of the rigid foaayod plastic container;
a rtfrigetant pact oontainiag a solid foam coolant and a sc~acating means disposed m the interior of the rigid foamed prastiic container for separating the at least one semen a device from the limiting the cooling rate oaf the at leash~one semen storage device. when eoataining an oguinc semen sample, to ao more than about Q.20° CJmin over at least the tenuperaaurc range of about 38° C. w about S°
' C_ The pccscat invea0ioa is also dirodcd to a method for trauspoering semen. such as oquine settuen. comprising the s~tcps oaf:
mixing an extender solution with a sample of oquinc semen to form an extendod sennen macturc, wherein the extender solution has a pH and an osmolality, each of which bas been pncviously adjusted to within a respec-tive predetcrnnined range;
introducing at !exert a portion of the extendod semen mizhtrc into at least one aemcu storage device and r~ppin8 the semen storage device;
placing the at least one semen storage device on at least one support zoembcr pt~o tried thercfarc in the bottom -of a rigid foamed plastic oontaina~, w6ereln cacti sup..
port mwnbQ is contoured to accept at least one semen storage device;
Placing a potted thamoc,egtdatiag plate in the rigid foamed plastic e~ontainer in a magna which partitions the interior of the container into a lower conrpattmcnt in which the semen storage device is disposed. and an upper aomg~attarnt in which a tdtigaant pael~ con-taInlng a solid foam coolant is disposal. wherein the thetmoregula0ing place is foei~d of a rigid foamed plastic, and vve~ays the at lczst one support member foeraed in the bottom of the rigid foamod plastic container in a manner that doses each pat so as to restrict fluid oommuni,cation between the upper and loafer dtambas;
applying a lid to the rigid foamad plastic container in a manner that closes an upper end of the rigid foamed p)as:ic container. whar3n the lid cota~sCS a rigid foamed ptasric material. at fecal one scaling rib which extends about a lower surface of the lid that is snugly reccivad in a rtes which euteods oootinuousty about the spa end of the tig3,d foamAd plastic container, gad enclosing the rigid foamed p)astic coataina with the lid dosed in place in a oorcugatod cardboard box.
F~~'~ the present Invention is directed to a container arrangement comprising:
a single couvgated cardboard blank adapted to be folded into a double-walled boa having a single site of entry;

J
a plastic strip embedded in the cardboard blank and extending a full length of the blank:
first and second holes formed in the blank in a manner wherein the first and second holes pass through the plastic strip, and are located proxinoate first and second cods of the cardboard blanlt; and the first and second bolts are loeatod proximate one another when the double-walled corntgated cardboard blank is folded into its boa configuration in a manna that pcrraits a lead to be passed therethrough to enable the double-walled comtgated box to be locked against unauthorized entry.
The combination of sonic or all of the above-mentioned features exhibiu is effective for storing/transporting scrota for up to at least 77 hours. In addition., upon arrival at its destination. the amount of time that is roqt>incd bciwten opening the foataGd plastic container and actually injecting the semen during an insemination is minimal. Thus, the present invention. casurcs that the spermatozoa arc deliv-ered to the actual poird of use with minimum degradation.
Additional objects and attendant advantages of the present invention wdl be set forth. in part. in the dasrription that follows. or may be learned from practitdng or using the present invention. The objets and advantages may be realized and attainod by rncans of the iastntmcntalita and combinations particularly pointed out in throughout this dcsaiption and the appended dnims. It is to be undarsiood that the foregoing general description and the fallowlng detailed description are exemplary and aplanatory only and arc not to be viewed as being r~otiotive of the invention. as ~d_ BR~F DESCR~1'ION OF THE DItAwINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are iinaocporated in.
and constitute a part of the spac~eation, Illustrate embodi-ments of the prrscnt invention and. togdha with the dcssipaon, save to explain the printxpks of the pt-taent invention.
FIG. 1 is a schunatic side sxtioaal view showing an embodiment of the rigid foamed plastic coruaiacr of the present invention in a fully assembled state.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of the rigid foamed plastic container. which forms a vital part of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan vices of tbc ritgid foamed plastic contains depicting the layout of the suppoet/patttmon meaobcrs. sad showing a recess err channel whldt mopa~aGcs with a lid.
FIG. A is a side seatianal view taken along section line IV-IV of FIG. 3, showing details of the interior of the rigid foamed plutic oonsainQ and the support/pmuhtiwn metnbax.
which are used to maintain at least one sanen stowage device in position during transit_ FIG. S is a perspective vices of the lid that is usod to dose the rigid foamod plastic container depicted in FIGS. 1~.
FIG. 6 is a plan vicar showing the underside of the !id depicted in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a sodional vices tahcn along sociioa lint VII-VII of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is an end vitro of the lid sbowing the provision oaf recesses. which facilitate the opening of the rigid foamed oontainor upon arrival as a destination.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a potted thermoreguhting plate, which is disposed in the rigid foamed plastic coataina to define a lower storage chnrnber and an upper refriga~ant chamber.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the thermaregulating place depicted in FIG. 9.
PIG. ll is a sectional view taken along section line XI XI of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the configuration of a cardboard blank. which can be folded into a double-walled box stnactuac that is used to house the rigid foamed plastic contains-with-lid arrangement shown in FIG. i.
DfiTAn Fn DESC~21P1TON OF PR~~tRED
EMBODIhsENTS
All patents. patent applications and litaatures cited in this des<xiptlon are incorporated herein by refefcncc In their entirety. In the case of Inconsistencies, the present disclosure, including definitions, will prevail.
The present invention is directed to a relatively inexpensive. passively cooled, transport container arrangement/system for ovezteoming the di>hculty of main-taining the required motdity/fertdity/~,iabtltt' y of speu~to-zoo for a time suf&dently long enough to permit the samples to be transported ova long distances. inducting sAippiag to overseas matlocts_ In other words. to ship such a sample to distal marbct sites, ii is neeasaty. even with modern transport. oo n~aiatain spermatozoa mutilityffatilhy for 72 hours , a more. Duting the development of the present invention. ft was c~atltod that these were scvaal factors that had a dear bearing on the roqtia~od longevity. and that must be considatd to aduevc the rcquind length of transport_ ability time.
Among these differzat factoes. the amount of tutu: that is wasted at the beginning and cad of tbc nanspoctation of semen specimens was recognized to be important. The time required to move a serncn sample to a bends. add extender prior to placing it in a transport container. as well as the time for other operations relating to unpacloing and p~ration for insemination, must be taben IMo oonsidaation.
Moreover one of the measures that is talmn into account in tha practice of the p~sen< invention is the use of an -c~tteadcr the pH and osmolality of w6idt are balanced prior to mixing with a semen sale. This reduoa the time for whidr the semen is czposed to de~mental ia8uenecs such as light. atmospheric moisture. and the like. and enables the semen to be placed in a container or sem,cn storage device as quickly as is practical. Unextendcd semen, maintained at it's collection tcmp~anac (99° F) for over 15 minutes r~ ~ y sparm motility at ?A hours.
Thercfoac, semen must be oollactcd., 5ltered~ analyzed for volume. motility, and oonecrtirabion. mixed with a suitable exoeader, and placed in the a sfitippung container wixhin 15 minutes_ Use of an extendcx solution with semar proccsscd for storage and aaaspart is aritirxl in its sutviva6~lity P.ztender provides nutrients to the apexm cells and oomtains antibiotics to desaoy harmful g~use of reduaod viability. it is believed that manes should be insemimtcd with 1 to 2 billion sperm cells and a volume of not m~oe~e than 40 ml of semen. If a stallion Gas a suffu~cnt ooneentration. the ejacu-late may be spilt and several s>dpmems otxalnod from a single collection. A further feadae is the use of an extender that contains both sucrose and glucose. Whle the exact degree and mechanism by which the use of this type of dual sugar cztendcr is effearve in prolonging the life of the sperm during transit has sot been determined with any certainty. is preferred ova conventional single sugar types of extenders.
The amount of catcadcr used is also irupostant. The pro-f~cd amount of dilution with the present invention is greater than with t6c prior art, and can be as high as 6:1 or more (c.g.. l0a). By way of example. a dual sugar semen extender that can be used in acoordancx with the present invention may be fotmtdated. without limitation, as follows:
Nonfat dry milk solids 24~D g~
(from Sa~ac, c-8.) 265 ~xn ~o,o ~

