Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B10/00—Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
  • A61B10/0045—Devices for taking samples of body liquids
  • A61B10/0058—Devices for taking samples of body liquids for taking sperm samples
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61D—VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS
  • A61D19/00—Instruments or methods for reproduction or fertilisation
  • A61D19/02—Instruments or methods for reproduction or fertilisation for artificial insemination
  • A61D19/021—Apparatus for collecting seminal fluids; Artificial vaginas

Definitions

• the object of the invention is an apparatus for collecting semen to be used in animal breeding, by means of a collecting apparatus connected to an artificial vagina.
• the whole ejaculation is collected by means of a receiver or bag attached to the end of the artificial vagina
• the aim is to collect those fractions of the ejaculation with the highest sperm density into a funnel and into the receiver, bag, or the like attached to it.
• the stallion ejaculates in pulses.
• the first parts, or fractions, of the semen contain sperm and the rest only seminal plasm which comes from the different sexual glands.
• the stallion's penis, and particular its end, the glans move during serving and ejaculation which makes successful collection of the semen difficult.
• Another disadvantage of the closed method is that the unnecessary parts of the seminal plasm, which also reduce the preservation of the semen and its tolerance during deep-freezing, mix with the important parts of the ejaculation.
• the parts of the seminal plasm cannot, therefore, be accurately separated.
• the seminal plasm can, however, be separated after collection by straining or centrifuging the semen. Due to the contamination in the vagina, the degree of purity of semen collected and treated in this way is not equivalent to that of semen collected by the open method. Straining and centrifuging also delay the further treatment of the semen, which is sensitive to air and light, which treatment should take place as soon as possible after collection.
• the aim of the present invention is to eliminate the foregoing problems and to achieve a new method and collecting apparatus which do not have the disadvantages described above.
• a collector funnel is fitted between the artificial vagina and the receiver, the said funnel comprising an upper semen-receiving opening and a lower discharge opening, directed mainly downwards, and under the discharge opening a holder for several receivers.
• the apparatus also comprises elements fitted to the holder for weighing the contents of the receiver under the discharge opening. For moving the holder of the element and the collector funnel with respect to each other on the basis of a signal given by the weighing elements, an empty receiver is moved under the discharge opening once the previous receiver has been filled.
• the semen of the stallion is collected so that the ejaculated semen is sorted in stages into different containers.
• the initial fraction of the ejaculation is used, which can be preserved longer in diluted form.
• Preliminary research results also show that with the initial fractions the pregnancy results are better than with the final fractions.
• the collector funnel is attached to the frame of the apparatus, whereas the holder is a plate rotating around the shaft.
• the receivers can be fitted at a circumferential distance from each other, at a distance from the shaft determined by the collector funnel discharge opening, the said shaft being arranged so as to be operated by the drive unit acting as the transfer element.
• the weighing elements consist of a measuring device reacting to the weight fitted in the holder under the receiver, the said device being electrically coupled to a transfer device, or the weighing elements are adjustable scales fitted to the holder and supporting the receiver, there being a sensor between that end of the scales which is on the side of the receiver, and the holder, the said sensor being electrically coupled to the transfer device.
• semen can be sorted more accurately than has been known previously.
• the quality and preserving properties of the semen also improve thanks to quick collection.
• less assisting personnel is required for collecting the semen and at the same time the safety of the assisting personnel and the serving stallion are improved.
• Figure 1 shows a side view of the collecting apparatus relating to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows the holder plate for the receivers of the semen collecting apparatus of figure 1, as seen from above.
• Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the collecting apparatus according to figure 1 inside the dummy horse, as a side view and in partial cross section.
• Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the receiver weighing system of figure 1.
• FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for collecting horse semen.
