ES2617966B1 - PROBE FOR POST-CERVICAL INSEMINATION OF SWINE SPECIES - Google Patents

Abstract

Post-cervical insemination probe, useful for artificial insemination of the pig species, composed of a base (2) in which the seminal dose is coupled and the body of the probe (1) that is prolonged longitudinally with a thickness and determined length, and ending at its most distal end (3) in edges that are rounded towards the inside of the probe itself leaving a hole (4) through which the seminal dose exits the body of the uterus. #The removal of the probe tip, this being the third element that makes up the post-cervical insemination probes for the pig species, allows to avoid possible incidents and / or damage to the cervical and uterine mucous membranes caused by it during the process of post-cervical artificial insemination.

Description

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

DESCRIPTION

PROBE FOR POST-CERVICAL INSEMINATION OF FEMALES OF THE

SWINE SPECIES

SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE

The present invention belongs to the field of the livestock industry, in particular to the intrauterine or post-cervical artificial insemination devices of females of the swine species.

The main object of the present invention is a device that together with a guide catheter allows artificial insemination in females of the swine species in a quick and simple manner, achieving the deposition of the content of a seminal dose in the body of the uterus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the state of the art, post-cervical or intrauterine insemination is an artificial insemination system that is performed by using a guide catheter that is located in the first portion of the uterine cervix through which a probe is inserted to deposit sperm in the body of the uterus. For this purpose it is worth mentioning the European patent application EP 1 532 941 A1.

It is a technique that began to be used in 2007 in Spain, and which has been widely extended in pig production farms due to the technical-economic advantages it provides; These include the use of less labor, since it is a faster technique than traditional insemination, based on the deposition of the dose in the uterine cervix; In addition to the use of seminal doses with a lower volume and concentration, which entails the use of a lower number of boar doses, and makes it possible to expand the genes of those animals with greater genetic value.

The guide catheter, in a generic way, is defined as a tubular body made of plastic material and which has a conical or cylindrical tip in one of the

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

ends, whose fundon is to facilitate the introduction into the sow through the vagina and its subsequent fixation in the vaginal or uterine cervix portion thereof. For this purpose it is worth mentioning the patent ES 2 156 579 A1.

The probe runs through the inside of the guide catheter and usually consists of three parts. The first is the body of the probe, made of low density plastic material, formed in its length by a hollow axial channel with a tubular shape and small diameter compared to its length, as a result, this probe is highly flexible. The length and diameter of the probe are considered one of the most important factors for the implementation of the Insemination process, since the point of deposition of the seminal dose depends on them. The probe body is generally manufactured by the mechanical Industrial process of extrusion modeling. In this process, in general, the constituent polymer of the probe is heated until it reaches the liquid or visco-elastic state. Through the action of a spindle, which provides an axial steering force, the polymer is forced to pass through a die or nozzle, which gives the shape of the section of the finished product. Another part is the base, also of plastic material, tubular, hollow and whose usefulness is to facilitate the manipulation of the probe and allow the connection of the probe with the semen container. Finally the last part is the tip, located at the most distal end of the probe, it is usually a piece of plastic embedded in the end of the probe body, with variable shapes, being able to be spherical or flat and one or more holes that allow semen output As a result of the process of joining the tip to the body of the probe, the appearance of edges occurs. For the unit manufacturing of each element, a mechanical system is responsible for cutting the product to the required length. The resulting edge of this cut is usually pronounced. The edges along with the tip can cause wounds and lacerations in the uterine mucosa which can have a negative impact on the reproductive parameters, because the blood produced by the lesions has a negative effect on the sperm.

In the post-cervical insemination process, the probe through an applied tensile force passes through the internal part of the guide catheter until it reaches the conical or cylindrical tip of the guide catheter fixed in the area of the vaginal or uterine cervix of the sow genital apparatus. Once this location has been reached by means of the continuous application of a tensile force, the most distal area of the probe in which the tip is located reaches the area of the uterine body. Once the probe is placed in this location, the connection of the vessel that is

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

It contains the seminal dose at the base of the probe, and by applying a variable force on this vessel, it is achieved that the seminal dose passes through the axial channel of the probe, being deposited in the uterine body the sperm that will carry out The fertilization process.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The proposed invention is to eliminate the piece that forms the tip of the probe, being able to integrate it into the body of the probe, so that during the manufacture of the post-cervical insemination probe, the distal end of the probe body is shaped so that it meets the necessary requirements of a conventional probe tip.

