Steerable Flushing Catheter for Single-Pass Pig Embryo Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The anatomical complexity of the pig's reproductive tract, including narrow cervix openings, cervical folds, and tortuous uterine horns, poses challenges for efficient embryo collection, leading to low collection efficiency and quality, often requiring multiple attempts and anesthesia.
Innovation Solution
An embryo collection device with an introduction probe and a flushing catheter, featuring a guide lumen, inflatable cuff, and a steerable tip element, allows for efficient advancement through the cervix and uterine horns without damaging the uterus, enabling high cervical pass ratios and reduced anesthesia use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional catheter systems are used for embryo collection, then the procedure can be performed, but the collection efficiency and quality remain low due to the anatomical complexity of the reproductive tract
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system is divided into multiple functional segments: an introduction probe for cervical insertion, a guide lumen for positioning, and a flushing catheter with inflatable cuff for uterine horn access. This segmentation allows each component to address specific anatomical challenges separately, improving both efficiency and quality of embryo collection.
Solution Approach 2:
An inflatable cuff acts as an intermediary mechanism to temporarily dilate the uterine horn opening, facilitating catheter passage through the narrow and tortuous reproductive tract. This intermediary structure enables safe navigation through complex anatomy without causing damage, thereby improving collection reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple attempts are made to collect embryos, then more embryos can be collected, but the procedure becomes more time-consuming and increases health risks to the pig
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction probe is preliminarily inserted to establish a guide lumen in the cervix before the flushing catheter is introduced. This preliminary positioning action creates a established pathway that guides subsequent catheter advancement through the complex reproductive tract, enabling successful embryo collection in a single attempt and reducing overall procedure time.
3Reliability
If anesthesia is used to facilitate embryo collection, then the procedure can be performed more safely, but animal welfare and health risks are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable cuff changes the physical parameter of the uterine horn opening from a narrow state to a dilated state, enabling catheter passage without requiring anesthesia. This parameter change allows the procedure to be performed safely while maintaining animal welfare, as the mechanical dilation provides sufficient access without compromising the pig's well-being.
4Reliability
If a surgical procedure is performed to collect embryos, then embryos can be collected with high quality, but special medical expertise and health risks are required
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction probe with guide lumen serves as a self-guiding mechanism that automatically positions the flushing catheter through the cervix and into the uterine horn based on the anatomical structure itself. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex surgical expertise while maintaining high embryo collection quality, as the device utilizes the body's own anatomy for guidance.
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
The device achieves up to 100% cervical pass ratio in a single attempt, high fluid recovery, and improved animal welfare with minimal health risks, allowing for efficient embryo collection suitable for various pig breeds and breeding methods.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable cuff fluidly connected to the inflation lumen to be inflated for at least partially closing the uterine horn at a proximal end thereof
Implementation Method 2
a flushing section arranged between the inflatable cuff and the distal end to be introduced inside the uterine horn, comprising a flushing opening fluidly connected to the flushing lumen
Data Source
AI summary
An embryo collection device for collecting embryos in the uterine horn of a pig, in particular a sow or a gilt, includes an introduction probe to be partially introduced into the cervix of the pig, provided with a guide lumen; and a flushing catheter, slidably arranged in the guide lumen, including: a proximal and a distal end, an inflation lumen and a flushing lumen, an inflatable cuff fluidly connected to the inflation lumen to be inflated for at least partially closing the uterine horn towards a proximal end thereof; and a flushing section between the inflatable cuff and the distal end to be introduced inside the uterine horn, including a flushing opening fluidly connected to the flushing lumen; and a tip element arranged at the distal end, shaped to steer the flushing catheter, for example such that upon insertion of the introduction probe in the cervix, the flushing catheter may be advanced further into the reproductive tract passing the cervix and uterine body and entering the uterine horn for flushing the uterine horn through the flushing opening.