Artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals

An improved artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals is disclosed. The device is characterized by having a thin flexible tube and a positioning stop member installed respectively at the front end and rear end of an inner catheter that is movably inserted in the catheter tube. The thin flexible tube instantly extends forward from the front end of inner catheter when semen is squeezed into the inner catheter. Thus after the nozzle of catheter tube reaches the first cervical ring of the animal, the inner catheter only needs to extend inward a proper distance, and the semen, with the aid of squeeze force and the thin flexible tube advancing freely along the cervical tract, could be delivered to uterus smoothly, swiftly and accurately without causing trauma to the uterus. Also with the arrangement of the positioning stop member, the distance the inner catheter travels inward can be set. As the depth and location of inward extension are under proper control, the practice of artificial insemination is made simple, convenient, fast, efficient and safe for the animal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals, more particularly, a simple, practical, ideal and inventive device that is easy and convenient to use and allows animal semen to reach the two ducts to uterine horns or the uterus swiftly and smoothly, thereby improving the success rate of artificial insemination and effectively saving the amount of semen needed. The invention herein requires minimal amounts of insemination semen and offers economic benefit. It also renders artificial insemination safer, more hygienic, and more humane.

2) Description of the Prior Art

The assembly and operation of conventional artificial insemination device for animals as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, typically comprises a plastic catheter tube10of certain hardness and a nozzle20made of softer material installed protrusively on the front end of catheter tube10. When artificial insemination is carried out, the catheter tube10and nozzle20are inserted along the vagina11of female animal body1until the nozzle20at the front penetrates into cervical tract12. Subsequently, the insertion tube31of the semen dispenser (bag or syringe)30containing the animal semen is inserted into the rear end of catheter tube10, and as the operator continuously squeezes the semen dispenser (bag or syringe)30, the semen contained therein is ejected into the cervical tract12through the nozzle20of catheter tube10, where the uterus13contracts to draw in semen from cervical tract12. Although the configuration and operation of such artificial insemination device achieve the purpose of artificial insemination in animals effectively, there are some drawbacks:

1. After the catheter tube10penetrates the vagina11of female animal body1, the nozzle20at the front is pushed approximately to the position of first cervical ring121of cervical tract12, but there remains considerable distance between the first cervical ring121and the uterus. Although the contraction of uterus13could draw in the semen from cervical tract12, a large amount of semen ejected from the nozzle20initially accumulates at the position of first cervical ring121and cannot instantly flow into the uterus13. What happens most frequently is that the semen accumulated at the first cervical ring121often backflows outside the vaginal orifice111. As such, not only semen is wasted, the amount of semen that flows into the uterus13is proportionately lessened, hence decreasing the probability of successful insemination.

2. In response to the problem of semen backflow, operators commonly dilute the semen fluid many folds (typically 5 cc is diluted into 50-120 cc) and enlarge the inner diameter of catheter tube to accommodate and provide more semen fluid for insemination. But the massive dilution of semen fluid apparently reduces the rate of fertilization and the number of fetus, while using more semen incurs waste directly.

3. As described above, the semen in catheter tube10is directly released from the nozzle20, and when nozzle20penetrates the cervical tract12from outside the female animal body1, the accidental admittance of contaminants from outside the body or the vagina11is difficult to avoid as the semen flows into the uterus13. As such, the risk of bacteria infection and inflammation of the vagina, cervical tract, and even the uterus of the animal during artificial insemination is high and, at the same time, the safety of fetus carried in the uterus13is jeopardized.

4. To improve the success rate and safety of artificial insemination, the operation of artificial insemination requires professional personnel (such as veterinarians or specialized technical personnel) and, as such, to big animal farms (such as pig farmers), it incurs heavy economic burden and demands considerable professional manpower.

5. After the operator utilizes the catheter tube10and nozzle20to penetrate the vagina11and cervical tract12of female animal body1, he has to use one hand to hold the rear end of catheter tube10and the other hand to grip and squeeze the semen dispenser30, which is apparently more troublesome, inconvenient, cumbersome, and time consuming in operation.

