Patent Application
20200337820
This invention relates to an apparatus for collecting mammal seminal fluids and, more particularly, relates to an artificial cervix for collecting semen from animals.
The most common method of collecting semen in animals is by the use of an artificial cervix. This usually consists of a stiff rubber tube having an interior rubber liner which leads to a rubber cone that is connected to a test tube for collecting the semen. The length of the vagina varies but should be long enough so that the penis penetrates completely, and ejaculation takes place directly into the cone and test tube. Prior to collection, the vagina is filled with warm water and lubricated internally with an innocuous lubricant such as paraffin or Vaseline. The internal temperature of the vagina should be about 45° C. to cover any heat loss prior to actual collection.
It is the usual practice to tease the animal prior to actual collection, and this consists of exciting the animal by allowing him to see and approach the teaser animal and even mounting but without ejaculation taking place. During the teasing, accessory fluid usually dribbles from the prepuce and the animal shows signs of erection. This separation is of considerable importance and unless it is carried out the collection is of poor quality.
The actual technique of collection is also important. It is advisable to apply the artificial cervix to the penis only when the animal is actually probing for it, and obviously prepared for service. It should not be applied as the animal is just mounting or in the process of dismounting, since quite apart from the unsatisfactory psychological effect on the animal, the semen quality and the volume of the ejaculate are inferior.
Great care must be exercised regarding the angle at which the vagina is held and collection taken. Some animals thrust violently against the hindquarters of the teaser, resulting in sharp bending of the penis and the resulting infliction of pain, which if repeated often enough, will inhibit the animal from further service.
The normal pattern of behavior of the animal is to approach the hindquarters of the teaser and nuzzle the base of the tail for a few seconds. The back is then depressed and there is a slight pumping action accompanied by erection and dribbling of accessory fluid. The animal then mounts, dropping his forelegs in front of the external iliacs of the teaser, and the penis begins to probe for the vagina.
At this point, the operator standing to the right of the animal clasps the sheath with his left hand, deflects the penis to one side, and at the same time holds the artificial cervix in his right hand so that entry of the penis takes place normally. The animal will thrust vigorously sometimes leaping off the ground in the process.
The prior art is replete with artificial cervixes that can be used as above described, for example, and as depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,441,868; 3,421,504; 3,631,853; 3,910,262; and 4,059,100. While these and other artificial cervixes have proved to be satisfactory for the collection of semen in animals, they suffer from the disadvantage of being too rigid during collection and lack the elasticity provided by the vagina of a living teaser during the actual thrust. Such rigidity and lack of elasticity results in a poor quality of collection as compared to the collection produced by a living vagina or an artificial cervix approaching the characteristics of a living vagina.
These disadvantages of the prior art, and especially the aforementioned U.S. patents, are overcome with the present invention, and commercially acceptable embodiments of an artificial cervix and the like are herein provided which are not only fully capable of collecting seminal materials under most operating conditions but which are also fully capable of other tasks completely beyond the capabilities of the devices of the prior art. More particularly, however, the embodiments of the present invention are capable of controlled operation with a much higher efficiency.
This invention is an apparatus for collecting seminal fluids, and specifically for an artificial cervix for collecting seminal fluids for artificial insemination. The cervix is formed from an elongated cylindrical member having a closed end for receiving and storing ejaculated semen, or an open end for allowing ejaculate to pass through, and an open end having a rim of a diameter sufficient to receive the penis of the animal. In one embodiment, a handle is detachably connected to said cylindrical member that allows users to hold the cervix in the correct position during collection of the animal's seminal fluids.
In one particularly ideal embodiment of the present invention, the artificial cervix is formed of a plurality of concentric and spaced-apart soft rubber rings or baffles within the cervix. The cervix is made from a semi-soft and flexible material to mimic the flexibility of the female mammal's cervix. The size and shape of the artificial cervix is such that it can encompass the male's penis while locally containing a synthetic or natural biochemical signature. The biochemical signature can be a chemical such as cervical mucus or the synthetic equivalent thereof.
