Device for enriching spermatozoa

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for insertion into a vaginal passage or for accommodation of a penis during coitus, comprising a selectively permeable separating wall for the enrichment of X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa or Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa, wherein the separating wall shows an increased permeability for X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa or Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa.

Claims

1. A method of increasing a probability to procreate male or female descendants, comprising partly or completely separating X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa using a device adapted for insertion into a vaginal passage or for accommodation of a penis during a coitus, said device comprising a selectively permeable separating wall having pores, wherein a size of the pores of the selectively permeable separating wall is adapted to a size of the Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa, so that the separating wall has an increased permeability for Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pores have a nominal pore size in a range between approximately 3.800 m and approximately 4.900 m.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall has a statistical average of pores per unit area between 10000 mm.sup.2 and 50000 mm.sup.2.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall at least partially is made of a polymer, selected from the group comprising rubber, polylactid, cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyisoprene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethersulfone, polysiloxane and combinations thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall is at least on one side provided with an alkaline coating.

6. The method according to claim 1, further providing a substance for a generation of an alkaline coating on the separating wall.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pores have a nominal pore size in a range between approximately 3.800 m and approximately 4.500 m.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pores have a nominal pore size in a range between approximately 3.900 m and approximately 4.000 m.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall has a statistical average of pores per unit area between 15000 mm.sup.2 and 40000 mm.sup.2.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall has a statistical average of pores per unit area between 20000 mm.sup.2 and 30000 mm.sup.2.

11. A method of increasing a probability to procreate male or female descendants, comprising partly or completely separating X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa using a device adapted for insertion into a vaginal passage or for accommodation of a penis during a coitus, said device comprising a selectively permeable separating wall having mesh fabric with mesh openings, wherein a size of the mesh openings is adapted to a size of the Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa, so that the selectively permeable separating wall has an increased permeability for Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the size of the mesh openings is in a range between approximately 3.800 m and approximately 4.900 m.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the size of the mesh openings is in a range between approximately 3.800 m and approximately 4.500 m.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the size of the mesh openings is in a range between approximately 3.900 m and approximately 4.000 m.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall has a statistical average of pores per unit area between 10000 mm.sup.2 and 50000 mm.sup.2.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall at least partially is made of a polymer, selected from the group comprising rubber, polylactid, cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyisoprene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethersulfone, polysiloxane and combinations thereof.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall is at least on one side provided with an alkaline coating.

18. The method according to claim 11, further providing a substance for a generation of an alkaline coating on the separating wall.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall has a statistical average of pores per unit area between 15000 mm.sup.2 and 40000 mm.sup.2.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the selectively permeable separating wall has a statistical average of pores per unit area between 20000 mm.sup.2 and 30000 mm.sup.2.

Description

(1) In the drawings are shown:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective presentation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention in the shape of a diaphragm

(3) FIG. 2 a cross section of the diaphragm from FIG. 1

(4) FIG. 3 a cross section of a diaphragm similar to FIG. 1

(5) FIG. 4 a cross section of a diaphragm similar to FIG. 1 with an exchangeably accommodated separating wall and

(6) FIG. 5 a profile of an embodiment of a device according to the invention designed as a condom.

(7) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1, designed as a dome-shaped diaphragm, comprising a selectively permeable separating wall 2 in a perspective presentation and a cross section, respectively.

(8) The separating wall 2 is made as an elastic membrane, for example made of silicone or polyamide. Furthermore, the diaphragm comprises a dimensionally stable, elastic ring 3, which serves for the insertion of the diaphragm into a vagina and due to which it is guaranteed, that the shape of the diaphragm is preserved also after insertion into the body.

(9) The selectively permeable separating wall 2 shows schematically, not scaled pictured pores 4 with a nominal pore size of 4.773 m. Due to the choice of the pore size, the selectively permeable separating wall shows an increased permeability for Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa.

(10) FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a device 101 designed as dome-shaped diaphragm comprising a selectively permeable separating wall 2 in a cross section. The design is similar to the FIGS. 1 and 2 and for equal designs uniform reference signs are used. Unlike the embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 and 2, the diaphragm according to FIG. 3 is made up as an integral part of one material, wherein a section 103 functions as an elastic ring element.

(11) FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment of a device 101 designed as dome-shaped diaphragm, comprising a selectively permeable separating wall 2 in a cross section. Also the design according to FIG. 3 is similar to the FIGS. 1 and 2 and for equal designs uniform reference signs are used. Unlike the embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 201 comprises a two-piece ring. The ring shows two ring elements 231, 232 connectable to each other, between which a selectively permeable separating wall 2 is accommodated exchangeably. Thereby, the ring, particularly its size and/or elasticity is individually customizable to a user. The selectively permeable separating wall 2 can thereby be designed in such a way, that it is suitable for different ring designs.

(12) FIG. 5 shows a profile of a device 301 according to the invention designed as a condom with a selectively permeable membrane 302. The pictured condom shows a tubular area 310 and a sperm reservoir 311, wherein the area of the sperm reservoir 311 is made up of a selectively permeable separating wall 302. The connection of the separating wall 301 with the tubular area is preferably made by gluing or welding. In this process, it is possible to use a different material for the sperm reservoir 311 than for the tubular area.