System for sampling tissue

Abstract

It is disclosed a system (1) for sampling tissue from an ear of an animal including: —a male component (2) including an engagement profile (2c) and a detachable sample collecting part (2b) with a cutting edge (2a); —a female component including a hole (4b) and retaining means (4a) for retaining the engagement profile (2c) of the male component (2), once the engagement profile (2c) has passed the hole (4b); —a tissue sample container (3) including an opening (3b) arranged below the hole (4b) of the female component (4b), for receiving the sample collecting part (2b) and the tissue sampled, the opening (3b) being closed by a sealed membrane or a cover (3d). The tissue sample container (3) includes a protrusion (3c) arranged at least in part in the hole (4b) of the female component (4).

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION[0001]The present invention relates to a system for sampling tissue from an ear of an animal and to tag the animal, at sampling. More particularly, the invention relates to a system of the type cited above, including a male component, a female component and a tissue sample container.[0002]The present invention also relates to a method to sample tissue from an ear of an animal.PRIOR ART[0003]Systems for sampling tissue from an ear of an animal are known.[0004]These systems including a male component, a female component and a tissue sample container coupled to the female component.[0005]To sample the tissue, the female component is put in contact with a side of the ear and a tip of the male component, having a cutting edge and a collecting part, is pushed against the ear, from the other side thereof, to cut a sample of the ear and to enter in a hole of the female component, where the male component is finally locked. While the male component remains attached to the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The system reliably prevents tissue sample loss and damage, allowing operators to easily verify the presence of the sample in the container, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the sampling process, especially for young animals with thin skin.

Problems solved by technology

However, they also have some drawbacks, especially due to the fact that the tissue sample may be damaged or lost during the operation, for instance when calves or other animals having thin ear's skins are sampled.

Lost of the sample or insufficient quantity of tissue sample may however occur with any kind of animal, with the known system.

Indeed, the sample may fall outside the collecting part after cut.

In other cases, the sample actually enters the collecting part after the cut but subsequently exits therefrom, due to inappropriate movements of the tip along the path towards the tissue sample container.

Often, the operator is not aware of a failure in collecting the tissue sample.

All these problems affects the daily practise of operators responsible for tagging and sampling, to the extent that they must pay particular care and attention to avoid losing or damaging the sample.

Also with all due care, it is however not easy (if not impossible) to visually follows the sample along the path from where it is initially cut from the animal's ear to the tissue sample container, especially at the interface between the female component and the tissue sample container.

In the worst cases, the result may be that the operator believes to have correctly accomplished sampling but, actually, no sample has been taken in the container or a damaged sample is hidden inside the tip, in the container.

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