DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INTRODUCING AND/OR COLLECTING FLUIDS FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE UTERUS OF AN ANIMAL

Abstract: It comprises a tube or catheter (1) that is introduced into the animal's vagina up to the cervix duct (19); characterized in that it additionally comprises a flexible probe (6) constituted of a first flexible tubular body (12), and the outside of which is covered by a layer of a flexible material; all to allow that the probe, after reaching the distal end of the tube (1), may progress through the cervix duct (19) and thereafter through the cervix horn (22). This structure allows to introduce a fluid with spermatozoids, embryos or therapeutic solutions to the anterior third of the uterus horn, or to obtain embryos from the anterior portions of the uterus horn, and all this without sedation or anesthesia and without disturbing the animal's well-being. To facilitate obtaining embryos, the probe includes an elastic small external coating (28) that is inflated through a flexible tube (27) for adapting itself to the uterus horn (22) preventing refluxes when carrying out absorption. It is essentially applied to porcine livestock, small ruminants and any other animal species.

Description: OBJECT AND TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention that we are dealing with refers to a probe for introducing and/or collecting, in non-surgical way, fluids that may contain or not, cells in the inside of the uterus of a mammal, and the object of which is to enable passage through the cervix duct (uterus neck) and to reach the uterus horns, in a simple and quick manner without the need of sedation or anesthesia. The invention is preferably applicable in porcine livestock to allow introduction of a fluid of spermatozoids, embryos or therapeutic solutions into the anterior third of a uterus horn near the junction to the ovarian canal, or to obtain embryos from the upper portions of the uterus horn, in a sow being on heat. The invention may also be applied to small ruminants such as sheep, goose, and any other animal species. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For carrying out artificial insemination with a low number of spermatozoids and for performing collection and transfer of embryos, the use of surgical techniques, such as laparoscopy, is known, these having the inconvenience that they are traumatically invasive and require a high degree of specialization, appropriate installations, and further imply the potential risk inherent to any surgical intervention to the animal. To avoid these inconveniences, non-surgical systems have been developed but these have been limited to those species as for example bovine and equine animals, the use thereof does not present difficulties due to their body volume and anatomic configuration. In the rest of the species, as for example in porcine animals or in small ruminants, non-surgical systems have only had a minor diffusion due to the difficulties encountered for passing through the cervix duct and reaching profound uterine positions, as the cervix duct has a series of protuberances that render introduction of a probe considerably difficult. This circumstance has hindered practical application of embryo transfer and has limited artificial insemination to the deposition of semen samples to deep vaginal or to cervix level with a high number of spermatozoids. Practical application of other biotechniques such as cryopreservation of sperms, preselection of the sex by sperm separation, embryo micromanipulation etc. is limited by said circumstances. Specifically in the porcine species, attempts have been made to pass through the uterus neck and to reach the uterus by developing non-surgical rigid systems. In some of these systems, a tube or catheter is used, the proximal end of which includes a widening for simplifying the use thereof, and the outer surface of the distal end of which includes a spiral that permits its introduction and fixing in the entry of the cervix duct thereby reaching the uterus body. By the inside of this tube, a probe is introduced that due to its configuration does normally not progress further than the initial portion of the uterus horns. These systems can only be introduced with difficulties without harming the protuberances of the cervix duct, whereby they may moreover perforate the wall of the cervix or of the uterus. Among these systems, those described in W097/14365, US005916144A and W09927868 do stand out. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To solve the aforestated inconveniences, the invention has developed a new device as disclosed in claim 1 that allows, when the sow is on heat and without the need of sedation or anesthesia, to introduce a fluid with spermatozoids, embryos or therapeutic solutions into the anterior third portion of a uterus horn near to the junction with the ovarian canal; or which allows to obtain embryos from the upper portions of the uterus horn. For this purpose, the device of the invention, the same as the conventional ones and as disclosed in document US 5 916 144 A upon which prior art the two-part form of claim 1 is based, comprises a tube or catheter the proximal end of which includes a widening for simplifying handling thereof, and at the outer surface of the distal end thereof it includes a spiral that enables its introduction and fixing in the entry of the cervix duct, so that introduction of a probe through the tube is allowed. The novelty of the device of the invention is centered on the probe which is constituted by a flexible tubular body that includes within its inside at least one flexible duct, and the outside of which is covered with a layer of flexible material of plastic or of any other material that allows the probe to slide without causing any harm to the mucous membranes of the female reproduction apparatus. This structure allows the probe, after it has reached the distal end of the tube, to progress first through the cervix duct and thereafter through the uterus horn. Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that means for connecting a tab having at least one way are provided at the proximal end for enabling introduction and/or collection of fluids. Further, the probe has a consistency and a resilience being sufficient to allow that, after reaching the distal end of the tube, it may progress through the cervix duct and the uterus horn, for which purpose it comprises a longitudinal chamber including a plurality of flexible longitudinal ribs between the flexible duct of the probe and the tubular body, to increase its consistency at the same time as maintaining its resilience. In an embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal ribs are established by steel threads and the longitudinal chamber that includes them is tubular. The distal end of the probe is formed by a piece that adapts itself to the inner space of the flexible tubular body, all this in such a manner that the piece includes a hole located as a continuation of the flexible duct for establishing the fluids inlet and/or outlet. So as to avoid harm to the mucous membranes, the end of said piece must be smooth and blunt. The means for coupling the tab to proximal end of the probe are established by a piece that, on the one hand adapts itself to the inner space of the flexible tubular body and the flexible duct and, on the other, adapts to the tab, so as to allow introduction-extraction of fluids. In an embodiment of the invention, the probe has two flexible, preferably concentric ducts, one of which, preferably the outer one and in proximity to the distal end of the probe, communicates with an elastic small external coating so that, once the probe has been placed in the uterus horn, the elastic small external coating is filled with air and swells in a balloon-like manner through the flexible duct so as to adapt itself to the wall of the uterus horn and to prevent the possible reflux of the liquids that have been introduced into the uterus horn when intrauterine fluids containing embryos are suctioned. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible duct communicating with the flexible small external coating, is comprised of the longitudinal chamber that includes the longitudinal flexible ribs between which passage of the air towards the flexible small external coating is allowed. The device of the invention may be used in a method, which is not part of the invention for introduction of fluids containing spermatozoids, embryos or therapeutic solutions into the anterior third of a uterus horn or for collecting embryos from the anterior third of the uterus horn, without the need of sedating the female animal and without disturbing its well-being, for which purpose the method comprises introducing the tube into the inside of the vagina up to the entry of the cervix duct at which point the tube is rotated in a counterclockwise sense, for producing its advance within the cervix duct of the female animal, thanks to which it becomes firmly fixed to the walls thereof. Once fixing has been achieved, the distal end of the flexible probe is inserted by the proximal end of the tube until the anterior end of the tube that is anchored in the inside of the of the cervix duct has been reached, whereafter the tube is slightly rotated to the left and right, the flexible probe being simultaneously impelled, until this latter bypasses the first protuberance of the cervix cavity. Thereafter, the flexible probe is further impelled whereby it is noted that it progresses with some difficulty by the various protuberances of the cervix duct until reaching the uterus body. Once the cervix duct has been overcome, the resistance offered by the protuberances ceases, and the flexible probe is introduced without difficulty until reaching the upper portions of a uterus horn. Once the flexible probe has been introduced into the uterus horn, fluids are injected into or absorbed from the uterine environment through the flexible duct by means of coupling a syringe or something similar to the tab. In the case that it is desired to obtain embryos, the method comprises a subsequent step to introducing the probe, in which the elastic small external coating is inflated, whereby this latter adapts itself to the inner space of the uterus horn, and thereafter suctioning of the embryos from the anterior portion of the uterus horn is performed. Thus, the device of the invention does not require sedation nor anesthesia of the sow. Furthermore, it does not cause any harm to the well-being of the animal, as it does not use any rigid instrument that might harm and/or perforate the walls of the cervix duct, due to that the flexible probe presents a suitable equilibrium between consistency and resilience for passing by itself the cervix duct and reaching the anterior third of a uterus horn without producing apparent harms. Additionally, the invention has the great advantage that complete introduction of the flexible probe is achieved in a minimum time, approximately 3 or 4 minutes, and it allows to work with reduced volumes, at the same time that it is multifunctional as it enables introduction of spermatozoids, embryos and therapeutic solutions into the depth of the uterus, as well as collection of embryos from the anterior portions of the uterus horn. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Hereafter, to facilitate a better understanding of the present description and being an integral part thereof, there are accompanied a series of figures in which the subject matter of the invention is represented in an illustrative and non-limiting way. Figure 1.- shows a raised side view of the device of the invention in which the probe is inside the tube or catheter. Different sections have been made to show the various components that constitute the same. Figure 2.- shows detail A of the previous figure. Figure 3.- shows detail B of figure 1. Figure 4.- shows a schematic representation of the device of the invention in an operating situation within the uterus of a sow. Figure 5.- shows a schematic representation of an example of an embodiment of the flexible probe of the invention used for obtaining embryos from the anterior third of a uterus horn. The distal end of the probe is also shown in detail. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A description of the invention will be made on the grounds of the previously mentioned figures. The invention is constituted of a device comprising a tube 1 which includes a spiral 3 facilitating its introduction at the outer surface of its distal end, and the proximal end of which includes a widening 4 for facilitating its handling. Between the ends of the tube 1, there is provided a tubular smooth section 2. Internally, the tube has an opening 5 that communicates both ends of the tube 1 and has a sufficiently wide diameter as to allow passage of a flexible probe 6 without any difficulty. The ends of the tube may be a single piece of rubber or plastic, or they may be constituted by molded plastic parts, taking into account that the distal end must be soft and flexible to avoid damages to the animal when it is introduced into the cervix duct. The flexible probe 6 has a flexible tubular body 7 of plastic or metal. The external surface of the flexible tubular body 7 is covered by a layer 8 of plastic or of any other material that allows sliding thereof without causing any damage to the mucous membranes of the female reproduction apparatus. In the inside of the flexible tubular body 7, a flexible duct 12 of silicone or another similar material is provided, all this in such a way that a longitudinal chamber 9 extending from the proximal end 10 to the distal end 11 is formed between said flexible duct and the flexible tubular body 7, connecting to the outside in both cases. A variable amount of steel threads 13 is included within the inside of the longitudinal chamber 9, so as to increase the consistency thereof. The proximal end 10 is formed of a device 14 of plastic or another material, that allows coupling with the flexible tubular body 7 and with the flexible duct by one of its ends, and by its other end coupling with a tab 32 of one or two ways 33,34. The distal end 11 of the probe is formed of a device 15 of methacrylate, plastic, metal or any other material allowing adaptation to the inner space of the flexible tubular body 7 and to the flexible duct 12 by its end 16, the opposite end 17 remaining communicated with the outside through a hole that constitutes the fluid inlet and/or outlet. Said end 17 must be smooth and blunt to avoid harms to the animal's mucous membranes. It may be pointed out that, to prevent contaminations, the device of the invention is suitably sterilized and packaged in hermetically sealed bags. In the following, the process of using the device for making profound intrauterine insemination with a low amount of spermatozoids will be described. The method consists of introducing the tube 1 up to the inside of the cervix duct of the sow being on heat which may have superovulated or not. For this purpose, a non-toxic lubricant liquid is applied onto the tube 1 so as to facilitate passage thereof through the vagina. The tube 1 is inserted by introducing its distal end (area of the spiral 3) into the sow's vagina until reaching the distal end 18 of the cervix duct 19. In that moment, the tube 1 is rotated in a counterclockwise sense whereby advance thereof within the female animal's cervix duct 19 takes place, thanks to which firm holding at the walls of the cervix duct that are formed of gross rounded protuberances 20, is achieved. In this situation, as the tube 1 is held from the outside, a firm holding of the uterus neck is established so as to prevent rips of this latter. Once firm holding of the uterus neck has been established, the distal end 11 of the flexible probe 6 is introduced through the proximal end of the tube 1, until this reaches the distal end of the tube in the inside of the cervix duct 19, which is noted by the impossibility of the progression of the flexible probe 6. In this moment, the tube 1 is slightly rotated to the left and right, simultaneously impelling the flexible probe 6 until it overcomes the first protuberance 20 of the cervix duct 19. Subsequently, the flexible probe 6 is further impelled it being noticed how it surpasses, under some resistance, the various protuberances of the cervix duct until reaching the uterus body 21. Once the cervix duct 19 has been overcome, the resistance offered by the cervix protuberances 20 ceases and the flexible probe 6 is introduced smoothly, without any difficulty, until reaching the anterior portion of a uterus horn 22, for which purpose the uterus horn adapts itself as the flexible probe progresses by adopting a spiral appearance. Although it is not necessary, introduction of small volumes of diluent through the flexible duct 12 will facilitate progression of the flexible probe 6 during its path through the cervix duct 19 and its progression through the uterus horn 22. Once the flexible probe 6 has been introduced into the uterine horn 22, the semen contained in a syringe 35 being connected to the proximal end 10 of the flexible probe 6, is introduced through the flexible duct 12 of the flexible probe 6 until reaching the uterine environment. So as to avoid losses of spermatozoids and securing that the semen sample has been completely evacuated from the flexible duct 12, a small volume of diluent is subsequently introduced through the flexible duct 12. Thereafter, the flexible probe which is extracted without any difficulty, is withdrawn and the tube 1 is withdrawn for which this latter must be rotated in a clockwise sense. This process may also be used for transferring embryos into a uterus horn. The same device and method may be used for obtaining embryos from the inside of a uterus horn for which purpose a flexible probe 24 as represented in figure 5 has been provided, that is similar to that described in figure 2 with the difference that probe 24 has two flexible, concentrically arranged ducts 27 and 29 in its inside, whereby it has been foreseen that in the proximity of the distal end 25 of the probe 24, there is included a device 25 being constituted of an elastic small outer coating 28 communicating with the flexible duct through a hole 31. In this case, the end being proximal to the probe is connected to a two-way tab, one of which is connected to the flexible duct 29 and the other to the flexible duct 27, so that the previously described methodology is also completely valid in this case, with the difference that once the flexible probe 24 has been introduced into the anterior third of a uterus horn, the elastic outer coating 28 of latex or silicone, is filled with air by means of a syringe 35 connected to the flexible duct 27 so that inflation thereof is produced whereby it completely adapts itself to the uterus wall so as to avoid any possibility of a reflux. Thereafter, the embryo culturing medium is introduced through the flexible duct 29, so as to fill the portion comprised between the tip 30 (equivalent to 15) of the flexible probe 24 and the junction to the ovarian canal, a place where embryos should be found after 4 to 5 days after insemination of the female animal, with liquid. Afterwards, through the same working channel 29, a suction is made to recover the liquid that has been introduced. This process is repeated until it has been possible to obtain the embryos. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible tube 27 is established by the chamber 9 in which the steel threads 13 are included, in which case the air circulates between said steel threads whereby the structure of the probe is simplified.

