Jacketed vessel for holding semen for sex biasing mammals through artificial insemination and systems and methods for enhancing the probability of sex biasing using the same

• US 20060147894A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vicam LP (Waters Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vicam LP (Waters Corporation)
• Inventors: Sowter, David Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/115,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20060147894A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/02 Preservation of living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0263 Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving, e.g. cool boxes, blood bags or "straws" for cryopreservation
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0284 Temperature processes, i.e. using a designated change in temperature over time
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/43 for artificial insemination
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0612 sorting of gametes, e.g. according to sex or motility

Abstract

A jacketed container for holding a semen sample from a mammalian donor at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time prior to incubation to enhance the probability of obtaining offspring of a selected sex through artificial insemination is disclosed. In one embodiment, the semen sample is collected and insulated by a high-heat capacity material that has been preconditioned to a temperature between about 30° C. to about 40° C. before the semen is cooled to a temperature of about 12° C. In a second embodiment, the semen sample is collected and insulated by a high-heat capacity material that has been preconditioned to a temperature between about 4° C. to about 20° C. before the semen is cooled to a temperature of about 12° C.

Claims

12. A method for increasing the conception of mammalian offspring of a preferred sex, the method comprising:

preconditioning a high-heat capacity material;

collecting and handling a specimen of semen useful for artificial insemination;

encasing the specimen of semen in the high-heat capacity material; and

immersing the encased specimen of semen in a temperature controlled device to cool the specimen of semen in a controlled manner.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the preconditioning step includes preconditioning the high-heat capacity material to a temperature in the range of from about 30°

C. to about 40°

C.

14. The system as recited claim 13, wherein the preconditioning step includes preconditioning the high-heat capacity material to a temperature in the range of from about 32°

C. to about 35°

C.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the preconditioning step includes preconditioning the high-heat capacity material to a temperature in the range of from about 4°

C. to about 20°

C.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the preconditioning step includes preconditioning the high-heat capacity material to a temperature in the range of from about 6°

C. to about 17°

C.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the encasing step includes immersing the specimen of semen in a high-heat capacity material that is contained in a temperature control container.

18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the encasing step includes encasing the specimen of semen in a high-heat capacity viscous gel.

19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the immersion step includes:

placing a jacketed collection tube into the temperature controlled device, and

controlling the temperature of the temperature controlled device in the range of from about 4°

C. to about 20°

C.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the immersion step includes:

placing a jacketed collection tube into the temperature controlled device, and

controlling the temperature of the temperature controlled device in the range of from about 6°

C. to about 17°

C.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the immersion step includes:

placing a jacketed collection tube into the temperature controlled device, and

controlling the temperature of the temperature controlled device at about 12°

C.

22. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the immersion step is performed for about 2 to about 24 hours to cool the specimen of semen to about 12°

C.

23. An apparatus for collecting and handling a specimen of semen useful for artificial insemination to increase the conception of mammalian offspring of a preferred sex, the apparatus comprising:

a collection container for collecting a semen ejaculate from a donor, the container having an outer coating, wherein

the outer coating comprises a material for maintaining the specimen at a predetermined temperature for at least a predetermined period of time.

1. A system for collecting and handling a specimen of semen useful for artificial insemination to increase the conception of mammalian offspring of a desired sex prior to incubation, the system comprising:

an inner collection container for collecting and holding a semen ejaculate from a donor; and

an outer, temperature control container, containing a material therein that maintains the specimen of semen at a predetermined temperature for at least a predetermined period of time prior to initiation of incubation.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the material is a high-heat capacity material.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the material is preconditioned to a predetermined temperature in the range of about 4°

C. to about 20°

C.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the predetermined temperature is in the range of about 6°

C. to about 17°

C.

5. The system as recited claim 4, wherein the predetermined temperature is about 12°

C.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the material is preconditioned to a predetermined temperature in the range of about 30°

C. to about 40°

C.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the predetermined temperature is in the range of about 32°

C. to about 35°

C.

8. The system as recited claim 7, wherein the predetermined temperature is about 32°

C.

9. The system as recited claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about five minutes.

10. The system as recited claim 9, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about three minutes.

11. The system as recited claim 10, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about one minute.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the material is a high-heat capacity material.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the material comprises a non-toxic refrigerant gel.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the material is preconditioned to a predetermined temperature in the range of about 4°

C. to about 20°

C.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein the predetermined temperature is in the range of about 6°

C. to about 17°

C.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein the predetermined temperature is about 12°

C.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the material is preconditioned to a predetermined temperature in the range of about 30°

C. to about 40°

C.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein the predetermined temperature is in the range of about 32°

C. to about 35°

C.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein the predetermined temperature is about 32°

C.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about five minutes.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about one minute.

32-1. The apparatus as recited in claim 31, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than about three minutes.