To render animal artificial insemination process more efficient and humane, some operators would use accessory devices. As shown inFIG. 3, such devices include an AI Buddy40, an elastic saddle-like apparatus resembling the two front legs of an animal, wherein a connector50with open posterior is installed at the rear end of catheter tube10, with a positioning strap41disposed between the AI Buddy40and the connector50; as such, during the artificial insemination procedure, the operator straddles the AI Buddy40over the back of the female animal1such that the female animal feels that a male animal has mounted with its two front legs, a guide bush60is then placed at the vaginal orifice111of female animal body1and after the catheter tube10and nozzle20penetrate the vagina11and reaches the cervical tract12through the guide bush60, the rear end of catheter tube10is flexed upward and directly secured by the positioning strap41connected to the AI Buddy40; following the ingress of a semen dispenser30insertion tube31into the connector50, the operator only has to squeeze the semen dispenser30. In such approaches, the operator needs to use both hands at the same time, one for grasping the catheter tube10and one for squeezing the semen dispenser30, a procedure that is troublesome and time consuming, but nevertheless an effective improvement. However, existent shortcomings that have not been improved include semen backflow that wastes semen, which is uneconomical and lowers insemination success rate; the easy inflow of contaminants from the outside of the female animal body into the vagina, cervical tract, and uterus that endanger the health of the female animal and fetus carried in the uterus; and the requiring of specialized personnel for operation, which is uneconomical and involves additional manpower.

To increase the success rate of artificial insemination, an improved artificial insemination device for animals as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5(U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,917) has been disclosed, wherein the front end opening421of catheter tube420is inserted into a sheath-like membrane410and the leading edge412of membrane410is snapped into a positioning ring422of catheter tube420. Subsequently, nozzle440is inserted into the front end of catheter tube420to immobilize membrane410. After nozzle440is inserted into the front end of catheter tube420, the various components including the member410sandwiched between nozzle440and catheter tube420can be further secured to each other by sonically welded or heat staked. The object of such artificial insemination assembly is to cause the tip411of sheath-like membrane410to begin unfolding in an inside-out manner not unlike removing one's sock by pulling from the open end when semen is squeezed into the rear end of catheter tube420and enters the uterus along the cervical tract where semen is ejected from the opening of tip411to enhance the efficiency of insemination, prevent the entry of contaminants into uterus, and prevent the backflow of semen. Such artificial insemination apparatus is more effective in comparison with prior art. But it still has some drawbacks in actual implementation:

1. Given that membrane410is inserted from the front end opening421of catheter tube420and secured to nozzle440via a leading edge412, the tip411of membrane, when squeezed inside-out under the pressure of semen, must travel through the pathway B (FIG. 4) of nozzle440before entering the cervical tract of animal. Thus in order for membrane410to enter the uterus of animal, it must have certain length. As we know, the longer the membrane, greater squeeze force to expose it outside the nozzle is required, rendering the whole operation more troublesome. In particular when the semen dispenser is in bag shape, the force generated from squeeze is not as much as that of bottle or syringe, which construes a limitation in implementation.

2. Given that the leading edge412of membrane410is snapped into the positioning ring422of catheter tube420, membrane410is tightly attached to the periphery of tube420under certain tension, and subsequently nozzle440is tightly conjoined to the periphery of membrane410. What happens most frequently is that when the membrane410under tension is pushed by the exertion of nozzle440, perforation tends to occur around the edge of front end of catheter tube420(shown as C inFIG. 4). In such event, when semen is squeezed into catheter tube420, the perforation would cause air leakage, which keeps membrane410from being squeezed out quickly and smoothly, thereby resulting in poor execution or even the failure of artificial insemination.

3. Given that membrane410is inserted into catheter tube420from its opening421, the inner diameter of catheter tube420(i.e. the hollow space424) must be bigger. But bigger tube directly increases the consumption of semen, the same as in prior art. Such apparatus apparently does not offer the economic benefit of saving the usage of semen.

