VORRICHTUNG UND VERFAHREN ZUR KEIMARMEN SAMENGEWINNUNG VON EBERN

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and method for collecting semen from boars. The device is characterized in that it has a simple structure and is therefore inexpensive to produce and, during the method, it reduces contamination, in particular the microbe count. The device has a glove (1) with a fingers portion (2) and a thumb portion (3) for receiving a hand and, on one side of the glove (1) between the fingers portion (2) and the thumb portion (3), it has a film tube (5) with an opening (6) which is held open by a spring element (10), and of which the opposite, second end (13) is closed, wherein the film tube (5) is connected to the glove (1).

Claims

1. Device for collecting ejaculate from the boar, having a hand covering (1) with a finger section (2) and a thumb section (3) for accommodating a hand, a foil hose (5) attached to one side of the hand covering (1) between the finger section (2) and the thumb section (3), the first end (7) of which foil hose (5) having an opening (6), which is spanned open by a spring element (10) and the second end (13) of which opposite the first end (7) is closed, wherein the foil hose (5) at its first end (7) is connected to the hand covering (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first end (7) of the foil hose (5) is connected with the edge of the hand covering (1), which extends between the finger section (2) and the thumb section (3).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the finger section (2) has finger guides (17) and the thumb section (3) has a thumb guide (15).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the foil hose (5) has, at a spacing from the opening (6), a second spring element (12) and is connected in this area to the hand covering (1).

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (10), which spans open the opening (6) of the first end (7), and/or the second spring element (12) is formed by a laid-back and fixed section (21) of the foil hose (5) and/or by an elastic element (11).

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (10), which spans open the opening (6) of the first end (7), and/or the second spring element (12), is directly connected to the hand covering (1).

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (10), which spans open the opening (6) of the first end (7), from the opening (6) extends longitudinally along the foil hose (5) at least to 30% of the section, along which the foil hose (5) lies against the hand covering (1).

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the foil hose (5) between its first end (7) and second end (13) has a screening device (23), which spans over the cross-section of the foil hose (5).

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the foil hose (5) between its first end (7) and second end (13) has a predetermined tearing point (18).

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the foil hose (5) is double-walled in its second section (14) adjacent to the second end (13) and has a socket (20) for filling a temperature control medium into the double shell.

11. Method for collecting ejaculate from the boar, characterized by the insertion of a hand into the hand covering (1) of a device according to claim 1 and arranging the opening (6) at the first end (7) of the foil hose (5) over the tip of the penis of the boar.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized by the insertion of fingers into the finger section (2) and insertion of a thumb into the thumb section (3), wherein the opening (6) at the first end (7) of the foil hose (5) is spanned open by the spring element (10).

13. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the foil hose (5) is double-walled in its second section (14) adjacent to the second end (13) and a temperature control medium is filled through a socket (20) into the double shell.

Description

[0022] The invention will now be described more precisely by means of examples and with reference to the figures, which show schematically in

[0023] FIG. 1 a top view of a simple embodiment of the device,

[0024] FIG. 2 a simple embodiment of the device rotated by 90 with respect to FIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 3 a preferred embodiment of the device,

[0026] FIG. 4 another preferred embodiment of the device,

[0027] FIG. 5 a spring element arranged on the foil hose and

[0028] FIG. 6 in sections the closed second end of the device.

[0029] In the figures, the same reference numerals designate elements having the same function. Individual elements shown in the figures can be combined with other embodiments.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a hand covering 1 made of plastic foil, which is approximately rectangular in the flat state, with an approximately rectangular finger section 2 and an adjacent thumb section 3, which is likewise rectangular. The hand covering 1 is closed circumferentially, with the exception of a hand opening 4, through which a hand can be inserted. This embodiment shows a simple hand covering without guides for fingers. An thumb guide 15 can e.g. be formed by means of a weld seam 16.

[0031] In the area between finger section 2 and thumb section 3 a foil hose 5 is connected with the hand covering 1, in particular on the opening 6 at the first end 7 of the foil hose 5 by means of a first attachment 8, as well as according to the preferred embodiment on a second attachment 9, which is arranged at a spacing corresponding to an hand width from the first attachment 8. The opening 6 has a circular spring element 10, which spans open the opening 6 and consists of the end of foil hose 5, which is folded and welded circumferentially at least in sections for attachment. The spring element 10 also forms a reinforcement of the edge of the opening 6. In addition to the first attachment 8 the foil hose 5 is connected to the hand covering 1 by means of a second attachment 9, wherein the foil hose 5 in the area of the second attachment 9 has a second spring element 12, which spans open the cross-section of the foil hose 5 at its opening 6. The second spring element 12 can be a section that is pushed together and connected at least in sections, in particular a welded section of the foil hose 5. Alternatively, the first spring element 10 and/or the second spring element 12 can have an elastic element 11 or consist thereof, which is e.g. an open or closed ring, which is attached inside in the foil hose 5, preferably outside on the foil hose 5.

[0032] The foil hose 5 is closed at its second end 13 opposite the first end 7 and is double-walled in the second section 14 at the second end 13. It is shown that the terminal second section 14 is formed as a double-walled container, which is tightly connected with the foil hose 5, e.g. glued or welded.

