Field of invention

The invention relates to the catheter for animal intracervical insemination.

Description of prior art

Artificial insemination forms an inseparable part of modern reproductive techniques. The techniques of artificial insemination have gone through a development process during which various aids and systems ensuring high success rates have been created. Insemination catheters presently used can be divided into two basic categories according to the destination .of ejaculate deposition. The first category enables the ejaculate to be deposited in the cervix uteri (intracervical insemination). The second category enables the ejaculate to be placed in the corpus uteri/ body of uterus (intrauterine or transcervical insemination). Each of those above mentioned. systems .. has its advantages .and disadvantages.. _. The current systems of insemination will be further illustrated with examples of pig artificial insemination.

penetration into corpus uteri. The disadvantage of these insemination systems is - except for

insemination - e.g. according to US patents No. 6526917 and No. 6662750 - abolish the risk of damage to the endometrium, they are not suitable for group systems of pig keeping, where - due to animal motion- an interruption of the canal providing the ejaculate flow occurs. All systems of intrauterine insemination include strict hygienic requirements which minimize the risk of spreading the infection into the sow uterus.

Systems for intracervical insemination are characterized by a lower difficulty level. The basic disadvantage of these catheters is the back flow of the ejaculate caused by the insufficient filling of the cervical canal. The effort aimed at eliminating the problem has lead to the creation of whole range of solutions differing in size of the catheter ending. One of the possibilities of solving the problems occurring during the intracervical insemination of sows is to take advantage of the specificities of the cervix anatomy. The inner arrangement of the cervix in sows is formed by a left-handed spiral, with this fact featuring in the French patent No. 2701385. The shape of catheters fabricated in accordance with the patent in question is adapted to the anatomical arrangement of the cervix and enables depositing in the rear part of the cervix, thus partly imitating the effect produced during the intrauterine insemination. N evertheless, this system is r ather complicated as regards the handling.

Nature of the invention

The intracervical insemination catheter manufactured in accordance with the invention contributes greatly to the elimination of the above-mentioned deficiencies in the insemination system used until now. This catheter is, in parallel with catheters already known, formed by the catheter body itself in the shape of a tube, at the inserting end of which an extension (an olive-shaped tip) is placed in order to guarantee the penetration into the cervix uteri and the position of the catheter to be fixed.

The basic idea of the invention consists in an olive-shaped tip made of elastic material capable of transition from the initial compressed shape fixed by a removable sleeve-shaped cover to a relaxed shape which is determined by the cervical canal after the sleeve-shaped cover is removed.

Polymer material is the elastic material suitable for manufacturing olive-shaped tips, i.e. expanded polyurethane or copolymer ethylen-vinylacetate in particular. The sleeve-shaped cover is preferably made of surface-treated polymer foil for the sleeve to be removed easily. , . ■

By combination of two different shapes (states) of the olive-shaped tip, achieved due to the presence or absence of the sleeve-shaped cover, the ejaculate is prevented from flowing back and enabled to be accepted physiologically by the sow. The olive-shaped tip manufactured in accordance with the invention is able to adapt to the cervical canal, the small diameter of the olive-shaped tip in a retracted state enables its easy introduction into the caudal part of the cervix without danger of damage to the cervix. The surface treatment of the sleeve also contributes to an easy penetration into the cervix. After the sleeve is removed, the olive-shaped tip relaxes and adapts to the shape and size of the cervical canal. The application itself is very easyito handle. Thanks to the filling up of the cervix and fixing of the olive-shaped tip it is possible to leave the catheter inserted and enable the sow to physiologically and spontaneously accept the ejaculate. The sleeve reduces the risk of infection transmitting from outer environment, through the expansion and adjustment to the anatomy of the cervix the cervical canal is filled up completely and back flows ^L are minimized. Another advantage is the possibility of inseminating in the group housing system, without having to move the sόw tό an individual box; ^:

Brief description of the drawings _. , _: -> _r .-.,,. _; ; .. _{: i} . ., , ..,

For a detailed explanation of the basic idea of the invention, the following drawing is enclosed: . ^• , ^. . i.,.., ..- , - , ■ ;- _; , -M ; . _. .. _, , ..,• ^■ ■ ;- , ; _;

Fig. 1 - C atheter in the initial state Λvith the compressed olive-shaped tip fixed by the sleeve-shaped cover (two different ¹ angles :1.1 and 1.2) - ^' • ^■ ■ ^' ■ • . : ^• : π:,v ^{;•• ■ "}

Fig. 2 - Catheter in the relaxed shape after the application arid removal of the sleeve-shaped cover (two different angles. 2.1 and 2!2J

Example of invention implementation.

Catheter for intracervical insemination (see Fig. 1 and 2) is formed by the catheter body itself 1 in the shape of a tube^ ended with an olive-shaped tip 2. i; iκ;wu a i^ The olive-shaped tip 2 is made of elastic material - expanded polyurethane capable of transition from the initial compressed shape (see Fig. 1), fixed by a removable sleeve- shaped cover 3j to a relaxed shape (see Fig. 2), which is determined by the cervical canal after the sleeve-shaped cover 2 is removed.

The sleeve-shaped cover 3. is made of polymer foil which is surface-treated for an easy application and removal of the sleeve-shaped cover.