4. To prevent trauma to the animal during artificial insemination, the nozzle is usually made of elastomeric material. If the force used is improper or the animal does not stay still during artificial insemination, the front part of nozzle is prone to deformation or bend which might block the semen pathway. Under the circumstances, it is likely that the membrane410disposed inside catheter tube420will not extend under pressure to achieve artificial insemination.

5. As described above, membrane410must have certain length and is directly inserted in larger diameter in catheter tube420. When the force from the squeeze of semen pushes membrane410out of nozzle440and into the cervical tract of animal, the long and large-sized membrane will encounter greater resistance inside the narrow and winding cervical tract and become more difficult to extend. More so, if the squeeze force is smaller, it is likely that the tip of membrane411will not reach uterus, rendering artificial insemination an unstable and uncertain operation.

FIG. 6andFIG. 7depict another artificial insemination apparatus for animals, characterized in which a longer plastic inner catheter70is movably inserted in the catheter tube10of a conventional device that comes with a nozzle20, and a smaller second nozzle80is disposed at the forward portion of inner catheter70. The object of such artificial insemination assembly is to allow the operator to advance the smaller inner catheter70inside the catheter tube10more smoothly along the cervical tract and bring the smaller second nozzle80to the location of uterus after the catheter tube10and nozzle20enter the cervical tract of female animal body and the nozzle20reaches the first cervical ring. Subsequently, semen contained in the semen dispenser (bag or syringe) is expelled from the rear end of inner catheter and enters uterus smoothly via the second nozzle80. Undeniably, such design facilitates the delivery of semen to the uterus and the use of smaller inner catheter70saves the volume of semen required. Still operators find some deficiencies with the device after using it in actual operations. That is, when the inner catheter is extended inward, operator is unable to see if the second nozzle80at the front has reached the uterus and can only rely on experience to control the depth of inward extension. What happens most frequently in actual implementation is that the inner catheter70overextends and injures the uterus. In the attempt to prevent injury to uterus, some operators shortened the extension depth of inner catheter70, which however defeats the original purpose of disposing such a tube and results in backflow of semen. Also, as the animal does not stay still during artificial insemination, a free-moving inner catheter70is prone to displacement during the procedure and causes trauma to the uterus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals, characterized in which a thin flexible tube is disposed inside the front end of inner catheter, which extends automatically forward and outward when semen is squeezed into the inner catheter. As such, after the ingress of catheter tube and nozzle into the cervical tract of animal and the positioning of nozzle at the first cervical ring, the inner catheter only needs to conveniently advance a certain distance for the semen, with the aid of squeeze force and the thin flexible tube advancing freely along the cervical tract, to be delivered to the uterus smoothly, swiftly and accurately. It not only enhances the efficiency of artificial insemination but also renders the whole procedure safer for the female animal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals, characterized in which a positioning stop member is disposed at the rear end of inner catheter to control the distance of its inward extension. As such, the advancing of the inner catheter and a second nozzle inside the cervical tract of animal is made simpler, more convenient, faster, and more efficient. Similarly the inward extension step becomes more stable in terms of depth and location without the concern of traumatizing the uterus of animal during the procedure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals, wherein by conveniently advancing the inner catheter inside the cervical tract a proper distance after engaging the nozzle of catheter tube at the first cervical ring, the length of thin flexible tube inside the front end of inner catheter can be effectively shortened. As such, the pressure required from squeezing the semen dispenser to push the thin flexible tube forward and outward is also reduced, which facilitates the movement of thin flexible tube in the cervical tract and renders the whole process simpler, thereby improving the efficiency of artificial insemination.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals, wherein by setting the length of said inner catheter to allow it and the thin flexible tube at its front to conveniently and smoothly advance inside the cervical tract of animal without resistance, semen can be swiftly and accurately delivered to uterus. As such, semen used for artificial insemination does not require massive dilution, while only more concentrated semen in small amount needs to be injected into the inner catheter. Thus the present invention not only offers the economic benefit of saving the semen used, the fertilization rate and the number of fetus are also expected to increase.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals, wherein the second nozzle disposed at the front end of inner catheter is an assembly of two rubber sheaths having proper rigidity and elasticity that will not bend or deform after it enters the cervical tract, and the thin flexible tube immobilized therein is not prone to perforation. As such, the forward and outward extension movement of the thin flexible tube is made smoother and more accurate, rendering the practice of artificial insemination more efficient.

