FR2477006A1 - APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING ANIMAL REPRODUCTIVE ELEMENTS, IN PARTICULAR EMBRYOS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION IS THE TRANSFER OF ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL REPRODUCTION AND CONCERNS DEVICES INCLUDING A BODY 1 IN WHICH A TUBE-TANK 4 CAN BE ENGAGED AND IN WHICH IS ALSO SLIDING FITTED A PISTON ROD 5, A PROTECTIVE SHEATH 7 SURROUNDING THIS BODY AND THE END OF THE TUBE WHICH SUPPORTS AGAINST A TIP 8 LODGE IN THE END OF THE SHEATH. THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM IS TO PROVIDE SUCH AN APPARATUS WHICH IS NOT RISK OF INJURING THE REPRODUCTIVE ELEMENTS DURING THEIR TRANSFER. THE ESSENCE OF THE SOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM RESIDES THROUGH THE MEANS OF THE INVENTION, IN THE FACT THAT THE FREE END 7B OF THE SHEATH 7 IS RIGHTLY CYLINDRICAL, AND THAT THE NOZZLE 8 IS PROVIDED IN A WAY TO PROVE. BEYOND THE EXTREME SLICE OF SHEATH 7, THE END 7B OF THE SHEATH BEING FIXED AROUND THE NOZZLE 8, WHILE THIS NOZZLE PRESENTS INSIDE, BEYOND THE SUPPORT ZONE OF THE TUBE-TANK 4 , A PERFECTLY SMOOTH INTERIOR SURFACE. THE MAIN USE OF THE INVENTION IS IN THE TRANSFER OF BOVINE EMBRYOS

Description

Apparatus for transferring animal reproductive elements, in particular

embryos.

  The present invention relates to

  transferring, or setting up, animal reproductive elements, such as artificial insemination apparatus for the placement of seed or embryo transfer apparatus for the placement of embryos, in particular for bovine animals, of a kind comprising, on the one hand,

  a hollow cylindrical body having a first end in the

  which can be engaged a reservoir tube for said elements of ma-

  this tube protrudes beyond this end, and a

  end end in which is mounted sliding a rod-piston whose length is approximately equal to that of the body and which makes

  protrusion beyond this end and, on the other hand, a protective sheath

  whose length is also approximately equal to that of the

  body and that surrounds both the body over practically all its

  it being maintained fixed on the latter in the vicinity of its second end, this end of the tube bearing axially against a

  endpiece which has a central passage and is itself housed in the end.

  mite of the sheath and is integral with it.

  Such a device makes it possible to drive out the reservoir tube, using the piston rod, the reproduction elements

  contained therein, the apparatus having of course been introduced

  inside the vagina and uterus of the animal. The sheath and its

  end caps are replaced after each use, which avoids having to sterilize

  read each time the device itself.

  It is already known, for example from the French patent 76 21 438 (publication 2,358,136) of the Applicant, devices of this type, designed specifically for artificial insemination, and in

  which the end of the protective sheath has a convergent shape

  the end of which is defined by a U-folded inward edge defining an extreme axial discharge port, the end being fully disposed within the sheath and bearing itself against the

convergent part of it.

  However, if such a provision is acceptable for artificial insemination, it is no longer suitable for transfer

  embryos, because in this case the embryo ejected from the reservoir tube

  than to touch the folded edge of the sheath and thus to be seriously injured-

  causing the unborn animal to be injured or mal-

  which will only be noticed at the time of

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  This is why the present invention aims to provide a device of the type considered that can be used

  not only for artificial insemination, but also and essential-

  for the transfer of embryos without any risk of injury to these

last.

  For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an apparatus of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the free end of the sheath is approximately cylindrical, and in that the end piece is disposed of

  protrude beyond the outer edge of the sheath, the former

  its end being fixed around the endpiece, while this endpiece has the inside, beyond the support zone of the reservoir tube,

  a perfectly smooth interior surface.

  Thanks to this arrangement, the embryo ejected

  tank tube crosses only the perfectly smooth passage of

  the tip and therefore does not risk being hurt.

  Particularly advantageously, it can be provided that the support zone of the nozzle is constituted by a first portion of the inner passage thereof located on the side of the body of the device and which is connected to said smooth inner surface of the tip, the radial dimension of this bearing portion being in any point greater than the largest radial dimension of said smooth surface. So even when the sheath and its tip are pulled tight

  by pressing on the reservoir tube and that the end of the latter is lightly

  crushed by the support zone, the slice of this reservoir tube does not protrude from the smaller diameter of this zone.

  of support, thus constituting no obstacle in relation to the surface area

  upper part of the mouthpiece into which the embryo must pass, so that

  the latter is in no danger of being injured when exiting the tube-

tank.

