A portable device for thawing of frozen semen straw

[0001] Description of the invention: [0002] Technical field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a portable device to maintain the desired temperature of frozen semen straw during thawing process before Artificial Insemination to the female animals. [0004] Background of the invention

[0005] In farms and laboratories, the Artificial Insemination (AI) has become extremely important for reproduction of cattle and buffalo. However, in addition to animal breeding, AI is also widely practiced as a procedure in case of human beings to address problems related to infertility. In AI, sperms are injected into female's uterus artificially in order to achieve pregnancy. The semen of male animals is usually mixed with an extender (such as glycerol) and frozen in semen straws to inseminate to the female animals. The frozen semen straw and its contents may be stored indefinitely for transport purpose and can be used at any location as and when required. The thawing of frozen semen straw plays major role before AI to the female animals to ensure viability of sperms leading to higher probability of pregnancy. Hence thawing device plays a very important role in the process and recent developments in the thawing devices have led to the development of a portable device to maintain the desired temperature during thawing process of frozen semen straw before AI to female animals. [0006] Various types of conventional thawing devices are known in the prior art. The United States Patent document 3983363Adescribes an electrically heated semen warming and storage unit. In the cited document, the unit includes a metal block provided with a thermostatically controlled electric heater means. The block has an elongated vertically extending central well for receiving semen capsules for thawing and a horizontally extending compartment spaced from the well and being of such size as to accommodate and store at least one artificial insemination gun. The metal block is enclosed in a heat insulating housing provided with openings for access to the well and compartment.

[0007] The United States Patent document 4007367Adescribesa semen thaw system. The cited document elates to an apparatus for thawing frozen semen for use in artificial insemination of animals. More particularly, the system relates to an apparatus for thawing semen while retaining maximum cell yield by minimizing loss of semen activity.

[0008] Typically, the conventional devices handling the wet thawing process have few limitations. They are not only heavy and bulky but also don't perform thawing process well, resulting in poor quality of semen for AI.

[0009] The conventional thawing devices are not suitable to be operated in rural parts of the world, especially in developing and least developed countries, because such devices require continuous power supply to operate therein. Due to the frequent disturbance in continuous power supply, the quality of the frozen semen straw gets affected due to its varying temperature. Typically, in conventional thawing device, the condensed water of straw gets accumulated at the wall of aluminum hole and may cause growth of contaminant bacteria therein at37 degrees Celsius.

[0010] Hence, there is a need for a portable device for thawing semen that can maintain the desired temperature of frozen semen straw during thawing process before semen is injected artificially into the female animals, primarily for the purpo se of breeding . [0011] Summary of the invention:

[0012] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks in the prior art and provides a portable device for thawing of frozen semen straw. The device comprises of a front end cabinet cover and a rear end cabinet cover. The front end cabinet cover and the rear end cabinet cover are enclosed into a cabinet structure through a plurality of screws and clamps. The enclosed cabinet structure comprises an aluminum block with one or more molded holes, a battery, an aluminum heater, an electronic circuit, a temperature sensor and a heating element. The aluminum block with one or more molded holes is accommodated with one or more frozen semen straws to carry out the thawing therein. The battery supplies the power to energize an electronic circuit to carry out the thawing process therein. The aluminum heater is heated through the electronic signals coming from the electronic circuit. The heating element warms the molded holes of the aluminum block to heat the frozen semen straws at predetermined temperature during thawing. The heating element is heated through the aluminum heater.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the enclosed cabinet structure further comprises of a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor maintains the temperature of the frozen semen straws to 37 degrees Celsius.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the enclosed cabinet structure further comprises of at-least two display systems, wherein first display system the indicates the temperature as set by the user (s) and the second display system indicates the ongoing or actual temperature.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable device further comprises of a buzzer, wherein the buzzer alerts the user (s) once the temperature reaches 37 degrees Celsius during thawing process of the frozen semen straws, wherein the buzzer alerts the user (s) through buzzing sound. [0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable device is further configured and incorporated with a decontamination mode, wherein the decontamination mode is activated to avoid the growth of bacterial contamination at the aluminum block during thawing process and allows the frozen semen straws to accommodate therein. [0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable device further provides various indications such as charging indication, power 'ON' indication and low battery indication through one or more LED lights.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable device is further charged using the two wheeler charger, the four wheeler charger and the solar charger through an Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable device is further provided with a battery backup system and provides a battery backup protection for up to six to eight hours.

[0020] The present invention provides a provision for charging the portable thawing device using the two wheeler charger, four wheeler charger and the solar charger through the existing USB port. The present invention may be categorized under green energy source by providing the solar charging facility and also avoids dependency of electrical charging.

