FR2650256A1 - Isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal semen intended for artificial insemination, method of bringing the ejaculate thus transported to insemination temperature and sperm thus obtained - Google Patents

Abstract

a) The present invention relates to an isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal semen intended for artificial insemination and the method of bringing the ejaculate thus transported to insemination temperature. b) For this purpose the invention relates to an isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal semen intended for artificial insemination which uses and which associates a set of means which cooperate closely with one another in order to obtain a succession of insulations making it possible to maintain at a suitable temperature, with the help of other associated means, a standard sperm which is naturally particularly delicate and to bring it, without other intervention, progressively, throughout the duration of the transport to insemination temperature. c) The invention applies in general to artificial insemination.

Description

Isothermal container for transporting animal seeds from artificial insemination without thermal shock and vibration, method for placing. the insemination temperature of the ejaculate thus transported and the sperm thus obtained are ".

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an isotnermic container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial sowing, the method for setting the insemination temperature of the ejaculate thus transported and the sperm thus obtained.

PRIOR ART AND STATE OF THE ART
We know about artificial insemination animal the difficulties posed by the conservation of sperm which after being collected, should generally not undergo thermal shocks or vibrations which irreparably alter the qualities of reproduction, especially since some ejaculates for example those of the equine or canine breeds are naturally very fragile.

 Also the greatest attention has always been reserved first of all to the optimal conditions of reception of the sperm of reproduction in well dried test tubes to avoid any trace of water, this being spermicide, then to the conditions of transport and conservation of ejaculating until insemination.

 In terms of equine insemination, it should also be stressed that, generally speaking, breeding stallions are sometimes distant from breeding stud farms by several thousand kilometers, which considerably accentuates the difficulties of transport, routing and conservation of breeding seeds.

PRIOR ART
Many approaches have been carried out in an attempt to find satisfactory solutions to the related problems posed by the transport and conservation of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination
Most of these approaches were carried out by tradesmen who, in their overall approach, tried to solve one or more problems which were not obvious from the state of the art, sometimes developing great activity inventive while waiting for the desired goal.

 Thus, a patent FR 22 54 639 relates to a method of preserving ram sperm by freezing, the means for its implementation and the product obtained. Process characterized in that the semen is diluted in a glycerol-free dilutor based on lactose and egg yolk, then diluted in a glycerol-based diluent based on milk powder and sodium citrate; that is packaged in flakes and frozen at around -75 C, in a known manner, the semen thus diluted.

 Such a process cannot be applied to all ejaculas, especially since the most fragile, those of equine or canine breeds lose almost all their qualities during the implementation of such. process.

 This process, despite all the advantage it presents, applies essentially to the semen of aries or bulls.

 Another document FR 24 55 718 also relates to an apparatus for freezing sperm, preferably a bull so as to freeze the sperm at particularly low temperatures, without causing sudden cooling.

 The apparatus comprises, for this purpose, a chamber in which is placed the semen of the bull contained in chaff arranged in chases, a chamber 9 through which jets of nitrogen are sent by means of one or more fans available in part of the room.

 The purpose of this freezing apparatus for bull ejaculates is therefore to achieve freezing as low as possible without thermal shock.

Another document FR 25 46 755 relates to a process for the preservation of sperm, in particular from horses, for the purpose of insemination, in which the sperm is centrifuged, then diluted in a suitable liquid, then admitted into flakes kept in liquid nitrogen, then, after heating, diluted again before use, process characterized by a. suitable liquid used during dilution after centrifugation which contains between 1.5 and 3.5% by volume of a compound chosen from methylformamide and metylacetamide
This patent also relates to a freezing of the spermatozoa at very low temperature, more precisely to the temperature of air or of liquid nitrogen and to the process of conservation of these seeds for insemination.

 This patent describes in its preamble the difficulties encountered by those skilled in the art, in the conservation of reproductive ejaculates, and more particularly those of the horse breed.

 Another document FR 22 67 746 relates to a method and a device for maintaining a temperature for storing animal sperm, in particular boar sperm.

 The method used to maintain a temperature for storing animal sperm, semen ampoules, having a temperature between + 28 C and + 30-C, these ampoules being introduced into a first chamber at stabilized temperature and cooled therein. 6 to 8 hours at a temperature of + 15-C '1 C. process characterized in that the semen ampoules are transferred during transport, and 10 to 15 minutes before the insemination of the first chamber at stabilized temperature to be heated at the insemination temperature of + 30 C and this so that the temperature does not exceed + 35 C in the hottest places.