Pbtassitm Hwicillim G t,000,U00 (si~tm R779~) wms nm~~ sv (s~~ tr.~2~2a) t ~

Cell eultw~e tested wa4ecq.e. to (dibca x15230-147) 1000 ee After thoroughly ttiixing the above ingarodicnts, the pH
and the osmolality arc adjusted using an aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate until the pH falls in the approximate range of about 6.85-7.0 and the osmolality exhibits a value in the approximate range of about 350-365 mOsmA.
Altcrnativdy. it is possible to add a suitabtc amount of dry sodium carbonate powder or aystals directly to the about formulation once the appropriate amount is acauatsty deter-mincxl.
Examples of antibiotics that may be added to an extender used in accardanoe with the prindples of the present laveo-lion include. without limitation, penicillin G, streptomycin, gcntamicin sulfate. ticarillin, poIymyxin B sulfate. de. Peni-cillin G typically contains appro>~mately 1600 units per milligram; thus, a typical quantity is about 625 mg. For each gram of solid material is used., app~roatinoatcly 1 cc of water is suba-aered from that which is required to product the final volume of 1000 cc. The indusion of gram positive and gram negative antibiotics in the xmcn extender solution enhances the success of the insemination that is eamod out after transportation to a destination. As previously mentioned.
both of these types of microorganisms are found in the reproductive orals of male and female hays. and the prolIfaation of such contaminating bacteria during transit can tout a dcttimental c$oct oa the insemination. as well as lead to an abortion inducting Infection in the rtcipiutt mare.
In addition, adjustment of the pH and osmolaliry of the semen cztcnda solution prior to tnixutg with the scaoca has the dear advantage of reducing the amount of time ova which the delicate semen sample is exposed to deleterious effects.
Possibly the single most critical factor affecxiag tttc motility, fertility. viability. and longevity of spermatozoa of semen samples is the cooling raft of a xtnen sample once placed in a transport container In particular. the present lnVentlOn 1S based. in part on the observation that semen samples that are protected against cold shock. and that are stored at a reduced tr_mpcraturt. tend to survive longer than samples that arc maintained at room temperature. Although it has been recognized that slow cooling rafts may be important in maintaining the longevity of a xmeo sample.
the phases of the cooling have heretofore not been addressed. Rapidly cooling In a tconperawre range of about 20 to about 15° C. has little deaimental effect on the motility/fetti.tity of spermatozoa. However, below about IS°
C.. the rate of cooling has a marked injurious effcct_ In fan.
it has been discovered during the development of the present invention that a cooling rate of less that about 0.20° CJmin after the temperature of the sample has lowered to about 15°
C., is essential to prolonging the effective insemination life of equine semen samples. Even slower cooling rafts after the tcmpcraturc is tainted to about 15° G. c.g.. preferably ao more than about 0.10° CJmin. most preferably about 0.01°
CJmin. provide betty chances for maintaining the motility/
fettiiiry of spuinatozoa over long periods of time. 'the achievement of such a slow talc of cooling, followed by a prolonged maiatcnancc of an optimum transport tempera-ture (c.g.. prrefaably about 5° C. to about 10° C_, most preferably about 7.5° C. to about 8.5° C.) was found to be extremely difficult to achieve in a passively cooled cnvironmcnt. i.e., without the use of powered r~cfrigcrating devices. Effects to insulate the sperm sawpies from the rcfriEaant in a~drs to slow the cooling rate. while allowing the a&cicnt use of the ncfrygetattt over a pcvioaged period, often met with failure. The task was rendered even more di~cult when attctztpting to adrieve an economically viable cost per unit by using a simple. inexpensive. disposable.
sdf-contained. passive refrigerant package.
To overcome this problem. the present invention prefer-ably uses a refrigaantJoooling pack as a coolant_ Although any suitable coolant or refrigerant capable of achieving a cooling rate within the above parametrss rosy be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a solid foam-type coolant was found to be preferred. This type of coolant permits the overall cooling rate to be lowered bdow that possible with phase drangc types of coolants/
refrigerants such as ice. An eatamplc of a preferred coolant that can be used in acoo~rdanoe with the principles of the ' prexeut invention is a foam brick coolant (MCC FPP31.
commercially available from the Midlands Chemical Comparry)_ This preferred coolant was found to exhibit the slowest thawing, and is capable of remaiining colder for longs parlods of time to a untidy of other types of refrigerants tested.. Macoovex. the preferred coolant con-twins a foatued material that Is ooostantly solid. and does not undergo any pacepoible solid-liquid phase change as heat is absorbed thereby. In other words. the prefeaed solid foam refrigerant is unlike fmzen water, for which the drangc from a solid state (i.e., ice) to a molten state (ice., water) follows a scenaiie that reeds certain physical chemical character istics of water; na>neiy. the solid-to-liquid transition of water first exhibits a powerful heat absatblng capacity as the ice converts to water, followed by a secondary, much reduced heat absorbing capadty as the cold water absorbs mart heat.
The only shortcoming found with the MCC PPP31 refrig-erant pack was that ii rrquirod a slightly longer period to freeze than other eammacialty available red'rigerants ttstcd.
While capable of providing the critical cooling rata the MCC FPP31 solid foam refrigerant was also found to exhibit another advantage. If the pack In which the foam brick is cndoscd is aomprotnised doting trsesit, the problem of tout liquid water running loose in the container is totally climi-natcd.
When the prefelrod coolant pack is combined with a thumoregulating plate that separates the rc5rigcrant &am the semen samples, it is possible to e:nhanoc the full potertial of the present im~ention. The plate may be patted so as to permit relatively free insertion of an operator's fingers to permit ready removal of the plate_ In addition. ebbing. in the form of s<tpporct/partltion members, may be iacaporatod on the inside bottom of a rigid foewed plastic oontainc to dose off the ports and prevent unres~icted Buid ooauntrnication between the respective chambers stotiag the semen sample (s) and the redrigetant pacJc. Any suitable mataiah thiclatess and density of the thamore:grrlabag plate made of any suitable material may be used to control the amount of heat that is transferred to the solid foam refrigaanbooolant pack (to cause cooling), to prevent the spermatozoa from being cooled at an undesirably excessive rate. Because the pro-fetred solid foam cooling pack exhr~its a 8aaer exrrve of heat absorption versus temperature. ix., it does not undergo a phase dumge with a concomitant large change: in heat y capacity. it was discovered that the ported thcnoQOrcgttlating plate can be thinner than the plates used to prntca sperma-tozoa is peter art devices that utillzcd solid-to-liquid phase change coolants. A thinner ported thcmvoregulating plate also prevents over insulation. which otherwise tends to defeat effective cooling once the coolant has completely converted to the liquid phase. with its lower cooling capac ity_ Further. the lid of the rigid foamed plastic container may be fo~-mod from auy suitable material, e.g.. a rigd foamed plastic such as polystyrene or polytuethane. In aooordanee , with the present invention. such a lid is fob with at least one continuous nb that extends about the periphery of the lower side of the lid. This nb is estranged to be received in a recess that continuously extends about an upper edge at the upper cad of the rigid foarzxd plastic oontaina. The sealing effect of this lid design is b~li~evad to be of in~ottanoe in the overall effed'rvencss of the present invention.
Uneapx~ly the present invention diminatcs the protr lctn of condensation formation within the container during transit Without wishing to tx bound by the following theory, it appears that the slaw cooling rate that results from the use of a solid foam ooolaet (MCC FPP31), in combi-nation with the sealing effax provided by the rrbJt~oess at the lidlcoMaincr interface. is respottstblc far the overall success of the pceseat invention. In various other compara-tive arrangements that were tested. It was found that placing the coolant above the samples induced the problem of condensation formation. which tended to leak down into the area of the stored sample containers. Of course. such an arrangement produced the real dangrr that water (viz.. the condcnsatc) would seep into an impa~fodly sealed oonfaina (s) and cause at least partial spoitxge of the samplt(s) contained therein.