The probe object of the invention has a length between 60 and 80 centimeters.

In the presented invention, the end of the body of the probe in its distal part is rounded towards the inside of the probe itself, thus providing an outlet for the semen, without sharp or sharp edges that can cause wounds in the inner part of the probe. The uterus of the sow, with which a probe with only two pieces is achieved, these being the body and the base of the probe. So that the distal tip of the proposed invention is shaped in this way, a mechanical process is produced after extrusion of the element, consisting of exposing said tip to a rounded metal mold at a high temperature (about 200 ° C) and the effect of heat and mold causes the tip to acquire the shape described in this invention.

On the other hand, eliminating the tip as a separate piece from the rest of the probe avoids problems derived from its possible accidental disassembly during insemination operations, with the consequent risk to the health of the sow. Finally, the morphology of the invention avoids the use of external elements that are used to favor the introduction of the probe into the genital apparatus such as gels and other solvents that can be toxic to sperm.

In support of this new invention, during the twelve month period an in vivo study has been carried out on farms in which the degree of lesion of the mucosa of the cervix and uterine body has been evaluated. During this period, new entry sows of different genetic lines were inseminated, whose mucosa of the cervix and uterine body

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

It was intact since they had not previously been inseminated or had been pregnant. For this, half of these sows were inseminated throughout the year using a conventional probe with a non-integrated tip and the other half with the probe of the present invention. Subsequently, the female genitalia were collected in the slaughterhouse for evaluation. An evaluation was carried out both macroscopically (visually) and microscopically (through histological study) of damage, wounds or lacerations of the mucosa of the cervix and uterine body, giving a score according to the degree of lesion observed. The final evaluation of the score of the results resolved that the degree of injury observed with a conventional probe with a tip is greater than using the probe without a tip of the present invention. To add, that during the realization of the tests in farms, it was noticed during the process of insemination in each one of the farms of study, that the present invention presented the advantage of a greater facility in the introduction in the genital apparatus of the sow and a lower apparent manifestation of pain, all derived from the integration of the tip with the probe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description and facilitate the understanding of the presented invention, drawings are presented that represent an example of the practical embodiment of the invention, in which the following is presented in a descriptive and non-limiting manner:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective representation of an intrauterine insemination probe with a determined length and diameter, consisting of two pieces, these being the base and the body of the probe, thus eliminating a third piece called a tip, located in the part more distal to the probe, in accordance with what is set forth in the present invention.

- Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of the distal end of the probe.

- Figure 3 shows a detail of the section of the distal end of the probe.

- Figure 4 shows a detail of the top view of the probe, in which the exit hole for the porcine semen and the outer shape of the distal end of the probe, curved, without edges, can be seen.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

The following is a list of the various elements represented in the figures that make up the invention:

1 = Probe body 2 = Probe base 3 = Probe distal end 4 = Probe exit hole

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures and in accordance with the numbering adopted, an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention can be observed therein, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

Thus, as can be seen in Figures 1 to 4, a possible embodiment of the post-cervical or intrauterine insemination probe, this being a body (1) of cylindrical morphology, hollow in its entire length with a determined thickness and type of plastic , in whose proximal part is the base (2) to which the seminal dose is coupled for introduction.

Being the body of the probe (1) of an established length and diameter, ending at its most distal end (3), at edges that during its manufacturing process and by the methodology used are rounded towards the inside of the probe itself, conforming in this way a hole (4) for the exit of the semen without sharp or sharp edges, so that a probe with only two pieces is achieved, these being the body (1) and the base of the probe (2).

Claims (3)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 ES 2 617 966 A1 1. Intrauterine or post-cervical insemination probe for the pig species with a length between 60-80 centimeters, characterized by being made of polyethylene and polypropylene type plastic material; and for being constituted by two pieces a base (2); and a longitudinal, hollow body (1), at whose most distal end (3) the hole (4) is located that allows the semen to exit allowing post-cervical or intrauterine insemination of the porcine species. 2. Intrauterine or post-cervical insemination probe according to claim 1 characterized in that the base (2) of plastic material allows its fitting with the seminal dose container from which the diluted semen is collected. 3. Intrauterine or post-cervical insemination probe according to claim 1 characterized in that the distal end (3) of the body (1) of the probe is rounded inwardly thereof, thereby providing an outlet opening (4) for the semen without sharp or sharp edges, obtaining a probe with only two pieces, these being the body (1) and the base (2) of the probe.