Device for the artificial insemination of livestock

Abstract

The invention relates to an insemination probe (1) intended for use in artificially inseminating a livestock animal, comprising an insemination tube (11) carrying an insemination head (12). According to the invention, said insemination probe (1) comprises a protective sleeve (2) covering said head (12) and at least a portion of said insemination tube (11), the protective sleeve (2) comprising, at an end (22) located on the side of said head (12), a closure means (23) configured to yield under a predetermined force exerted by said head (12) against said closure means (23) during movement of said insemination probe (1) within said protective sleeve (1). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for the artificial insemination of farm animals Field of the invention

[0001] The field of the invention is that of the design and production of instruments used for the artificial insemination of farm animals.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a device for the artificial insemination, among others of sows, intended to inseminate a dose of semen in a simple, rapid and hygienic manner. Prior art

[0003] Artificial insemination is considered to be the oldest of the biotechnologies of animal reproduction and is the subject of specific practices allowing the success of this act.

[0004] The act of artificial insemination is carried out in several consecutive stages. The first stage of insemination consists of systematically cleaning the animal to be inseminated. To do this, the practitioner will clean the vulva by rubbing a support (paper, cloth, wipe, etc.) in order to mechanically remove dirt. This support can be soaked in a washable and / or disinfectant solution.

[0005] The second stage consists of positioning and introducing an artificial insemination probe up to the animal's cervix. This stage of artificial insemination allows the semen to reach the uterus for fertilization.

[0006] The cleaning step prior to the introduction of the probe is therefore essential / determining so as not to introduce pathogens at the same time as the semen during the introduction of the artificial insemination probe.

[0007] However, animals often have a significant / high level of dirt which makes this cleaning painful and difficult. In fact, the removal of particles is complex and it is not uncommon to find that, even after the cleaning step, particles remain stuck in the interstices of the animal's vulva.

[0008] Very often, even after carrying out a tedious cleaning, practitioners find that dirt / particles, and therefore pathogens, have been introduced by the probe into the animal's vulva during the positioning and introduction of the probe. Also, even if the animal's vulva appears visually clean, it may remain soiled by bacteria, which is not satisfactory.

[0009] To overcome some of these drawbacks, washable and / or disinfectant solutions are sometimes used. However, some of these solutions, used for disinfect the animal's vulva, can be spermicidal. Therefore, this can impair sperm survival and therefore reduce reproductive performance / results.

[0010] Finally, the cleaning phase as currently carried out is not very ergonomic for the practitioner because he must bend down to clean the vulva. It is also very time-consuming because it represents approximately half of the total time of the insemination act. These two constraints therefore play a major role in the fact that this cleaning step can sometimes be carried out hastily by practitioners.

[0011] This cleaning step, as it is currently carried out, is therefore not satisfactory. Indeed, it constitutes a tedious step which presents little added value for practitioners. In addition, when this cleaning step is not perfectly carried out, it leads to a reduction in reproductive performance.

[0012] There is therefore a need to provide a solution allowing simple and rapid artificial insemination to be carried out while respecting the health requirements essential to the success of this technique. Summary of the invention

[0013] The technique of the invention makes it possible to resolve at least some of the drawbacks raised by the prior art. More specifically, the invention relates to an insemination probe intended to be used for artificially inseminating a farm animal, the probe comprising an insemination tube carrying an insemination head.

[0014] According to the invention, said insemination probe comprises a protective sleeve covering said insemination head and at least a portion of said insemination tube.

[0015] According to the invention again, said protective sleeve comprises, at an end located on the side of said insemination head, a closing means configured to yield under a predetermined force exerted by said insemination head against said closing means during a movement of said insemination probe in said protective sleeve.

