Single-Injection Hormone Microspheres for Synchronous Ovulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current superovulation protocols in animal husbandry require multiple injections over several days, causing stress to animals and personnel, inefficiency, and increased risk of physical injury, while failing to achieve synchronous ovulation efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A single-injection method using a dual-hormone microsphere matrix, comprising progesterone (P4) and luteinizing hormone (LH), encapsulated in a controlled release agent, to suppress estrus and remove dominant follicles, administered via a single administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple injections are administered over several days to control estrous cycle and induce superovulation, then ovulation synchronization can be achieved, but animal stress and personnel workload increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple hormonal functions (progesterone suppression and LH-induced ovulation) into a single injectable formulation containing GnRH analog and prostaglandin F2α. This single injection replaces the traditional multi-day protocol requiring separate progesterone devices and multiple hormone injections, thereby achieving ovulation synchronization while dramatically reducing handling stress on animals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses GnRH analog as an intermediary substance that triggers endogenous LH release, which in turn induces ovulation. This two-stage mechanism (GnRH → LH → ovulation) allows for precise timing control while using a single injection, eliminating the need for direct LH injection and reducing the number of handling events.
2Reliability
If multiple injections are administered over several days, then estrous cycle control can be achieved, but the risk of physical injury to personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple injection events into a single injection by combining GnRH analog and prostaglandin F2α in one formulation. This eliminates repeated handling and injection of large animals over several days, directly reducing the cumulative risk of physical injury to personnel from restraint and injection procedures.
3Reliability
If multiple injections are given over several days, then follicle development can be monitored and controlled, but handling time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines progesterone suppression and LH-induced ovulation functions into a single injectable protocol, reducing the handling schedule from multiple daily events over several days to just two handling events (injection and embryo transfer). This maintains follicle development control while dramatically reducing time loss to handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The single injection of GnRH analog and prostaglandin F2α performs preliminary actions that set in motion a predictable sequence of events (FSH surge → follicle growth → LH surge → ovulation) that unfolds over time without requiring further intervention. This preliminary action eliminates the need for continued daily handling and injections.
4Reliability
If traditional multi-injection protocols are used, then ovulation can be induced, but the process is inefficient and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges GnRH analog and prostaglandin F2α into a single injectable formulation, creating a streamlined protocol that achieves the same ovulation induction outcome with fewer steps, less material handling, and reduced labor costs. This improves productivity by eliminating redundant injection events while maintaining reliable ovulation induction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces the number of handling days required for estrous cycle synchronization from 4 to 2 days, enhances animal safety, and achieves synchronous ovulation with reduced stress and labor, improving fertilization rates and embryo yield.
Implementation Method 1
A single-injection method using a dual-hormone microsphere matrix, comprising progesterone (P4) and luteinizing hormone (LH), encapsulated in a controlled release agent
Implementation Method 2
dual-hormone microsphere matrix, comprising progesterone (P4) and luteinizing hormone (LH), encapsulated in a controlled release agent
Implementation Method 3
luteinizing hormone (LH)...achieves synchronous ovulation
Implementation Method 4
progesterone (P4)...to suppress estrus
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to assisted reproductive management technologies common to animal husbandry, more specifically technologies and processes enabling timed artificial insemination (TAI) and timed embryo transfer (TET), superovulation for multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) and superstimulation for ovum pickup (OPU) prior to in-vitro fertilization. More specifically, the present invention is directed to simplified, single-injection methods and formulations to control the onset of estrus and ovulation occurring within the reproductive technologies described above. The formulations focus on progesterone (P4) and luteinizing hormone (LH).