SYSTEM FOR SAMPLING TISSUE

Abstract

It is disclosed a system (1) for sampling tissue from an ear of an animal including: —a male component (2) including an engagement profile (2c) and a detachable sample collecting part (2b) with a cutting edge (2a); —a female component including a hole (4b) and retaining means (4a) for retaining the engagement profile (2c) of the male component (2), once the engagement profile (2c) has passed the hole (4b); —a tissue sample container (3) including an opening (3b) arranged below the hole (4b) of the female component (4b), for receiving the sample collecting part (2b) and the tissue sampled, the opening (3b) being closed by a sealed membrane or a cover (3d). The tissue sample container (3) includes a protrusion (3c) arranged at least in part in the hole (4b) of the female component (4).

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A system (1) for sampling tissue from an ear of an animal including: a male component (2) including an engagement profile (2c) and a detachable sample collecting part (2b) with a cutting edge (2a); a female component including a hole (4b) and retaining means (4a) for retaining the engagement profile (2c) of the male component (2), once the engagement profile (2c) has passed the hole (4b); a tissue sample container (3) including an opening (3b) arranged below the hole (4b) of the female component (4b) when the female component (4) is attached to the tissue sample container (3), for receiving the sample collecting part (2b) and the tissue sampled, the opening (3b) being closed by a sealed membrane or a cover (3d); the tissue sample container (3) includes a protrusion (3c) arranged at least in part in the hole (4b) of the female component (4) when the female component (4) is attached to the tissue sample container (3), wherein the tissue sample container (3) includes support means (3a) arranged above the sealed membrane or cover (3d), in that the support means (3a) include a ring (3a) disposed below the female component (4) and facing said hole (4b) when the female component (4) is attached to the tissue sample container (3), the ring (3a) having at least one radial portion (3e) supporting the protrusion (3c) at the middle of the ring (3a), and in that the support means (3a) are adapted to be cut by the cutting edge (2a) of the male component (2).

16. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein a base (22b) of the sample collecting part (2b) includes a seat for an upper portion (33c) of the protrusion (3c), the seat being adapted to keep the protrusion (3c) in the sample collecting part (2b), after sampling, said protrusion (3c) being visible in the tissue sample container (3) for indicating presence of a tissue sample in the sample container (3).

17. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the protrusion (3c) has a colour different from a colour of the tissue sample container (3) and wherein at least one of a peripheral edge (3l), a bottom (3m) or sealed membrane or a cover (3d) of the tissue sample container (3) is transparent.

18. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the ring (3a) has four radial portions connected at the centre of the ring (3a), supporting the protrusion (3c) at the middle of the ring (3a).

19. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the radial portion (3e) includes at least one weakening line (3f).

20. The system (1) according to claim 18 wherein the ring (3a) includes fastening means (3g) projecting towards the opening (3b) of the tissue sample container (3), and the detachable sample collecting part (2b) comprises an engagement profile (2d) adapted to be blocked by the fastening means (3g).

21. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein an upper portion (33c) of the protrusion (3c) is arranged at an opening (43b) of the hole (4b).

22. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the protrusion (3c) has a cylindrical shape and a diameter of the protrusion (3c) is between 1:6 and 1:2 of a diameter of the hole (4b).

23. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the tissue sample container (3) includes a sample conserving agent.

24. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the tissue sample container (3) includes locking means (3i) to lock the female component (4), preferably an annular groove (3i) having shape coupling with an annular projection (4c) around the female hole (4b), wherein the locking means (3i) are releasable for detaching the counter plate (4) from the tissue sample container (3).

25. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the tissue sample container (3), the female component (4) and the male component (2) comprise a respective flag, including identification information.

26. A method for sampling a tissue from an ear of an animal using the system according to claim 15, comprising: contacting a side of an ear to be sampled with a female component (4) having a hole (4b), the female component (4) being attached to a removable tissue sample container (3), wherein a protrusion (3c), preferably associated to the tissue sample container, protrudes in or from the hole (4b), to contact the ear of the animal; coupling a male component (2) to the female component (3) by positioning a sample collecting part (2b) having a cutting edge (2a), on the opposite side of the ear of the animal, in a position where the protrusion (3c) may enter the sample collecting part (2b), guiding the tissue of the animal into the sample collecting part (2b) from before the cut; pushing the male component (2) towards the female component (4) to cut the tissue sample from the ear, wherein the protrusion (3c) keep forcing the sample into the sample collecting part (2b) during said step of pushing; entering the sample collecting part (2b) with the sampled tissue into the tissue sample container (3), wherein the tissue sample container (3) includes support means (3a), arranged above the sealed membrane or cover (3d) of the tissue sample container (3) and supporting the protrusion (3c), the support means (3a) being cut by the cutting edge (2a) of the male component (2) so that the protrusion (3c) enters the tissue sample container (3) with the sample collecting part (2b), wherein the support means (3a) including a ring (3a) disposed below the female component (4) facing the hole (4b) when the female component (4) is attached to the tissue sample container (3), the ring (3a) having at least one radial portion (3e) supporting the protrusion (3c) at the middle of the ring (3a).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the system for sampling a tissue of an animal according to the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tissue sample container of the system for sampling a tissue according to FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a female component of the system for sampling a tissue according to FIG. 1.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tissue sample container coupled to the female component of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a section view of a male component, the female component and the tissue sample container of the system for sampling a tissue according to FIG. 1, before coupling the male component with the female component.

