Abstract
Artificial insemination device (1A, IB, IB, IB, IB, 1C, ID, IE, IF) for depositing sperm (15) at the cervix entrance of a subject, the device comprises: a longitudinal tube (3) for accommodating sperm (15), and a flexible guiding means (2A, 2B, 2B, 2B, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F) connected to the tube (3), where the guiding means is arranged for being attached to an insertion unit (7) in order to facilitate at least partly insertion of the tube (3) into the vagina by means of the insertion unit (7).
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. An artificial insemination device for depositing sperm at the cervix entrance of a subject, the device comprises a longitudinal tube for accommodating sperm, and a flexible guiding sheet connected to the tube, where the guiding sheet is arranged for being releasable attached to an insertion unit in order to facilitate at least partly insertion of the tube into the vagina by the insertion unit, wherein the material, shape and dimensions of the sheet are of a kind that allows the sheet to be wrapped at least partly about the insertion unit, and the sheet is releasably attached to the insertion unit.
20. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the tube is an integral part of or embedded into the guiding sheet.
21. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the length of the tube and the shape/dimensions of the guiding sheet are adapted so that the tube extends from a distal end of the guiding sheet to a proximal end of the guiding sheet, preferably beyond the proximal end of the guiding sheet and/or beyond the distal end of the guiding sheet.
22. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet comprises a first transverse section, a second transverse section, and a third transverse section located between the first section and the second section when seen in the longitudinal length of the sheet, where the transverse width of the third section is smaller than the transverse width of each of the first section and second section.
23. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet comprises a fourth transverse section extending from the distal end of the sheet toward the first section, where the fourth section has a longitudinal length of 0.5-1 cm and a transverse width of 1-3 cm.
24. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet is releasably attached to the insertion unit by an adhesive material provided on at least a part of the inner surface of the sheet.
25. The artificial insemination device according to claim 24, wherein at least the part(s) of the sheet provided with said adhesive material is/are covered by a removable protective cover that is inflexible or substantially inflexible.
26. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the tube is connected to the sheet at one of its transverse sides, and one or more bands of adhesive material is provided at the opposite transverse side of the sheet.
27. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet is releasably attached to the insertion unit by one or more strips of friction generating material provided on the inner surface of the sheet and extending substantially transverse in relation to the direction from the proximal end of the sheet to the distal end of the sheet, where the friction generating material is of a kind providing friction between the sheet and the insertion unit.
28. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet is provided with at least one perforated line extending from the proximal end of the sheet to the distal end of the sheet.
29. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the sheet is a laminate comprising at least two layers joined on top of each other, and the tube is embedded between the two layers.
30. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the thickness of the sheet in the proximity of the tube is adapted to obtain a smooth transition from the parts of the sheet without the tube to the part of the sheet where the tube is located.
31. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein the device comprises a connector with an inlet and an outlet, where the inlet is adapted to ensure a fluid tight connection with a sperm straw, and the outlet is adapted to ensure a fluid tight connection with the distal end of the tube.
32. The artificial insemination device according to claim 31, wherein the outlet of the connector is permanently attached to the distal end of the tube.
33. The artificial insemination device according to claim 31, wherein said inlet has the shape of a truncated cone that tapers in the direction toward said outlet.
34. The artificial insemination device according to claim 19, wherein said device comprises a pumping mechanism permanently connected to the proximal end of the tube in a fluid tight manner.
35. Use of the artificial insemination device according to claim 19 for administration of liquid medicine inside the vagina or the rectum.
36. A Kit comprising: the device according to claim 19, and a sterile package with a compartment for accommodating the device.