A fmtf~a factor that is believed to oontnbute to the success of the prtaeut invention rrsida in the xmrn stoeage device in which the semen samples an stocod duriutg transit.
It is critical that the amen storage devices be both st~k and free of my chemicals cr oomQotmds that have sptxml-ddal activity. or that othatwix could haves any kind of negative effect on the longevity of spamatowa stotrd therein. In accordance with the principles of peexnt invention. prcfarcd semen storage devices include. without limitation. sta-ilc plastic syringas or free standing tubes made of polypropylene with caps. Use of such seen storage devices in accordance wild the present invention requires selection of a size (volume handling capaaty) that is su~cient to acc~o~mmodatc a large quantity of exieodrr that may be :tided therein in proportion to the quantity of semen thereby pecmibting the mixing of an iaaeascd volume of extender with a given volume of spermatozoa/semea. 'Ihe beneficial effects of using larger syringes and relatively greater volumes of sugar eoteader include, without limitati~, (1) a smaller surface area for a gluten vdume of senier4 which attenuates the ooollng rate of the eontwts, and (2) the imrnediatc ux of the maraca! for insemination upon the opening of the oontaineG Prcfeaod sins lndude. without limitation. from about 10 ml to about 225 m4 with a more prcfatod size being about 50 mL
Flut6cr, it is (mown that exposure to radiation in the visible light. ultraviolet or x-ray rattgcs can have a deal tnental effect on the viability of coded semen. To ovanomc this probdcm. the semen storage device can be opaque or fitted with a disposable. ranovable, and form-5nnng pr~otcc~
rive slecvcJwbc that is capable of preventing harmful light.
UV or z-ray radiation from pea~rating the semen storage device and reaching the contents thertin. The foem-fitting lU
sleeve may be tnadC of any suitable material or combiaatioa of materials so long as it is capable of blocking harmful radiation from reaching the semen stared within the scmco _ storage device. 1n a preferred embodiment, the form-fitting sleeve is s tube or cyliadec that is disposed around the semen stooge device and has a re$cctive fad layer acted to the inner and outer sides o~f the tube_ Unexpectedly. it has been discovered that use of a form-fttting sleeve is advantageous because it further aLtcnuatcsJslows the cooling rate of the stored semen during t<anspost.
Further, as extender sciatica is preferably added to dilute a ae~a sample contained the sanw storage device of the present invention. As mentioned above. use of an extender nahanccs longevity of a sperm's motility; provides vital nutrients, inQeases the volume of the inseminate thereby allowing for tbc insemination of more than one mart, helps prrotects spermatozoa from cable environmental changes that occur while cooling (including thermal shock and toxic materials that pttoduoed upon the death a~f a spermatozoa).
and reduces bacterial ooatamination of the sperm. The amount of dilution with an exteada is preferably about 3: i to about 10:1, more preferably about 4:1, most preferably about 6:1 (v/v). Within this rangac, dte cascade effoa. which can lQil an entire initially viable semen sample, has been found to be g~t~catly reduced err eliminated. Preferably, the extr:ndcr contain at least two diffa~eat sugars. which is believed to have a positive effect on spermatozoa longevity.
Further, because both gram positive and gram negative microorganisms ace found is the rcpcoduetive tracts of stallions and mares. an antibiotic may be added to the cztr..ad~rs to promote suo~ssful insemination cazzied out aftcxcransport It has beta realized that sWnea contaminating gram positive and gram negative bsci~a prolIfa~atc during storage and traaspoct, and poaeotially not only diminish the viability of the spermatozoa, but also may lead to abortion lactating infections in recipient mores.
More specifically the prcseat invention s~ida in a con- , _ tamer attangemcnt/systaa for traaspocting equine semen oompcising:
at least one plasdic syringe or polypcnpyleae tube with cap containing equine semen; a aontaincr made of a rigid foamed plastic mstaiah the rigid foamed plastic coa-tainer including a support sttueritre for supporting the at least one plastic syringe or polypeopyleae tube;
a lid foi dosing an open upper end of the contai.na, the lid bciag farmers with ai least oat ridge which ca:tcads ooatinuously about a lower surfioe of the lid proximate as edge of the lid. the ridge being adapted to be received la a recess which extends continuously about an upper edge of the rigid foamed plastic containar in a manacr whidr forms a sail whey the lid is pressed onto the rigid foamed plastic container;
a refrigerant pact coatainlag a solid foam coolant; and a scpmatiag means disposed is fit rigid foamed plastic oontainar fat separating the at least one plastic syringe or porypcnpyiene tube from the trfrigQaat pack. and for limiting the oooLIag rate of the syringe to no mole than about o.20° C./mtn. pc~faab~ty no mocC than about a_lo° CJmia. most prefacably about ool ° CJmin. is a tempuature range of about 15° C. to about 5° C.
1n this caobodimcnt. the separating means compcists a posed themnoregulating plait dispoaod in the interior of the rigid foamed plastic container to separatx a lower chamber in which the support memba~s (which also salve as partition members) are formed and Iu which the plastic syringc(s) andloc polypropylene tubc(s) is st~ppoeted. and an upper chamber in which the refrigerant pack containing the solid foam coolant is disposed. the therraoregulating plate having first and second ports formed therein at opposite ends of the -. , thcrmorcgulating plate, the first and second ports being arranged to overlay a support/partition member. and thus be closed in a manner which rcstrids fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers.
In this preferred embodiment. the semen sample is diluted with an extender solution containing sucrose. glucose. dry skim milk. and pveforably at least two selocud antibiotics- , one being effective against gram positive bacteria and the other being effective against gam negative bsd~eris_ 'Ihe semen sample is inducted into a syringe which preferably holds from about a 10 ml to about a 225 ml aliquot. mare preferably about a 50 ml aliquot, of extender solution. 'Ibe semen sample is diluted at the very least with about 3 pails of extender. prcf~ably at least about 4 parts of extender, and more preferably about 6 to about 10 parts of extender:
Shipping volurnes of extended sancn in a semen storage device (e.g.. plastic syringe or polypropylene tube with cap) range is size from about IO ml W about Z?5 ml is the practice of the present invention. A typical volume is shout 50 to about 60 mL
In another preferred embodiment, the present invention is dircdod to a container arrangement for transporting equine semen comprising:
a thermally insulated rigid contains made of a recyclable foamed plastic malarial. the rigid foamod plastic coo-taincr including support mennbas fosmod on a Boor tharoof, the support mennbcrs boring sdspted to suppaat at least one plastic syringe ce polypropylene tube with cap containing extended equine semen;
a lid for closing an open uppKr end of the rigid foamed plastic rnntaina, the lid being formed with at least wtc ridge which extends coutinuously about a lower surface of the lid.proximate an edge of the lid, the ridge txing adapted to be received in a recess which extends continuously about au upper edge of the rigid foamed plastic containcc in a manner which forms a scat when the lid is pressod onto the rigid foamed plastic con-rains;
a ported thermoregulating plate disposed in the rigid foamed plastic container to separate the interior thereof into a lower chamtxr in which the support members arc formed and in which the syringe or polypropylene tube is supported. from an upper chamber in which a refiig-crant pack containing a solid foam coolant is disposed.
the ported ihctmocegulating plate having 5rst and sx and ports formed therein. the first and seooad ports being formed at opposite cods of the thecmorcgulating plate and in positions wherein. when the thermorcgulaeing place Is disposod in the container in a manner wheran it.rests atop of oar or more support members. the first and second ports are cacti located over a support member so that fluid communication betwocn the upper and lows c6ambcrs is rcsoricted; and a double-walled corrugated cardboard box snugly enclosing the rigid foamed plastic container and lid.
In this prcf~ed embodiment. the ported tham~a'egulat-ing plate is selected to attenuate the rate of cooling of the equine semen contained in the at least one plastic syringe or polypropylene tube with cap to no more than about 0.20°
Gmin. preferably no more than about 0.10° CJmin. most preferably about 0.01 ° C./min ever a tempecat<ue range from about 38° C to about S° C.. and cspcaavlly from' about 15°
C. to about S° C.

