APPARATUS FOR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

Abstract: Apparatus for artificially inseminating humans and other animals of the type having a reproductive system which includes a vagina (13) and a uterus (17). The apparatus consists of a locating tube (11) which is adapted to be inserted into the vagina (13) of the human or animal and one end of the tube (11) is located against the cervix (15) of the uterus (17) around the cervical canal (19). A delivery member (30) is adapted to be passed along the locating tube (11) and into the uterus (17) for delivery of semen into the uterus (17).

Description: "APPARATUS FOR ARTIFICIAL I SEMINATION" THIS INVENTION relates to an apparatus for artificial in semination of humans and other animals of the type having reproductive system which includes a vagina and a uterus. Artificial insemination of humans and other animals of th type having a reproductive system which includes a vagin and a uterus involves the delivery of a charge of semen t the uterus. One technique of artificial insemination invol ves locating the cervical canal of the animal with the ai of a speculum and then inserting a catheter along th vagina and cervical canal and into the uterus for deliver of semen loaded in the catheter to the uterus. However, th anatomy of sheep is such that it is almost impossible t pass the catheter along the cervical canal using this technique, and it is therefor necessary to deposit the semen in the cervical canal rather than in the uterine cavi- ty. The spermatozoa .carried by the semen * is therefore reαui- red to pass along the cervical canal and into the uterus before conception can take place. As a result of this, the success rate of the insemination technique is not as hi??h as it would be if the semen could be deposited in the ute¬ rine cavity. It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for artificial insemination of humans and other animals of the type having a reproductive system which includes a vagin and a uterus, which apparatus enables a charge of semen to be deposited in the uterine cavity of the human or animal. In one form the invention resides in apparatus for artifi¬ cial insemination of humans and other animals of the tvpe having a reproductive system which includes a vagina snd a uterus, said apparatus comprising a locating tube adapted or insertion into the vagina whereby one end of the tube locates against a cervix of the uterus around the cervical canal, and a delivery member adapted to be passed ' along the _ _ locating tube and into the uterus for delivery of semen: into the uterus. According to a preferred feature of the invention, there is provided means for releasably securing said one end of the locating tube to the cervix. The locating tube may be releasably secured at said one end to the uterus by means of a suction force applied between the locating tube and the cervix. The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of the locating tube of apparatus according to the embodiment; Fig. 2 is a sδhema * fcic elevational view of one form of the delivery member; Fig. 3 is a schematic view in which the locating tube is shown located against the uterus of an animal and the delivery member of Fig. 2 shown inserted through the cervical canal and into the uterine cavitv 'the anatomy of the animal being depicted by the phantc lines) ; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the end of the locat¬ ing tube which is adapted to locate against the uterus of the animal; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fie- 2 • Fig. 6 is a partly sectioned schematic elevational view-of an alternative form of the delivery member. The embodiment shown in the drawings is directed to apoara- tus for artificial insemination of sheep. The apparatus comprises a locating tube 11 adapted for insert-on into the vagina 13 of the animal whereby one end 14 of the locating tube locates against a cervix 15 of the uterus 17 around the cervical canal 19. A skirt 21 surrounds that portion of the locating tube adja¬ cent said one end 1 Δ whereby a suction chamber 23 is defined between the skirt 21 and that portion of the locating tube which the skirt surrounds. The suction cham¬ ber 23 is open at the end thereof adjacent said one end 1 of the locating tube, and said open end of the suction chamber is adapted to be closed-off by the cervix of the animal when the end 14 of the tube is located against the cervix; thus, the locating tube may be retained in engage¬ ment with the uterus under ' the action of a suction force when a vacuum or partial vacuum is applied to the suction chamber. In the illustrated arrangement, the skirt 21 is rigid and its side wall is spaced from the locating tube so as to define the suction chamber 23. The inner end of the skirt merges, with the locating tube and the corresponding end -of the suction chamber is thereby closed. The outer end of the skirt 21 is substantially flush with said one end 1 of the tube so that both the outer end of the sk--rt and said one end 14 of the tube may sealingly engage the cervix of the uterus and thereby seal the open end of the suction chamber 23. In an alternative arrangement, the skirt av be of flexible nature, with the outer end of the skirt exten¬ ding beyond the end 14 of the -locating tube, whereby the skirt deflects to conform with the cervix ar.d seslinsly engage the cervix when the end 1 Δ of the tube is located against the cervix. An air lj.ne 25 extends axially along the locating tube 11 on the outer side thereof and communicates at ns end wlt the suction chamber 23. The other end of the air line is adapted for connection to a vacuum source (" not shown * !, such as a vacuum pump, whereby vacuum or partial vacuum may e applied to the suction chamber. BAD ORIGINAL & A light source 27 is mounted on the locating tube adjacent said one end 14 thereof. The purpose of the light source, when in operation, is to make the cervix cf the animal clearly visible to a user of the apparatus when the user peers along the locating tube from the end thereof remote from said end 14. The light source is electrically operated and is mounted in a recess formed in the outer side wall of the locating tube. Light from the light source enters the locating tube through an aperture 28 formed in the side wall of the tube. A delivery member is adapted to be passed along the loca¬ ting tube and into the uterus for delivery of a charge of semen into the uterus. The delivery member shewn in Fig. 2 of the drawings comprises a delivery tube one end of which is adapted for connection to a supply of semen and the other end of which is offset so as to be inclined to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the Inclination preferably being between 2° and 5°. A marker 33 is provided on the delivery tube at a location remote from said offset end to provide the user with an indication of the direction of