Apparatus for creating a pathway in an animal and methods therefor

Abstract

A method and apparatus for safer and more effective deep trans-cervical intra-uterine artificial insemination (AI) is provided. Such a deep AI catheter causes minimal discomfort and risk of trauma, and does not require the services of a highly trained AI professional. First, a catheter is inserted into the cervical tract of the animal. A membrane, initially positioned inside a tube section of the catheter, is then extended from an opening in the tube and into the tract under pressure. The membrane extends into the tract without friction thereby reducing the discomfort and the risk of trauma or injury to the animal. When the membrane is fully extended into the tract, pressure causes the tip of the membrane to open thereby releasing the AI fluid and depositing the genetic material suspended in the fluid into the reproductive tract. Deployment of the membrane is facilitated by tapering its wall thickness towards its tip. In addition to AI and embryo transplant, other applications for the pathway include therapeutic, diagnostic, or other procedures such as introducing fluoroscopic cameras, instruments, and drug delivery.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of creating a pathway in a tract of an animal, useful in association with a catheter having a tube coupled to a membrane initially positioned substantially inside the tube, the method comprising: 
 inserting the tube into a tract of the animal; and    extending the membrane from an opening in the tube and into the tract, thereby creating the pathway in the tract, and wherein the membrane is extended in the tract without sliding action between the membrane and the tract, and wherein the membrane is configured to herniate when the membrane encounters an obstruction in the tract, thereby clearing the obstruction and enabling the membrane to continue to extend.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the extension of the membrane is caused by pressure.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tract is the cervical tract of the animal.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the animal is a sow.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tube has a nozzle located at the opening of the tube.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the membrane wall thickness is tapered.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising depositing genetic material into the animal.  
     
     
         8 . A catheter useful for creating a pathway in a tract of an animal, the catheter comprising: 
 a tube configured to be inserted into the tract of the animal; and    a membrane initially positioned inside the tube, the membrane configured to extend from an opening in the tube and into the tract, wherein the membrane extends without sliding action between the membrane and the tract, and wherein the membrane wall thickness is tapered away from the tube opening.    
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 8  wherein the membrane has an open tip.  
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 8  wherein the membrane has a closed tip.  
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 8  wherein the extension of the membrane is caused by pressure.  
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 8  wherein the tract is the cervical tract of the animal.  
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 12  wherein the animal is a sow.  
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 8  wherein the tube has a nozzle located at the opening of the tube.  
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 8  wherein the nozzle has a positioning ring configured to mate with a corresponding positioning ring on the tube.  
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 12  wherein the membrane is configured to deposit genetic material into the animal.