  Preferably also it can advantageously

  it should be expected that the part of the mouthpiece that protrudes beyond

  the sheath is separated from the part which is housed therein by a shoulder

  dial against which comes to bear axially the extreme edge of the

  sheath and which has the same radial dimension as this slice.

  Thus, simultaneously, the outer surface

  of the assembly formed by the sheath and the end of the endpiece - 2 - 2- i477006

  has a perfectly smooth outer surface, so that the end.

  Even so, the risk of injury to the mucosa of the animal receiving the embryo is not great. It is therefore noted that all precautions are taken to avoid lesions to both the embryo and the recipient animal. Other features and benefits

  of the invention will become apparent from the following description, as a

  non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 represents a view, in pieces

  separated, of an apparatus according to the invention.

  FIG. 2 shows a detail view and on a larger scale of the end of this apparatus, comprising a

  tip according to a first embodiment according to the invention.

  FIG. 3 represents a view similar to

  that of FIG. 2, with a mouthpiece, according to a second embodiment

according to the invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus of

  Embryo transfer represented firstly comprises a cylindrical body

  1, which is constituted by the engagement one into the other of two metal tubes 1a and 1b, the tube 1b being shorter than the other so that at one end it comes flush with the tube 1a,

  while at the other, it offers a shoulder 2 located at a certain distance.

  tance of the end of the tube la. At the other end, all of these two tubes is surrounded by a third piece 3 constituting a handle

keeping.

  This body can thus receive a tube-

  cylindrical tank, called "straw" containing a solution of

  pension in which there is one or more embryos to put in place. This reservoir tube has approximately the same diameter as the tube lb so that it comes, at one end, abut against the shoulder 2 that has the latter, while its end

  opposite is slightly protruding beyond the end of the tube la.

  There is also provided a rod-piston and whose diameter allows it to be slidably mounted inside the tube lb of the body, this tigepiston having at one end a gripping head 6 which remains outside the body and on the side of - 3 -

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  the head 3 of it when the rod 5 is engaged in the body.

  The length of the latter is such that its opposite end acts, via a buffer member provided for this purpose, inside the reservoir tube 4 to push the entire contents of it to its free end. The length of the rod 5 is provided sufficient to allow complete ejection of the contents

  when the two heads 3 and 6 come into contact with each other.

  The whole-is completed by a sheath of

  made of a rigid material such as polychloride

  vinyl,. this sheath 7 having the same as the rod 5, roughly the

  same length as body 1 and being cylindrical on practically -

  all its length. Its inner diameter allows it to come and wrap-virtually the body 1 and one of its ends 7a is held fixed on a frustoconical portion, provided for this purpose, the -15 head 3 by a not shown clamping ring. ' At its opposite end 7b, the sheath 7 is

  provided with an inner end 8 which will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sheath 7 is

  very precisely cylindrical throughout its length including its extreme

  mite 7b. The tip 8 is an elongate and hollow element made of a semi-rigid material, for example polyethylene or flexible polyvinyl chloride. The total length of this tip is roughly

  of the order of magnitude of the double desa diametral dimension.

  The outer surface of this tip has,

  on the side of the body 1, a first part 9 which is exactly

  drique and extends over most of the length of the tip. Beyond this cylindrical portion 9, there is provided a second portion of slightly greater diameter 10 and which is connected

  at the part 9 by a radial shoulder 11.

  The outer diameter of the cylindrical part

  9 corresponds very closely to the inside diameter of the sheath 7, so that the end 7b thereof comes precisely to marry this surface, its end edge 12 abutting, in the axial direction, against the shoulder 11. L end of the sheath is fixed by

  example by gluing, on this surface 9.

  * The end portion 10 of the tip, which projects beyond the end of the sheath 7, has a slightly convergent shape towards its end edge 13 so as to

  to form a flare having approximately the shape of a portion of

  spherical lottery, which ensures an optimal sliding of the end of the apparatus and avoids as much as possible the risks of injury of the

mucosa of the animal.

  The inner passage 14 of the nozzle comprises successively two surfaces, one disposed on the side of the body 1, and which has a frustoconical shape converging opposite the body 1, with a fairly high angle of inclination, for example of the order * of 30, this first part, or support zone of the reservoir tube, connecting by its smallest diameter with a second portion 14b which constitutes a perfectly smooth surface passage, of very slightly conical shape converging towards the edge 13 of the mouthpiece, following

  for example a weak angle of the order of 5.

  The cylindrical wall of this nozzle is on average relatively strong, its thickness being about the same order of magnitude as the smallest diameter of the passage 14 at the level

  its edge 13 which constitutes an axial extreme discharge orifice.

