Semen Capsule For Use With An Artificial Insemination Applicator

Abstract

A capsule for cold storage of semen that is subsequently used with a plunger-type artificial insemination applicator. The capsule container ends are sealed with force fitted one-piece plugs having tapered confronting inner ends and spaced annular sealing lands that engage the inner wall of the container. One plug is engaged and movable by a reciprocable applicator plunger for ejecting semen.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to capsules for use in applicator apparatuses, and, more specifically, to capsules which are particularly well adapted for use in artificial insemination operations, and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel capsule for use in an applicator apparatus.

Another object is to afford a novel capsule which is particularly well adapted for use in artificial insemination operations.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel capsule for use in an applicator apparatus.

Another object is to afford a novel capsule which is particularly well adapted for use in artificial insemination operations.

Apparatuses embodying elongated tubular housings, through which elongated plungers are movable therethrough for ejecting fluid from the housing, are well known in the art. This includes such apparatuses for use in artificial insemination operations, apparatuses of this type being shown, for example, in my copending application for United States Letters Patent, Ser. No. 124,883, filed Mar. 16, 1971, and now abandoned, and in Heuboski U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,146, Hill et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,884 and Cassou U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,281.

Also, capsules of various types, which are adapted to hold a supply of fluid, such as semen, and which may be used with apparatuses of the aforementioned type, have been heretofore known in the art, such as, for example, capsules adapted to be mounted on the outer end of such a housing, such as shown in the aforementioned Hill et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,256,884; capsules in the form of "straws" adapted to be mounted in such housings and embodying a plug movable therethrough to expel fluid therefrom, such as shown in the aforementioned Cassou U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,281; and capsules in the form af ampules which may be mounted in such housings, and which may be turned inside out to expel fluid therefrom, such as shown in my aforementioned application, Ser. No. 124,883.

However, although capsules of the aforementioned types heretofore known in the art have been successfully used, they commonly have had several inherent disadvantages, such as, for example, being difficult to manufacture; being difficult to fill with fluid; not affording effective sealing against leakage of fluid therefrom; not affording effective sealing against the passage of outside air, gases or liquids thereinto; being inefficient in the discharge of fluids therefrom; being susceptible to the accidental blowing out of the sealing members thereof during storage and handling; being complicated in construction; or being difficult or unreliable in operation, and the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel capsule for use in applicator apparatuses wherein the parts thereof are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner operable to afford effective sealing of fluid or liquid therein at all times prior to the desired discharge of such fluid or liquid therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel capsule of the aforementioned type wherein the parts thereof are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner effective to insure thorough discharge, in the desired direction, of fluid therefrom during a discharge operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel capsule of the aforementioned type wherein the parts thereof are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner effective to prevent leakage of liquids, air and gases into the capsule.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel capsule of the aforementioned type which is practical and efficient in construction and operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an applicator apparatus, with parts broken away, having a capsule, embodying the principles of the present invention, disposed in operative position therein;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a capsule embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the capsule shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another portion of the capsule shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN

A capsule 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawing to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The capsule 1 embodies, in general, an elongated, substantially straight, tubular member in the form of a "straw" 2, FIG. 2, with plugs 3 and 4 disposed in respective opposite ends of the tubular member 2, in sealing relation thereto, a fluid 5 being disposed in the tubular member 2 between the plugs 3 and 4, and preferably completely filling the tubular member 3 therebetween. Preferably, the tubular member 2 and the plugs 3 and 4 are round in transverse cross section.

The tubular member 2 may be made of any suitable material, but preferably is made of a suitable plastic material such as, for example, polypropylene, or the like, and preferably is what is referred to herein as "severable," which means that it may be readily cut with a manually operated, sharp cutting edge, such as a knife blade, scissors, clippers, or the like.

The plugs 3 and 4, also, may be made of any suitable material, but preferably are made of a suitable plastic material such as, for example, polypropylene.