 This patent, despite all the inventive activity developed, allows, by means of two chambers, one of which is heated and the other refrigerated, to go from a storage temperature between + 15 C + 1 C to a insemination temperature of + 3OC.

 This patent, however, requires means of relatively complex implementation and does not allow the elimination of thermal shock or vibration due to transport.

 In view of the prior art, Invention proposes to produce an isothermal container for transport without thermal shock and without vibration on animal seeds intended for artificial sowing, it also relates to the process for bringing the temperature up inseminating the ejaculating thus transports and the sperm thus obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The isothermal container according to the invention overcomes the drawbacks of the known devices and means, while providing a particularly satisfactory overall solution to the problems posed to those skilled in the art, a solution which was not evident from the prior state of the technique and which has made it possible to obtain the satin material of the isothermal container in accordance with the invention, to the process for the temperature of insemination of the ejaculate transported using said container and to the sperm of 'standard thus obtained.

 To this end, the invention relates to an isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination, which implements and combines a set of means which cooperate intimately with one another to obtain a succession insulations making it possible to maintain a suitable temperature using other associated means, a standard semen, which is particularly fragile in a natural way and to bring it back; without any other intervention, gradually during the duration of transport, at a temperature of insemination.

The invention is shown without limitation, in the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 schematically represents the whole of a container according to the invention provided with the receptacle containing the seeds,
- Figure 2 shows schematically the receptacle and its support embedded in the overall insulation of the container.

 - Figure 3 shows schematically the receptacle and its specimen support.

 According to a first characteristic of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the isothermal container 1 for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination combines a set of containers 1, 2 , 3, 4 which cooperate with each other to obtain a succession of increasingly fine thermal insulations, the outer container 1 is very oversized compared to the next 2, content enclosed in its center on an insulator 5 covered by a large cover 6 isolated 7.

