Embryo transplantation gun for sheep breeding and transplantation method

Abstract

The invention discloses an embryo transplantation gun for sheep breeding and a transplantation method, and relates to the technical field of embryo transplantation, the embryo transplantation gun comprises a transplantation cylinder, a culture solution tube and a flexible conduit which are coaxially connected in sequence; the pushing and injecting assembly is arranged in the transplanting cylinder in a sliding manner; the pushing and injecting assembly comprises a pushing rod with preset rigidity; the spherical connector is fixedly connected to the far end of the pushing rod; the piston is slidably arranged on the pushing rod in a sleeving mode, and an annular groove is formed in the end, away from the spherical connector, of the piston; and the phase change connecting piece is embedded in the annular groove through low-temperature phase change, controllable separation type connection of the pushing rod and the piston is achieved, and the whole body has the bending adaptability, the structural stability and the sealing advantage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of embryo transplantation, in particular to an embryo transplantation gun for sheep breeding and a transplantation method. Background Art

[0002] As an important part of modern assisted reproductive technology, embryo transplantation plays a key role in animal husbandry and medical research. As a key instrument in the embryo transplantation process, the performance of the embryo transplantation gun directly affects the success rate and efficiency of embryo transplantation.

[0003] The existing embryo transfer gun is mainly composed of a gun body, a piston, a flexible catheter and other parts. Its basic working principle is to load the embryo fluid into the gun body, and by pushing the piston, the embryo fluid is transported to the target location along the flexible catheter, such as the uterus of a sheep. Ideally, the movement of the piston in the gun body should be smooth and stable, and the embryo fluid can be accurately pushed to the end of the flexible catheter and smoothly sent out.

[0004] However, in actual application, the existing embryo transfer gun has the problem that the embryo fluid in the flexible catheter is difficult to be delivered, which seriously affects the success rate of embryo transfer. After in-depth analysis and research, it was found that the core reason for this problem is that the piston is difficult to move in the flexible catheter.

[0005] Existing flexible catheters are usually made of materials with a certain degree of flexibility to meet the needs of operating in curved channels in animals. However, when such flexible materials come into contact with the piston, they tend to generate large friction (especially when the flexible catheter is curved). When the piston moves in the flexible catheter, the friction will hinder the piston's progress, requiring greater force to push the piston.

[0006] In addition, the flexible catheters in the prior art are usually of one-piece design, which shows obvious limitations when facing the complex and curved channels in the sheep body during embryo transplantation. The physiological structure of the sheep body is complex, with many narrow and curved parts, and the one-piece flexible catheter is difficult to flexibly adapt to these complex channel environments.

[0007] For example, during embryo transfer, when the flexible catheter needs to be bent at a small angle at a specific location to avoid obstacles or accurately reach the target location, the one-piece flexible catheter cannot achieve precise bending adjustment due to its overall structural characteristics. Operators often find it difficult to accurately control the degree and direction of the bending of the flexible catheter, which makes it difficult to push the flexible catheter into the sheep's body, and may even cause unnecessary damage to the sheep's body tissues due to forced bending, such as scratches and squeezing, which not only increases the sheep's pain, but may also cause complications such as infection, affecting the effect of embryo transfer and the health of the sheep.

[0008] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an embryo transplant gun and a transplant method for sheep breeding to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0009] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: an embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding, comprising: a transplant cylinder, a culture medium tube and a flexible catheter coaxially connected in sequence; a push injection assembly slidably arranged in the transplant cylinder; the push injection assembly includes: a push rod with a predetermined rigidity; a spherical connector fixedly connected to the distal end of the push rod; a piston slidably mounted on the push rod, an annular groove being provided at one end of the piston away from the spherical connector; a phase change connector, the phase change connector being embedded in the annular groove to achieve a controllable separable connection between the push rod and the piston.

