Artificial insemination and embryo transfer device
First Claim
1. An artificial insemination and embryo transfer device, which comprises:
- an elongate hollow tube;
a tip secured to a proximal end of said elongate tube, said tip having a conical front portion for smoothly passing it through a cervical canal of a female subject, a tapered middle portion integrally formed with the conical portion, a main body portion integrally formed with the middle portion, and a passage provided therein;
a piston rod slidably mounted in said elongate tube in an axial direction;
means retained between said elongate tube and said piston rod for restraining a free axial movement of the piston rod within said elongate tube;
first contamination preventing means enclosing said elongate tube for protecting said elongate tube against contamination from infectious materials in the cervical canal during the passing of the device through the cervical canal, said first contamination preventing means including a hollow cylindrical sheet wrapping around said elongate tube and in contact with said tip at a front end of the cylindrical sheet, the outer diameter of said cylindrical sheet being smaller than the largest diameter of said tip; and
second contamination preventing means surrounding said tip and said cylindrical sheet for protecting them against contamination from infectious materials in a vaginal canal during the insertion of the device into the vaginal canal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An artificial insemination and embryo transfer device comprises an elongate hollow tube, and a hollow straw containing a reproductive organism therein and fitted in the elongate tube. A flexible tip is secured to an end of the elongate tube and engaged with the straw. The tip has a passage in communication with the straw and a conical portion adapted to smoothly pass it through a cervical canal of a female subject. A piston rod is slidably mounted in the elongate tube and constructed to enter into the straw so as to discharge the reproductive organism contained in the straw through the passage of the tip by its axial advancement. A locking element is disposed between the elongate tube and the piston rod for restraining a free axial movement of the piston rod within the elongate tube. A first enclosure is inserted around the elongate tube so as to protect the elongate tube against contamination from infectious materials in the cervical canal during the passing of the device through the cervical canal. A second enclosure surrounds the tip and the first enclosure for preventing them from being contaminated from infectious materials in a vaginal canal during the insertion of the device into the vaginal canal.
120 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An artificial insemination and embryo transfer device, which comprises:
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an elongate hollow tube; a tip secured to a proximal end of said elongate tube, said tip having a conical front portion for smoothly passing it through a cervical canal of a female subject, a tapered middle portion integrally formed with the conical portion, a main body portion integrally formed with the middle portion, and a passage provided therein; a piston rod slidably mounted in said elongate tube in an axial direction; means retained between said elongate tube and said piston rod for restraining a free axial movement of the piston rod within said elongate tube; first contamination preventing means enclosing said elongate tube for protecting said elongate tube against contamination from infectious materials in the cervical canal during the passing of the device through the cervical canal, said first contamination preventing means including a hollow cylindrical sheet wrapping around said elongate tube and in contact with said tip at a front end of the cylindrical sheet, the outer diameter of said cylindrical sheet being smaller than the largest diameter of said tip; and second contamination preventing means surrounding said tip and said cylindrical sheet for protecting them against contamination from infectious materials in a vaginal canal during the insertion of the device into the vaginal canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An artificial insemination and embryo transfer device, which comprises:
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an elongate hollow tube having a flange provided at a distal end of the elongate tube; a flexible tip secured to a proximal end of said elongate tube, said tip having a conical front portion for smoothly passing it through a cervical canal of a female subject, a tapered middle portion integrally formed with the conical portion, a main body portion extending from the middle portion in a length sufficient to enable the conical portion of the tip to reach a rearmost zone of a uterine horn of the subject female in the implantation of embryo, and a passage provided therein; a piston rod slidably mounted in said elongate tube in an axial direction; means retained between said elongate tube and said piston rod for restraining a free axial movement of the piston rod within said elongate tube; a support sleeve housing said elongate tube and said main body portion of said tip and in contact with the tapered middle portion at its front end for supporting the tip so as to permit the deformation of the tip, said support sleeve having a flange provided at its rear end, the outer diameter of said support sleeve being smaller than the largest diameter of said tip; first contamination preventing means enclosing said support sleeve and said tip for protecting them against contamination from infectious materials in the cervical canal during the passing of the device through the cervical canal; and second contamination preventing means surrounding said first contamination preventing means for protecting said first contamination preventing means against contamination from infectious materials in a vaginal canal during the insertion of the device into the vaginal canal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An artificial insemination and embryo transfer device, which comprises:
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an elongate hollow tube having a flange provided at a distal end of the elongate tube; a flexible tip secured to a proximal end of said elongate tube, said tip having a conical front portion for smoothly passing it through a cervical canal of a female subject, a tapered middle portion integrally formed with the conical portion, a main body portion extending from the middle portion in a length sufficient to enable the conical portion of the tip to reach a rearmost zone of a uterine horn of the subject female in the implantation of embryo, and a passage provided therein; a piston rod slidably mounted in said elongate tube in an axial direction; means retained between said elongate tube and said piston rod for restraining a free axial movement of the piston rod within said elongate tube; a support sleeve housing said elongate tube and said main body portion of said tip and in contact with the tapered middle portion at its front end for supporting the tip so as to permit the deformation of the tip, said support sleeve having a flange provided at its rear end, the outer diameter of said support sleeve being smaller than the largest diameter of said tip; contamination preventing means enclosing support sleeve and said tip for protecting them against contamination from infectious materials in a vaginal canal and the cervical canal during the introduction of the device into a uterine cavity, said contamination preventing means including a tubular member wrapping around said tip and said support sleeve and having a rectangular flange provided at a distal end of the tubular member, a rupturable thin film cap attached to a proximal end of the tubular member, and stretchable thin capsule secured to the proximal end of the tubular member and disposed inside the film cap for enwrapping the tip, said thin capsule having a breakable portion integrally formed therewith and arranged in a substantially coaxial relationship with the passage of the tip; and means provided at the flange of said support sleeve for holding the flange of said elongate tube and the rectangular flange of said tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification