In ovo injection equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for injecting a composition into an egg, comprising: a guide member comprising a first shell, called the outer shell, fixed to an injection needle and a second shell, called the inner shell, movable in translation inside the outer shell, connected to a trocar and comprising a cup intended to bear on the upper part of an egg; first locking means suitable for blocking the movement of the trocar; and second locking means suitable for blocking the movement of the injection needle in the configuration in which the needle is inserted into the trocar. The second locking means comprises, on the one hand, a first magnet positioned on the outer side of the inner shell and, on the other hand, a second magnet positioned on the inner side of the outer shell, the first and second magnets being positioned facing each other in the guide member in the configuration of the guide member, called the piercing configuration.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of an application with an application date of October 2, 2018 (entered the Chinese national phase on April 2, 2020), national application number 201880064578.X (international application number PCT / FR2018 / 052426), and invention name “Intraovo Injection Device”. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of injecting a composition into an egg through the shell, also known as in ovo injection, and in particular to a device for injecting a composition into an egg, more particularly an avian egg, such as a poultry egg. Background Art

[0003] Injection of the composition into a fertilized egg can provide a preventive or curative treatment for the embryo. The injected composition is, for example, a vaccine, an antibiotic, a dietary supplement, a microorganism and / or a component intended to reduce mortality, improve embryonic development, produce a vaccine or perform an analysis. Such a technique can also be used, for example, to inject a substance into a sterile egg for the purpose of adding a preservative or to collect a sample of the egg through the shell, etc.

[0004] Such injection is usually performed with the aid of a prior art device comprising an injection head positioned so as to penetrate the egg to be treated via one of its ends.

[0005] In this case, a known method described in patent US 3,377,989 realizes a machine for automatic intra-ovum injection of biomaterials, the machine comprises a fixed pin, the fixed pin is supported by a retractable protective housing, the protective housing is positioned on a slightly movable support itself, and the fixed pin is intended to pierce the shell and inject the intra-ovum solution therein by the egg against the pin. The major disadvantage of this technology is that, although the support is removable and built in a spring to damp its movement, it is difficult to control the penetration depth of the pin in the egg, which can cause irreversible damage to the embryo when the pin penetrates the egg to inject the intra-ovum solution therein. This technology is also relatively unreliable, because the pin is often blocked by the fragments of the shell during the puncture process, and the fragments may be driven completely or partially to the depths of the inside of the egg in the new injection process, thereby possibly causing the potential pollution of other embryos. In addition, this technology can not make the rest of the pin and / or injection head accurately control the impact speed of the shell, which can cause a large amount of losses caused by the egg breakage.

[0006] Another mature method also known in the prior art and described in patent application WO2007 / 024952 realizes an injection system, which includes a pump connected to a needle, which is installed so that the needle slides in the punch to pierce the egg before the needle slides toward the center of the egg. Although such a technology reduces the impact of the injection tool and removes the shell sheet blocked in the punch, it cannot control the penetration depth of the punch inside the egg or the penetration depth of the injection needle. More specifically, since the size of the egg is variable, the syringe fastened to the conventional support undergoes vertical translation during the puncture and injection phase, so the punch and injection needle penetrate deeper into the large egg and shallower into the small egg, so the punch can drop until the most sensitive part of the egg, and therefore the path of the injection needle may be too long and may hurt the embryo.

[0007] In the rest of this description and in the context of the present invention, the term "trocar" will be used to denote the device for piercing the egg in which the injection needle has to slide. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome the problems of the prior art and therefore relates to a device for injecting a composition into an egg, the device comprising a trocar having a tubular body and an injection device, the device comprising:

[0009] - a guide member comprising a first shell, called the outer shell, fixed to the needle, and a second shell, called the inner shell, movable in translation inside the outer shell, connected to the trocar and having a cup intended to bear on top of an egg;

[0010] - a first locking means adapted to prevent movement of the trocar; and

[0011] - Second locking means adapted to block the movement of the injection needle in the configuration in which the injection needle is retracted inside the trocar.

[0012] The trocar is connected to the inner housing, that is, it is either fastened to the inner housing or it engages with the housing in a guide member configuration in which it is directly or indirectly connected to the inner housing while bearing against the inner housing. One end of the trocar intended to come into contact with the egg to be treated is cut, for example, substantially in an angled shape, in order to allow easier piercing of the shell.