the offset. The delivery tube itself comprises an inner tube 37 along which the semen is passed and an outer tube 39 which provides the inner tube with lateral stability 'as best seen in Fig. 5). In the illustrated embodiment, the inner tube 37 has an internal diameter of 0.5 mm, and the outer tube 39 has an external diameter of 3 mm. The inner and outer tubes are connected together at the res ectlve ends. The supply of semen may be contained a hypodermic svringe barrel to which said one end of the delivery tube is coupled by means of a luer-lock fitting assembly or the like. It should be appreciated that any other suitable means may be provided for introducing semen into the deli¬ very tube and causing it to pass therealong and ultimatel discharge from said other end of the delivery tube. - ORE The delivery tube 31 is provided with a protrusion i s c as a boss, located towards the end thereof provide' * • -;: ' t the offset. The boss is preferably formed from a trans parent material so that the user may see beyond the boss; in this way, the boss does not obscure the users view o the cervix when the delivery tube is positioned in the locating tube. When the delivery tube 31 is inserted into the locating tube 11, the boss 41 is able to rest on the inner side wall of the locating tube and thereby provide a fulcrum about which the delivery tube 31 may be pivoted; in this way, the end of the delivery tube 31 which is provided with the offset may be caused to undergo lateral movement on pivotal movement of the delivery tube about the fulcrum. The end portion of the locating tube 11 remote from the said one end 14 thereof is of enlarged cross-section w- ' th respect to the end portion adjacent said one end to allow for increased angular movement of the delivery tube as it is pivoted. An alternative arrangement of delivery member 30 is illus¬ trated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. With this arrangement, the • delivery member is adapted to receive a tube 45, commonly known as a "French mini-straw" in which semen is stored (normally in a frozen condition The straw is normally closed at one end by a removable cap and. at the other end by a plug 7 which Is adapted to be pushe s lcrr the tube, after the semen has thawed and said csr. beI removed, to cause the semen to discharge from said one end of the straw. The delivery member comprises a delivery section 51, a storage section 53 and a plunger section 55. The delivery section 51 is of tubular form 53 is adapted for connection at one of its ends to the delivery section and at its other end to the plunger section. The storage section is tubular and is adapted to receive the straw 45, with said cat or. said one end thereof removed, in a manner such that s^i one end is located ad j acent the deliverv section 51 and — o — said other end is located adjacent the tslun^er section 55. The plunger section is provided wi h a plunder 57 one end of which is adapted to bear on the olu * 47. The plunger 57 is arranged to be actuated, by the user so as to cause the plug 47 to advance along at least part of the len g th of the straw in the direction towards said one end thereof and therefore cause semen to discharge from said one end. The semen which has discharged from the straw 45 passes along the delivery section and discharges from the outlet end thereof. It is the delivery section 51 of the delivery member that is actually passed along the cervical canal and into the uterine cavity. The plunger is preferably provided with means for providing an indication of, or selectively controlling, the extent of movement of the plunger so that the user may be aware of the quantity of semen deposited by the delivery member. As with the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2\ the delivery member "iss provided with a protrusion * 1, suc as a trans¬ parent boss. In addition, the free end portion of the deli¬ very section is off-set. To artificially inseminate a ewe, the eve is presente-- for insemination by raising her hind-quarters and securing her hind-legs to prevent kicking. The outer tu ' ->e Is then inser¬ ted into the vagina of the ewe unt l the end 1 thereof locates against the cervix. V.'ith the light scurce 27 opera¬ ting, the user peers along the locating tube and adjusts its position so that the end 14 of the tube Is positioned the cervical canal. A vacuum or a partial vacuum is then applied to the suction chamber 23 to apply a suction force between the locating tube and cervix and thereby secure the locating -tube to the uterus. The delivery member is then passed along the locating- tube ii an the offset end of the delivery me.iiber presented to the entry of the cervical canal. The user must then maniouiat the deliv- rv member to lift at least one of a series of flaps at the entry of th cervical canal so that entry to the canal may be sained; i is for this reason that the end of the delivery member i offset. The user is able to lift the flaps by pivoting th delivery member about the fulcrum formed by the boss, a described beforehand. The cervical canal is provided with series of inner cervical folds around which the leading en of the delivery tube must be manoeuvrerd as it is advance along the canal. It is because the user is able to hold th uterus of the ewe steady with the locating tube that he i able to lift the flaps of the entry to the cervical cana and manoeuvre the delivery member around the inner cervica folds as it is advanced along the cervical canal. Th delivery member ultimately arrives at the uterine cavity. The user then cause ' s a charge of semen to be discharge from the delivery member and deposited in the uterine cavity. The semen may be in its natural state, or in a diluted state.' The delivery member, is then withdrawn, 9.nd the vacuum removed fr'o the suction chamber 23. The locat ing tube may then be detached from the uterus of the ewe and withdrawn from her vagina. When the apparatus is being used to inseminate maiden eweε, said other end of the delivery tube ''i.e. that end which is provided with the offset) preferably tapers down to rounded point. However, when artificially inseπlnatin? e " which are not maidens, it is not necessary to use a tube with a tapered end. It would, of course, be necessary to provide the delivery tube with a rounded end so as net to inflict injury to the ewe during the artifleal ir.ser.lr.9t.on operation. It should be appreciated that the scope cf the Invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiment described. If, for example, future developments in the field of artificial insemination enable semen in a form other than its natural state or a diluted fluid state, to be eposited in the " - 3 - uterus to achieve conception, the delivery member may not necessarily be of tubular construction, but Instead may be constructed so as to be capable of depositing the semen ^in any such new form) into the uterus.

