KR20080018186A - Device for collection of animal semen adaptable to an artificial vagina - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) for collection of animal semen comprises a rigid frame (2) which is adaptable to an artificial vagina (V), and to which filtration means (3) and a collection receptacle (4) are fixed, the filtration means (3) being positioned inside the collection receptacle (4). The filtration means form a filtration pouch, preferably conical, that make it possible to hold back the "tapioca" and to allow the liquid fractions of the semen, including the "rich fraction" containing the spermatozoa, to pass into the collection receptacle (4).

Description

DEVICE FOR COLLECTION OF ANIMAL SEMEN ADAPTABLE TO AN ARTIFICIAL VAGINA}

The present invention relates to the collection of animal semen. An object of the present invention is a novel device for the collection of animal semen, which is applicable to artificial vagina and capable of performing filtration of collected animal semen. This collection device is preferably disposable.

For example, to take samples of animal semen, such as pigs, bulls, stallions, rabbits, and the like, it is current practice to use artificial vagina to stimulate the genitals of animals and cause them to ejaculate.

At present, there are a number of variations of the artificial vagina, the structure of which is rather complicated and, in general, suitably applied to the animal genitals to which semen samples are to be taken.

As an example, in European patent application EP 0 699 422, a disposable artificial material of very simple structure has been proposed, consisting of a non-toxic foam tube of polyurethane, polyethylene or silicone.

In addition, more sophisticated artificial vaginas are also known which allow automatic stimulation of the genitals by various pressure chambers in which fluids such as water or air are supplied.

As an example, international patent application WO 02/13723 discloses an artificial vagina which forms a hermetic air chamber and enables localized stimulation of the genitals of an animal by pulsation.

French patent FR 946 822 discloses another known variant of the artificial material for the collection of animal semen which forms a pressure chamber filled with water or air.

Regardless of the structure of the artificial vagina used for the collection of animal semen, when it leaves the vagina, a collection system into which semen flows inside needs to be associated with the artificial vagina.

In the above-mentioned European patent application EP 0 699 422, this collection system is by way of example (Fig. 1) a cylindrical tube, which fits within the tubular end of the foam artificial material. This collection tube specifically comprises a cylindrical portion, opposite the artificial vagina, closed by a conical portion into which the sampled semen flows into. In another form of embodiment (FIG. 2), the collection system is in two parts, a cylindrical tube fitted at the outlet of the artificial vagina and open at both ends, and a separate receptacle.

In the above-mentioned French patent FR 946 822, the collection system is a rigid receiver which is inserted at the end of the artificial tube and held in place by a connecting line.

Animal semen comprises substantially two different substances: a liquid substance and a substance that forms a soft gel, commonly referred to as “tapioca”. The liquid substance substantially comprises three liquid portions: the first liquid portion consists mainly of urine containing bacteria; The second liquid portion, also commonly referred to as the "rich fraction", is a creamy liquid containing sperm; The third liquid portion is the so-called "sperm fluid" that protects the sperm of the rich portion. The so-called rich part is the part used for artificial insemination after the collection step. "Tepioka" is useless for fertilization. Therefore, it is necessary to separate "tapioca" from the liquid portion of semen.

In the above-described variant of French patent FR 946 822 (FIG. 2), this separation is accomplished by providing a receptacle for seminal fluid and a discharge orifice for “tapioca” in a tube interposed between the artificial vagina. It is proposed. In international patent application WO 02/13723 it is proposed to interpose a filter between a receptacle for seminal fluid (in the form of a cup) and an outlet of the artificial vagina.

Purpose of the Invention

The present invention aims in principle to propose a novel device for the collection of animal semen that can be applied to an artificial collection vagina while allowing animal semen to be filtered.

A secondary object of the present invention is the hygienic state of the collection operation, avoiding the risk of contact with external elements, in particular the worker handling the collection and / or animal and / or animal semen, especially liquid parts, which may cause contamination. It is to propose a device for the collection of animal semen that makes it possible to improve.

Another additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the collection of animal semen with improved filtration of animal semen, avoiding the risk of clogging of the filtration medium by "tapioca".

Another additional object of the present invention is to propose a disposable device for the collection of animal semen.

Summary of the Invention

All or part of the above objects are achieved by a collecting device which is the subject of the appended claims.