The plug 3, shown in the drawings, comprises an elongated member having oppositely disposed, outer end portions 6 and 7, FIGS. 2 and 3, separated by an elongated, substantially cylindrical-shaped, central body portion 8. Two annular lands or ribs 9 and 10 extend around the body portion 8, transversely to the length thereof, in spaced, parallel relation to each other. Preferably, the lands 9 and 10 are disposed closely adjacent to, but spaced from the end portions 6 and 7, respectively, FIG. 3.

The end portions 6 and 7 of the plug 3 shown in the drawing are frusto-conical in shape, terminating at their outer ends in substantially flat faces 11 and 12, respectively, FIG. 3, which are smaller in diameter than the inner ends of the respective end portions 6 and 7.

In the assembled capsule 1, the plug 3 is disposed in the tubular member 2 with a relative snug, force fit, but is movable longitudinally therethrough by the application of manual force applied by suitable means, such as a plunger, to the face 11 of the end portion 6, as will be discussed in greater detail presently. Preferably, the plug 3 in the assembled capsule 1 is so disposed in the tubular member 2 that the face 11 of the end portion 6 thereof is disposed in uniplanar relation to the outer end 13 of the tubular member 2.

The plug 4 is somewhat similar in construction to the plug 3, embodying a frusto-conical shaped end portion 14 tapering inwardly away from one end of an elongated, substantially cylindrical-shaped, central body portion 15 and terminating at its outermost end in a substantially flat face 16, and including two lands 17 and 18 projecting radially outwardly from opposite end portions of the body portion 15 in parallel spaced relation to each other and to the respective adjacent ends of the body portion 15. However, unlike the plug 3, the end portion of the plug 4 remote from the end portion 14 comprises a cap or end piece, in the form of a substantially flat plate 19, which is round in cross section, transverse to the length of the plug 4, and which projects radially outwardly beyond the adjacent end of the body portion 15. Preferably, the cap 19 is of the same outside diameter as the outside diameter of the tubular member 2, and in the assembled capsule 1, the outer peripheral edge portion 20 thereof is disposed in abutting juxtaposition to the end 21 of the tubular member 2 remote from the end 13 thereof, FIG. 2. It will be seen that with this construction of the plug 4, when the latter is disposed in operative position in the tubular member 2, the cap 19 affords an effective abutment member for engaging the outer end 21 of the tubular member 2, to thereby accurately locate the plug 4 in the tubular member 2, and to prevent the plug 4 from being pushed through the tubular member 2, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The outside diameter of the lands 9, 10, 17 and 18 preferably are such that, when the plugs 3 and 4 are disposed in operative position in the respective end portions of the tubular member 2, the latter are expanded outwardly somewhat thereby to afford a liquid-tight sealing engagement between the tube 2 and the plugs 3 and 4. For example, I have found that in making the capsule 1, with the tubular member 2 and the plugs 3 and 4 made of polypropylene and with the inside diameter of the unassembled tubular member 2 having a wall thickness of 0.020 inch and an inside diameter of 0.105 inch, the outside diameter of the lands 9, 10 and 17 may be made in the nature of 0.109 inch and 0.111 inch and preferably 0.110 inch. With this construction, the wall portions of the tubular member 2, adjacent to the lands 9, 10 17 and 18 in the assembled capsule 1, are expanded outwardly by the respective lands to afford a somewhat wrap-around engagement of the tubular member 2 with the lands 9, 10, 17 and 18 which is effective to provide an efficient seal against leakage of air, gas and liquid past the plugs 3 and 4, and is effective to hold the plugs 3 and 4 in the tubular member 2.

In filling the capsule 1 with the fluid 5, the proper amount of fluid may be inserted into the tubular member 2, with the latter disposed in horizontally extending position, and the plugs 3 and 4 may then be inserted into operative position in the respective ends of the tubular member 2 to seal the fluid therein. With this construction, the lands 9 and 10, and the lands 17 and 18, afford an effective double-seal at the respective ends of the tubular member 2 against leakage of the fluid 5 outwardly past the plugs 3 and 4, respectively, and against the passage of liquid, air or gases past the plugs 3 and 4 into the tube 5, to thereby afford effective protection against the leakage of the fluid 5 from the tubular member 2 and against the passage of contaminants from outside of the tubular member 2 into the fluid 5.