[0013] The injection device is advantageously an injection needle for injecting a liquid substance known as a solution by penetrating the egg to a controlled depth. The injection device is advantageously mounted so that it slides at least partially within said tubular body of the trocar between a position in which the injection end of the trocar is fully retracted within the tubular body and a position in which the injection end of the trocar protrudes outside the tubular body of the trocar.

[0014] Alternatively, the injection device may be a nozzle allowing the injection of at least one gaseous substance and / or the dispensing of at least one solid which must be pushed from the outside into the egg via the tubular body of the trocar or inserted directly into the target area to be treated in the egg. Such a nozzle may be operated, for example, using a gas propellant for emitting the jet.

[0015] Thanks to this device, the trocar and the injection needle can be locked and unlocked asynchronously. The device according to the invention also allows the displacement and path of the trocar and the needle to be precisely controlled during the step of piercing the shell and injecting the composition into the egg. During the piercing phase, the pressure exerted by the syringe on the shell of the egg is applied only to the trocar, while the injection needle is locked in a vertical position.

[0016] The guide member of the device according to the invention advantageously comprises:

[0017] a first groove and a second groove, the first groove being formed on the outer side face of the inner shell and the second groove being formed on the inner side face of the outer shell, the first groove and the second groove extending longitudinally in the guide member and substantially facing each other, the first groove comprising a first locking device comprising a first bend at one of the ends of the first groove, the second groove comprising a second locking device having a bend, referred to as a second bend, at one of the ends of the second groove; and

[0018] - a coupling bolt, which is mounted so that it can slide in both the first groove and the second groove;

[0019] The first bent portion is configured to slide freely in the second groove while locking the coupling bolt and to be supported against one end of the second groove; and the second bent portion is configured to slide freely in the first groove while blocking the coupling bolt and to be supported against one end of the first groove.

[0020] In the context of the present invention, the term "bend" is understood to mean a notch extending at one end of the linear portion of the maximum length of the groove.

[0021] This double groove system allows the displacement of the two shells in the guide member to be precisely controlled and provides a damping block due to the gradual abutment in the bend. The two grooves are substantially facing each other, they do not have to be perfectly aligned radially relative to the axis of the guide member, and the two grooves can be offset relative to each other. The positioning of the bend is as follows: by sliding the inner shell in the outer shell, the recess of the first bend extends radially in the notch of the second groove relative to the axis of the guide member. Similarly, by sliding the inner shell in the outer shell, the recess of the second bend extends radially in the notch of the first groove relative to the axis of the guide member. By vertically positioning the intraocular injection device so that the tip of the needle (when the injection device is a needle) is facing downwards: the displacement of the injection device can be prevented while the cannula needle is lowered, and vice versa, the displacement of the cannula needle can be prevented while the injection device is lowered. After the trocar has pierced the shell and penetrated the interior of the egg to a defined depth, the pressure on the trocar disappears and only the distal end of the syringe exerts a force on the top of the egg, which results in locking the vertical position of the trocar in the egg and in unlocking the injection device, thereby limiting and defining the penetration depth of the trocar in the egg and allowing the injection device to be lowered into the egg at a lower speed.

[0022] Advantageously, the first groove passes through the inner housing and the coupling bolt is fastened to the trocar by one end on the one hand and is housed in the second groove via its other end while passing through the first groove on the other hand. The coupling bolt is mounted on the trocar and opens into the second groove of the outer housing in order to provide a bearing point for the trocar, which is connected to the two housings for better retention. Thus, the path of the trocar can be terminated and the injection device that can move inside the trocar can also be lowered until the guide member is in a configuration in which the movement of the inner housing relative to the outer housing is completely blocked.

[0023] Advantageously, the second groove is through-going and is penetrated by a coupling bolt comprising a head adapted to engage with the outer edge of the second groove; the head of the coupling bolt is, for example, a beveled bolt head.

[0024] According to other embodiments, the second locking device advantageously comprises, on the one hand, a first magnet positioned on the outer side of the inner shell, and, on the other hand, a second magnet positioned on the inner side of the outer shell, said first magnet and the second magnet being positioned facing each other in the guide member in a configuration of the guide member known as the piercing configuration. This dual magnet system allows the shells of the guide member to be displaced relative to each other without sudden movements or jolts. As long as the shell of the egg has not been pierced by the insertion of the cannula into the egg, the injection device will remain motionless in the retracted position. The magnetic force F1 applied between the two magnets is greater than the force F2 required to pierce the shell of the egg, but less than the supporting force F3 of the cup when in contact with the shell of the egg. Therefore, the outer shell can only be translated relative to the inner shell when the cup is supported on the shell of the egg and when the cannula has penetrated the egg to the desired depth.

[0025] Advantageously, the first locking means of the above device is formed by a rigid connection of the trocar to the cup.The cup and the trocar may be integrally formed, for example by moulding.

[0026] Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises third locking means capable of blocking displacement of the injection device in a configuration of the guide member, called injection configuration, in which the injection device projects outside the trocar. Thus, the device according to the invention not only allows controlling the insertion depth of the trocar and causing the injection device to inject, for example the needle into the egg, at the right time, but also allows precise control of the injection depth in the egg.

[0027] Advantageously, the outer shell comprises a bottom, and the third locking means comprises said bottom, the boundary of the inner shell being arranged so as to abut against said bottom in the injection configuration. Thus, in a configuration in which all movement of the inner shell of the guide member relative to the outer shell is blocked, that is to say in the injection configuration, the path of the injection device inside the egg is controlled by the position of the bottom and / or the length of the outer shell or the length of the inner shell that must abut against the bottom.

[0028] Advantageously, in the device according to the embodiment described in the context of the invention, comprising said first groove and a second groove, the third locking means is the end of the second groove opposite to the end comprising the first bend. Thus, the coupling bolt blocked in the first bend slides in the second groove and ends its travel in the above-mentioned end of the second groove to prevent the lowering of the injection device into the egg (injection configuration). The travel of the needle can be precisely adjusted according to the length of the second groove.

[0029] For all embodiments described above in the context of the present invention, the inner and outer housings advantageously have a substantially cylindrical shape. Housings with square or triangular cross-sections etc. can also be implemented. However, a circular cross-section which is easier to produce or to adjust the size after manufacturing is preferred.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a method for the in ovo injection of a composition, the method implementing a device such as described in the context of the present invention and comprising the following steps:

[0031] - starting to compress the guide member in a first configuration in which the coupling bolt is housed in the second bend and the injection device is fully retracted;

[0032] - maintaining compression and subsequently sliding the outer housing relative to the inner housing, displacing the coupling bolt in the first groove, until the cup becomes positioned on top of the egg according to the second configuration of the guide member;

[0033] - continuing to compress the guide member so that the housing is pierced by the trocar;

[0034] - keeping the guide member compressed until the egg is pierced and until the guide bolt is blocked in the first bend so as to prevent displacement of the trocar; and

[0035] - Further compressing the guide member causes the coupling bolt to slide in the second groove and lower the injection means until the device is in the injection configuration.

[0036] The displacement of the coupling bolt in the first groove causes the sliding of the coupling bolt in the first bend at the end of its path. The continuous steps of this sliding of the coupling bolt in the first bend cause the trocar to rotate. This rotation of the trocar causes a reduction in the lateral downward compression of the trocar that has pierced the egg. This rotation of the trocar thus releases the pressure applied to the egg, which prevents the shell of the egg from cracking or splitting.

[0037] The present invention also relates to another method for the in ovo injection of a composition, which method implements the other devices such as described in the context of the present invention and comprises the following steps:

[0038] - Positioning the trocar on top of the egg;

[0039] - pressing the guiding member in a piercing configuration on top of the egg, wherein the first and second magnets are positioned facing each other in the guiding member, until the egg is pierced;

[0040] - the compression is maintained until the magnetization between the first and second magnets is broken and then until the outer casing slides relative to the inner casing, which causes the trocar to descend into the pierced egg until the cup is positioned on top of said egg; and

[0041] - Further compressing the guide member to lower the injection device until the guide member is in the injection configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The following detailed description presents embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as limiting the present invention in any way in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0043] Figure 1 A transparent outline view of an injection device according to the invention is shown to allow viewing of the interior of the device;

[0044] Figure 2 Another configuration is shown according to Figure 1 An outline view of the injection device of the embodiment shown in: an exploded view has been shown in order to better observe the interior of the device;

[0045] Figure 3 The same device is shown in two forms on an injection platform placed above two eggs in a row;

[0046] Figure 4 Another configuration is shown according to Figure 1 An outline view of the injection device of the embodiment shown in ;

[0047] Figure 5 shows an outline view of an injection device according to the embodiment shown in the previous figures in another configuration;

[0048] Figure 6 Another configuration is shown according to Figures 1 to 3 An outline view of the injection device of the embodiment shown in ;

[0049] Figure 5 shows an outline view of an injection device according to the embodiment shown in the previous figures in another configuration;

[0050] Figure 7 shows an outline view of the injection device according to the embodiment shown in the previous figures in another configuration; and