[0016] The implementation of the protective sleeve according to the invention allows the user (the practitioner) to introduce into the vulva an insemination probe totally protected from dirt and pathogens located on the vulva of the animal. Consequently, the practitioner no longer needs to clean the vulva of the animal before carrying out the act of artificial insemination. Therefore, the insemination is carried out in a single step instead of two. Thus the invention allows the user to save a significant amount of time by reducing almost by half the time spent on artificial insemination.

[0017] Since the insemination probe is fully protected, contamination of the animals by dirt and pathogens on the vulva is avoided. The invention thus allows the user to improve and simplify the sanitary safety of the artificial insemination act.

[0018] The invention also allows the user to improve the ergonomics of the artificial insemination act since this act no longer requires scrupulously cleaning the animal's vulva, a step that was time-consuming and tiring for the practitioner.

[0019] The invention further allows reducing the amount of waste generated by the artificial insemination act since it is no longer necessary to use washing wipes.

[0020] Thus, the invention proposes a new and inventive approach to solving the drawbacks of the prior art. Since the sanitary protection of the insemination probe is total, it is no longer necessary to clean and disinfect the vulvas before performing the inseminations. Thus, the act of insemination according to the invention is much simpler and faster without the cleaning and disinfection step necessary in the state of the art. The gains are therefore manifested both in terms of reproductive performance and in terms of ergonomics and working comfort for the practitioner.

[0021] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve covers between a third and half of said insemination probe.

[0022] According to another particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve comprises a marking delimiting a portion for gripping by the user and a portion for penetration of said protective sleeve into the vulva of the animal.

[0023] In this way, it is easy for the practitioner to identify how far the protective sleeve must be introduced into the vulva of the animal. The protective sleeve also provides a useful gripping area for the practitioner when he has to move the insemination probe through the protective sleeve.

[0024] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve is made of a waterproof, non-spermicidal material, resistant to the acidity of animal secretions and to the heat of the animals.

[0025] Such a material makes it possible to ensure optimal protection of the head of the insemination probe while guaranteeing high performance in reproducing the act of insemination.

[0026] According to another particular aspect of the invention, said protective sleeve is made of polypropylene, polyethylene, paper, cardboard, or a mixture of these materials.

[0027] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the closure means is in the form of a pre-cut.

[0028] Such an implementation of the closure means is relatively simple and reliable. It therefore guarantees optimal use of the insemination probe.

[0029] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the closing means is in the form of a folding of walls forming said protective sleeve.

[0030] Such an implementation of the closure means is also relatively simple and reliable. It therefore guarantees optimal use of the insemination probe.

[0031] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the closure means is in the form of a bonding of walls forming said protective sleeve.

[0032] Such an implementation of the closure means is also relatively simple and reliable. It therefore guarantees optimal use of the insemination probe.

[0033] The invention also relates to a method for artificially inseminating a livestock animal using an insemination probe, said method comprising the steps of:

[0034] - providing an insemination probe as described above;

[0035] - positioning of said insemination probe at the level of the vulva of an animal to be inseminated;

[0036] - introduction of said insemination probe at least partially covered with said protective sleeve into said vulva of the animal;

[0037] - movement of said insemination probe in said protective sleeve until said closure means breaks;

[0038] - movement of said insemination probe through said protective sleeve to the vagina of the animal to be inseminated;

[0039] - depositing the semen into the vagina of the animal.

[0040] The method of inseminating a livestock animal using an insemination probe according to the invention is relatively simple and rapid compared to the solutions of the state of the art. Indeed, the implementation of the protective sleeve on the insemination probe allows the method of the invention to no longer require cleaning of the animal's vulva before introducing the insemination probe. The time required for the act of artificial insemination of an animal according to the invention is therefore almost halved compared to that of the state of the art. List of Figures

[0041] The invention, as well as the various advantages it presents, will be more easily understood in the light of the following description of an illustrative and non-limiting embodiment thereof, and of the appended drawings among which:

[0042] [Fig.l] illustrates an insemination probe, in side view, implementing a protective sleeve according to the invention, at the time of positioning in front of the vulva of the animal;

[0043] [Fig.2] is a side view of the insemination probe of [Fig.l], after insertion into the vulva of the animal;

[0044] [Fig.3] is a side view of the insemination probe of [Fig.l], after movement of the insemination probe through the protective sleeve in order to carry out the operation of inseminating the animal; and

[0045] [Fig.4] is a diagram illustrating the method of artificial insemination of a livestock animal using an insemination probe according to Figures 1 to 3. Detailed description of the invention

[0046] The general principle of the invention is based on the implementation of a sanitary / hygienic protective sleeve covering at least part of an insemination probe, and more particularly the insemination head and at least part of the insemination tube of the insemination probe intended to be introduced into the genital tract of the animal.

[0047] Such a sleeve has an opening provided with a closing means which allows, when a predetermined force is exerted on the closing means by the insemination probe during a movement of the latter in the protective sleeve, to open the opening of the protective sleeve in order to allow the movement of the insemination probe through the protective sleeve to the vagina of the animal so as to carry out the insemination operation.

[0048] The implementation of the protective sleeve according to the invention therefore makes it possible to avoid the preliminary step of cleaning and disinfecting the animal's vulva. As described previously, this step carried out before insemination presented a certain number of drawbacks.

[0049] [Fig.l] illustrates an artificial insemination probe 1 for farm animals, in side view, comprising a protective sleeve 2 according to the invention.

[0050] The insemination probe 1 conventionally comprises an insemination head 12 fixed to an insemination tube 11. The insemination head 12 has a shape adapted to penetrate the vulva 9 of the animal and ensure the insemination operation. In this example, the insemination head 12 comprises two grooved spheres.

[0051] In this example, the insemination tube 11 has a length of approximately 40 cm and a diameter of approximately 6 mm. The insemination head 12 has a total length of approximately 4 cm and a maximum diameter of approximately 2 cm. It is understood that any other insemination probe, of different type and dimensions, can be envisaged without departing from the general principle of the invention.

[0052] According to the invention, the insemination probe 1 is partly covered by a sanitary / hygienic protective sleeve 2. The protective sleeve 2 is intended to be slipped / installed on the insemination head 12 and therefore to cover the insemination head 12 and at least part of the insemination tube 11, as illustrated in [Fig.l]. More specifically, the protective sleeve 2 covers the insemination head 12 as well as between a third and a half of the length of the insemination tube 11, so as to protect the insemination head 12 from dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9 of the animal at the time of its introduction.

[0053] In this example, the probe 1 has a total length of approximately 44 cm (40 cm of tube 11 and 4 cm of head 12). The protective sleeve 2 here has a length of approximately 20 cm. It therefore covers approximately half of the insemination probe 1.

[0054] The sleeve 2 has a longitudinal body 20 having, at a first end 21, a first opening which allows the protective sleeve 2 to be slipped onto the probe 1.

[0055] The second end 22 of the body 20 of the protective sleeve 2, located on the side of the insemination head 12, has an opening which is closed before use of the probe 1 for the insemination of the animal. To do this, the second end 22 has a closing means 23 configured to yield / break under a determined pressure of the insemination probe 1 so as to create an opening at the second end 22 in order to allow the passage of the insemination probe 1 through the second end 22.

[0056] The closing means 23 is therefore configured, on the one hand, to make the second end 22 watertight before use of the probe 1 and, on the other hand, to yield / break under a determined pressure of the insemination probe 1 against the closing means 23 so as to allow the passage of the insemination probe 1 through the second end 22.

[0057] The sleeve 2 therefore has a specifically positioned closing means 23 guaranteeing complete protection of the insemination head 12 but also allowing easy opening as soon as a determined pressure / force of the insemination probe 1 is applied against the closing means 23.