The objects, features and effects of the invention are described in details below with accompanying drawing and embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As show inFIG. 8, the improved artificial insemination device with an inner catheter for animals according to the invention features an inner catheter movably disposed inside a catheter tube10of the artificial insemination device with a thin flexible tube81and a positioning stop member82configured at its front and rear ends respectively. Also referring toFIGS. 9,10,11,12, and13, the thin flexible tube81is mounted at the front end of inner catheter through a second nozzle80; the second nozzle is an assembly of a first sheath body801and a second sheath body802made of material with proper rigidity and elasticity. That is, one end of the first sheath body801is securely mounted to the front end of inner catheter70, while its other end is arranged with an insertion member8011of smaller diameter. The outer end of insertion member8011is provided with a chamfer R, while its center is disposed with a through guide hole K; the diameter of the thin flexible tube81is smaller than the lumen701of inner catheter70where its open front end811is inserted inversely into inner catheter70through the guide hole K of first sheath body801and extends inwardly to the lumen701of inner catheter70, while its rear end inversely envelops the insertion member8011of first sheath body801. The second sheath body802is provided with a sheathing member8021that engages exactly the insertion member8011of first sheath body802; its inner end is disposed with an enlarging slot member M and its center is arranged with a through guide hole K. When sheathing member8021is assembled to the insertion member8011of first sheath body801, the guide hole K of second sheath body802secures the rear end812of the thin flexible tube81exactly and the slot member M at the inner end corresponds exactly to the chamfer R at outer end of insertion member8011without contacting each other (FIG. 13), such that the rear end of thin flexible tube81that envelops the chamber R of insertion member will not perforate due to friction.

The inner catheter70may be mounted inside the catheter tube10and nozzle20in advance as in prior art and then have the second nozzle80and the thin flexible tube81disposed at its front end, or the inner catheter70may have the second nozzle80and the thin flexible tube81disposed at its front end and then have its rear end inserted into the catheter tube10from nozzle20. After the second nozzle80is mounted at the front end of inner catheter70, it may be exposed at the front of nozzle20or concealed inside the center hole201of nozzle20.

After the second nozzle and thin flexible tube81are positioned at the front end of inner catheter70, and the inner catheter70is inserted into catheter tube10with the front of second nozzle80aligning with the front of nozzle20(as shown inFIG. 8) or the rear of second nozzle80aligning with the front of nozzle20, the positioning stop member82is directly mounted on the exposed portion of inner catheter70at P distance apart from the rear end of catheter tube10. As such, the distance inner catheter70can advance is based on the set distance of P. The positioning stop member82may be a clipping fastening, or sheathing means so long as it can be securely mounted on inner catheter70(the example cited below is a connector50for the insertion of insertion tube31of semen bottle, bag or syringe30).

Again referring toFIG. 12andFIG. 13, after the thin flexible tube81is disposed at the front end of inner catheter70via the second nozzle80, the rear end of thin flexible tube81at the guide hole K of second nozzle80and having a guide member W that unfolds in an inside-out manner forms an accommodation space T. The accommodation space T communicates directly with the lumen701of inner catheter70, while the guide member W is positioned exactly at where guide hole K of the second sheath body802of the second nozzle80is located. There are a number of means to enable the guide member W to unfold inside out. For example, insert an air rod9through the second nozzle80and position it behind the thin flexible tube81; next adjoin the air hole91at the front of air rod9to the inner circumference of thin flexible tube81and begin air extraction to suck the portion of inner circumference of thin flexible tube81that corresponds to the air hole91; pull out air rod9gradually to form an outward unfolding guide member W on the thin flexible tube81. This way, guide member W is formed in an easy, convenient and swift manner.