[0051] Figure 8 shows an outline view of an injection device according to the embodiment shown in the previous figures in another configuration; and

[0052] FIG9 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment according to the present invention;

[0053] Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9 positioned on an egg;

[0054] FIG11 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG10 in another configuration;

[0055] FIG12 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in another configuration;

[0056] Fig.13The guide member and the trocar and means for connecting the trocar to the guide member of the device according to the invention are shown in two end configurations I and II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A first embodiment of an in ovo injection device 1 according to the invention is shown, comprising a guide member 2 formed by an inner shell 3 covered by an outer shell 4, both of which are substantially cylindrical. The outer shell 4 is fixed to an injection needle 5, which passes through a trocar 6, on which a coupling bolt 7 connected to both shells, the inner shell 3 and the outer shell 4, is mounted. A groove called the first groove 8 is made on the inner shell 3 through its entire thickness and includes a bend called the first bend 9, which extends at one end of the ends of the first groove. Another groove called the second groove 10 is made on the outer shell 4 through its entire thickness and includes a bend called the second bend 11, which extends at one end of the ends of the second groove. The two bends 9 and 11 are positioned on the same side of the guide member 2 on the corresponding grooves of the bends.

[0058] The coupling bolt 7 is mounted on the cannula 6 in which the injection needle 5 slides, and passes through the two grooves 8 and 10 and ends in an angled head which slides through the outer side of the outer shell on the edge of the second groove, which is called the outer edge of the second groove.

[0059] The first bent portion 9 is configured so that its notch communicates with the notch of the second groove 10, and when the inner housing 3 is set to move on the outer housing 4 in the first displacement region of the guide member 2, the coupling bolt 7 passes through both the first bent portion 9 and the second groove 10. Figure 6 and Figure 7 Similarly, the second curved portion 11 is configured so that its notch communicates with the notch of the first groove 8, and when the inner housing 3 is arranged to move on the outer housing 4 in the second displacement region of the guide member 2, the coupling bolt 7 passes through the second curved portion 11 and the first groove 8. The second displacement region is Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 Partially shown in FIG.

[0060] The outer housing 4 comprises a bottom 13 which closes the first end of the guide member and which is fastened to the injection needle 5. The inner housing 3 comprises a cup 14 which is placed at the second end of the guide member and which is shaped so as to cover the egg.

[0061] To achieve an injection into an egg, the device 1 according to the invention mounted on the injection platform 15 is at rest in a first configuration in which the coupling bolt 7 is housed in the second bend 11 and the injection needle 5 is fully retracted. The egg is brought under the device 1 using a conveyor belt and once it is positioned under the injection platform 15 facing the device 1, the platform 15 is lowered so that the cup 14 covers the top of the egg.

[0062] In order to achieve the injection of the composition into the egg by compressing the guide member 2, the guide member is initially in the Figure 4 In the first configuration shown in FIG. 1 , perform the following steps:

[0063] - placing the egg under the guide member 2 which is at rest in the first configuration ( Figure 4 ), wherein the coupling bolt 7 is accommodated in the second curved portion 11, and the injection needle 5 is fully retracted;

[0064] - Cover the top of the egg with the cup 14;

[0065] Once contact is made, the guide member 2 is pressed against the egg, causing the outer housing 4 to slide relative to the inner housing 3, while the engagement bolt 7 is displaced in the first groove 8 (see Figure 5 );

[0066] - The compression of the guide member 2 is maintained until the egg is pierced and until the guide bolt 7 is blocked in the first bend 9 (see Figure 6 ) to prevent displacement of the trocar 6; and

[0067] - Continue to compress to make the connecting bolt 7 slide in the second groove 10, and then make the injection needle 5 descend (see Figure 7 ), until the guide member 2 is in the injection configuration (see Figure 8 ).

[0068] The displacement of the coupling bolt 7 in the first groove 8 causes, at the end of its path, the sliding of the coupling bolt 7 in the first bend 9. The successive steps of this sliding of the coupling bolt 7 in the first bend 9 are as follows: Figures 5 to 7 This causes the trocar 6 to rotate. This rotation of the trocar 6 results in a reduction in the lateral downward extrusion of the trocar that has pierced the egg. This rotation of the trocar 6 thus releases the pressure applied to the egg, which prevents the shell of the egg from cracking or splitting.