[0058] For example, the closing means 23 is presented as desired in the form of a pre-cut made at the second end 22, a folding of the walls of the sleeve 2, a gluing of the walls of the sleeve 2 or a sleeve 2 consisting of two parts folding over each other at the second end 22. It is obviously understood that any other solution making it possible to achieve the same objectives / results as those described above would not deviate from the general principle of the invention.

[0059] The protective sleeve 2 is made of a waterproof, non-spermicidal material, and resistant to the acidity of animal secretions and to the heat of the animals. For example, the sleeve 2 is made of polypropylene plastic, or polyethylene, or any material allowing the insemination head 12 to be isolated from the vulva 9 which can be suitable for the intended use, such as plastics, papers, or cardboards.

[0060] It is understood once again that any other material which would meet these constraints would also be suitable for implementing the invention and would therefore not deviate from the general principle of the invention.

[0061] The protective sleeve 2 according to the invention further comprises a marking 24 identifying the limit of insertion of the protective sleeve 2 into the vulva 9 of the animal, as illustrated in [Fig.2]. Such a marking 24 therefore allows the practitioner to easily and quickly locate the limit of insertion of the protective sleeve 2.

[0062] The marking 24 is located at a distance from the end 22 of the protective sleeve 2 substantially equal to the length of the insemination head 12. More particularly, the distance between the marking 24 and the end 22 of the protective sleeve 2 is slightly greater than the length of the insemination head 12. In this way, the introduction of the protective sleeve 2 into the vulva 9 is carried out without reaching the animal's own vaginal area, so as to avoid any insertion of dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9.

[0063] The marking 24 delimits a gripping portion 25 and a penetration portion 26. More precisely, the gripping portion 25 constitutes the portion of the protective sleeve 2 located on the side of the first end 21 relative to the marking 24. The other portion of the protective sleeve 2, called the penetration portion 26, is intended to be introduced into the vulva 9 of the animal.

[0064] The marking 24 is located so as to provide a sufficient gripping portion 25 for the practitioner when carrying out the operation of moving the insemination probe 1 through the protective sleeve 2, as described below.

[0065] The length of the protective sleeve 2 is selected so as to allow the introduction of a portion 26 of the protective sleeve 2 and a part of the insemination tube 11 carrying the insemination head 12 into the vulva 9 of the animal while still having access to the gripping portion 25 in order to open the closing means 23 when it is located in the vulva 9 of the animal. In this way, the insemination head 12 is not in contact with the vulva 9 of the animal when the insemination probe 1 is introduced. It is therefore not in contact with the dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9.

[0066] We will now describe, in relation to Figures 1 to 3, the manner in which the protective sleeve 2 of the invention is used to carry out artificial insemination of a farm animal.

[0067] [Fig.l] illustrates an insemination probe 1 comprising a protective sleeve 2 when positioned in front of the vulva inlet orifice 9. In this position, the insemination probe 1 is not yet introduced into the vulva 9 of the animal. The protective sleeve 2 covering the insemination probe 1 is in accordance with the detailed description above.

[0068] In [Fig.2], the insemination probe 1 covered with the protective sleeve 2 according to the invention is partially introduced into the vulva 9 of the animal. In this position, the portion 26 of the protective sleeve 2 is introduced with the insemination probe 1 into the vulva 9 of the animal. It is noted that the protective sleeve 2 is introduced into the vulva 9 substantially up to the marking 24 which indicates the limit of introduction of the protective sleeve 2.

[0069] In this position, the insemination head 12 is always protected by the protective sleeve 2. In this way, when introducing the insemination probe 1 into the vulva 9 of the animal (which represents the critical phase in the state of the art), the insemination head 12 is never in contact with the vulva 9. The insemination head 12 can therefore not be soiled by dirt and pathogens present on the vulva 9 of the animal.

[0070] Then, and as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the insemination probe 1 can be pushed / moved through the protective sleeve 2 to reach the reproductive organs of the animal to be inseminated.