[0021] The present invention overcomes the draw back in the prior arts by providing portable device with a reduced weight and the dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, the total weight of the portable device is less than 500 grams and the dimensions are 16 cm (centimeter) X 08 cm X 06 cm. The present portable device provides quick rechargeable battery and also provides the battery backup for six to eight hours. The portable device provides an effective hygienic semen straw for AI. [0022] The portable device is easy to use and simple and is more suitable for thawing of frozen semen straw in veterinary animals.

[0023] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following details description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. [0024] Brief description of the drawings:

[0025] The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements. [0026] FIG 1 illustrates perspective view of the portable device for thawing of frozen semen straw, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0027] Detailed description of the invention:

[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not a limitation. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention.

[0029] The term "thawing" as claimed in the embodiments refers to the process of decreasing the temperature of the frozen semen straw from minus 196 degrees Celsius to 37degrees Celsius for AI.

[0030] The term "straw" as claimed in the embodiments refers to the ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic cover, which is used to store the frozen semen form the male animals for AI. [0031] The term "decontamination" as claimed in the embodiments refers to the process of making the aluminum molded holes free from the bacterial contamination for keeping the frozen semen straw.

[0032] The present invention overcomes the draw backs in the prior arts by providing portable device with a reduced weight and the dimensions and very efficient rechargeable battery. In a preferred embodiment, the total weight of the portable device is less than 500 grams and the dimensions are 16 cm (centimeter) X 08 cm X 06 cm. The present portable device provides quick rechargeable battery and also provides the battery backup for six to eight hours. The portable device provides an effective hygienic semen straw for AI. [0033] The portable device is easy to use, simple and is extremely suitable for thawing of frozen semen straw for AI.

[0034] FIG 1 illustrates perspective view of the portable device for thawing of frozen semen straw, according to one embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment, the portable device (100) comprises of a front end cabinet cover (101) and a rear end cabinet covers (102). The front end cabinet cover (101) and the rear end cabinet cover (102) are enclosed through a plurality of screws (111) and clamps (106) to form a rectangular closed cabinet structure. The rectangular closed cabinet structure includes an aluminum block (108) with one or more molded holes, a battery (104), an aluminum heater (110), an electronic circuit (103), a temperature sensor and a heating element (107). The aluminum block (108) having molded holes accommodates one or more frozen semen straws (105), to carry out the thawing process for the frozen semen straws. The front end cabinet cover (101) is fitted with two display systems. The first display system indicates the temperature as set by the user (s) and the second display system indicates the ongoing or actual temperature. During the thawing process, the battery (104) is turned ON and the frozen semen straws (105) from the cryocan are kept into the molded holes of the aluminum block (108). The power supply from the battery (104) heats the frozen semen straws (105) through the aluminum block (108) via the heating element (107). In the preferred embodiment, the first display system is set to 37 degrees Celsius by the user (s). The signals from the electronic circuit (103) heat the aluminum heater (110). The aluminum heater (110) in-turn transfers the heat to the heating element (107). The heating element (107) further develops and maintains the temperature of the frozen semen straws (105) in the aluminum block (108) to 37 degrees Celsius through the temperature sensor. Once the temperature reaches 37 degrees Celsius, the thawing device gives beep buzzer sound therein. The rear end cabinet cover (102) is attached with a rotatable stand (109) to provide flexible operations to the user (s).

[0035] In the preferred embodiment, the portable device (100) is further configured and incorporated with a provision of decontamination mode. The decontamination mode is activated during 37 degrees Celsius in the portable device (100). The decontamination mode controls the bacterial growth during the thawing process of the frozen semen straws. The portable device (100) needs to plug or turn ON during the decontamination mode. [0036] During decontamination mode, the temperature is allowed to rise until it reaches 60 degrees Celsius. The buzzer alerts the user (s) once temperature reaches 60 degrees Celsius. The temperature i.e. 60 degrees Celsius, remains constant for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the thawing device turns OFF by providing buzzing sound thereof. In the preferred embodiment, after using the decontamination mode, the routine use of thawing device should be avoided for about 120 minutes.

[0037] In the preferred embodiment, the portable device (100) provides various indications such as charging indication, power 'ON' indication and low battery indication through the LED lights. [0038] In the preferred embodiment, the portable device (100) is provided with the battery backup system and provides a battery backup protection for six to eight hours. The battery backup system is charged either through the solar charger, two wheeler vehicle chargers or four wheeler Universal Serial Bus (USB) port chargers. In the preferred embodiment, the temperature in the first display system may be set in the range of 36 degrees Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius before AI for the female animals.

[0039] The portable device is easy to use and simple and is more suitable for thawing of frozen semen straw in veterinary animals.

[0040] The present invention provides a provision for charging the portable thawing device using the two wheeler charger, four wheeler charger and the solar charger through the existing USB port. The present invention may be categorized under green energy source by providing the solar charging facility and also avoids dependency of electrical charging.