• the collecting apparatus 9 relating to the invention, semen is collected so that all the semen released in the ejaculation is collected in stages through the collector funnel 27, into separate receivers 32.
• a collector funnel 27 Between the artificial vagina 12 and the receiver 32 is fitted a collector funnel 27, having an upper semen-receiving opening 51 and a lower discharge opening 52, directed mainly downwards.
• the shape of the receiving opening 51
• the 51' of the funnel 27 used in the collecting apparatus 9 may vary depending on the location and shape of the rear wall 43, 43' of the funnel used.
• the rear wall 43, 43' of the funnel 27 stops the movement of the semen and effects an even flow towards the discharge opening 52 of the funnel 27.
• Collection takes place automatically by means of an electrical drive unit 19 which is fastened by means of a fastening rack 34 and the extension of the dummy horse's supporting leg 21 to the frame.
• the weighing element 66 situated under the receiver 32 and reacting to weight. gives an impulse to the drive unit through an electrical control system, when the required amount of semen has collected in the receiver.
• the drive unit 19 moves the holder plate 37 of the receiver.
• the holder plate 37 fastened to the shaft 38 turns just enough for the receiver 32 to move aside from under the funnel 27, and for the following cup-like receiver 32 to move under the funnel.
• the total duration of the ejaculation is only a few seconds, which means that the average time used for changing the receiver 32 is only some 0.5 s.
• the interior of the artificial vagina is protected with a disposable protective film 26, which is fastened by its other end to the funnel 27. By using the protective film 26, good external hygiene is also achieved.
• the funnel 27 is fastened to the funnel fastening rack 67, from which it can easily be removed for cleaning and sterilization.
• FIG. 2 shows the holder plate 37 for the receivers of the semen collecting apparatus 9 of figure 1, as seen from above. All the semen released in the ejaculation is collected in stages into separate receivers 32 and 39.
• the holder plate 37 is moved automatically by means of the electrical drive unit 19, which is fastened to the frame by means of the fastening rack 34 and the extension of the supporting leg 21.
• the holder plate 37 is fastened by means of a shaft 38 to the drive unit 19.
• the desired amount, preferably 7 g, of semen is collected into the receivers 32, and the rest, that is, the semen unsuitable for artificial insemination, or the almost spermless parts of the seminal plasm are collected in the receiver 39. If necessary, the receiver 39 can be left without a measuring element reacting to the weight of the semen.
• the holder plate 37 turns just enough for the receiver 32 to move aside from under the funnel 27, and for the following cup 32 to move under the funnel.
• FIG 3 shows the arrangement of the collecting apparatus according to figure 1 inside the dummy horse, as a side view and in partial cross section.
• a collector funnel 27 Inside the frame 10 of the dummy horse coated with flexible material is installed a collector funnel 27, immediately after the artificial vagina 12, the said funnel being connected to the artificial vagina by means of a protective film 26.
• the collecting apparatus is easily removable through the open belly part of the dummy horse 10 for cleaning and sterilization.
• FIG. 4 shows a second ' embodiment of the receiver 32 weighing system.
• the measurement of the amount of semen functions in this embodiment on the principle of scales.
• the weighing elements are adjustable scales fitted to the holder 37 and supporting the receiver 32, there being a sensor 45 between that end 53 of the scales which is on the side of the receiver 32, and the holder, the said sensor being electrically coupled to the transfer device.
• the weight increase caused by the semen flowing from the collector funnel to the receiver 32 gives the sensor 45 an impulse which causes a transfer motion in the drive unit moving the receiver holder plate 37 through the shaft 38.
• Each receiver 32 is provided with its own weighing device.
• the receiver 32 is fastened to one end of the weighing shaft 46, and to the opposite end of the shaft 46 is fastened an adjustable weight 47, by means of which is predetermined the amount of semen to be collected in each receiver 32.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Reproductive Health (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8534946

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 1992
  • 1992-03-19 FI FI921189A patent/FI89764C/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1993
  • 1993-03-19 AU AU37536/93A patent/AU3753693A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1993-03-19 US US08/302,835 patent/US5540670A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1993-03-19 DE DE4391118T patent/DE4391118T1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1993-03-19 WO PCT/FI1993/000100 patent/WO1993018730A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (1)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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