CA1083902A - Method and device for removing ova from animals - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A method and means for inserting fluid into a uterus of an animal is described. One or more inlet cannula lead into a uteral area and communicates with the exterior of the animal.
Means for sealing off the uteral area is pro-vided and one or more outlet cannula lead from the uteral area and communicate with the exterior of the animal. By this means, ova can be re-moved without the need for separate surgical operation. As described, the means for sealing off the uteral area consists of inflatable dia-phragms.

Description

This invention relate~ to an improved met~od and means for withdrawing ova and embry~ from animals and/or artificial insemination.
Up until this time, it has been ~ound that present surgical 5. tech~iques ~or the withdrawal o~ ova ~rom animals and relati~g to the transfer o ova from one animal to ano~her, result in damage to valuable donor animals. In addition, the effect that such surgiaal techniques have on the animals has necessitated to a large extent the limitation o~ operations to a maximum of 10. two or three operations in the lifetime of a donor animal.
; It has also been found that there i8 a risk of permanent infertility from suah operations and present ~urgical techniques have not always been totally effective.
Attempts have been made to flush ova from donor animals by 15~ inserting a flexible or part stiffened tube through the cervix and up into the uteral horn. This howe~er, requires a great deal of skill if the uterus is to be flushed without damaging the tissue of the ceryix or uterus, as not only is the cervix difficult to penetrate but in the case of animals with a 20. bifurcated uterus it is difficult to ensure that the end of the tube reaches into the uteral horn.~ For example, cows have - a bifurcated uterus, each horn of whiah is curved in a spiral fashion.
It is an object of this invention to go some way towards 25. overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages in providin~ means for withdrawing ova from an animal, or w~ich will at least provide tha public with a reasonable choice.
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided means for inserting fluid into a uterus of an animal, including 30. one or more inlet cannula leading to a uteral area and communi-cating with the exterior of the animal~ means for sealing off said uteral area; and one or more outlet cannula leading from said uteral area and communicating with the exterior o the animal; 80 that in UBe, 1uid can be inserted into said uteral

-2- ~

-15 3~

area through one or more inlet cannula and thereater withdrawn through one or more outlet cannula.
According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a me~hod of inserting fluid into a uterus of an animal, 5. including sealing off a uteral area; inserting fluid into said uteral area through at least one inlet cannula implanted in the animal7 and thereafter withdrawing said fluid through at least one outlet cannula lmplanted in the animal.
This method aan be used to insert ~luid into said uteral 10. area to displace ova, fertilised ova, or embryos, and to remove any displaced ova, fertilised ova or embryos, throu~h the outlet cannula. Alternatively, or in addition, the fluid can include or be preceded by semen.
~ The invention will now be described by way of example only - I 15. and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fi~ure 1: is a diagrammatia view of the uterus of a cow in conjunction with means or with-drawing ~va i~ accordance with this inventlon.
Fi~ure 2: illustrates a connection plate in accordance 20. with this inventionO
It should be appreaiated that the present invention has particular application to all types of abimals, such as for example cattle and the like, where it is desired to have rapid evolvement of new breeds. Additionally~ it will be appreciated 25. that while the invention may be described with reference to the i ! removal of ovum, from an animal, the invention has equal appli-cation to the removal of embryos and fertilised ovum from within animals.
The present invention provid~s a method whereby a fluid 30. can be inserted into at least one oviduct and/or the uterus of an animal, so as to cause any ovum located in either the oviduct or the uterus, to be flushed by the fluid, from the wall of either the oviduct or the uterus, so as to be mixed with and contained in the fluid. The fluid is preferably a suitable starile fluid,

