FR2780875A1 - Catheter device for animal insemination, uses tube with flexible end lip and intermediate, flexible rings to provide positioning and sealing during use in animal's uterus - Google Patents

Abstract

The device consists of an end section (2) with tubular profile and end lip (8) radially arranged with angled profile and high flexibility. The profile with top grooves (81) permits flexibility on exit from the uterus. Intermediate rings (7) with lower flexibility engage the outer entrance to the uterus, with individual rings (71,72,73,74) interacting to provide increased resistance on engaging the entrance.

Description

SOFT LIPSTICK FOR

INSEMINATION OF ANIMALS

  The present invention relates to a catheter for

  artificial insemination of animals such as sows.

  An artificial insemination catheter allows semen to flow from an external flexible container

  up to the entrance of the animal's uterine tubes.

  For example, such a catheter is known, described in document WO 97/21396 A, comprising a tubular profiled end section with an axial channel extending between a proximal inlet zone and a distal outlet end with a central diffusion orifice. , with a proximal stop stop, and with means

  sealing arranged in the distal end section region.

  The sealing means are peripheral helical threads extending in the intermediate portion of the end section.

  between the proximal stopper and the distal outlet end.

  The proximal stop stop comprises a plurality of portions of fine annular ribs offset axially to support the

  both when subjected to axial bending stress.

  When using the catheter, the tubular profiled end section is fitted at the end of a semi-flexible tube, and is introduced into the cervix. The peripheral helical threads are engaged in the cervix. The proximal stop

  stop is initiated at the entrance to the cervix.

  A problem and to ensure a correct positioning and maintenance of the catheter in the cervix, to allow the good flow of the semen sucked by the sow during the artificial insemination, and to prevent the refoulement of

  seed around the catheter through the cervix.

  It appears that, during use, sufficient vigilance on the part of the user is necessary to maintain the catheter in the correct position with the proximal stop abutment in abutment at the entrance to the cervix, in order to ensure sufficient tightness avoiding seed upsets. This results in the need to permanently axially urge the catheter to provide a prolonged and sufficient axial support of the proximal stop for stopping the catheter against the cervix, support which risks disturbing the centering of the catheter in the cervix and

  cause irritation or even injury to the animal.

  A problem proposed by the present invention is to design a new catheter structure which has a better seal to oppose the delivery of semen during use, and which has a better holding in position by opposing itself at the untimely exit of the catheter out

of the cervix.

  Simultaneously, the invention seeks to reduce the risk of injury to the animal, and to facilitate the positioning of the catheter. Another problem proposed by the invention is to allow adaptation of the catheter to a greater range of variation in the diameter of the cervix, while maintaining a sufficient seal.

  under the usual conditions of use.

  To achieve these and other objects, a catheter according to the invention comprises a tubular profiled end section with an axial channel extending between a proximal entry zone and a distal exit end with a central diffusion orifice, with a proximal stop stop, and with sealing means arranged in the distal end section region; the sealing means comprise an elastically flexible and flexible peripheral annular lip, developing radially obliquely in the direction of the proximal entry zone, and spaced from the proximal stop abutment according to a determined spacing. By its conformation, the elastically peripheral annular lip

  flexible simultaneously provides an anti axial hold function

  retreat to oppose the untimely exit of the catheter out of the

cervix.

  Preferably, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip has a section which decreases

towards its peripheral edge.

  In an advantageous embodiment, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip has an annular base which is connected to a peripheral zone by an annular thinned transition zone. The annular transition zone constitutes a preferential zone of flexural deformation, and provides a

better flex flexibility.

  According to a first embodiment, an elastically flexible peripheral annular lip is limited by a generally conical distal surface having a first cone angle, and by a generally conical proximal surface having a second angle

  cone larger than the first cone angle.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip is limited by a generally spherical distal surface having a first radius, and by a generally spherical offset proximal surface having a second

  radius larger than the first radius.

  In a preferred embodiment, the proximal stop abutment comprises a plurality of portions of fine annular ribs offset axially by a small distance to support each other during a stress in axial bending, ensuring positioning flexible elastic axial allowing a slight retraction of the catheter which promotes sealing by the lip

  elastically flexible peripheral ring.

  Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the

  present invention will emerge from the following description of modes

  of particular embodiments, made in relation to the attached figures, among which: - Figure 1 is a side view in longitudinal section of a catheter according to a first embodiment of the present invention; - Figure 2 is a side view in longitudinal section of a catheter according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and - Figure 3 schematically illustrates a side view of the catheter end section of Figure 1 in the engaged position in a

  animal uterus for artificial insemination.

  In the embodiments shown more particularly in the figures, a catheter according to the invention comprises, at the end of a semi-flexible tube 1, an end section 2 tubular profile with axial channel 3. The end section 2 extends between a proximal entry area 4 and an end

  output distal 5 with central diffusion orifice 6.

  The end section 2 of tubular section comprises a proximal stop stop 7 which, in the embodiment shown, consists of four fine annular ribs 71, 72, 73 and 74 offset axially by a small distance from each other. following the others. The central annular ribs 72 and 73 have a diameter greater than that of the lateral annular ribs 71

and 74.

  In the illustrated embodiment, each annular rib 71-74 is in the form of a continuous circular crown separated from the adjacent annular rib by a continuous annular groove. As an alternative, ribs can be provided in an equivalent manner

discontinuous annulars.

  In the vicinity of the distal outlet end 5, the end section 2 comprises an elastically flexible and flexible peripheral annular lip 8 which develops radially obliquely in the direction of the proximal inlet area 4, and which is separated of the proximal stop stop 7 according to a determined distance E. In the figures, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 develops, at rest in the absence of stress, radially obliquely at an angle A of about 30 to

  o relative to the longitudinal axis I-I of the end section 2.