[0071] To do this, once the probe 1 and the sleeve 2 are positioned as in [Fig. 2], the practitioner pushes on the insemination probe 1 while holding / holding the gripping portion 25 of the protective sleeve 2 so that the force exerted by the insemination head 12 against the closing means 23 causes the closing means 23 to give way (pre-cutting, folding or gluing, for example) and then opens the opening located at the end 22.

[0072] By continuing to push on the insemination probe 1, the latter will therefore pass through the closing means 23 (as illustrated in [Fig. 3]) to then penetrate into the animal's vagina (not illustrated), that is to say beyond the vulva 9, in order to deposit / inject the semen.

[0073] The use of the insemination probe can be summarized in the form of a method 8 for artificial insemination of a livestock animal using an insemination probe (illustrated in [Fig.4]), the method comprising the steps of: - providing 81 an insemination probe 1 as previously described; - positioning 82 of the insemination probe 1 at the vulva 9 of an animal to be inseminated; - introducing 83 the insemination probe 1 at least partially covered with the protective sleeve 2 into the vulva of the animal; - movement 84 of the insemination probe 1 in the protective sleeve 2 until the closure means 23 breaks; - movement 85 of the insemination probe 1 through the protective sleeve 2 to the vagina of the animal to be inseminated; and - depositing / injecting 86 the semen into the vagina of the animal.

[0074] The protective sleeve 2 according to the invention therefore provides total protection of the insemination head 12 until the closing means 23 yields / breaks under the force exerted by the movement of the insemination probe 1 in the protective sleeve 2. Consequently, it is no longer necessary to clean the vulva 9 of the animal before carrying out the act of artificial insemination. Therefore, insemination is carried out more quickly and easily than in the state of the art since the insemination probe 1 according to the invention can be directly introduced into the vulva 9 of the animal, that is to say without prior cleaning. The invention therefore allows the practitioner to save a considerable amount of time by reducing almost by half the time spent artificially inseminating each animal. Other aspects and variants

[0075] It is obviously understood that the length and diameter of the protective sleeve 2 are selected according to the dimensions of the insemination probe that it must cover.

[0076] It could be envisaged to manufacture the protective sleeve 2 in a relatively extensible / elastic material so that the protective sleeve adapts to different insemination probes.

[0077] According to one aspect, the protective sleeve 2 is manufactured in a single material conforming to the aforementioned requirements. According to a variant, the protective sleeve 2 is manufactured in a combination of several materials conforming to the aforementioned requirements.

[0078] According to a variant, the protective sleeve 2 could cover substantially the entirety of the insemination probe 1.

Claims

Claims

1. An insemination probe (1) for use in artificially inseminating a livestock animal, comprising an insemination tube (11) carrying an insemination head (12), characterized in that said insemination probe (1) comprises a protective sleeve (2) covering said insemination head (12) and at least a portion of said insemination tube (11), the protective sleeve being intended to be introduced into the vulva (9) of the animal, in that said protective sleeve (2) comprises, at one end (22) located on the side of said insemination head (12), a closing means (23) configured to yield under a predetermined force exerted by said insemination head (12) against said closing means (23) upon movement of said insemination probe (1) in said protective sleeve (2). and in that said protective sleeve (2) covers between one third and half of said insemination probe (1).

2. Insemination probe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said protective sleeve (2) comprises a marking (24) delimiting a gripping portion (25) by the user and a penetration portion (26) of said protective sleeve (2) in the vulva (9) of an animal.

3. Insemination probe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said protective sleeve (2) is made of a waterproof, non-spermicidal material, resistant to the acidity of animal secretions and to the heat of animals.

4. Insemination probe (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said protective sleeve (2) is made of polypropylene, polyethylene, paper, cardboard, or a mixture of these materials.

5. Insemination probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure means (23) is in the form of a pre-cut.

6. Insemination probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure means (23) is in the form of a folding of walls forming said protective sleeve (2).

7. Insemination probe (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure means (23) is in the form of a bonding of walls forming said protective sleeve (2).

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