The double-walled ooavgattd cardboard box tends to acx as a wick to absorb ambient moisture before it can reach the rigid foamed plastic container. and. thus. in effect. act as a vapor barrier to attenuate the invasion of water vapor into the rigid foamed plasufc container. The double-walled struc-ture also endows the corrugated cardboard box with a very high level of structural integrity, which Is believed to con-tribute substantially to the commercial viabulity of the preseat invention. in other words, the box is inexpensive and disposable, but st~l is able to peotocx the insulating container from damage which is apt to ocatr during transit via commercial carria/postal services. The lid used in the above arrangement is foumod with a central boss portion that is adapted tn fit saugty Into a mouth of the t~pa end of the rigid foamed p)astic coatainx Further. the fast and second ports are so dimensioned as to permit the insa-tion of digits.
such as human fingers, to additionally permit the ther-moregulating Plate to be quiddy and easily liftod from the position in which it separates the rigid foamed plastic eontaiaa Into upper and lows diamtxrs.
In a further pctfa:rd unbodimear, the present invention resides in a method for transpoeting equine semen. the mahod comprising the steps of:
mixiag an cxteadcr solution having a pH and an osmo-lality which have been previously adjusted to within respective prradctamincd ranger, with a sample of equine semen;
inducting at list a poattiott of the nnbtttue into a semen storage device (syringe. plastic tubeJbodttc with a cap) and then dosing the semea storage device;
placing the syringe is the bottom of a thermally insulated container made of a foam plastic material;
placing a ported thetmoregulating plate in the foamed plastic contains in a manna which separates the interior of the foamed plastic wntaina into a lower compattlnent in which the syringe is disposed, and an upper compa~ncat in which a .contaIna containing a constantly solid, foamod rrfrigaane is disposed. me ' .
thermoregulating plate beiag formed of a foamed piss- -tic having a prcdetctrnined thidmtss and density;
dosing the poets in the tharrmoeegulaHng plate by seating the thcrmoncgulatiag plate on suppattlpanition mem-bers which are formed in the inside bottom of the foamed plastic container, which art used to support the syringe in a stable position in the contains, and which are located so that the ports arc dosed when the thermaregulnting Plate is in a seated position;
dosing the container with a lid which doses an upper end , of the foamed plastic contains. and which is formed with at least one scaling rib which extends about the lows surface of the lid, the scaling rib bang dimen-sioned so as to be snugly rocaved in a groove which extends continuously about the upper end of the foamed plastic container; and cndosing the foamed plastic oontalacr and lid In a cor-rugated caudboaord box. In this mediod_ a suitable syringe Is selected and has a surface arcawolumc ratio su~ently tow to auemrate the raft of cooling of tee equine semen aampde. and provide an increased volume foe cxtcader fluid to be mixed with the semen sample.
The extends preferably oonaprtiscs suaose,~ glucose, dry skim milk. at least ono anh'biotic. and rill culture tested water, plus any chemieals (e.g.. sodium carbon-ate or sodium bicarbonate) required to adjust the pH
and/or osmolality of the extender fluid.
In still aaothcr prefeared embodiment. the ptzsctrt inven-tion resides in a container acrangemcnt comprising:

5.9 a single corrugated cardboard blank adapted to be fddcd into a double wallod boz having a single sift of entry-, a plastic strip which is enoboddcd in the d blank at manufaetiu~c and which extends a full length of the blank; and first and sxond bolts formed in the cardboard blank in a manna whct~cin the first and socond holes pass through the plastic strip and are located pfoodnnate first and SCOOnd CndS of ihC Cardb63id hlHnl~
the fast and sooond holes being located pcozimate one anothcl when the c~u~dboard b):nk is fdded into itx boa configuration so that a lead or other aatachmenit nxans can be passed therethrough to enable the boz to be locked against unautharizod entry, and also provide a user knowledge that the boz has been catered without permlSSlOp. In one ernbodimcnt of the present invention, the cardboard may be Oneatcd with a warn innpameable or resistive sttbstanee, e.g., wax. to create a vapor bamia to prevcat undesired entry of moisWre into the container arraugemcnt.
This prefctzcd embodiment of the gcescat invention may further comprise:
a rigid foaarod plasfic contains. including a unitary support strudtae fart supporting at least ooe stangc vessel, and bring so dimensioned as to be mceiva6le in the double-wallod boz;
a lid for closing as open upper end of the rigid foamed plastic contains, the lid being formed with at least one ridge that continuously extends about a lows surface of the lid proximate an edge of the lid. the ridge bring adapted to be received in a rooess which extends continuously about an upper edge of the rigid foamed plastic coataina in a manner which forms a seal when the lid is pressed onto the rigid foamAd plastic coa-taina: a refzigecant pack containing a solid foam cool-ant; and means disposed in the bottom of the rigid foamed plastic container for partitioning the interior thaoo~ separat-ing the at least one storage vessd from the refrigerant pack. and for limiting the coding rate of contents in the storage vcxsd to a value that is pttferably no more than about 0.10° CJmin. and more prefcrabIy about 0.01° C.
'Ilirning now to the figures. FIGS. 1-12 show a pcefarcd cmbodimcnt of the present invention. FIG. 1 dcpicis the arrangement in a fully assembled state. As shown, this arrangcmcnt indudcs a farmed plastic oortaina I44. which is closed by a lid 102 that also is finned of foamed plastic.
Foamed plastic container lOA and lid 102 are enclosed within a double-wall coarugatod cardboard contains 106, only parts of which arse shown for illustrative sintplidty.
A potted thernwregulating plate 108 is disposed in foamed plastic contains 100 so as to partition the interior of foamed plastic container 100 into a lower storage chamba 104v. in which syringes ll0 are stored, and an upper nefrigaant c~tamba 100b. in which a container 112 of solid refrigarant (forming a coolant pack) is disposed. As is best seen in FIG. 9. ported thermoregulating plate 108 is formed with two ports or openings 108a at opposite ends thereof.
As is best seen in FIG. 3. the bottompoc0ion of dre interior <
of foamed plastic container 100 is provided with babes/
ribs/suQportslpartitions I00c, whidt arc spaced and aaanged to support syringes 110 in a rattic free state fort smooth transportation, as wdl as one Shat inta~xs with ports of the thamoregulat3ng plate is the manna disarssed below r As is shown by broken Lines (poets) 108a in FIG. 3, the parts ue formed in thertnoregulating plate 108 in a location such that, when in possitlou. each port is located atop a ba$elweb/ribbtng/suppoit/partition that forms syringe moeiving tresses within the bottom of foamed plastic container 110. This aaangement prates ~~on for fluid comtnrtttication between upper and lower c:6atnbu-s 190~a.1~6. Pbtic ll8n are sttapod so as to sage as openings into which digits. such as the fingers of an operator. can be inserted to fae31ita0e removal of the tba~g~$ p~tc when quick and easy acocss to one a mare syringes in the ~ lower 1~ is de~rcd.
1n aooordancx with the pcrscnt invention. thertnorcgulat-ing plate ItiB can. if so desirad. be made slightly smaller than the iatuiar dimensions of the interior of container Iol. thus ~°°i~8 ~1 clearanocs between the side walls of the interior of the foatttod plastic oontaina and the edges of the ' thertno~regttladng plate. This fadlitattes access to the ~~ bY 8 ~o oval of the thernnorcgulat-tag Plate. Hawev~r. excessive oomtnunication between apps and Iowa chambu~s IIIb. lAlu should be avoided in order to decrease oonvoctivc Bows tharbetween_ Container 111, lid 112. nerd the P~ I18 P~~ly may be formed of a rigid highly tl~ i~ulat-ing foam plastic, such as polystyrene or polytn~anc foam, ~~ Is expanded to 2.0 IbsJsqttare inch The thamongu- ' lat~g plate III is peeferably about one-half to two inches thick These values of thidotcss and density was found to P~ appropd,an; insul~ion, and to optimize the upper/
Lower chamber division, upper/lowa chamber fluid rcsaiction, and ease-of use ~ff~cts of the plate.
As is shown in FIGS. 1-4.container 100 is formed with a continuous channel ll4 about its upper edge~149e. As shown in FIGS. 5-.8.1id ls2 is fotmect with a continuous rydgc 116_ w~~ is adapted to be snugly reocived in channel I14 whoa lid I02 is plaood on top of container 100. Lid 102 is furthu formed with a centt~l boss portloa ll8, which fits snugly into the open mouth of container 100.