[0010] Preferably, the inner diameter D3 of the flexible catheter, the inner diameter D2 of the culture fluid tube and the inner diameter D1 of the transplant tube satisfy: D3<D2<D1, and the outer diameter D4 of the spherical connector satisfies: D4=D3.

[0011] Preferably, a heating element is provided on the outside of the propulsion rod.

[0012] Preferably, the propulsion rod comprises an inner rod, an outer fixing sleeve of the inner rod is provided with a support ring and an elastic ring, and the support ring and the elastic ring are cross-distributed in sequence; wherein, the inner rod is made of a flexible heat-conducting material, and the support ring is made of a rigid heat-conducting material.

[0013] Preferably, the spherical connector is made of heat-insulating material.

[0014] Preferably, the flexible catheter is divided into at least two sections, which are connected by a telescopic ring bag. The interior of the telescopic ring bag is divided into at least four independent expansion and contraction spaces, each of which is supplied with air by a trachea. The end of the trachea away from the telescopic ring bag is connected to a pressing bag, and the pressing bag is fixed to the transplant tube.

[0015] Preferably, an attached airway is fixed on the surface of the flexible catheter, and the attached airway and the outer surface of the flexible catheter together constitute an air guide channel, and the air guide channel is connected between the corresponding trachea and the telescopic ring bag, and the cross-section of the attached airway is an arc-shaped cross-section that matches the curvature of the outer wall of the flexible catheter.

[0016] A method for embryo transplantation for sheep breeding comprises the following steps: S1. Establishing a push injection route: Delivering the transplant tube, culture medium tube and flexible catheter to the target location through the sheep's vagina; S2. Primary push injection: insert the push injection assembly into the transplant tube, push the piston through the push rod, and then push the embryo in the culture medium tube into the flexible catheter; S3. Phase change triggering: After the phase change connector undergoes phase change and liquefaction, the push rod is continuously pushed, thereby pushing the embryo in the flexible catheter into the sheep's uterus through the spherical connector; S4. Withdrawal of instruments: Slowly remove the transplant tube, culture medium tube and flexible catheter to complete the embryo transplant operation.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides an embryo transplant gun and a transplant method for sheep breeding, which have the following beneficial effects: First, the push rod of the present invention adopts a cross-distribution structure of a flexible heat-conducting inner rod, a rigid heat-conducting support ring and an elastic ring, which has the advantages of bending adaptability, structural stability, buffering and shock absorption, and heat conduction; and the spherical connector is made of heat-insulating material, which can protect the activity of the embryo, maintain the stability of the culture medium, ensure the accuracy of phase change and improve the performance of the instrument, ensuring that the embryo in the flexible catheter can be pushed into the uterus of the sheep.

[0018] Second, the flexible catheter segments of the present invention are connected by telescopic ring bags, and the independent expansion and contraction spaces inside them can be independently controlled and the bending direction can be accurately adjusted. The trachea is connected to the pressing bag and fixed to the transplant tube, which is easy to operate and has good stability.

[0019] Third, the attached airway in the present invention is an arc-shaped cross-section that matches the curvature of the outer wall of the flexible catheter, forming an air guide channel to ensure stable gas transmission without increasing the outer diameter too much, thereby improving the overall instrument operation experience and transplantation success rate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of an embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible catheter in an embryo transfer gun for sheep breeding; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a push injection component in an embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding; Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of a flexible catheter in an embryo transfer gun for sheep breeding; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a propulsion rod in an embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding; Figure 6 A flowchart of an embryo transfer method for sheep breeding; In the figure: 1. transplant tube; 2. culture medium tube; 3. flexible catheter; 4. telescopic ring bag; 5. trachea; 6. pressing bag; 7. push injection assembly; 8. heating element; 9. attached airway; 71. push rod; 72. piston; 73. phase change connector; 74. spherical connector; 711. inner rod; 712. support ring; 713. elastic ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned description of the drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequential order. It should be understood that the terms used in this way can be interchangeable under appropriate circumstances, which is merely a way of distinguishing the objects of the same attributes when describing them in the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, so that the process, method, system, product or equipment comprising a series of units need not be limited to those units, but may include other units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or equipment.