Description
[0100] The invention will be explained in greater detail below, describing only exemplary embodiments of the artificial insemination device with reference to the FIGS. 1-18, where
[0101] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is a hollow tubular sleeve and the device is attached to a finger,
[0102] FIG. 2 shows the same device as shown in FIG. 1, where the device has been connected to a sperm straw and a syringe,
[0103] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is elastic flexible sheet and the device is attached to a finger,
[0104] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is a flexible sheet,
[0105] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is a flexible sheet,
[0106] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view along a section of the sheet shown in FIG. 5,
[0107] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fifth embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is a flexible sheet,
[0108] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a sixth embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is two wrapping strips,
[0109] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a seventh embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is narrow strip,
[0110] FIGS. 13-15 shows an eights embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is a sheet,
[0111] FIGS. 16-17 shows an ninth embodiment of the insemination device where the guiding means is a sheet, and
[0112] FIGS. 18a-18f illustrates the steps of using an insemination device where the guiding means is a sheet.
[0113] The insemination devices according to the figures are shown and described as being attached to a finger. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that the insemination device can be attached to other types of insertion units, in which case e.g. the shape/dimensions of the guiding means and/or the position of the tube in relation to the guiding means might very well be different than the embodiments shown in the figures.
[0114] The insemination device 1A shown in FIG. 1 consists of a hollow tubular sleeve 2A and a tube 3 connected thereto. The proximal end 4A of the sleeve 2A has an opening 6. An insertion unit in the form of a finger 7 of a user has been introduced into the sleeve 2A through said opening 6 so that the distal end 5A of the sleeve 2A is located at the distal end 8 of the finger 7, and the proximal end 4A of the sleeve 2A is located at the proximal end 9 of the finger 7. The tube 3 is embedded into the material of the sleeve 2A along the longitudinal length of the sleeve 2A, and extends beyond both the proximal end 4A and distal end 5A of the sleeve 2A. The releasable attachment means that secures the sleeve 2A to the finger 7 is primarily the friction between the sleeve 2A and the finger 7.
[0115] FIG. 2 shows the same insemination device 1A as the one shown in FIG. 1, where it is possible to see that the distal end 5A of the sleeve 2A is provided with an air hole 12 that allows air to escape from the interior of the sleeve 2A during insertion of e.g. a finger 7 as shown in FIG. 1 into the sleeve 2A.
[0116] In order to illustrative how an insemination device of the present invention can be connected to a pumping mechanism of the present invention, the proximal end 11 of the tube 3 in FIG. 2 is connected with a syringe 13.
[0117] In order to illustrate how an insemination device of the present invention can be connected to a sperm straw containing sperm, FIG. 2 shows the distal end 10 of the tube 3 being attached to a sperm straw 14 containing sperm 15. Each of the syringe 13 and the sperm straw 14 is secured to the tube 3 by means of a security tape 16 intended to be wrapped about the distal end 10 of the tube 3 and the end of the sperm straw 14.
[0118] The insemination device 1B shown in FIG. 3 consists of a flexible sheet 2B having a substantially rectangular shape and a tube 3 attached thereto. The sheet 2B is wrapped about a finger 7 of a user and the sheet 2B overlaps itself. The sheet 2B is held in place on the finger 7 by means of a releasable attachment means in the form of an adhesive coating (not shown) provided on the inner surface of the sheet 2B, i.e. the side of the sheet 2B that faces toward the finger 7. It is most practical to wrap the sheet 2B about the part of the finger 7 that has substantially the same diameter, which is the reason why the distal end 5B of the sheet 2B is at a small distance X from the distal end 8 of the finger 7. This also leaves the fingertip not covered by the sheet 2B.
[0119] The sheet 2B shown in FIG. 3 may be a laminate consisting of two layers of film joined on top of each other, where the tube 3 is located between the layers.
[0120] The insemination device 1B shown in FIG. 4 consists of a flexible sheet 2B with a substantially rectangular shape and a tube 3 connected to the inner surface of the sheet 2B by means of two attachment strips 17. The inner surface of the sheet 2B is provided with releasable attachment means in the form of a continuous band 18 of adhesive material and four strips 19 of friction generating material. The band 18 is located at one transverse side 58 of the sheet 2B and the tube 3 is located at the opposite transverse side 59 of the sheet 2B. The band 18 extends from the proximal end 4B to the distal end 5B of the sheet 2B. Each of the strips 19 extends in the transverse direction in a wave-like style, so that the strips 19 will be extending about the insertion unit when the sheet 2B is attached to an insertion unit during use of the device 1B.
[0121] The insemination device 1B can be attached to an insertion unit, such as a finger 7, with a circumference that is smaller than the transverse width of the sheet 2B by wrapping the sheet 2B around the insertion unit starting with the transverse side 59 of the sheet 2B where the tube 3 is attached and ending with the transverse side 58 of the sheet 2B where the continuous band 18 is, so that at least a part of the sheet 1B with the continuous band 18 can adhere onto the sheet 2B itself and thereby maintaining the sheet 2B in the wrapped position.
[0122] The insemination device 1B shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 consists of a flexible sheet 2B and a tube 3. The sheet 2B consists of two plastic layers 20,21 joined on top of each other with a continuous welded portion 22 extending along the circumferential edge of the sheet 2B. The tube 3 is located between the two layers 20,21, and in order to obtain a sheet thickness that does not change too abruptly at the location of the tube 3, the thickness of one 21 of the layers varies at the location of the tube 3 as illustrated by the hatched areas 30, 31 in FIG. 6. The two layers 20,21 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 adjoin each other in the parts of the sheet without the tube, but are shown spaced apart for illustrative purposes.
[0123] The inner surface of the sheet 2B shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is provided with releasable attachment means in the form an adhesive coating 23 for attachment of the device 1B to the finger 7. The sheet 2B is perforated along four lines 24, where each line 24 extends from the proximal end 4B to the distal end 5B of the sheet 2B.
[0124] The proximal end 11 of the tube 3 extends beyond the proximal end 4B of the sheet 2B, whereas the distal end 10 of the tube 3 is at the distal end 5B of the sheet 2B. Thus, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is intended to be wrapped about an insertion unit with the distal end 5B of the sheet 2B at the distal end of the insertion unit.
[0125] The distal end 10 of the tube 3 could instead be extending beyond the distal end 5B of the sheet 2B, so that the distal tube end 10 can enter into e.g. an open container with collected sperm to be drawn up into the tube 3, where after the distal part of the tube 3 extending beyond the distal sheet end 5B can be cut off.
[0126] The insemination device 1B shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 consists of a flexible sheet 2B and a tube 3 attached to the inner surface of the sheet 2B by means of an adhesive. The sheet 2B consists of two layers (e.g. plastic layers) joined on top of each other with a continuous welded portion 25 extending along the circumferential edge of the sheet 2B. The inner surface of the sheet 2B is provided with an adhesive 23 for releasable attachment of the device 1B to a finger 7 as shown in FIG. 7. The sheet 2B has a Christmas tree shape with a first transverse section 32 having two curved portions 26,28, a second transverse section 33 having two curved portions 27,29, a third transverse section 34 located between the first section 32 and the second section 33, and a fourth section 52, where the transverse width W.sub.3 of the third section 34 is smaller than the transverse width W.sub.1 of the first section 33, the transverse width W.sub.1 of the first section 32 is smaller than the transverse width W.sub.2 of the second section 33, and the fourth section 52 is the part of the sheet 2B with the smallest transverse width W.sub.4.
[0127] As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet 2B is shaped and dimensioned so that it extends along almost the entire length of the finger 7 and does not overlap itself when wrapped about the finger 7. A significant amount of the skin on especially the top side of the finger 7 is not covered by the sheet 2B in order to increase the sensitivity of the skin of the finger. FIG. 7 shows a preferred position of the sheet 2B on a finger 7, where the middle part of the sheet and the tube 3 extends along the underside of the finger 7, and the third transverse section 34 is at the proximal interphalangeal joint 35. When a finger bends, it is primarily the skin at the upper side of the proximal interphalangeal joint 35 that stretches, which means that the sheet 2B in the shown position on the finger 7 does not stretch much when the finger bends.
[0128] The insemination device 1B shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 could be modified by locating the tube 3 between the two layers, which are joined together by e.g. an appropriate adhesive. The sheet 2B could also be attached to the upper side the finger 7, so that the underside of the fingertip is left uncovered in case the user prefers to have a high degree of sense of touch.
[0129] The insemination device 1C shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 consists of two wrapping strips 2C,2C and a tube 3 attached to both of them. In FIG. 9 each of the wrapping strips 2C,2C is shown in the attached position on a finger 7 of a user where each strip 2C,2C overlaps itself and forms a closed loop. The strips 2C,2C are held in place on the finger 7 by means of an adhesive coating 23 provided on the inner surface of each strip 2C,2C. The strips 2C,2C are positioned on the finger 7 with a mutual distance Y, and the tube 3 is stretched out between the wrapping strips 2C,2C so that the part of the tube 3 extending between the strips 2C,2C is as close as possible to the finger 7. The large distance Y and the stretched out tube part have the advantage that the part of the tube 3 extending between the strips 2C,2C are kept as close as possible to the finger 7, which decreases the probability of the tube 3 getting caught on something and thereby changes position in relation to the finger 7.
[0130] Each of the wrapping strips 2C,2C consists of an upper layer 24 and a lower layer 25 joined on top of each other with the tube 3 located between the layers 24,25. The two layers 24,25 may be joined by means of welding, and may be made of silicone, polyurethane or plastic.
[0131] The insemination device 1D shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 consists of a narrow strip 2D and a tube 3 connected thereto. In FIG. 11, the narrow strip 2D is attached to a finger 7 of the user and extends along a longitudinal part of the finger 7, where the part of the tube 3 that is connected to the strip 2D is located between the strip 2D and the finger 7. The narrow strip 2D is secured to the finger 7 by means of an adhesive coating 23 on the inner surface of the strip 2D, i.e. the side facing towards the finger 7 in FIG. 11.
[0132] The insemination device 1E shown in FIGS. 13-15 consists of a sheet 2E, a tube 3, a connector 36 and a pumping mechanism 13.
[0133] As shown in FIG. 13, the flexible sheet 2E has a first transverse section 38 with two curved portions 41,43, a second transverse section 39 with two curved portion 42,44, a third transverse section 40, and a fourth transverse section 53, where the transverse width W.sub.3 of the third section 40 is smaller than the transverse width W.sub.1, W.sub.2 of both the first section 38 and second section 39, and the transverse width W.sub.4 of the fourth section is small enough (e.g. about 1 cm) to leave the underside of the fingertip uncovered when attached to a finger 7 as shown in FIG. 15.
[0134] The sheet 2E is a laminate comprising a first layer 45 and a second layer 46 with same shape and joined on top of each other. The tube 3 is connected to the sheet 2E by being secured between the two layers 45,46. The inner side of the sheet 2E (i.e. the outer side of the second layer 46) is provided with an adhesive 23, and the adhesive strength of the adhesive 23 is preserved by the detachable protective cover 47.
[0135] The distal end 10 of the tube 3 is permanently attached to the outlet 48 of the connector 36, and the proximal end 11 of the tube is permanently attached to a pumping mechanism 13. The opening 49 of the inlet 50 of the connector 36 has the shape of a truncated cone that tapers in the direction toward the outlet 48 of the connector 36.
[0136] The device 1E is shaped and dimensioned to be especially suitable for being attached to a finger with the third transverse section 40 positioned at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger. FIGS. 14 and 15 shows a preferred position of the sheet 2E on a finger 7 of a hand, where the third transverse section 40 is positioned at the proximal interphalangeal joint 35 of the finger 7, the distal end 5E of the sheet 2E towards the distal end 8 of the finger 7, and the proximal end 4E of the sheet 2E towards the proximal end 9 of the finger 7. The central part of the sheet 2E is on the upper side of the finger 7 and extends to almost the very distal end 8 of the finger. The underside of the fingertip is left uncovered, which is advantageous as it is this part of a fingertip that has the highest sense of touch.
[0137] In FIG. 15, the distal end 10 of the tube 3 (and thus also the connector 46) has been cut off at the proximal end 5E of the sheet 2E, which means that the new distal end 10a of the tube 3 ends at the distal end 8 of the finger.
[0138] The insemination device 1F shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is the same as the device 1E shown in FIGS. 13-15, except that the shape/dimensions of the first layer 54 and second layer 55 of the sheet 2F are different that the corresponding layers 45,46 of the sheet 2E, that the shape/dimensions of the protective cover 56 is different than the cover 47 of the sheet 2E, and that the laminated sheet 2F comprises a third heart shaped layer 57 located between the first layer 54 and the second layer 55. The first 54 and second layer 55 may be transparent and the third layer 57 may have an appropriate visible color. The sheet 2F could be modified by removing the third layer 57.
[0139] The device 1F is shaped and dimensioned to be especially suitable for being attached to a finger 7 with the sheet 2F extending from the distal end 8 of the finger to the proximal interphalangeal joint 35 and the third transverse section 40 positioned at the distal interphalangeal joint of the finger. FIG. 17 shows a preferred position of the sheet 2F on the middle finger 7 of a hand, where the central part of the sheet 2F extends along the upper side of the finger 7 and the proximal end 4F of the sheet 2F is just next to the joint 35. The device 1F is advantageous, as both the underside and the upper side of the proximal interphalangeal joint 35 is not covered by the sheet 2F.
[0140] FIGS. 18a-18f illustrates the steps of using an insemination device according to the present invention, where the device comprises a connector 36 and a pumping mechanism 13 that both are permanently attached to the tube 3, and where the guiding means is a sheet. The sheet is illustrated with the shape of a heart, but the illustrated use also works with a sheet shaped as e.g. the sheets shown in FIGS. 7-8 and 13-17. First step (FIG. 18a): a sperm straw 14 is attached to the inlet 50 of the connector 36. Second step (FIG. 18b): sperm 15 is sucked from the sperm straw 14 into the tube 3 by operating the pumping mechanism 13. Third step (FIG. 18c): the connector 36 is removed from the device by cutting through the distal end 10 of the tube 3 next to the outlet 48 by means of scissors 51, where after the new distal end 10a of the tube 3 extends somewhat beyond the distal end of the sheet. Fourth step (FIG. 18d): the sheet is detached from the protective cover 47, whereby the adhesive 23 on the inner side of the sheet is exposed. Fifth step (FIG. 18e): the sheet is attached to a finger 7 by wrapping it around the finger with the inner side of the sheet facing towards the finger 7, where after the device is ready for being inserted into the vagina and ready for pumping sperm 15 out of the new distal end 10a of the tube 3 by operating the pumping mechanism 13. Sixth step (FIG. 18f): the device is thrown away after use.
[0141] For the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 7-12, it is intended that the tube 3 should extend beyond the distal end 8 of the finger 7 so that the user conveniently can introduce the distal end 10 of the tube 3 into a portion of sperm in e.g. a cup or a vial in order to draw up sperm into the tube 3 via the distal end 10 of the tube 3. In order to drawn up the sperm, a pumping mechanism such as the syringe 13 shown in FIG. 2 can be attached to the proximal end 11 of the tube 3 and may be secured thereto by means of a security tape 16 such as shown in FIG. 2. The sperm 15 is preferably drawn up into the tube 3 after the device 1A, 1B, 1B, 1B, 1C, 1D has been attached to the finger 7, so that any force applied to the tube 3 during said attachment does not unintentionally eject sperm 15 from the tube 3.
[0142] Once the sperm has been drawn up into the distal end 10 of the tube 3 in any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 7-12, the part of the tube 3 extending beyond the distal end 8 of the finger 7 can be cut off, so that the new distal end of the tube 3 is at the distal end 8 of the finger 7. By doing this, the user is able to position the new distal end of the tube 3 at the cervix entrance by just positioning the distal end 8 of the finger 7 at the cervix entrance.
[0143] Once the insemination device 1B shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has been wrapped about an insertion unit, the distal end 10 of the tube 3 could be connected to e.g. sperm straw with sperm and the proximal end 11 of the tube 3 could be connected to e.g. a syringe, so that the syringe can be operated in order to draw up sperm into the tube 3 before the actual insemination and subsequently eject sperm through the distal end 10 of the tube 3 during the actual insemination.