This lid arrangement allows container I00 to be simply sad easily closed off with only a m;ni~ of gal , .
ambient moisture being subsequently permitted to enter the Via, _ In this prcfetrod embodiment. the cotzugated cardboard or fiberboard box 116, In which conisina and lid 100, 102 are dlsposcd, is a double walled arrang~nt, which inherently adds to the thernnal Insulation to further isolate the container from the effects of ambient cetnpcxauuz and/or ambient tetnperxture fluctuation. Furthermore. as mentioned about.
this box also can act a wicJc to absorb moisture during transit.
A~ngly. when box 106 is ctoscd. scaled. and ready for trattspottatloa it serves not only to protect container. i00 against oampressive forces, but aLco adds additional tl~ .
insulation. Furthermore" box 106 provides a wictang efi'ect to absorb water/moisture, which thns creates a type of vapor barrier ~ dap that assists in maituaiaing the interior of the container free of coadeasation_ 'hire cansttvcuon of cardboard box 106 is also unique in that it has a configuration such that, uall7ce conventional cardboard bones. it has only one sift or opening via which access to the interior thereof can be gained. In addition.
cardboard box 116 ha a security play ~p 1~ that is buried from one cad to We other of the cardboard blank 106~
Wing its manufacture. as is shower in phantom in FIG. I2 before Its being folded along chain lira 106b. When folded Into its operative eonffgutation, boz 106 is thus closed and sealed In a manna whip m~ it essentially impossible for the contents to be ta~od wIm without the recipient of the package being aware of same.
More spxifically, two openings 106c are formed in two opposite ends of blank 106 within the end regions of 5.983,661 embedded security plastic snip 19&1. When blank let' is the semen sample is mixed with a dual sugar, pli adjusted folded along the dotted lines shown in FIG. 12 to fag a box. ~~ ~~~ ~, ~ me yy~g~s) and at tnom openings 116c are lob adjacent one anotka so that a t~~e ~, drawing the semen sample into the syringe lead. of similar of a sea(. can be passod throttg~t the (s)_ ~ ~n is then cappod with a stertlc cap llAo. and openings. Upon the ends of such a lead being palnaneat(y s placed in position in the bottom of oontaina 110. Tha-connected to one ant>thet: suds as by a3»~ipe, fur, ~~ ova top bonding. or the like. die intstior of the box cannot be m°~~°~
perm !~ ~ then in acasscd. while the scat remains intact without desCroying at sYdaBes llO in the manner shown is FIG. I. Coolant pack least a poctioo of the d Thus, this embodiment ~ the is placed on top of theaaotzgulating plait 168 and prevents anyone from secretly tampering with the contents lid 192 is fitted into position to cbse oonfaina 100. The of the boa. to d~ ~taina is then placed in the ooocu aced cardboard This boz finds ttighiy advantagoous to use. aoooading to shipping u, which is then scaled dosed. including the present invention, in drat it is simultaneously lightweight use of seau3ty plastic strip Ii6v with holes 166c.
and mezpcnsive. it pwvides increased thezmal insulation, it ~a 1 ~ 2 show rcsulCS of tests conducted on three acts as a vapor trap or baQia, and it can be oonveaielttty ~ ~ ~ well as the present invention. In Tables discarded cx disposod of after a single use. ~th~.nnore, the IS 1 ,and 2.
PRIOR ART 1. PRIOR ART 2. and PRIOR ART 3 double wall strucalre. which resuks after ~f nd~ a high '~'~t the devices sold as Bquitsina'~~. ~p~,~t".
106', restttLS in a tematlrabl robust box that degree of stnlcdaai strength and pafotedioa for the foam and ~l~ ~P~~.
rapoctively As wt71 Ix appreciated plastic container held within during transit These ptopaties by the stilled artisa4, the unatpocted and superior pcrfar-prevent bresrage/damage by the inevitable bumping and 2o manse of the present invention ours the performance of jostling which occurs during handling by oonlmQdal coin. other pciar art dtvioes is self-evident In particular, the ria or postal services. cspocialty doting loading/ualoaditlg prat invcotioa provided a suitable slow ooolingrate in the from one transpoR ve6ide to another, suds as at truck ~p~.~ ~ ~ about 16-14° C. and aboul 14-I2° C., telmlttals, airports. train stations, and the like. as is d 1t wt71 be noted that the use of the above daaibed ~ ~°a'n in l~ble 1.
)Rurthamac, practice a~-coaugated cardboard boz is not neaessan7y limited to appii_ ~ mg to the prat inrtentioa resuloed in the greatest time to ration with thcrn>a!(y insulated foam plastic ooluaina~ 1N. r~ the lowest tm>~n. to all other arrango-and cao be used to ship other items and products, eg.. its ~ ('fable 2).
Regardless of the extended time to electronics. In other words, the cardboard box of the instant ~ the ultimate storage tcimpaaaRme. the time ova which invention can be pturhased as a blank. and subsequently ~o sin could be maintained below 15° C. (77 hours) was folded. loaded. and seated in a meaner which permits the 3° greater with the present invention than with the other dispatch of a variety of items in a secure and inexpensive arrangements tested ('Fable 2, last column), based on param-etas sudl as the motility of spermatozoa (total motility, In order to adlieve successful shipping of delicate sclnen progressive motility, rapid mot7ity. curvilinear velocity.
cargo, it is prefaced to place a specimen of gel-froe semen straight line vekachy. etc).