[0048] FIG. 6 is a section view of the tissue sample container of the FIG. 2, after insertion of a sample collecting part 2b of the male component of FIG. 5 into the tissue sample container.

[0049] FIG. 7 is a section view of the male component, the female component and the tissue sample container of the system for sampling a tissue according to FIG. 1, with detached parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] With reference to the annexed drawing, a system for sampling tissue from an animal's ear according to the present invention is schematically represented and indicated with reference number 1.

[0051] To sample the tissue from the animal's ear, a female component 4 is put in contact with a side of the ear and a male component 2, having a cutting edge 2a and a sample collecting part 2b, is pushed against the ear, from the other side thereof, to cut a sample of the ear and to enter in a hole 4b of the female component 4, where the male component 2 is finally locked, tagging the animal.

[0052] The sample collecting part 2b is adapted to enter a tissue sample container 3, attached to the female component 4 on the side thereof which is not in contact with the animal's ear, and may be detached from the female component 4, together with the tissue sample container. For instance, the tissues sample container 3 includes locking means 3i to lock the female component 4, preferably an annular groove 3i having shape coupling with an annular projection 4c around the thorough hole 4b; the locking means 3i are releasable for detaching the female component 4 from the tissue sample container 3. Of course, nothing prevents using a different removable coupling between the female component and the tissue sample container.

[0053] The male component 2 includes an engagement profile 2c, adapted to engage the female component and to remain attached thereto for tagging the animal. In this respect, the female component 4 includes retaining means 4a for retaining the engagement profile 2c of the male component 2, once the engagement profile 2c has passed the hole 4b.

[0054] The sample collecting part 2b is detachable from the male component 2 below the engagement profile 2c, so as to remain in the tissue sample container 3, after sampling, when the tissues sample container 3 is detached from the female component 4.

[0055] The tissue sample container 3 including an opening 3b arranged below the hole 4b of the female component 4b (when the female component 4 is attached to the tissue sample container 3), for receiving the sample collecting part 2b and the tissue sampled. The opening 3b is closed by a sealed membrane or a cover 3d. Preferably, the tissues sample container 3 includes a sample conserving agent and a cover or membrane 3h closing the opening 3b of the tissues sample container 3, wherein the cutting edge 2a are adapted to cut also the cover or membrane 3d.

[0056] Preferably, the tissues sample container 3, the female component 4 and the male component 2 comprise a respective flag, including visual identification information and or RFID means.

[0057] According to the present invention, the tissue sample container 3 includes a protrusion 3c, preferably a pin, arranged at least in part in the hole 4b of the female component 4 (when the female component 4 is attached to the tissue sample container 3), preferably protruding further than a surface of the female component 4 adapted to contact the animal's ear. Nothing prevents that the protrusion 3c does not protrude further than the surface of the female component 4, for instance remaining in the thickness of the female component 4, inside the hole 4b (FIG. 5).

[0058] In the embodiment given with reference to the drawings, the protrusion 3c is at the centre of the hole 4b and it has the form of a cylindrical pin 3c. However, nothing prevents that, for instance, the pin has different cross section (triangular section, quadrangular section, . . . ) or that the pin is not at the centre of the hole 4b, for instance that more than one pin are arranged around the centre of the hole 4b.

[0059] The sample collecting part 2b is adapted to inserted in the hole 4b, on the protrusion 3c. In use, at the beginning of the sampling operation, the animal's ear is put in contact with a surface of the female 4. In the area of the hole 4b, the animal's ear is not contacted by the surface of the female 4, and it is arranged between the cutting edge 2a and the protrusion 3c.

[0060] When the male component 2 is pushed towards the female component 4 (using a tool for tagging, for instance having an arm attached to the female component and another arm to the male component), the portion of the animal's ear in the area of the hole 4b is driven inside the sample collecting part 2b by the protrusion 3c, in particular by an upper portion 33c thereof. At the initial stage of tagging, when the male component and the female component start approaching one to the other, the animal's ear may be not still cut. The ear is cut at a certain position along the way of the sample collecting part 2b towards the tissue sample container 3, depending of the features (thickness, flexibility, age, . . . ) of the animal's ear.

