SYNCHRONISING OF ANIMAL OESTRUS AND INTRA VAGINAL DEVICES USEFUL THEREIN
First Claim
1. An intra vaginal device of a variable geometry kind capable of being applied into the vaginal cavity of an animal selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, deer and goats, retainable therein over a period of time within the range of from 7 to 12 days and then to be withdrawable therefrom to allow the onset of oestrus, said device being characterised in that a matrix of a cured silicone rubber material that includes greater than 5% by weight progesterone to the weight of the matrix defines an exterior surface (which may be all or part only of the device) of at least 75 cm2 contactable once inserted in the vagina of such an animal by the vaginal membrane and/or vaginal fluid(s) of the animal, the matrix of progesterone containing silicone rubber material has been formed by injection of the uncured progesterone containing matrix as a liquid into a mould for a sufficient time to achieve at a mould temperature or temperatures within the range of from 100°
- C. to 210°
C. and a shape retaining at least partial cure thereof, the total progesterone load (irrespective of whether alpha or beta progesterone or mixtures thereof) being from 1 to 1.5 grams within said matrix, said surface area is available to at least substantially all of the matrix for progesterone release over a thickness of no greater than about 1 millimeter, and said device upon vaginal insertion into such an animal is able to achieve and then maintain in the animal for at least seven days a minimum progesterone blood plasma level of 2 nanograms per milliliter of plasma of the animal and which after seven days from insertion will have a residual load in the silicone rubber matrix of less than 65% by weight of its progesterone load at insertion.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intra vaginal device which is of a variable geometry kind and which includes a silicone matrix impregnated with progesterone, the confirmation and content of the progesterone impregnated matrix being such as to optimize effectiveness with a lower initial loading of progesterone.
48 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An intra vaginal device of a variable geometry kind capable of being applied into the vaginal cavity of an animal selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, deer and goats, retainable therein over a period of time within the range of from 7 to 12 days and then to be withdrawable therefrom to allow the onset of oestrus, said device being characterised in that
a matrix of a cured silicone rubber material that includes greater than 5% by weight progesterone to the weight of the matrix defines an exterior surface (which may be all or part only of the device) of at least 75 cm2 contactable once inserted in the vagina of such an animal by the vaginal membrane and/or vaginal fluid(s) of the animal, the matrix of progesterone containing silicone rubber material has been formed by injection of the uncured progesterone containing matrix as a liquid into a mould for a sufficient time to achieve at a mould temperature or temperatures within the range of from 100° - C. to 210°
C. and a shape retaining at least partial cure thereof,the total progesterone load (irrespective of whether alpha or beta progesterone or mixtures thereof) being from 1 to 1.5 grams within said matrix, said surface area is available to at least substantially all of the matrix for progesterone release over a thickness of no greater than about 1 millimeter, and said device upon vaginal insertion into such an animal is able to achieve and then maintain in the animal for at least seven days a minimum progesterone blood plasma level of 2 nanograms per milliliter of plasma of the animal and which after seven days from insertion will have a residual load in the silicone rubber matrix of less than 65% by weight of its progesterone load at insertion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 15)
- C. to 210°
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8. An intra vaginal device of a variable geometry kind capable of being applied into the vaginal cavity of an animal selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, deer and goats, retainable therein over a period of time within the range of from 7 to 12 days and then to be withdrawable therefrom to allow the onset of oestrus, said device being characterised in that
on a frame or spine (hereafter “ - frame”
) of variable geometry there is a matrix of a cured silicone rubber material that includes greater than 5% and less than 20% by weight progesterone to the weight of the matrix defines and exterior surface (which may be all or part only of the device) of at least 100 cm2 contactable once inserted in the vagina of such an animal by the vaginal membrane and/or vaginal fluid(s) of the animal,the matrix of progesterone containing silicone rubber material has been formed by injection of the uncured progesterone containing matrix as a liquid into a mould for a sufficient time to achieve at a mould temperature or temperatures within the range of from 190°
C. to 195°
C. and a shape retaining at least partial cure thereof,the total progesterone load (irrespective of whether alpha or beta progesterone or mixtures thereof) being from 1 to 1.5 grams within said matrix, said surface area is available to at least substantially all of the matrix for progesterone release over a thickness of no greater than about 1 millimeter, and said device upon vaginal insertion into such an animal is able to achieve and then maintain in the animal for at least seven days a minimum progesterone blood plasma level of 2 nanograms per milliliter of plasma of the animal and which after seven days from insertion will have a residual load in the silicone rubber matrix of less than 60% by weight of its progesterone load at insertion.
- frame”
- 10. A method of postponing oestrus or treating anoestrus in an animal which includes the steps of administering into said animal by means of an intra vaginal device sufficient progesterone from a progesterone impregnated silicone rubber matrix where the progesterone content in the matrix is 5% or greater by weight via a surface area-greater than 75 cm2 so as to achieve on the last few days of insertion a progesterone blood plasma level of from 2 to about 4 nanograms per milliliter, and removing the device after an insertion period of from 5 to 12 days.
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16. A method of synchronising the onset of oestrus in a herd of cattle beasts which comprises
administering by means of an intra vaginal device to each animal from a progesterone impregnated matrix of the device an effective amount of progesterone for the period the device is retained intra vaginally, the device having being administered with a progesterone quantity of about 1.35 grams and being removed with a progesterone quantity of the order of about 0.85 grams.
Specification