The device for the collection of animal semen of the present invention is in principle applicable to an artificial vagina, comprising a frame on which a means for filtration is fixed, and a collection receptacle, the filtration means being arranged inside the collection receptacle.

Thus, the frame of the device of the present invention fulfills a dual function; This allows for quick and easy application of the device to the outlet of the artificial vagina, which serves as a common support for both the collection receptacle and the filtering means.

The present invention comprises for this purpose both a device for the collection of artificial vagina and animal semen, wherein the collection device can be applied to the artificial vagina, preferably in a removable manner.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred variant embodiments of the invention, which is made by way of the non-limiting and non-exclusive examples of the invention, with reference to the following figures. Could be.

1 is a perspective view of a tubular end (outlet) of an artificial collecting vagina designed to be assembled with a collecting device, and a collecting device designed according to a preferred variant of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the frame of the collecting device of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the III-III plane of the frame of FIG. 2;

4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the IV-IV plane of the frame of FIG. 2;

5 is a perspective view of a fixing ring of the collecting device of FIG. 1.

6 is a detailed view of a cross section of the application ring of the collecting device of FIG. 1 and the securing ring of FIG. 5;

7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the artificial vaginal and collecting device of FIG. 1 when assembled;

1 shows an illustration of a device 1 of a preferred variant embodiment for the collection of animal semen that is disposable, which can be applied to the artificial collection vagina V to recover animal semen when the animal semen comes out of this vagina. Is shown. 7 schematically shows a collecting device 1 assembled with an artificial vagina V. FIG. In Figures 1 and 7, the vagina V is shown in a very schematic manner by the tubular element, indicating that the structure of this vagina V is not important to the present invention. The present invention may, in fact, be practiced with any type of artificial collection vagina that makes it possible to stimulate the genitals of animals (especially pigs, bulls, stallions, rabbits, etc.). By way of example, the collecting device 1 can be designed for application to disposable passive artificial vagina of a very simple structure of the type described in French patent FR 946 822. The collecting device 1 may also be designed for application to more sophisticated artificial vaginas of the type described in international patent application WO 02/13723.

Referring to FIG. 1, the collecting device 1 comprises a rigid frame 2, a filtration means 3, a receptacle 4 and a retaining ring 5.

Referring to FIG. 2, the rigid frame 2 has an application ring 20 which forms an inner passage 21 for the flow of animal semen (arrow F) from the artificial vagina and an almost U- extending in the flow direction of the semen. It consists of an armature 22 of shape. Referring to FIG. 7, once the application ring 20 is mounted at the outlet of the artificial vagina V, the inner passage 21 extends in communication with the internal cavity of the artificial vagina V. FIG.

The shape of the application ring 20 is determined as a function of the shape of the outlet of the artificial collecting vagina V on which the collecting device 1 is mounted. When the outlet of the vagina V is cylindrical, the ring 20 exhibits a circular cross section. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the ring having a circular cross section, which ring forms any passage for the flow of semen which exhibits a shape applied to the outlet of the artificial collecting vagina to which the collecting device of the present invention is mounted. It can be replaced by the application part of.

In the example of the embodiment of the figure, the application ring 20 comprises, on the outer wall 20b, two radially opposing assembly catches 23. Referring to FIG. 1, these assembly catches 23 are each designed to work with the cutouts D formed in the artificial vagina V to allow for the fastest bayonet-type assembly possible. The present invention is not limited to the structure of this particular rapid assembling means, and the catch 23 and the cutout D are any that enable the blocking of the translation of the ring 20 with respect to the vagina (V). Can be replaced by means of rapid assembly of known types. By way of example, in another variant, the assembly of the artificial vagina V and the ring 20 may be achieved by a simple fit, with tightening.

More preferably, the frame 2 (application ring 20 / amateur 22 / capture 23) is, for example, a single member part made of plastic.

Referring to FIG. 3, the filtration means 3 consists of a filtration medium made of a woven fabric, more particularly of a nonwoven fabric, which forms a filtration pouch. The function of these filtration means 3 is to block the "tapioca" inside the filtration porch and to allow the liquid portion of the semen, including the "rich part" containing sperm, to enter the collection receptacle 4. The type of fibers that make up the nonwoven is not critical to the invention. The fibers of the nonwoven filter cloth 3 can be, for example, synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, polyethylene and / or natural cotton fibers and / or artificial fibers of the viscous type. The use of nonwovens for filtration performance makes its best advantage possible to manufacture disposable filters. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven filter cloth 3 can be replaced with any equivalent filtering means that allows the tapioca to be separated from the remainder of the animal semen.

More specifically, the nonwoven filter cloth 3 is, for example, glued and / or bonded over the entire outer periphery of the inner wall 20a of the application ring 20, and the arms 22a, U, of the U-shaped armature 22. It is fixed to the frame 2 by bonding and / or bonding to 22b, 22c. More preferably, in order to simplify the manufacture, the nonwoven fabric 3 is formed of two identical parts 30, 31 which are symmetric to each other. The frame 2 forms a filter cone (FIG. 3) with a nonwoven filter cloth 3, which makes its best advantage possible. This filtration cone comprises an opening for the introduction of the semen of the circular section corresponding to the inner section of the application ring 20.

The armature 22 enables its best advantage to maintain the shape of the filter porch 3 over its entire height h.

More preferably, referring to FIG. 4, the length l of the arm 22a forming the base of the U of the armature 22 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the application ring 20, and the two The radially opposed lateral arms 22b and 22c diverge slightly with respect to each other in the direction of the application ring 20, thereby making it possible to give the filter porch 3 the shape of a puncture (cone). However, the present invention is not limited to U-shaped armatures with divergent lateral arms, but may be replaced with any type of armatures that make it possible to maintain the shape of the filter porch over its entire height. In particular, but not exclusively, in another variant embodiment, the two lateral arms 22b and 22c of the armature 22 may be nearly parallel.

The receptacle 4 provides the best advantage, for example, when it is a disposable flexible collecting porch made of plastic. Referring to FIG. 1, the collecting porch 4 has a tubular shape, is open at one end 40 and closed at the opposite end 41. The collecting porch 4 is fixed to the outer wall 20b of the ring 20 and thus slides onto the application ring 20. The filter porch 3 is thus arranged inside the collecting porch 4, and the two porches 3, 4 are not fixed to each other.

More specifically, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the fixing of the collecting porch 4 to the application ring 20 is carried out by a fixing ring 5, which is fixed onto the application ring 20. It is slid and fixed to the application ring 20, and the collecting porch 4 is slid on the two rings 20, 5, and wedged therebetween.

More specifically, referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the retaining ring 5 of the applicator ring 20 may enable blocking of the position of the retaining ring 5 with respect to the applicator ring 20. It includes two radially opposed inner lugs 50 which work together with the outer circumferential groove 20c designed in the outer wall 20b. In FIG. 5, only one of the two lugs 50 is visible and the other lug on the opposite side is hidden.

The preparation of the collecting device is done in the following manner. The filtration cone of FIG. 3 is produced (assembly of the nonwoven filter cloth 3 to the frame 2). The collecting porch 4 is then placed by sliding it onto the application ring 20 of the frame 2 of this filtering cone. The securing ring 5 is then placed in place by sliding the securing ring onto the application ring 20 in such a way that the lug 50 is arranged inside the groove 20c of the ring 20. The collecting porch 4 is wedged and immobilized between the two rings 20, 5. It should be noted that for simplicity, the collecting porch 4 is not shown in FIG. 6.

The lug 50 and the groove 20c may be replaced by any equivalent means by which the collection porch 4 can be hermetically fixed to the application ring 20. By way of example, and not exclusively, in another variant of the invention, the retaining ring 5 is removed and replaced by adhesive bonding and / or heat sealing the collecting porch 4 to the application ring 20. .

More preferably, the collection porch 4 comprises a circumferential pre-cutout line 42 (FIG. 1), disposed adjacent to the application ring 20, which, once the animal semen has been collected, collects porch ( Make it easy to separate 4) into two parts.

The collecting device 1 of the present invention, whose preferred variant is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, is used in the following manner.

Prior to the collecting operation of the animal semen, the collecting device 1 is assembled to the artificial collecting vagina V. The artificial vagina (V) is slid onto the genitals of animals (pigs, bulls, rabbits, etc.), and by the artificial vagina (V) itself, in a clear manner, by stimulating the genitals of the animal, the usual sampling of animal semen is performed. do. Depending on the type of artificial vagina, the stimulus may be manual or automatic (pressure chamber supplied by the fluid).

When the animal discharges the semen by ejaculation, the semen flows into the filtration cones 2 and 3 of the collecting device of the present invention. After the ejaculation of the animal semen is completed, the artificial vagina (V) with the collecting device 1 is withdrawn and, if necessary, all of the animal semen is brought into gravity into the filtration cones 2, 3 of the collecting device 1. It can flow by. The nonwoven filter 3 of the filtering cone blocks the "tapioca" and allows the liquid portion of the semen, including the "rich part" containing the reproductive sperm, to pass through. The liquid portion flows by gravity into the collecting porch 4 by passing through the nonwoven filter.

In particular, in the nonwoven filter cloth 3 whose shape is retained by the frame 2, the "tapioca" does not block the filter, but rather the area of the bottom face of the nonwoven filter 3 (i.e., the area of the arm 22a of the frame 2). It is most advantageous to accumulate away). Accumulation of “tapioca” at the bottom of this nonwoven filter 3 does not create an obstacle to the passage of the liquid portion of semen through the nonwoven wall of the filter. Thus, for example, the filtration is improved by avoiding the risk of clogging by "tapioca" compared to the technical solution in which the filtration porch made of a nonwoven fabric or equivalent thereof is not held in shape and fixed inside the flexible collecting porch. .

After the entire liquid portion of the semen has passed through the nonwoven filter 3, the collection porch 4 is manually cut along the preliminary cutout line 42 to receive the liquid portion disposed below the preliminary cutout line 42. Separate the part of the porch (4). Thereafter, the collecting operation of the liquid part of the semen (including the "rich part") is completed. Most advantageously, all of these collection operations avoid the risk of any contact of the collection device with any elements external to the artificial vagina, in particular animal semen with the worker and / or animal performing the collection and / or ambient air that may be contaminated. By doing so, it is carried out under optimal hygienic conditions.

When the collection device 1 of the present invention is removable with respect to the artificial vagina, as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, once the collection operation described above is performed, the collection device 1 comprising "tapioca" is withdrawn If the device is disposable, it is discarded.

When the vagina is not disposable and can be reused, and / or when it is desirable to recover the collection device 1 for new use, the collection device 1 of the present invention is removable with respect to the artificial vagina. It is important. In other cases (disposable collecting device, disposable artificial collecting vagina), the collecting device 1 does not need to be removable with respect to the artificial vagina (V).

The invention is not limited to the preferred variant embodiments described in detail in reference to the accompanying drawings, but may be extended to any other variant embodiment covered by the appended claims.

Claims (16)

An animal which can be applied to the artificial vagina (V) and comprises a frame (2) on which the filtration means (3) and the collection receptacle are fixed, the filtration means (3) being arranged inside the collection receptacle (4) Semen collection device. The device for collecting animal semen according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (2) comprises rapid assembly means (3) for application to the artificial vagina (V). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filtering means (3) is formed of a textile material. 4. The animal semen collection device according to claim 3, wherein the filtration means (3) is formed of a nonwoven fabric. 5. The frame (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (2) comprises an armature (22) which makes it possible to maintain the shape of the filtration means (3) over its overall height (h). Animal semen collection device. The frame (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the frame (2) has an application portion (20) forming a passage (21) for the flow of animal semen and an armature (22) extending in the flow direction of semen. Filtration means 3 are fixed to the inner wall 20a and the armature 22 of the application part, the collection receptacle 4 slides over the frame 2, and the external wall of the application part 20. Animal semen collection device, characterized in that fixed to (20b). 7. The animal semen collection device according to claim 6, wherein the application portion (20) and the armature (22) consist of the same single member portion. 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the armature (22) exhibits a U-shape. The device for collecting animal semen according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the filtration means (3) form a substantially conical filtration porch. 10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, comprising an outer retaining ring (5) slid over the application part (20) and fixed to the application part (20), wherein the collection receiver (4) is fixed ring Animal semen collection device, characterized in that blocked at a position between the (5) and the application portion (20). 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the retaining ring (5) is fitted into and tightened on the application portion (20) of the frame. 12. An animal semen collection device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (2) and, if present, the stationary ring (5) are made of plastic. 13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collection receptacle (4) is a flexible porch that opens at one of its ends (40). 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the collecting porch (4) comprises a circumferential pre-cutout line (42) for its separation into two parts. The animal semen collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which is disposable. In the animal semen collection device 1 and artificial vagina V according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the collection device 1 can be applied to the artificial vagina V preferably in a removable manner. Animal semen collection device and artificial vagina.

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