[0061] However, according to the present invention, at any position in which the animal's ear is cut, the corresponding tissue sample, is safely stocked inside the sample collecting part 2b, substantially between the protrusion 3c and the inner surface 22a of the sample collecting part 2b. Preferably, a space between the inner surface 22a of the sample collecting part 2b and the protrusion 3c is between 1 mm and 5 mm, the size being selected by design, depending of the features of the animal to be sampled. In one embodiment of the invention, the protrusion 3c has a cylindrical shape and a diameter of the protrusion 3c is between 1:6 and 1:2 of a diameter of the hole 4b.

[0062] In the embodiment of the drawings, the protrusion 3c is supported by support means 3a associated to the tissue sample container 3, for instance arranged above the sealed membrane or cover 3d of the tissue sample container 3. The cutting edge 2a of the male component 2 is adapted to cut also the support means 3a. Substantially, once the support means 3a are cut in the area of the cutting edge 2a, the protrusion 3c and a portion of the support means 3a remained attached to it after cut enter the sample collecting part 2b.

[0063] Preferably, a base 22b of the sample collecting part 2b, opposite to the opening where the cutting edge 2c is arranged, includes a seat for an upper portion 33c of the protrusion 3c. The seat keeps the protrusion 3c centred in the sample collecting part 2b, after sampling.

[0064] Also the sealed membrane 3d is adapted to be broken by the cutting edge 2a, when the sample collecting part 2b enters the housing 3dh of the tissue sample container 3. The protrusion 3c is visible in the housing 3dh, for indicating presence of the tissue sample in the sample container 3. In this respect, the protrusion 3c has a colour different from a colour of the tissue sample container 3 and at least one of a peripheral edge 3l, a bottom 3m or the sealed membrane 3d of the tissue sample container 3 is transparent, to allow clear visibility of the protrusion. The operator may easily derive the presence of the sample and assume than an appropriate sampling has been executed by checking presence of the protrusion 3c in the hosing 3dh, being such a presence a sure sign of presence of the tissue sample. Just in absence of the protrusion, the sample may have been lost.

[0065] In one preferred embodiment, depicted in FIG. 2, the support means 3a includes a ring 3a having at least one radial portion 3e, preferably four radial portions connected at the centre of the ring 3a, supporting the protrusion 3c at the middle of the ring 3a. The radial portion 3e includes at least one weakening line 3f.

[0066] The ring 3a may be attached to the top of the housing 3dh by a plastic member, preferably thermo moulded over a peripheral flange of the ring 3a and the housing 3dh. The plastic member may form the flag for visual identification of the tissue sample container 3.

[0067] When the sample collecting part 2b enters the housing 3dh, it forms a plug for the housing 3dh, at the top of the tissues sample container 3, to protect the tissue sample inside it. In this respect, it is provided that the ring 3a includes fastening means 3g projecting towards the opening 3b of the tissue sample container 3 (i.e. towards the housing 3dh), and that the detachable sample collecting part 2b comprises an engagement profile 2d adapted to be blocked by the fastening means 3g.

[0068] Once the engagement profile 2d is blocked by the fastening means 3g, the tissues sample container may be pulled away from the female component, for detachment, this resulting in the end with the detachment of the sample collecting part 2b from the remaining portion of the male component from.

[0069] Several advantages derives from the structure and the use of the system for sampling according to the present invention. Especially, the system avoids loss of the sample at any stage of the procedure of sampling, since the ear of the animal in the area to be sampled is driven immediately by the protrusion in the sample collecting part, the protrusion force the sample derived from the cut to stay into the sample collecting part, and the protrusion move together with the sample collecting part trough the hole of the female, up to the housing of the container. In the housing, the protrusion is an indicator of a successful sampling and helps the operators to speed up controls and avoid repetition of samplings.

[0070] The system for sampling tissue of the present invention is applied to the animal's ear by means of an ear tag applicator of the type hereafter briefly disclosed. The applicator has two arms adapted to move between a closed position, where one arm is closed on the other arm, and an open position, when the arms are distanced apart. Two corresponding handles, preferably formed on the arms, extend beyond a point of rotation of the arms, and are closed, to close the applicator (the arms thereof), or opened to open it.

[0071] A first or upper arm includes a stem, preferably a metal stem, adapted to be coupled with the male component, preferably with the metal stem inside a cavity extending along an axis of the male component. A second or bottom arm includes a seat for the female component and the tissue sample container, the seat being arranged with respect to the first arm so that the hole of the female component, when placed in the seat, receives the tip of the male component, when placed in the first arm with the applicator closed.