[0033] A screening device 23, which is formed by at least one layer of a porous fabric resp. a screening fabric, is arranged in a section of the foil hose 5 between the hand covering and the second section 14. The screening device 23 is e.g. welded circumferentially with the foil hose 5.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the device in the state, in which a hand is arranged in the hand covering 1. The finger section 2 and the thumb section 4 are arranged around the foil hose 5 so that the foil hose 5 is held by its attachment to the hand covering 1. The spring element 10, which spans open the opening 6 of the foil hose 5 is generally preferably attached adjacent to a finger guide to the hand covering 1.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a device with a preferred embodiment of the hand covering 1, which in its finger section 2 has the finger guides 17 and in its thumb section 3 a thumb guide 15. Here, it is clear that the foil hose 5 is preferably arranged at an angle of 45 to approx. 90 with respect to the finger guides 17. The opening 6 of the foil hose 5 is, as is generally preferred, attached on the edge of the hand covering 1 so that in the flat state of the hand covering, i.e. without any hand inserted into the hand covering 5, the thumb guide 15 projects over the first end 7 of the foil hose 5. The opening 6 of the foil hose 5 has a spring element 10, which spans open the opening 6. By means of a first attachment 8 in the area of the spring element 10 the foil hose 5 is connected to the hand covering 1 on an edge, which is an outer edge of a finger guide 17, which is protruded by the thumb guide 15.

[0036] The foil hose 5 is formed along the second section 14 from a layer of a foil and closed at the second end. Between the screening device 23 and the second section 14, there is a predetermined tearing point 18, e.g. in the form of a partial perforation, which does not fully penetrate the thickness of the foil hose 5.

[0037] A label 19 is attached to the second section 14.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a device, in which the spring element 10 extends from the opening 6, on which the foil hose 5 is connected by means of the first attachment 8 with the hand covering 1, over the area of the hand covering 1 up to the second attachment 9. The spring element 10 can be formed in one piece with a second spring element 12, which is arranged at the second attachment 9. Here, a spiral-shaped spring element 10 is shown, which can be annular in shape in the area of the opening 6. Alternatively, the spring element 10 can have ridges, which extend longitudinally with respect to the foil hose 5. The second spring element 12 can likewise be annular in shape.

[0039] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the second section 14 is double-walled fitted with a socket 20, which is provided for filling in a temperature control medium, e.g. water, and is closable by a valve. The valve can e.g. be a foil valve, which closes irreversibly after filling of the double shell. As is generally preferred, this embodiment has a screening device 23 and between the latter and the second section 14 a predetermined tearing point 18.

[0040] FIG. 5 in a section shows a possible formation of a spring element 10, 12 on the foil hose 5 by an elastic element 11 which is arranged on the external side of the foil hose and a section 21 of the foil hose 5 is laid back resp. folded over the elastic element 11. Here, the laid-back section 21 of the foil hose 5 can be connected for attachment 24 to a section of the foil hose 5, which is adjacent to the elastic element 11, and/or connected to the elastic element 11, e.g. by gluing or welding, preferably by means of a weld seam 16 running completely or sectionwise circumferentially about the spring element 10, 12.

[0041] The spring element 10, which spans open the opening 6 of the foil hose 5, and/or the second spring element 12 in this manner can be formed as a laid-back and fixed section 21 of the foil hose 5, optionally with an elastic element 11. It is generally preferred that the first and second attachment 8, 9 connects the spring element 10 resp. the second spring element 12 to the foil hose 5.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a section of the second section 14 of the device, which can be partially double-walled, with a closed grommet 22. The grommet 22 can be cut open for outflow of ejaculate from the second section 14, as is indicated by the dashed line.

Example

Low-Germ Semen Collection from the Boar

[0043] For the method for semen collection of young boars of the breed Pietrain, a device according to FIG. 3 was used. The boar were allowed to mount onto a phantom. A technician had pushed his hand into the glove-shaped hand covering 1 and grasped around the foil hose 5 by means of the finger guide 17 and the thumb guide 15 in the area, which was attached along the hand covering 1. The opening 6, which spanned open by the spring element 10 was guided over the penis tip of the boar and light pressure was exerted through the foil hose 5 onto the penis tip. The ejaculate flew through the foil hose 5 spanned open by the second spring element 12 in its second section 14. Therein, the other hand was free, so that the technician, who was sitting next to the boar, could support himself, or the other hand could be used to hold the second section 14. Subsequently, the foil hose 5 was removed from the penis. The bulbourethral gland secretion was retained by the screening device 23 and the second section 14 could be separated from the bulbourethral gland secretion by tearing-off along the predetermined tearing point 18. The ejaculate contained in the second section 14 was analyzed and used for insemination after dilution.

[0044] It has shown that the device allows simple handling, which essentially corresponds to the conventional hand method and that a time-consuming connection of the penis to an automatic sperm collection device is avoided. The tests showed that average volumes of ejaculate of approx. 250-260 ml were obtained, the total number of sperm (measured by means of NucleoCounter SP-100 after permeabilization and staining with propidiumiodide at 488 nm) per ejaculate of approx. 98.8 billion corresponded to those which were achieved with the conventional hand method and were therefore significantly higher than those, which were achieved in a comparative test using automatic sperm collection devices (80 -87 billion).

[0045] The total bacterial count (CFU) of the ejaculates was determined after incubation in liquid culture (Uricult, Orion Diagnostica, Finland) for 48h at 37 C. While for the conventional hand method, which was carried out for comparison, a total mean value of 2.910.sup.6 CFU/ml was found, the method using the device according to the invention yielded a total mean value of approx. 710.sup.5 CFU/ml.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0046] 1 hand covering

[0047] 2 finger section

[0048] 3 thumb section

[0049] 4 hand opening

[0050] 5 foil hose

[0051] 6 opening

[0052] 7 first end

[0053] 8 first attachment

[0054] 9 second attachment

[0055] 10 spring element

[0056] 11 elastic element

[0057] 12 second spring element

[0058] 13 second end

[0059] 14 second section

[0060] 15 thumb guide

[0061] 16 weld seam

[0062] 17 finger guide

[0063] 18 predetermined tearing point

[0064] 19 label

[0065] 20 socket

[0066] 21 laid-back section of foil covering 5

[0067] 22 grommet

[0068] 23 screening device

[0069] 24 attachment