The plurality of concentric baffles, or rings, within the artificial cervix are constructed so that the male's penis can penetrate and grip the cervix. The rings are designed to trigger the male's reflexes for optimal ejaculation.
A handle is provided that is used to grip the artificial cervix during collection efforts. The handle allows a user to hold the artificial cervix in the proper location so that the male mammal can ejaculate into the cervix and the ejaculate can be collected. The handle is made of a rigid material and is constructed to form a lock with the artificial cervix.
Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for collecting seminal fluids and which includes an artificial cervix that provides a similar tactile sensation to the male as mating with a female.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide an artificial cervix that includes flexible baffles which can be moved in a reciprocating fashion with respect to the penis of the animal in order that the action of a teaser vagina may be produced by the artificial cervix.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an artificial cervix that moves in a reciprocating fashion on the penis of the animal, and which includes rings that are designed to trigger the male's reflexes for optimal ejaculation.
It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide an artificial cervix that massages the penis of the animal from which semen is to be collected in a fashion that is as natural as possible, that is easy to handle, controllable, and easy to collect from.
It is a still further feature of the present invention to provide an artificial cervix which is simple, durable, and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.
It is also a feature of the present invention to provide an artificial cervix that will create an erect organ to more effectively produce seminal fluid in greater volume and quality than heretofore possible by more closely simulating the action of a live vagina of a teaser and without heavy reliance upon the physiological effect upon the animal by the teaser.
These and other aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
Referring now to the attached Figures, there are shown embodiments of an apparatus for System for the Collection of Mammalian Inseminate.
As illustrated in
The rings (103), while being soft and flexible, are constructed so that the male's penis can grip the cervix. Gripping occurs by the penis encountering enough resistance from the rings (103) as would be found within the cervix of a female. Gripping further acts to trigger the male's ejaculatory reflexes.
In an embodiment of the present invention, an artificial cervix (103) has an opening (101) and five rings (103) to simulate the cervix of a ewe. The rings (103) are spaced in the cervix (103) in a pattern that stimulates the correct trigger reflexes and ejaculation of a ram. Post-ejaculation inseminate is collected from the cervix (103) or from collection vials as illustrated in additional Figures.
Regarding
In an embodiment of the present invention, the chemical signature (107) is placed in the reservoir of an applicator (105). Air is injected into the chemical signature (107) by way of a syringe (104) with a tube or needle that is placed into the signature (107) in order to create bubbles within signature (107). The air injection of the signature (107) simulates the foamy or bubbly occurrence of certain types of signature (107) such as a ewe's naturally bubble cervical mucus. In an embodiment of the present invention, the needle or tube is 16-14 gauge. This size of the needle or tube ensures air enters the signature (107) at the proper pressure and volume. After air is injected from the syringe (104), the signature (107) leaves the applicator (105) through an applicator nozzle and travels into the artificial cervix (103). In an embodiment of the present invention the post air-injected signature (107) is applied to one or more of the rings (102) within the artificial cervix (103). In another embodiment of the present invention, the signature (107) is applied to all of the rings (102) within the artificial cervix (103).
Referring now to
It should be noted that in some embodiments of the present invention, the artificial cervix (100) is not angled relative to the artificial vagina (106). That is, the artificial cervix (100) is connected to the artificial vagina (106) in a linear fashion so that the opening in the artificial vagina (106) is in the same plane as a passageway through the artificial cervix (100) that runs through the openings of the rings (102) within the cervix (102).
The artificial cervix (100) is open at the trailing end so that inseminate material can enter into a containment device (111) and finally collect in a vial (112) that is attached to the containment device (111). The containment device (111) can fully enclose the artificial cervix (100) as illustrated in
Referring now to
While the particular device for collection of mammalian inseminate as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
The detailed description, above, forth numerous specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention.
All the references cited herein are incorporated by reference. The terms and expressions that have been employed in the foregoing specification are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims that follow.