[0022] Example: Please refer to Figure 1-Figure 6 In an embodiment of the present invention, an embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding is provided, comprising: a transplant cylinder 1, a culture medium tube 2 and a flexible catheter 3 coaxially connected in sequence; a push injection assembly 7 slidably arranged in the transplant cylinder 1; the push injection assembly 7 comprises: a push rod 71 with a predetermined rigidity; a spherical connector 74 fixedly connected to the distal end of the push rod 71; a piston 72 slidably mounted on the push rod 71, and an annular groove is provided at one end of the piston 72 away from the spherical connector 74; a phase change connector 73, and the phase change connector 73 is embedded in the annular groove through low-temperature phase change to realize a controllable separable connection between the push rod 71 and the piston 72.

[0023] The implementation includes the following steps: S1. Establishing a push injection path: delivering the transplant tube 1, the culture medium tube 2 and the flexible catheter 3 to the target location through the sheep's vagina; S2. Preliminary push injection: insert the push injection assembly 7 into the transplant tube 1, push the piston 72 through the push rod 71, and then push the embryo in the culture medium tube 2 into the flexible catheter 3; S3. Phase change triggering: After the phase change connector 73 undergoes phase change and liquefaction, the push rod 71 is continuously pushed, and the embryo in the flexible catheter 3 is pushed into the sheep's uterus through the spherical connector 74; S4. Withdrawal of instruments: slowly take out the transplant tube 1, culture medium tube 2 and flexible catheter 3 to complete the embryo transplantation operation.

[0024] It should be explained that in the prior art, the embryonic fluid in the flexible catheter 3 is difficult to be delivered. In this embodiment, the industry problem of embryonic fluid remaining in the flexible catheter 3 is solved through the coordinated design of the staged pushing mechanism and the spherical connector 74: first, the piston 72 is used to complete the initial stable pushing of the embryonic fluid in the culture medium tube 2, and then the phase change connector 73 triggered by body temperature is liquefied to realize the automatic separation of the push rod 71 and the piston 72, so that the spherical connector 74 is directly embedded in the flexible catheter 3, and its spherical geometric contour adapts to the bending shape of the flexible catheter 3, forming a dynamic seal with the tube wall of the flexible catheter 3, and uniformly applying pressure to completely push out the embryonic fluid, avoiding leakage or embryo retention caused by deformation of the flexible catheter 3 in the traditional rigid piston; at the same time, the predetermined stiffness of the push rod 71 and the smooth surface of the spherical connector 74 reduce the pushing resistance and the risk of embryo damage, and the temperature response characteristics of the phase change connector 73 further simplify the operation steps, realize the precise control of the whole process from in vitro push injection to intrauterine release, and significantly improve the transplantation success rate and biocompatibility.

[0025] In other words, this embryo transfer gun has achieved breakthroughs in the two core indicators of reducing embryo retention and protecting embryo activity. It is particularly suitable for embryo transfer in small ruminants with deep and curved uterine horns such as sheep and goats.

[0026] It is worth mentioning that, during the process of the spherical connector 74 pushing the embryo out of the flexible catheter 3, the piston 72 can provide effective guiding support for the push rod 71. Since the piston 72 is very close to the flexible catheter 3, the connection structure between the piston 72 and the push rod 71 enables the push rod 71 to maintain a stable direction during the advancement process.

[0027] This guide support can prevent the push rod 71 from deflecting or shaking during the pushing process, ensuring that the spherical connector 74 can accurately move along the direction of the flexible catheter 3 and accurately push the embryo into the sheep's uterus.

[0028] In addition, it should be explained that the phase change connector 73 is a material that achieves a physical state change (solid-liquid) through temperature change.

[0029] Preferably, the phase transition temperature is slightly lower than the sheep's body temperature, ensuring a rapid response in the body; it is non-toxic, has good biocompatibility, and meets medical device standards.

[0030] For example, medical paraffin, gallium-indium alloy, and polycaprolactone.

[0031] In addition, the inner diameter D3 of the flexible catheter 3, the inner diameter D2 of the culture fluid tube 2 and the inner diameter D1 of the transplant tube 1 satisfy: D3<D2<D1, and the outer diameter D4 of the spherical connector 74 satisfies: D4=D3. Of course, the outer diameter of the piston 72 is equal to the inner diameter D2 of the culture fluid tube 2.

[0032] The smaller inner diameter of the flexible catheter 3 helps it to move more flexibly in the sheep's body, reducing damage to the sheep's body tissues, and can accurately deliver the embryo to the target position. The larger inner diameter of the transplant tube 1 provides sufficient operating space for the push injection assembly 7, so that the push rod 71 and the piston 72 can slide smoothly therein.

[0033] The outer diameter D4 of the spherical connector 74 is smaller than the inner diameter D2 of the culture fluid tube 2, so that the spherical connector 74 can smoothly pass through the culture fluid tube 2 and enter the flexible conduit 3. After the phase change is triggered, the push rod 71 continues to push the spherical connector 74. Since the spherical connector 74 can adapt to the shape of the flexible conduit 3 and its outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the culture fluid tube 2, it will not get stuck at the connection between the culture fluid tube 2 and the flexible conduit 3 due to its oversized size.

[0034] Since the inner diameter D3 of the flexible conduit 3 is smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the piston 72, when the piston 72 moves to the connection between the flexible conduit 3 and the culture fluid tube 2, the flexible conduit 3 will limit the piston 72, preventing the piston 72 from moving further forward into the flexible conduit 3. This limiting effect ensures that during the initial push injection, the piston 72 only moves in the culture fluid tube 2, accurately pushing the embryo into the flexible conduit 3, and will not directly enter the flexible conduit 3, thereby avoiding confusion or failure of the embryo push injection operation caused by the piston 72 entering the flexible conduit 3.

[0035] In this embodiment, a heating element 8 is disposed outside the propulsion rod 71 .

[0036] The heating element 8 can provide additional heat to the phase change connector 73, so that it reaches the phase change temperature faster, thereby accelerating the phase change process and improving the efficiency and accuracy of the entire embryo transfer gun operation. The heating element 8 can be any one of a resistance wire heater, a semiconductor heater, and a flexible heating film.

[0037] In this embodiment, the propulsion rod 71 includes an inner rod 711, and the outer fixed sleeve of the inner rod 711 is provided with a support ring 712 and an elastic ring 713, and the support ring 712 and the elastic ring 713 are cross-distributed in sequence; wherein, the inner rod 711 is made of a flexible heat-conductive material, and the support ring 712 is made of a rigid heat-conductive material.

[0038] The rigidity of the support ring 712 can provide necessary support for the propulsion rod 71 and enhance the overall structural stability of the propulsion rod 71. During the propulsion process, especially when subjected to external force or when the propulsion direction needs to be precisely controlled, the support ring 712 can prevent the propulsion rod 71 from excessive bending or deformation, ensuring that the propulsion rod 71 can accurately advance along the predetermined path and accurately inject the embryo into the target position.

[0039] The support ring 712, as a rigid heat-conducting material, closely cooperates with the inner rod 711, and can further assist the heat transfer. It can distribute the heat obtained from the heating element 8 more evenly to the surface of the push rod 71, so that the phase change connector 73 can be heated more comprehensively, improving the uniformity and consistency of the phase change, thereby ensuring that the separation process of the push rod 71 and the piston 72 is more stable and reliable.

[0040] More preferably, most of the support rings 712 have no thermal conductivity, and only the support rings 712 near the phase change connector 73 have thermal conductivity.

[0041] Preferably, the spherical connector 74 is made of heat-insulating material.

[0042] During embryo transfer, the embryo is very sensitive to temperature. When the heater 8 heats the push rod 71 to cause the phase change connector 73 to change phase, if the spherical connector 74 is not made of heat-insulating material, the heat may be transferred to the embryo in the flexible conduit 3 through the spherical connector 74. Too high a temperature may damage the cell structure and physiological function of the embryo, reduce the activity of the embryo, and thus affect the success rate of embryo transfer. The spherical connector 74 made of heat-insulating material can effectively prevent the transfer of heat, provide a relatively stable low-temperature environment for the embryo, and protect the activity of the embryo.

[0043] The heat insulating material may be any one of a ceramic material and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0044] In this embodiment, the flexible catheter 3 is divided into at least two sections, which are connected by a telescopic ring bag 4. The interior of the telescopic ring bag 4 is divided into at least four independent expansion and contraction spaces, each of which is supplied with air by a trachea 5. The end of the trachea 5 away from the telescopic ring bag 4 is connected to a pressing bag 6, and the pressing bag 6 is fixed to the transplant tube 1.

[0045] In actual operation, when the operator needs to adjust the bending direction of the flexible catheter 3, he only needs to press the corresponding pressing bag 6. After the pressing bag 6 is pressurized, the gas will be transported to the corresponding expansion and contraction space of the telescopic ring bag 4 through the trachea 5, so that the expansion and contraction space will expand, thereby changing the bending direction and degree of the flexible catheter 3. By pressing the combination of different pressing bags 6, the flexible bending adjustment of the flexible catheter 3 in three-dimensional space can be achieved, so that it can accurately reach the target position of embryo transplantation in the sheep.

[0046] In addition, an attached airway 9 is fixed on the surface of the flexible catheter 3, and the attached airway 9 and the outer surface of the flexible catheter 3 together constitute an air guide channel, and the air guide channel is connected between the corresponding trachea 5 and the telescopic ring bag 4. The cross-section of the attached airway 9 is an arc-shaped cross-section that matches the curvature of the outer wall of the flexible catheter 3.

[0047] The cross section of the attached airway 9 is an arc-shaped cross section that matches the curvature of the outer wall of the flexible catheter 3. This design ensures that the height of the attached airway 9 is low enough and does not increase the outer diameter of the flexible catheter 3 too much. In the embryo transplantation operation, the flexible catheter 3 needs to pass through the narrow passage in the sheep's body. If its outer diameter is too large, it will increase the difficulty of passing through and may even cause damage to the sheep's body tissue. The attached airway 9 with an arc-shaped cross section can meet the air-guiding function while minimizing the impact on the outer diameter of the flexible catheter 3 as much as possible, so that the flexible catheter 3 can pass through the internal passage of the sheep's body more easily, improving the smoothness and safety of the operation.

[0048] Please refer to Figure 6 In this embodiment, a method for embryo transplantation for sheep breeding is also provided, comprising the following steps: S1. Establishing a push injection path: delivering the transplant tube 1, the culture medium tube 2 and the flexible catheter 3 to the target position through the sheep's vagina. The flexible catheter 3 can adapt to the curvature of the reproductive tract and reduce tissue damage.

[0049] S2. Initial push injection: insert the push injection assembly 7 into the transplant tube 1, push the piston 72 through the push rod 71, and then push the embryo in the culture medium tube 2 into the flexible catheter 3.

[0050] S3. Phase change triggering: After the phase change connector 73 undergoes phase change and liquefies, continue to push the push rod 71, and then push the embryo in the flexible catheter 3 into the sheep's uterus through the spherical connector 74. After the piston 72 is separated from the push rod 71, the spherical connector 74 directly contacts the embryonic fluid. Its spherical structure can adapt to the bending shape of the flexible catheter 3 and form a dynamic seal with the inner wall of the flexible catheter 3. In addition, the spherical connector 74 also reduces the friction resistance with the inner wall of the flexible catheter 3, and evenly applies pressure to avoid embryonic damage caused by residual embryonic fluid or concentrated pressure.

[0051] S4. Withdrawal of instruments: slowly take out the transplant tube 1, culture medium tube 2 and flexible catheter 3 to complete the embryo transplantation operation.

[0052] What is described above is only a preferred specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can make equivalent replacements or changes according to the technical scheme and inventive concept of the present invention within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, which should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding, characterized in that: include: A transplant tube (1), a culture fluid tube (2), and a flexible catheter (3) that are coaxially connected in sequence; A push injection assembly (7) slidably disposed in the transplant tube (1); the push injection assembly (7) comprises: A propulsion rod (71) having a predetermined stiffness; A spherical connector (74) fixedly connected to the distal end of the propulsion rod (71); a piston (72) slidably mounted on the propulsion rod (71), wherein an annular groove is provided at one end of the piston (72) away from the spherical connector (74); A phase-change connecting piece (73), wherein the phase-change connecting piece (73) is embedded in the annular groove to achieve a controllable detachable connection between the propulsion rod (71) and the piston (72).

2. The embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameter D3 of the flexible catheter (3), the inner diameter D2 of the culture fluid tube (2), and the inner diameter D1 of the transplant tube (1) satisfy: D3<D2<D1, and the outer diameter D4 of the spherical connector (74) satisfies: D4=D3.

3. The embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding according to claim 1, characterized in that: A heating element (8) is provided outside the propulsion rod (71).

4. The embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding according to claim 3, characterized in that: The propulsion rod (71) comprises an inner rod (711), an outer fixing sleeve of the inner rod (711) is provided with a support ring (712) and an elastic ring (713), and the support ring (712) and the elastic ring (713) are arranged crosswise in sequence; Wherein, the inner rod (711) is made of a flexible heat-conducting material, and the support ring (712) is made of a rigid heat-conducting material.

5. The embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding according to claim 3, characterized in that: The spherical connector (74) is made of heat-insulating material.

6. The embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flexible catheter (3) is divided into at least two sections, and the two sections are connected by a telescopic ring bag (4). The interior of the telescopic ring bag (4) is divided into at least four independent expansion and contraction spaces, and each expansion and contraction space is supplied with air by a trachea (5). The end of the trachea (5) away from the telescopic ring bag (4) is connected to a pressing bag (6), and the pressing bag (6) is fixed to the transplant tube (1).

7. The embryo transplant gun for sheep breeding according to claim 6, characterized in that: An attached airway (9) is fixed to the surface of the flexible catheter (3); the attached airway (9) and the outer surface of the flexible catheter (3) together form an air guide channel; the air guide channel is connected between the corresponding trachea (5) and the telescopic ring bag (4); the cross section of the attached airway (9) is an arc-shaped cross section that matches the curvature of the outer wall of the flexible catheter (3).

8. A method for embryo transplantation for sheep breeding, which uses the embryo transplantation gun as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 for embryo transplantation, characterized in that: The steps include: S1. Establishing a push injection path: delivering the transplant tube (1), the culture medium tube (2) and the flexible catheter (3) to the target location through the sheep's vagina; S2. Primary push injection: insert the push injection assembly (7) into the transplant tube (1), push the piston (72) through the push rod (71), and then push the embryo in the culture medium tube (2) into the flexible catheter (3); S3. Phase change triggering: After the phase change connector (73) undergoes phase change and liquefaction, the push rod (71) is continuously pushed, thereby pushing the embryo in the flexible catheter (3) into the uterus of the sheep through the spherical connector (74); S4. Withdrawal of instruments: Slowly remove the transplant tube (1), culture medium tube (2) and flexible catheter (3) to complete the embryo transplantation operation.

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