The insulator 5 comprises, in the upper central part, a recess 8 intended to intimately support and marry the external configuration of a second container 2 provided with a thread 9 which associates t serves as a seat for a set of at least two nesting containers 3, 4, or receptacle 10. The receptacle 10 comprises a plug 11 provided with a thread and combines lul-meme several means consisting of a gel 12 of. conservation of thermal properties which permanently fills it in a leaktight manner, and which separates it from another container 4 which bathes in said gel 12, by an anti-vibration device 13 which serves as a support for a test tube 14 which contains the seeds 15. A cover 6 corresponding to the outer container, provided with a gripping means 16 closes the assembly as tightly as possible.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in Figure 1, the outer envelope of the first container 1 is preferably made of plastic material of which all the internal parts are perfectly insulated. This insulation is carried out using a metal sheet 17, such as aluminum foil bonded to the internal parts of the container, the metal sheet 17 is coated with a plastic bubble mat 18 which thus allows '' obtain a good first insulation of the container.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, aipsi as shown in FIG. 1, the entire internal part of the first container 1 is provided with an insulating and water-repellent cylinder 5, preferably removable; this cylinder can be advantageously constituted by a block molded of polystyrene or by a set of cylindrical elements superimposed and glued together, made of polystyrene or another insulating material, which makes it possible to very effectively complete the first insulation of the container.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper central part of the internal insulating cylinder 5 comprises an Xvidoment 8 produced so as to closely match the external configuration of a second container 2, preferably produced in a translucent material, provided at the top with a thread 9, screwed by a cover 19 on its seat 2, and which associates and serves as a seat for a set of at least two nesting containers 3, 4 or receptacle 10 disposed thus at the heart of the insulator 5, 7 closed by the cover 6, which allows the receptacle 10 to be removably trapped in an environment specially studied to multiply the means of thermal insulation.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the receptacle 10 is removable, screwed by a cover 19 on its seat 2, it is preferably made of a translucent material, in that it comprises a sealing plug 11, this plug 11 is provided with a seal and with thermal insulation produced using a metal sheet, such as aluminum foil.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a gel 12 for preserving the thermal properties is constantly immersed in a sealed manner in the receptacle 10; this gel 12 is viscous and opaque, the volumetric ratio, the quantity and the viscosity of the gel 12 are calculated so as to allow a lowering of the temperature of the receptacle 10 to 6 + 1 / 2'C after it is placed for 24 hours in an appropriate cooling medium. This lowering of temperature results from all the means used which cooperate intimately with one another depending on the gel 12, of its container 3 relative to the volume of the container 4 test tube holder 14 and of the overall insulation mass of the container 1. Likewise, this set of means intimately cooperates with each other in the opposite direction and therefore makes it possible to bring back the ejaculate obtained, gradually and naturally, during the period of transport, from the 72 hours, from the storage temperature of 6'C +1/2 to an insemination temperature of around 20'C, while retaining maximum motility.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the receptacle 10 combines a set of at least two nesting containers 3, 4; it is provided for this purpose in its center with another container 4 opaque, which bathes in the gel .12, conservation of thermal properties. This container 4 is provided with an anti-vibration device 13, test tube support 14. This device 13 is produced using a shutter element for its open upper orifice, constituted for example by a round element made of split latex X-shaped. The test tube 14 containing the seeds 15 takes place on this support which is thus maintained on the latex element forming a shock absorber.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a cover 6 provided with a gripping means 16, closes the first container 1 as tightly as possible. This cover 6 is also well insulated 7 using a metal sheet 17, a plastic mattress with air bubbles 18 and one or more polystyrene elements 7. The central part of the cover 6 has a recess 20 corresponding to the closure plug tl of the receptacle 10, in that the gripping means 16 connects the cover 6 to the first container 1 movably both in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction. The cover 6 and the upper external part of the container 1 are provided with projecting edges 21 for closing and sealing t4.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the invention also relates to the process for gradually bringing, without thermal shock and without vibration, an ejaculate after removal and transport to an artificial insemination temperature, process according to which one uses a container 1 described above. Next to this process, we remove from its seat 2, the receptacle 10 which is immersed in the gel 12 for preserving thermal properties, we lower it before taking the ejaculate, the temperature of the gel 12, so that it reaches a temperature of the order of 6 C + 1/2 C. This lowering of temperature can advantageously be obtained by placing the receptacle 10 in a refrigerating means such as a refrigerator save for a period of approximately 24 hours, the collection test tube is heated before taking the ejaculate 14 to 35 ° C. temperature of the horn ps, the center of the receptacle 10 is filled with water brought to 35 ° C., the ejaculate 15 is taken which is placed in the preheated test tube 14, which is then placed on the support 13 receptacle 10. A test piece 14 is then obtained containing the ejaculate 15, taken at the temperature of the body of the standard, which bathes in water at 35 ° C. which fills the center of the receptacle 10; the receptacle 10 is closed, with its cap 11, the receptacle 10 is screwed onto its seat 2 and the container 1 is closed with its insulated cover 6, the seeds 15 are thus transported to the breeding stud or the seeds can be used as is, the duration of transport having brought them gradually, autonomously, to an insemination temperature.

 According to a last characteristic, the invention also relates to the standard sperm refrigerated at an appropriate storage temperature and gradually brought back to an insemination temperature thus obtained by the use of the container and of the process described above.

 The invention applies, in general, to artificial insemination.

Claims (10)