Capsules of the type shown herein are commonly stored in what may be termed extremely cold refrigerants, such as, for example, liquid nitrogen, and the like, the temperature of which may be several hundred degrees below zero, Fahrenheit. Such cooling of the interior of the capsule 1, of course, causes contraction of any gases which may be trapped therein between the plugs 3 and 4, so as to reduce the pressure within the capsule 1 and thus tend to cause the flow of any surrounding liquid, or gases, or the like, into the capsule 2. If such inward flow occurs, there is danger of deleteriously contaminating the fluid 5. In addition, in the event of any such leakage of liquid nitrogen or a gas into the capsule 1, subsequent warming of the capsule 1, effective to thaw the frozen fluid therein is also effective to tend to expand the gas afforded by any such liquid nitrogen or gas which has passed thereinto, with the resultant danger that the tubular member 2 might burst or the end plugs therein might be blown therefrom. If this occurs, of course, the fluid, which oftentimes is highly valuable, will be lost, and, in addition, such bursting of the tubular member or blowing out of the end plugs therefrom creates a danger to personnel who may be nearby. Therefore, it is of importance that capsules of the type disclosed herein are effectively sealed against such inward leakage of liquid or gases, and the like, thereinto, and the present invention affords effective protection against such occurrences.

When it is desired to use the capsule 1 in an applicator apparatus, the end 21 of the tubular member 2 may be opened, and the tubular member 2, with the fluid 5 and the plug 3 remaining therein may be inserted into operative position in a suitable applicator apparatus, such as, for example, the apparatus 22 shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus 22 is of a type well known in the art and forms no part of the present invention, except insofar as it affords a part of the entire combination, with a capsule as disclosed herein.

The apparatus 22 includes an elongated, substantially straight tubular member 23, which may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, stainless steel, extruded aluminum or a suitable plastic such as, for example, polypropylene. It embodies a front end 24 and a rear end 25, and, preferably, is substantially uniform in internal diameter from the rear end 25 to a front end portion 26 thereof, adjacent to the front end 24, from which point it tapers inwardly, in a substantially frusto-conical shape to a discharge opening 27 in the front end 24.

An elongated plunger 28 having a body portion 29 of such cross sectional size as to fit snugly within the portion of the tubular housing 23 rearwardly of the front end portion 26 thereof with a freely slidable fit, is slidably mounted in the housing 23 in the assembled apparatus 22. The plunger 28 embodies an enlarged handle portion 30 at the outer end thereof, and an inner end portion 31, at the other end thereof, the inner end portion 31 being of reduced cross sectional size, as compared to the cross sectional size of the body portion 29, and projecting from the body portion 29 in substantially axial alignment therewith.

In the use of the capsule 1, in the apparatus 22 shown in the drawings, after the end 21 has been opened, the tubular member 2, with plug 3 and the fluid 5 remaining therein, may be inserted into the housing 23 into position wherein the end thereof remote from the end 13 is disposed in engagement with the inner face of the front end portion 26 of the housing 23, as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the plunger 28 may be inserted into operative position in the housing 23, wherein the end portion 31, which is of a cross sectional size adapted to pass through the tubular member 2, is engaged with the outer end face 11 of the plug 3. When it is desired to discharge the now thawed fluid 5 from the apparatus 22, such as, for example, into the vaginal canal of an animal to be impregnated, the plunger 28 may be manually pressed forwardly into the housing 23 to thereby cause the plug 3 to be moved forwardly along the tubular member 2, with the lands 9 and 10 in firm wiping engagement with the inner surface of the tubular member 2, into position, such as that shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, and thereby discharge the fluid 5 outwardly from the tubular member 2 and through the opening 27 in the housing 23. Preferably, the handle 30 is so disposed relative to the front end of the front end portion 31 of the plunger 28 that it will engage the end 25 of the housing 23 in the most forward position, which is desired for the plunger 28, so as to limit movement of the plug 3 to a position, such as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, wherein it is effective to completely discharge the fluid from the tubular member 2 while remaining disposed in the latter. Upon completion of the discharge operation, the plunger 28 may be removed from the housing 23, the emptied tubular member 2, with the plug 3 remaining therein, may be removed from housing 23 through the end 25 thereof, and, if desired, after the housing 23 has been suitably sterilized, another tubular member 2 with the plug 3 and fluid 5 remaining therein may be inserted into operative position in the housing 23 for another insemination operation.