-3-~83902 of any known type or mixture.
In one form of the invention the fluid is inserted into the uterus at two or more positions ~imultaneou~ly, 80 as to permit a slower flushing.
5, Alternatively, fluid can be inserted into, for example, the uteral area adjacen~ the oviducts and withdrawn from, or example, a position within or adjacent the uteral passage.
To facilitate performance of the present invention,m~ans such a~3 an intra-uterinary arrangement is inserted, surgically, lO. into an animal ~for example a breeding pedigree cow). The intra-uterinary arrangement (to be described hereinafter) can be inserted surgically during an operation, and is so inserted so as to remain positioned within the animal permanently, and so as to enable the animal to perform normal functions, without any 15. inconvenience or irritation. It will be appreciated that this prevents or overcomes the necessity for a plurality of surgical operations during the life of the an~mal as has been known to take place up until this time.
Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of the bifurcated uterus 20. of a cow. The upper uteral area 5 of each uteral horn 4a and 4b leads into oviduct~ 3 and ovaries 2.
In the form of the invention shown in figure l of the accompanying drawings, each upper uteral horn 5 is opened to permit the insertion o sealing means, which in the preferred 25. form of the invention are in the form of inflatable diaphragms 6b and 6c, formed of a suitable material such as, for example, rubber, plastics or the like. A further diaphragm 6a is inserted into the lower uterus (adjacent the cervix ~s illustrated) and these diaphragms are inserted surgically, and have tubes or 30. pipes formed of a suitable flexible material, running therefrom and to a position externally of the animal, such as for example externally of the abdominal area of the an~mal. In such an area there i~ -little or no muscular movenent and thus the least possible damage i8 done to the animal.

-4-1~839C)~

The tubes 10 passing from the diaphragms 6 to the po~itionexternally of thR animal, have associated therewith means such as for example hand pump~ and the like, which are able to be attached thereto, 80 that air may be pwmped into the diaphragms

5. ~o inflate them or to deflate them. It will be appreciated from the accompanying drawing~, that onae the diaphragms are inflated, the uteral area (such as X in ~igur~ 1) be~ween the diaphrasms 6 is sealed off. For ~he purpose of comparison, diaphragm 6b i~
shown to be de~lated, whilst ~iaphragms 6a and 6c are shown to be 10. in~lated.
It will be recognised that diaphragm 6a could be replaced by extra d1aphragms in each uteral horn to ~eal an area in each uteral horn.
Further tubing in the form of cannulas 11, 12 and 13 are 15. installed in the uterus and communicate with a position externally of the animal. This permits a fluid, such as the sterile fluid referred to hereinbefore, to be inserted or flushed through one ; or more inlet cannula into the area X (definsd by the inflated diaphragms 6), and for the fluid to be removed through one or more 20. outlet cannula. It will be appreciated that on the sterile fluid being flu~hed into the upper uteral area X via inlet cannula 11, one or more ova (fertilised or unfertili~ed), or embryos, will be displaced from ~he wa~ of the uterus and will be carried by thq fluid and can be withdrawn via outlet cannula 13 or inter-25. mediate cannula 12, in a ~traight forward and efficient manner.
If desired, only one diaphragm may be included or insertedinto the animal, ~uch as in t~he position ad~acent to the cervix, (that is the diaphragm 6a shown in the inflated position in the lower uteral passage). Thi~ need not be an inflatable diaphragm 30. as the lower uterus or anterior cervix could be permanently plugged in cases where ova are to be removed.
So that the invention can operate effectively and in a straight forward manner, the tubes leading to and from the diaphragms and the inlet and outlet cannula preferably exit from _5_ ~L~83~
the animal in approximately the ~ame area. In such case~, it is desirable that the tubing or cannula exit from an area where there is little or no muscular movement, such as for example, the abdominal area, or the area below the vulva. In this orm 5~ of the invention the junction include~ a plate 20 of a suitable inert material, and which i5 inserted or s~wn into t~e skin o~
the animal in some suitable manner. The plate i8 provided with a plurality of exit~ and entry sockets pas~ing therethrough, suah that the tubing and cannula may be aonnected thereto and ~ 10. readily coupled to sources of air and f luid o ¦~ In u~e, an an~mal with means for removing ova inserted therewithin, iB taken and the air inlet tubes connected to the plate are attached to a suitable air supply ~fvr ex~mple a syringe, bulb, pump or the like), to inflate the diaphragms 6 15. and to therefore seal off the uteral area X of the animal.
The inlet sterile fluid iæ pumped or passed into the inlet cannula so as to flush the upper uteral areas of the animal, to remove one or more ova or embryos there~rom. The outlet cannula are connected at the plate to suitable withdrawal means, 20. such as for example syringes or the like, and the sterile fluid containing any ova or embryos is withdrawn from the animal. For example, fluid could enter through cannula 11, and be removed through cannula 12 and 13.
It will be appreciated that the inflation of the one or 25. more diaphragms 6 permits the fluid to be held and operate within a confined area, and this prevents leakage and the like.
In order that the apparatus may function as an assistance to artificial ins~mination, it is to be appreciated that con-csptual rates may be maximi6ed by the introduction of ~emen 30. directly into the uteral area by being pumped from the exterior junction or plate along the required inlet cannula. Semen would be inJected via the required inlet cannula directly into the appropriate uteral area by pumping the emen along the cannula at the head of a mea~ured amount o~ terile fluid.