 1.- Isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination, charac peris6 in that it associates a set of containers which cooperate between them (1, 2, 3, 4) for obtain a successful transfer of increasingly fine thermal insulations, the external container (1) is very largely oversized compared to the following (2), content enclosed in its center on an insulator (5), covered by a large cover (6}, insulator (7), the insulator (5) has in the upper central part a recess (8) intended for BR <intimately supporting and embracing the external configuration of a second container (2) provided with a pitch screw which associates and serves as a seat for a set of at least two nesting containers (3, 4) or receptacle (10), the receptacle (10) comprises a plug (11) provided with a thread of screw and associates it - even several means consisting of a gel (12) for preserving the thermal properties which fills it permanently in a sealed manner and which separates it from another container (4) which bathes in said gel (12), by an anti-vibration device (13) which serves as a support for a test tube (14) which contains the seeds ( 15), a cover (6) corresponding to the exterior container, provided with a gripping means (1), seals the assembly as tightly as possible.  2.- isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination, according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer casing of the first container (1) is made of preferably made of plastic from which all the internal parts are perfectly insulated, in that this insulation is carried out using a metal sheet (17), such as aluminum foil glued to the internal parts of the container and in that the metal sheet (17) is coated with a plastic air bubble mattress (18).  3.- Isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination, according to any one of claims 1 to 2, ca acterized in that all the internal part of the first container ( 1) is provided with an insulating and water-repellent cylinder (5), preferably removable, in that this cylinder can advantageously be constituted by a molded block of polystyrene or also by a set of cylindrical elements superimposed and glued together, made made of polystyrene or another insulating material.  4.- Isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper central part of the insulating cylinder (5 ) internal includes a recess (8) made so as to closely fit the external configuration of the second container (2), preferably made of a translucent material, provided in the upper part with a thread (9), screwed by a cover (19) on its seat (2), and which associates and serves as a seat for a set of at least two nesting containers (3, 4) or receptacles (10) thus arranged in the heart of the insulation (5, 7) closed by the cover (6).  5.- isothermal container for transporting without thermal shock and without vibration animal seeds intended for artificial insemination, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the receptacle (10) is removable screwed by a cover (19) on its seat (2), in that it is preferably made of a translucent material, in that it comprises a closure plug (11) and in that this plug (it) is fitted with a xX seal and a thermal insulation produced using a metal sheet, such as aluminum foil.  6.- Isothermal container for transport without thermal shock. And without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, because; cterized in that a gel (12) of conservation of the thermal properties bathes permanently, in a sealed manner, in the receptacle (10), in that this gel (12) is viscous and opaque, in that the ratio vo lumetric, the quantity and the viscosity of the gel (12 ) are calculated so as to allow the temperature of the receptacle (10) to be lowered to 6 + 1 / 2'C after it has been placed for 24 hours in an appropriate cooling medium, in that this temperature reduction results from all the means used which cooperate intimately with each other depending on the gel (12t, its container (3) relative to the volume of the container (4) test tube support (14) and the overall mass of insulation container (1) and in that, likewise, this set ble means cooperate with each other in the opposite direction to bring the ejaculate obtained, gradually and naturally, during the transport time of about 72 hours, from the storage temperature of 6 C + 1/2 C to a temperature d 'in insemination of around 20'C.  7.- Isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination 9, according to any one of claims from 1 to 6, ca characterized in that the receptacle (10) associates a set at least two nesting containers (3, 4), it is provided for this purpose in its center with another container (4) opaque, which bathes in the gel (12), of conservation of thermal properties, in that this container (4) is provided with an anti-vibration device (13), specimen support (14), this device (13) is produced using a shutter element for its open upper orifice; consisting for example of a round X-shaped split latex element and in that the test tube (14) containing the seeds (15) takes place on this support.  8.- Isothermal container for the transport without thermal shock and without vibration of animal seeds intended for artificial insemination, according to any one of claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that a cover (6) provided with a gripping means (16), closes the first container (1) as tightly as possible, in that this cover (6) is also well insulated (7) using a metal sheet (17 ), a plastic air bubble mattress (18) and one or more polystyrene elements, the central part of the cover (6) has a recess (20) corresponding to the closure plug (11) of the receptacle (10), in that the gripping means (16) connects the cover (6) to the first container (1) in a mobile manner both in the vertical and in the horizontal direction and in that the cover (6) and the upper outer part of the container (1) are provided with projecting edges (21) for closing and sealing.  9.- A process for gradually bringing without ejaculation and vibration, an ejaculate after removal and transport to an artificial insemination temperature, process characterized in that a container (i) is used in accordance with any one of the claims of 1 & 8, remove from its seat (2), the receptacle (10) which is immersed in the gel (12) for preserving the thermal properties, the temperature of the gel (12) is lowered prior to the removal of the ejaculate, so that it reaches a temperature of the order of 6 C + 1/2 C, this lowering of temperature can advantageously be obtained by placing the receptacle (10) in a refrigerant means such as a household refrigerator for a period approximately 24 hours, the mixture is heated prior to the removal of the ejaculate, the collection test tube (14) to 35 ° C., the center of the receptacle (10) is filled with water brought to 35 ° C., the sample is taken 'ejaculate (15) which is placed in the test tube (14) previously heated, which is then placed on the test tube support of the receptacle, one then obtains a test tube (14) containing the ejaculate (15), taken at the temperature of the body of the standard, which is immersed in calf at 35 C which fills the center of the receptacle (10), the receptacle (10) is closed, with its cap (11), the receptacle (10) is screwed onto its seat (2) and the container (1) is closed with its insulated cover (6), the seeds (15) are thus transported to the breeding stud or the seeds can be used as they are, the duration of transport having them gradually reduced to an insemination temperature.  10.- Standard sperm refrigerated to a suitable storage temperature and gradually brought back to an insemination temperature thus obtained and characterized in that it uses for this purpose, the container in accordance with any one of the claims of ia 8 and the method according to claim 9.