[0069] Fig.13It is shown how such a device allows the penetration depth of the trocar to be precisely defined, thus avoiding the drawbacks described above. The height ΔH along the longitudinal axis between the first bend 9 of the first groove 8 and the second bend 11 of the second groove 10 corresponds, when the injector is in the rest configuration (configuration I), to the maximum penetration depth of the trocar in the egg: that is, it is approximately the maximum distance between the projection of the edge of the cup 14 on the axis of the trocar (in this case, the lower end of the guide member is shown) and the end of the trocar 6 when the injector is in the configuration known as the piercing configuration (configuration II), which is also Figure 6 Shown in.

[0070] Another embodiment of an in ovo injection device according to the invention is shown, namely the device 16 in FIG. 9 . Similar to the device 1 of the embodiment described above in the context of the invention, the device 16 comprises a guide member 17 formed by an inner shell 3 covered by an outer shell 4, both of which have a generally cylindrical shape. The outer shell 4 comprises a bottom 13 which closes a first end of the guide member and is fastened to an injection needle 5 passing through a trocar 18. The trocar 18 is fastened to a cup 19 placed at a second end of the guide member and shaped so as to cover the egg. A first magnet 20 is fastened to the inner side of the outer shell 4 and faces a second magnet 21 in a configuration of the guide member known as the piercing configuration, which itself is fastened to the outer side of the inner shell 3, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 .

[0071] To achieve the injection of the composition into the egg by compressing the guide member 2 which is initially in the piercing configuration shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 , the following steps are performed:

[0072] - Positioning the trocar 18 on top of the egg;

[0073] - pressing the guide member 2 on top of the egg in the piercing configuration, wherein the first magnet 20 and the second magnet 21 are positioned facing each other in the guide member, until the egg is pierced;

[0074] - the compression is maintained until the magnetization between the first and second magnets is broken ( FIG. 11 ), and subsequently until the outer housing slides relative to the inner housing, which causes the trocar to descend into the pierced egg until the cup is positioned on top of said egg; and

[0075] - The guide member is further compressed to lower the needle until the guide member is in the injection configuration (Fig. 12).

Claims

1. A device (1) for injecting a composition into an egg, the device comprising a trocar (6, 18) and an injection device, the trocar comprising a tubular body, the injection device being mounted so that the injection device can slide at least partially within the tubular body of the trocar between a position in which the injection end of the injection device is completely retracted within the tubular body and a position in which the injection end of the injection device protrudes outside the tubular body of the trocar, characterized in that The device comprises: - a guide member (2) comprising a first housing, called external housing (4), fixed to the injection device and a second housing, called internal housing (3), movable in translation inside the external housing (4), connected to the trocar (6, 18) and having a cup (14) intended to rest on top of an egg; - first locking means, suitable for preventing the movement of the trocar (6); and - second locking means suitable for blocking the movement of the injection device in a configuration in which the injection device is retracted inside the trocar (6), wherein the second locking device comprises, on the one hand, a first magnet (20) positioned on the inner side of the outer shell (4) and, on the other hand, a second magnet (21) positioned on the outer side of the inner shell (3), the first magnet (20) and the second magnet (21) being positioned facing each other in the guide member (2) in a configuration of the guide member referred to as the piercing configuration, The magnetic force F1 applied between the first magnet (20) and the second magnet (21) is greater than the force F2 required to pierce the shell of the egg, but less than the supporting force F3 of the cup body when in contact with the shell of the egg.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein The first locking device is formed by a rigid connection between the trocar (6) and the cup (14).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising third locking means capable of preventing displacement of the injection device in a configuration of the guide member, referred to as injection configuration, in which the injection device projects outside the trocar.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The outer housing (4) comprises a bottom (13) and the third locking means comprises the bottom (13), the boundary of the inner housing (3) being arranged so as to abut against the bottom (13) in the injection configuration.

5. The device according to claim 1 or 2, for injecting a liquid solution, wherein: The injection device is an injection needle (5).

6. An injection method for implementing a device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising third locking means capable of preventing displacement of the injection device in a configuration of the guide member, called injection configuration, in which the injection device protrudes outside the trocar, the injection method comprising the following steps: - positioning the trocar (18) on top of the egg; - pressurizing the guiding member (2) in the piercing configuration on top of the egg, wherein the first magnet (20) and the second magnet (21) are positioned facing each other in the guiding member (2), until the egg is pierced; - maintaining compression until the magnetization between the first magnet (20) and the second magnet (21) is broken and then until the outer shell (4) slides relative to the inner shell (3), which causes the trocar (18) to descend into the pierced egg until the cup (14) is positioned on top of the egg; and - Further compressing the guide member (2) to lower the injection means until the device is in the injection configuration.

Images