Referring toFIGS. 14,15, and16, the operator would use conventional operating procedure when using the present invention for artificial insemination in animals. That is, the nozzle20and catheter tube10are inserted into the vagina11of animal body1through guide bush60, where nozzle20is extended approximately to the position of first cervical ring121of cervical tract12. Next, the inner catheter70is pushed inward so that it and the second nozzle80at its front end extend into cervical tract12from nozzle20; when the inner catheter70is pushed inward, it would advance no more than a set distance of P because of the positioning stop member82provided at its rear end and the set space of P between the positioning stop member82and the rear end of catheter tube10(FIG. 8). As such, the second nozzle80is exposed outside nozzle20at an equidistance of P′ and will not reach too far into the uterus of animal as in prior art to traumatize the uterus. After the inner catheter70is pushed inward, the catheter tube10and the positioning stop member82may be bent upward and secured to the positioning strap41of AI Buddy40as in prior art, or left unbent and laid directly outside the vaginal orifice111of female animal1. The insertion tube31of semen dispenser (bag or syringe)30is then inserted into the rear end of inner catheter70or connector50(connector50is used as a positioning stop member82in this example) and semen fluid is squeezed in.

Because the front end of thin flexible tube81is inversely inserted into the front end of inner catheter70, the second nozzle80at the front end of inner catheter70is in somewhat closed state. When semen is squeezed into the lumen701from the rear end of inner catheter70, the inversely inserted thin flexible tube81is also under the exertion of pressure and automatically pushes forward. In particular, because the outwardly unfolding guide member W provided at the rear end of thin flexible tube81around the guide hole K of second nozzle80forms an accommodation space T that communicates with the lumen701of inner catheter (FIG. 12andFIG. 13), semen squeezed into the lumen701of inner catheter will directly fill the accommodation space T and exert pressure. Naturally, the entire thin flexible tube81would gradually unfold outwardly from its guide member W and extend forward, and deposit semen into the uterus after it is totally extended. That is, because the thin flexible tube81is smaller than the lumen701of inner catheter and has a certain length, it advances fast along the cervical tract with practically no friction when it extends gradually from the second nozzle80under the pressure of semen. When the thin flexible tube81is completely stretched, its open front end811will reach the uterus or its vicinity to deposit semen into the uterus, thereby completing the artificial insemination procedure in a highly efficient manner.

As described above, the thin flexible tube81is smaller than the lumen701of inner catheter, made of pliable material and is of certain length, and its front end811is open when semen is deposited into inner catheter70. But the semen in the inner catheter70will not flow out from the open front end811, but instead, squeezes and closes the front end811, and is automatically expelled from the front end811when the entire thin flexible tube81becomes extended. Also because of the pliable nature of thin flexible tube81, it will advance in the cervical tract12smoothly and swiftly without traumatizing the delicate tissue of cervical tract12or the uterus.

Because the outwardly unfolding guide member W provided on the thin flexible tube81of inner catheter forms an accommodation space T that communicates with an inner catheter70, semen squeezed into the inner catheter70will directly fill the accommodation space T and exert pressure, which pushes the entire thin flexible tube81to unfold inside-out quickly and smoothly. As such, minimal squeeze force is required, which renders the whole operation convenient and simple.

Because the inner catheter70has smaller diameter than catheter tube10and the thin flexible tube81therein is even smaller than its lumen701, the thin flexible tube81is able to deliver semen swiftly to uterus after its is fully extended. As such, semen used for artificial insemination does not require massive dilution, while only more concentrated semen in small amount needs to be injected into the inner catheter. Thus the present invention not only offers the economic benefit of saving the semen used, the fertilization rate and the number of fetus are also expected to increase.

As described above, the second nozzle80is smaller than nozzle20and may be directly extended into the cervical tract12of animal. But because the second nozzle80is made of rubber material with proper rigidity and elasticity, there is no concern of it traumatizing cervical tract12when it advances in it. More so, confined by the advancing length P of inner catheter70, second nozzle80is not expected to reach into uterus and traumatize it. In addition, because the second nozzle80has proper rigidity and elasticity, it will not deform to block the extension of thin flexible tube71when it is pushed into cervical tract by inner catheter70, but instead, enables the thin flexible tube811to deliver the semen to the uterus to complete the insemination process in an efficient manner.