  Since the outer diameter of the reservoir tube 4 corresponds to the inside diameter of the tube 1a of the body, the end of the reservoir tube therefore faces the bearing surface 14a of the nozzle on its zone.

the outermost.

  However, during assembly, the sheath 7 and its tip 8 are threaded over the entire body 1 and the

  tube-tank 4 and, the portion 4a of the reservoir tube having come to the con-

  tact of the bearing surface 14a at its outermost part, the use of

  the user applies a certain traction on the sheath 7, and consequently on the end piece 8, until the opposite end 7a of the sheath is fixed on

  the head 3 of the body, this movement of traction causing a slight crush-

  the end of the reservoir tube, the latter being folded slightly inwardly following the frustoconical shape of the surface 14a, but without however the end portion 4a of the reservoir tube protrudes radially beyond the diameter of the connecting circle 15

between the two surfaces 14a and 14b.

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  It can thus be seen that the whole

  killed by the reservoir tube 4, the tip 8_et the sheath 7 has Ta times an interior passage offering no obstacle during the ejection of the embryo, and no longer offering any external projection risky

  -5 l to injure the mucosa of the recipient animal.

  In the variant of FIG. 3, the nozzle 8a has exactly the same passage shape 14 inside as the tip 8, but its outer surface 9 is constituted successively by a first cylindrical portion 9a located on the side of the body 1 of the apparatus and extended by a second part 9b which is frustoconical and convergent towards the end 10 of larger diameter. It thus follows from the convergent shape of the second portion 9b of this outer surface that the extremelelea portion has radial dimensions

  less important than in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

  This extreme part 10a presents all

  also a shoulder 11 of the same radial dimension, so that

  the end 7b of the sheath, which is normally in the mounting part-

  actually cylindrical to its end, as shown in solid lines, can be applied by clamping, very exactly in support against

  the frustoconical surface 9b, as shown in phantom in the Figure.

  As a result, the end portion 12 of the sheath is also perfectly covered by the shoulder 11, so that this assembly also offers

  a perfectly smooth outer surface that can not hurt.

  the mucosa of the animal. The fixing of the sheath on the tip is done

  of course in the same way, for example by gluing.

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Claims (3)

  1) - Reproduction element transfer apparatus   animal production, in particular of embryos, of the type comprising, on the one hand,   a hollow cylindrical body (1) having a first end in   which can be engaged a reservoir tube (4) for said elements so that this tube protrudes beyond this end, and a second end in which is slidably mounted a piston rod (5) whose length is approximately equal to that of the body and who   protrudes beyond this end and, on the other hand, a protective sleeve   tector (7) whose length is also approximately equal to that of the body and which surrounds both the body over substantially its entire length, being maintained fixed thereto near its second end, and the end of the tube which protrudes at its other end, this end of the tube bearing axially against a tip (8) which has a central passage and is itself housed in the end of the sheath (7) and is integral therewith, characterized   in that the free end (7b) of the sheath (7) is approximately   drique, and in that the end piece (8) is arranged so as to protrude   beyond the end edge of the sheath (7), the end (7b) of this   it is fixed around the tip (8), while this tip has internally, beyond the support zone of the reservoir tube, a surface perfectly smooth interior.   2) - Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized   characterized in that the part of the endpiece which protrudes beyond the sheath (7) is separated from the part which is housed therein by a radial shoulder against which the end portion of the endpiece bears axially.   sheath and which has the same radial dimension as this slice.   Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized   characterized in that the portion of the nozzle (8) which is housed in the sheath (7) has along its entire length a cylindrical outer surface whose diameter is equal to the inside diameter of the sheath (7) which is   itself constant over its entire length. - 7 - 24,700 6   Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized   risé in that the part of the tip which is housed in the sheath has,   at least a portion of its length adjacent to the shoulder, an over-   frustoconical face converging towards this shoulder, the end portion of the sheath being applied, from its initial cylindrical shape, by   clamping-abutment against this frustoconical surface.   Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized   in that the part of the end piece which is housed in the sheath has, in addition, a cylindrical surface beyond its frustoconical surface and the opposite of the shoulder.   ) - Apparatus according to any one of the   1 to 5, characterized in that the bearing zone of the nozzle is constituted by a first portion of the inner passage thereof located on the side of the body side of the apparatus and which is connected to said inner surface smooth of the nozzle, the radial dimension of this bearing portion being in all points greater than the largest radial dimension of said smooth surface.   Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized   in that the bearing portion has a truncated inner surface   converging towards said smooth surface and having the smallest diameter   is significantly smaller than the diameter, in the free state, of the reservoir tube.   8) - Apparatus according to any one of   to 7, characterized by the smooth inner surface of the e; c-   tip has a frustoconical shape very slightly convergent towards a vent hole. - 8 -