Claims: DEVICE FOR INTRODUCING AND/OR COLLECTING FLUIDS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE UTERUS OF AN ANIMAL, that is provided for introducing a fluid with spermatozoids, embryos or therapeutic solutions into the anterior third of the uterine horn (22) or for obtaining embryos from the upper portions of the uterine horn (22); for which it comprises a tube or catheter (1) the proximal end of which includes widening (4) to facilitate its handling, and on the external surface of the distal end of which includes a spiral (3) that facilitates its introduction and fixing in the entry of the cervix duct (19) so that introducing a probe (6, 24) through the tube (1) is allowed, characterized in that the probe (6, 24) is constituted of a flexible tubular body (7) which, in its inside, includes at least one flexible duct (12, 27 and 29), and the outside of which is covered by a layer (8) of flexible material; all this to allow that the probe (6, 24), after reaching the distal end of the tube (2), progresses first through the cervix duct (19)and thereafter through the uterus horn (22); means (10) for coupling a tab (32) of at least one way (33,34) being provided at the proximal end of the probe for introducing and/or collecting fluids. DEVICE according to claim 1, wherein the probe (6) has a consistency and resilience being suitable for allowing that, after reaching the distal end of the tube (1), it may progress through the cervix duct (19) and through the uterus horn (22). DEVICE according to claim 2, wherein between the flexible duct (12,27,29) and the flexible tubular body (7) of the probe (6,24), there is included a plurality of flexible longitudinal ribs (13) to increase its consistency maintaining its flexibility. DEVICE according to claim 3, wherein the flexible longitudinal ribs are steel threads (13). DEVICE according to claim 3, wherein a longitudinal chamber (9) formed between said flexible duct (12, 27, 29) and said flexible tubular body (7) and including the ribs (13) is tubular. DEVICE according to any of the previous claims, wherein the distal end (11) of the probe is formed of a piece (15,30) that adapts itself to the inner space of the flexible tubular body (7) and to the flexible duct (12,29), the piece including a hole being located as a continuation of the flexible duct (12,29) for establishing the fluids inlet and/or outlet. DEVICE according to any of the previous claims, wherein the coupling means of the tab (32) are established by a piece (14) which, on one side, adapts itself to the inner space of the flexible tubular body (7) and to the flexible duct (12,29) and on the other side to the tab (32); for allowing introducing/extracting fluids. DEVICE according to any of the previous claims, wherein the probe (24) has two, preferably concentric, flexible ducts (27,29), the outer one of which and in the proximity of the distal end (25) of the probe (24), communicates with an elastic small external coating (28) that, once the probe (24) has been placed in the uterus horn (22), is filled with air and to swell balloon-like, through one of the flexible ducts (27), for adapting itself to the wall of the uterus horn (22) and to avoid refluxes of liquids that have been introduced in said uterus horn when suctioning intrauterine fluids. DEVICE according to claim 8, wherein the flexible longitudinal duct (27) is established by the longitudinal chamber (9) in which the flexible longitudinal ribs (13) are included, so that the air circulates between said flexible longitudinal ribs (13).

Inventors: MARTINEZ GARCIA EMILIO, ROCA ALEU JORGE, VAQUEZ ROJAS JUAN MARIA, VAZQUEZ ROJAS JOSE LUIS, MARTINEZ GARCIA, EMILIO, ROCA ALEU, JORGE, VAQUEZ ROJAS, JUAN MARIA, VAZQUEZ ROJAS, JOSE LUIS, VAZQUEZ ROJAS, José Luis
Applicants: UNIV MURCIA, UNIVERSIDAD DE MURCIA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61D19
IPC codes: A61D19