Claims: THE C AI--3 defining the Invention are as follows:- 1. Apparatus for artificial insemins-tion of humans and otner animals of the type having a reproductive system which Includes a vagina and uterus, said apparatus compris¬ ing: a locating tube adapted for insertion into the vagina whereby one end thereof locates against the cervix of the uterus around the cervical canal; and a delivery member adapted to be passed along the locating -tube and into the uterus for delivery of semen into the uterus. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 v/herein means are pro¬ vided for releasably securing said one end of the locating tube to the cervix. 3. Apparatus as claimed in- claim 2 wherein the locating tube is adapted to be releasably secured at said one end to , the uterus under the. action of a suction force appl i ed betv/een the locating tube and the cervix of the uterus. , 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein a suction cham¬ ber is located adjacent said one end of the locating tube and is open only at the end thereof corresponding to said one end of the locating tube, said open end of the suction chamber is adapted to be sealingly closed by the cervix when said one end of the locating tube is located against the cervix, whereby said suction force is applied between the locating tube and the cervix of the uterus when a va¬ cuum or partial vacuum is created in the suction chamber. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim £ v/herein = skirt sur¬ rounds that portion of the locating rube adjacent said one end thereof, the skirt in co binat- ' cr. with that port -' on of the locating tube which the skirt surrounds defines said suction chamber. - lO - δ. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein an a line communicates at one end with the suction chamber and is adapted for connection at its other end to a vacuum sou¬ rce. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or δ wherein the skirt is rlgiα and is substantially flush at its outer end with said one end of the locating tube. 8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding- claims wherein a light source is mounted on the locating tube. 9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the end portion of the locating tube remote from said one end of the locating tube is of enlarqed cross-section with respect to the end portion adjacent said one end. _ ' * •» 10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein that end of the delivery member which is adapted to enter the uterus is formed with an portion Inclined to the central longitudinal axis of delivery member. 11. Aoparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said off-set portion is inclined at an angle of betv/een 2 and 5 to said central longitudinal axis. 12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preced ; n~ claims v/herein the delivery member is provided with a protrusion which is ' adapted to bear on the inner s e wall of the locating tube to provide a fulcrum about vt ch the delivery member may be pivotted. 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the protru¬ sion is located towards that end of the del"'very tube wh-ch s adapted to enter the uterus and is adsoted to be a .r en the inner side wall of said end portion of the locating tube adjacent said one end of the locating tube. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the protrusion comprises a boss formed from transparent mate¬ rial. 15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the orceding claims wherein the delivery member comprises a delivery tube one end of which is adapted to enter the uterus and the other end of which is adapted for connection to a supply of semen. 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the delivery tube comprises an inner tube through which in use the semen is passed, and an outer tube which provides the inner tube with lateral stability. 17. Apparatus as claifned in any cne. of the preceding cla¬ ims wherein the delivery member comprises a delivery sec¬ tion, a storage section and a plunger section, the delivery section being tubular and being adapted to enter the uterus the storage section being adaρte~ to receive a tube contai¬ ning supply of semen, said tube having a movable plug loca¬ ted at one end thereof, the plunger section .beinr adaoted to cause the plug to be advanced towards the other end of tne tube and thereby cause semen to be discharged there¬ from, the delivery section being in communication at one end with the storage section whereby said semen discharged from the tube enters said one end cf the delivery section and discharges frc the ether end thereof. 13. Apparatus as ' claimed in claim 17 wherein s=."c nlu g r section comprises a plun d er which is adapte to bear on said plug and which is adapted to be actuated by the user. 19. Apparatus substantially as herein descr bed with r-. rence to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: GOBBY KEVIN W
Applicants: GOBBY KEVIN W
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A61M37
IPC codes: A61B17, A61D19