F3~CT OF

~ FOR? CONTi111~R
ON COOL~1C3 ~

1tN DHriR.S S PER FS19F m lnt~ OF S
CFZSIU MBVVI 40~ E7fIFND

C~ 20 b 18 18 161u 14 1o I2' IO
C. a 14 C. 12 b to ld C. 10 C. 8 C. C.

YtiorAd 1 -0.08 -0.06 -0.QS --0.04-0A2 -0.09 Prior Art -0.12 -0.12 -0_l2 -O.1 -a 2 -0.12 t 07 I'tior Art -0.10 -0.10 -0.04 --0.02.

3 -0.11 -0.Opi3 Ia~iao -0.0899-0.0714-0.052s-0.0342 -0.0025 -0:0177 EFFECT OF 8QlJINE $~f Z'~Ny~ORT CON7"AB~R ON S'11DRA(WtH~PgRwTURES
wND w~Ra~m~tcl Rwz~s of 4o.i~. ~ttQuoTS of ~ctErtnsD s~N
(IN DHOR88S C$LSItTS PSR I~~ItTlg1 1~'I~eanne T'm° Requaed to 'Lime Road 6cr Tao° Roqaced for o~ ZSemen 7~tp~xfnao ao Samn Tempaatme o0 Coaaioa Staaye (' C.) Sta~e'Bxeeed 10~ e. Eueea ls~ c.
Prior An I 5.5 11.25 h 53.0 h 71.0 h Prise Art 2 -0,1 83 h 27.5 d 323 6 Prior Alt 3 79 173 h 33.s 6 45.25 h B.4 227 h 59.0 h 77.0 6 from all ejaculates in an incubator at about 37° C. wldtin 65 The foregoing description of prefeaod embodimenu of about 2 mintltcs of collection. The sperm concentration is the present invention have boen presented only for purposes then measured using a densimeter Immediately ihereafta, of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invartion to the precise disclosed forms. Many obvious modifications and variations of the disclosed prcfctrcd ctnbodimcnts will be apparent w prao-titioncrs skilled in this art SImilarly. any process steps described might be intuchangeabie with other steps in order to achieve the same result. The etnbodimeats wuc d~oxn and described to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode pracxical application to thereby enable others skilled in this art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifica6ions as arc suited to the particular uses oontanpLatod. $ is inucnded that the scope of the invention tx defined by the dainas appended hcncto and their equivalents.
For example, any suitable altanattc gram positive and/or gram negative antibiotics may be usod in the semen cztcnda solution. as wdl as any effective bmoad spoctrtrm antt'ht'otic (s). In addition. soair~ity plastic strip lAG~a o~f the cardboard box could be r~cplaoed with a strip mtde of a different rnatuiaL As yet another example. the boot could be made of a rnatcaal othu tfian tudboard_ oc a combination of cud-board and another nrateriaL As a feather c~umpl~. the nbbing/supportfpsn'oition mctubas in the bottom of the foamed plastic coataIner ncod not nooessuily extend the grcatu part of the length of the bottom of the rigid foamed plastic container. providcQ that (1) the plastic syringes) or othu semen stontgc dcvicds) were hc.Ld soarrcly in position.
and (2) the poets o~f the thamoc~.gul~eg plate war appro-pciaccly "oovctnd" to pmvidc the requisite rcsbrietion far Huid oomrnunicuioa becwcea the upper and lower cJiamDers of the bottom of the rigsd fonnoed plastic container. Ia addition. the rigid foatncd plastic container could be made of a matcrial(s) diffucnt from that of ttx instant invention.
provided that roughly similar inrulatiag/heat transfer ehar-acuristicx obtained foe the fine! pendua and the abovo-dcsai'bod rrlativdy slower cooling rate is not coimpdsad_ As an even further example. a semen solution with a composition different from chef describod hcsein (erg., finny ~) could be used. pravidtd the degnx of dihrtion sppmximatrd a value or range of values that at last ovcr>zppod the range provided by the instant invention. As another example. storage and a~aaspaat d~eviees that arc made of materials different from those discJoxd herein would fall within the scope o~f the pc~esenr iaventian. provided that they effcctivdy promocod semen stoeage. inducting being ~
and containing no spermicidal mds. As a final czaruplc. ux of the iastanc invention far stae'agc and trans-port of equine semen samples need not be sa limited- Other biological (inducting semen from otbar animal soarscs) and non-biological samples roquizing simile cooling rates and/
oc storage tempctabut~cs well benefit horn practice of the disclostge herein. F~u~ctmoa~. the prindplcs of the present invention can be appliod to a-eate similar container arrangements. but with sda~aaons for the di$arot cooling rate or other pa:amc~r that is erquitzd to nooct the coeds of the partiartat biological or non-f~iolog~ical product uadxgo-lng storage and/or transport

Claims (20)

1. A contain arrangement for transporting semen. com-prising:
at least one semen storage device foe storing semen;
a rigid foamed plastic container comprising:
an interior wish a bottom:
a floor located on the bottom of the interior;
at least one support member contoured to support the at least one semen storage device;
as upper end: and an upper edge located at the upper end and containing a recess therein extending continuously thereabout for receiving at least one ridge extending from a lid for closing the upper end of the rigid foamed plastic container in a manner which forms s seal when the lid is pressed onto the upper end of the rigid foamed plastic container;
a refrigerant pack containing a solid foam coolant; and a separating means disposed in the interior of the rigid foamed plastic container for separating the at least one semen storage device from the refrigerant pack and for limiting the cooling rate of the at least one semen storage device. when containing an semen sample. to no more thaw about 0.20° C/min over at least the temperature range of about 38° C. to about 5° C.

2. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the separating means comprises a ported thermoregulating plate for the purpose of parti-tioning the interior into a lower chamber in which the at least one member is formed. and in which the at least one semen storage device is supported. and an upper chamber in which the refrigerant pack contain-ing the solid foam coolant is disposed.
wherein the thermoregulating plate has first and second ports formed therein, the first and second ports are formed at opposite ends of the thermoregulating plate, and the first and second ports are arranged to overlay the at least one support member in a manner that closes each port so as to restrict fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers.

3. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first and second ports are dimensioned to permit the insertion of human digits to additionally permit the thermoregulating plate to be quickly and easily lifted to allow access to the at least one semen storage device in the lower chamber.

4. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one semen storage device is selected from the group consisting of plastic syringes and polypro-pylene tubes with caps.

5. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the semen is extended by dilution with an extender solution comprising sucrose, glucose, non-fat dry milk solids, and at least first and second selected antibiotics, wherein the first antibiotic is effective against gram negative bacteria, and the second antibiotic is effective against gram positive bacteria.

6. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein the at least one semen storage device contains from about a 10 ml aliquot to about a 225 ml aliquot of extender solution.

7. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein, prior to introduction of an equine semen sample, the semen storage device contains a volume of extender solution sufficient to dilute the semen sample from about 3:1 to about 10:1 (v/v).

8. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein, prior to introduction of an equine semen sample, the semen storage device contains a volume of extender solution sufficient to dilute the semen sample from about 6:1 to about 10:1 (v/v).

9. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rigid foamed plastic container with lid in place is snugly enclosed within an inside of a corrugated card-board box.

10. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the separating means limits the cooling rate of the at least one semen storage device, when containing an equine semen sample, to no more than about 0.10° C/min over at least the temperature range of about 38° C. to about 5° C.

11. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the separating means limits the cooling rate of the at least one semen storage device, when containing an equine semen sample. to no mote than about 020° C./min over at least the temperature range of about 15° C. to about 5° C.

12 The container arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the separating means limits the cooling rate of the at least one semen storage device. when containing an equine semen sample, to no more than about 0.10° C./min over at least the temperature range of about 15° C. to about 5° C.

13. A container arrangement for transporting equine semen comprising:
a recyclable rigid foamed plastic container comprising:
an interior with a bottom;
a floor located on the bottom of the interior;
at least one support member contoured to support at least one semen storage device containing extended equine semen;
an upper end; and an upper edge located at the upper end and containing a recess therein extending continuously thereabout for receiving at least one ridge extending from a lid which forms a seal when the lid is pressed onto the upper end of the rigid foamed plastic container;
a ported thermoregulating plate disposed in the interior of the recyclable rigid foamed plastic container for parti-tioning the interior into a lower chamber in which the at least one support member is formed, and in which the at least one semen storage device is supported, an upper chamber is which a refrigerant pack containing a solid foam coolant is disposed, wherein the ther-moregulating plate has first and second ports formed therein, the first and second ports are formed at oppo-site ends of the thermoergulating plate arranged to overlay the at least one support member in a manner that closes each port so as to restrict fluid communi-cation between the upper and lower chambers; and a corrugated cardboard box snugly enclosing the rigid foamed plastic container with lid in place.

14. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 13.
wherein the ported thermoregulating plate is selected to attenuate the rate of cooling of the extended equine semen contained in the at least one semen storage device to no more than 0.20° C./min over a temperature range of about 38° C.
to about 5° C.

15. The container arrangement as set forth is claim 13, wherein the at least one semen storage device is selected from the group consisting of plastic syringes and polypro-pylene tubes with caps.

16. The container arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein the extended equine semen is prepared by diluting an equine semen sample with an extender solution compris-ing sucrose. glucose. non-fat dry milk solids. and at least first and second selected antibiotics. wherein the first anti-biotic is effective against gram negative bacteria, and the second antibiotic is effective against gram positive bacteria.

17. A method of transporting equine semen comprising the steps of:
mixing an extender solution with a sample of equine semen to form an extended semen mixture, wherein the extender solution has a pH and an osmolality. each of which has been previously adjusted to within a respec-tive predetermined range;
introducing at least a portion of the extended semen mixture into at least one semen storage device and capping the semen storage device;
placing the at least one semen storage device on at least one support member provided therefore in the bottom of a rigid foamed plastic container, wherein each sup-port member is contoured to accept at least one semen storage device;
placing a ported thermoregulating plate in the rigid foamed plastic container in a manner which partitions the interior of the container into a lower compartment in which the semen storage device is disposed, and an upper compartment in which a refrigerant pack con-taining a solid foamed coolant is disposed, wherein the thermoregulating plate is formed of a rigid foamed plastic, and overlays the at least one support member formed in the bottom of the rigid foamed plastic container in a manner that closes each port so as to restrict fluid communication between the upper and lower chambers;
applying a lid to the rigid foamed plastic container in a manner that closes an upper end of the rigid foamed plastic container, wherein the lid comprises a rigid foamed plastic material, at least one sealing rib which extends about a lower surface of the lid that is snugly received in a recess which extends continuously about the upper end of the rigid foamed plastic container; and enclosing the rigid foamed plastic container with the lid closed in place in a corrugated cardboard box.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17, wherein, prior to introduction of an equine semen sample, the semen storage device contains a volume of extender solution sufficient to dilute the semen sample from about 3:1 to about 10:1 (v/v).

19. A container arrangement comprising:
a single corrugated cardboard blank adapted to be folded into a double-walled box having a single site of entry;
a plastic strip embedded in the cardboard blank and extending a full length of the blank;
first and second holes formed in the blank in a manner wherein the first and second holes pass through the plastic strip, and are located proximate first and second ends of the cardboard blank; and the first and second holes are located proximate one another when the double-walled corrugated cardboard blank is folded into its box configuration in a manner that permits a lead to be passed therethrough to enable the double-walled corrugated box to be locked against unauthorized entry.

20. A container arrangement as set forth in in claim 19, further comprising:
a rigid foamed plastic container comprising a support structure contoured to support at least one semen storage device;
a lid for closing an open upper end of the rigid foamed plastic container, the lid being formed with at least one ridge that extends continuously about a lower surface of the lid proximate an edge of the lid, the ridge being adapted to be received in a recess which extends continuously about the upper edge of the rigid foamed plastic container in a manner which forms a seal when the lid is pressed onto the rigid foamed plastic con-tainer;
a refrigerant pack containing a solid foam coolant; and means disposed in said container for partitioning the interior of the rigid foamed plastic container, separating the at least one semen storage device and the refrigerant pack, and for limiting the cooling rate of contents in the vessel to a value not greater than about 0.10° C./min.