  In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 has a section which decreases towards its peripheral edge 9. Thus, the thickness of the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 in the vicinity of the peripheral edge 9 is smaller that the thickness of the same elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 in the vicinity of its connection with the tubular body

  center of the end section 2.

  In practice, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 comprises an annular base 10 which is connected to a peripheral zone 11 by a thinned annular transition zone 12, providing an appropriate and localized flexural flexibility of the

  elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8.

  In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 is limited by a generally conical distal surface 81 having a first cone angle, and by a generally conical proximal surface 82 having a second larger cone angle than the first cone angle. This embodiment is suitable for animals which have already undergone

  other artificial inseminations.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 is limited by a distal surface 83 generally spherical having a first radius, and by a proximal surface 84 generally spherical offset having a second radius larger than the first radius . This second embodiment is better suited to the first artificial insemination of an animal, because the rounded profile of the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 limits the risks

injury to the animal.

  In the two embodiments, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 has, at rest, a diameter DD substantially as large as the diameter DP of the stop

proximal stop 7.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is advantageously possible to provide an elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 which comprises, on its distal surface 81 or 83, annular lubrication grooves 19. These grooves 19 substantially facilitate penetration of the catheter into the neck of

the uterus 13.

  Good results are obtained by providing a diameter DD of an elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8, the value of which is approximately 22 mm. Simultaneously, the distance E between the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 and the stop

  proximal stop 7 may advantageously be approximately 22 mm.

  The operation and the interest of the catheter according to the present invention are illustrated in FIG. 3. The cervix 13 constitutes a narrowing in which one comes

  engage the end section 2 mounted at the end of a semi-tube

  flexible 1. The proximal stop stop 7 comes to bear at the entrance to the cervix 13. The fine peripheral annular ribs

  71-74 flex elastically as illustrated in Figure 3.

  When their flexion increases, they come to bear against each other, which gradually increases their resistance

  elastic to bending. By the elastic reaction, the ribs 71-

  74 tend to urge the catheter towards exit 14 of the uterus. Simultaneously, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 comes to bear on the wall of the uterus in the area of the inner edge of the cervix 13. The elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 10 is flexed slightly, as illustrated in FIG. 3 , and, by its oblique radial configuration, it constitutes a non-return element, opposing the exit of the catheter from the interior cavity 15 of the uterus, while

  ensuring an excellent seal.

  The flexibility of the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 allows its subsequent deformation by inversion when the catheter is extracted from the uterus,

without hurting the animal.

  It will be understood that both the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 and the ribs 71-74 of the proximal stop abutment 7 have an elasticity allowing them to be applied in elastic support against the wall of the cervix 13

during use.

  In the embodiments illustrated, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 is in the immediate vicinity of the distal outlet end 5 of the catheter. As a result, the distal end portion of the catheter has a large, rounded front surface, which greatly reduces the risk of injury to the animal. Simultaneously, the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip 8 constitutes an excellent means of centering the catheter in the cervix 13, eliminating all

  risk of blockage of the central diffusion orifice 6.

  The axial channel 3 of the end section 2 has an internal shoulder 16 between a proximal section 17 of larger diameter and a distal section 18 of reduced diameter leading to the central diffusion orifice 6. The internal shoulder 16 allows

  to limit the introduction of the semi-flexible tube 1.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof contained in the field.

of the claims below.

Claims (8)

  1 - Catheter for artificial insemination of animals such as sows, comprising an end section (2) tubular profile with axial channel (3) extending between a proximal entry zone (4) and a distal end outlet (5) with central diffusion orifice (6), with a proximal stop stop (7), and with sealing means arranged in the distal region of the end section (2), characterized in that the sealing means comprise an elastically flexible and flexible peripheral annular lip (8), developing radially obliquely in the direction of the proximal entry zone (4), and separated   of the proximal stop stop (7) according to a determined distance (E).   2 - Catheter according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip (8) has a section which decreases towards its edge peripheral (9).   3 - Catheter according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip (8) has an annular base (10) which is connected to a peripheral zone (11) by an annular transition zone (12)   thinned providing flexibility of flexion.   4 - Catheter according to any one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip (8) is limited by a distal surface (81) generally conical having a first cone angle, and by a proximal surface (82) generally conical having a second angle   cone larger than the first cone angle.   - Catheter according to any one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip (8) is limited by a distal surface (83) generally spherical having a first radius, and by a proximal surface (84) generally spherical offset having a second radius larger than the first radius.   6 - Catheter according to any one of claims 1 to   5, characterized in that the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip (8) has at rest a diameter (DD) substantially as large as the diameter (DP) of the proximal stop stop (7).   7 - Catheter according to any one of claims 1 to   6, characterized in that the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip (8) comprises, on its distal surface (81,   83), annular lubrication grooves (19).   8 - Catheter according to any one of claims 1 to   7, characterized in that the proximal stop stop (7) comprises a plurality of fine annular ribs (71-74) offset axially by a small gap to support each other during a bending stress axial, ensuring flexible elastic axial positioning allowing a slight retraction of the catheter which promotes sealing by the annular lip   elastically flexible device (8).   9 - Catheter according to any one of claims 1 to   8, characterized in that the diameter (DD) of the elastically flexible peripheral annular lip (8) is approximately 22 mm, and the gap (E) between the elastically peripheral annular lip   flexible (8) and the proximal stopper (7) is approximately 22 mm.