If desired, the force with which the plug 4 is engaged with the tubular member 2 may be such that, by using a suitable manually operated tool, such as, for example, a pliers, or the like, the plug 4 may be manually removed from the tubular member 2 to thereby open the end 21 thereof. However, it will be remembered that, preferably, the tubular member 2 is constructed of severable material, and I prefer that, in the opening of the tubular member 2, the latter be cut off inwardly of, and immediately adjacent to the inner end 16 of the plug 4. Such opening of the tubular member 2 may be readily accomplished by the use of a knife blade, or the like, and tends to insure against spillage of the fluid 5 from the tubular member 2.

It is well known in the art that, heretofore, certain operators using straws of semen, having plugs at both ends which were of the type that were movable through the body portion of the straw, such as, for example, the plug shown in the aforementioned Cassou U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,281, have resorted to the practice of cutting such straws in two and using the two halves of the straws in an artificial insemination operation on two separate animals. This, of course, reduces the dosage of spermatozoa to one-half of the intended dosage, and, commonly, the thus reduced dosages have not proven sufficient to effect the intended impregnation of the animal receiving the same. This, of course, is a highly undesirable practice. The construction of the plug 4 is such as to deter such practice, the cap 19 being of such size, and being so engaged with the tubular member 2 as to prevent the passage of the plug 4 therethrough, so that in the event the tubular member 2 should be cut in two, the fluid 5 contained in the half of the tubular member 2 in which the plug 4 is disposed cannot be discharged from the tubular member 2 by movement of the plug 4 therethrough.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel capsule.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel capsule which is particularly well adapted for storage and subsequent discharge of semen in the carrying out of artificial insemination operations.

Also, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel capsule embodying novel sealing structures constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner for effective efficient sealing against the leakage of fluid therefrom and against the passage of contaminating liquids, gases, and the like, thereinto.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel capsule from which fluid may be discharged efficiently and thoroughly.

Also, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel capsule which is practical and efficient in operation and which may readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire the avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A capsule for the cold storage of semen at freezing temperatures and for subsequent use in an artificial insemination applicator apparatus of the type embodying an elongated tubular body portion, and an elongated plunger reciprocable through said body portion in co-axial relation thereto, and comprising

a. an elongated tubular member adapted to be inserted longitudinally into said body portion and to receive an end of said plunger for movement longitudinally therethrough,

b. a one-piece plug normally mounted in one end portion of said tubular member in position to close the latter and to be engaged by said end of said plunger and be moved thereby through said tubular member upon such movement of said plunger therethrough, and

c. another one-piece plug mounted in the other end portion of said tubular member in position to close the latter;

d. semen disposed in said tubular member between said plugs,

e. each of said plugs including

1. a substantially cylindrical-shaped central body portion disposed in the respective end portion of said tubular member,

2. an end portion

a. projecting from one end of said last mentioned central body portion in substantially co-axial relation thereto toward the other of said plugs, and

b. sloping inwardly toward its axis in a direction away from its last mentioned central body portion, and

3. two outwardly projecting annular lands

a. extending around the respective central body portion transversely to the length thereof,

b. disposed in spaced, substantially parallel relation to each other, and

c. engaging said tubular member with a force fit.