~39al;:

According to this mode of operation of the invention, such an artificial insemination technique may provide a fertilization i rate which has previously been impossibls, and for any ovum produced. It i8 to be appreciated that such very high ferti-¦ 5. lization rates could be achieved by either natural or super ¦ ovulation techniques.
According to the method of the operation of this invention as hereinbefore described, the ~mplanted in~ra-uterinary device may be utili~ed ~or the extraction, as aforesaid o~ fertilised } 10. ova. According to this method of operation of the invention,¦ it may be thereby possible to effectively r~move a fertilised ovum, a plurality of fertilised ova or an ~mbryo fertilised I naturally or by the utli~atio~ of the invention according tothe mode disalosed above. Each and every time that the apparatus 15. is utilised.
The micro-location of ova or embryos and their subsequent separation from the carrying fluid, may be assisted by providing a static positively charged dye released ln the embryo carrying liquid, for concentrated attachment to negatively charged embryo 20. surfaces or vica versa. This would s~mplify the visual location of the embryo~ Alternatively, a modlfied form of virus filter could be used to help locate the ova or embryos.
It is to be appreciated that alternative apparatus may be provided for the carryin~ out of the present invention, and it 25. is to be appreciated that the method according to the present invention has particular advantages with regard to inJected ; insemination at the t~me of the normal ~hree week oestrus cycle of the animal in which the intra-uterinary device is located, followed by embryo flushing and collection. Using this technique 30. it is envisaged that some 17 embryo for implant into recipient animals could be retrieved per year.
Furthermore, in conjunction with the possible use of super ovulation approximately quar~erly, then embryo extraction may be increasable to 50 or more ~mbryo for recipient transfer annuallyD

1~ 390Z

0~ courfia i~ is to be appreciated that whil~t the advantage~
and examples described hereip are related to C~WB, it i~ al o envisaged that the invention may be applied to any other such an~mal, by the suitable adaption of the apparatu for performing 5. the method of the present invention as disclosed herein.
Furthermore, the apparatus disclosed fox the performance of the invention has been described by way of example only;
¦ modifications, alterations and additions may be made thereto ¦ without departing from the scope of thi~ invention as set forth ¦ 10. in the cla~ms. The claims orm part of thi~ disclosure.

: 8-

Claims (9)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Means for inserting fluid into a uterus of an animal, including one or more inlet cannula leading to a uteral area and communicating with the exterior of the animal; means for sealing off said uteral area; and one or more outlet cannula leading from said uteral area and communicating with the exterior of the animal; whereby fluid can be inserted into said uteral area through one or more inlet cannula and thereafter withdrawn through one or more outlet cannula.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for sealing off said uteral area includes at least one diaphragm.

3. Means as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one diaphragm is inflatable and is connected to an inflation tube to communi-cate with the exterior of the animal.

4. Means as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least two spaced apart diaphragms are positioned in the uterus of the animal;
said diaphragms defining said uteral area therebetween.

5. Means as claimed in claim 4, wherein a further cannula leads into said uteral area intermediate the inlet and outlet cannula and communicates with the exterior of the animal to assist in the withdrawal of fluid.

6. Means as claimed in claim 5, wherein each cannula is or are connected to a plate on the exterior of the animal.

7. Means as claimed in claim 6, wherein each inflation tube is connected to said plate.

8. Means as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plate is positioned on the abdominal area of the animal.

9. Means as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plate is positioned on the area below the vulva.