Method and apparatus to reduce the number of sperm used in artificial insemination of cattle

Abstract

The present artificial insemination instrument may include a single use, hollow, elongate, metal pipette and a single disposable syringe that is not toxic to bovine sperm. The apparatus is used with any type of diluent that is not toxic to bovine sperm. In various embodiments, a technician may use non-sorted reduced sperm count semen straws from a bull stud, cut an unsorted semen straw into several pieces to use one piece at a time per cow, thaw one straw and mix the non-sorted semen with diluent, or use reduced sperm count semen straws filled with sex sorted semen by the manufacturer. A procedure is disclosed to use the artificial insemination instrument, reduced sperm count semen from any of the aforementioned sources, a non-toxic syringe, and a diluent to achieve conception rates at least as good as conventional prior art device and procedure conception rates.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter free, speculum free, non-surgical method for artificial inseminationof a female bovine using reduced sperm count semen and a diluent, the method, comprisingthe following steps:
 (1) aspiratingtransferring a diluent into a single, disposable, syringe, the syringe being made of a material that is non-toxic to bovine sperm; 
 (2) positioning an adaptor between the said syringe and a reduced sperm count semen straw to facilitate aspiration of the reduced sperm count combining semen into contact from said semen straw with the said diluent in the syringe forming to form an insemination solution within the said syringewith the diluent; 
 (3) attaching the said syringe to a one-piecehollow, elongate, straight, rigid, metal pipette having a constant diameter along its length, a longitudinal axis extending along its length, and a passageway extending between proximal and distal end, the ends said distal end of the metal pipette being rounded and including no outlet port on the a longitudinal axis of the said pipetteat its distal end but, said distal end including only at least one transverse outlet port formed in close proximity to the distal end of the pipette, the at least one outlet port being transverse to the said longitudinal axisof the pipette; 
 (4) inserting the said distal end of the said pipette sequentially through a female bovine's vagina, through the cervix and into the a uterususing rectal palpation; and 
 (5) pumpingtransferring at least a portion of thesaid insemination solution from thesaid syringe, through thesaid pipette, and into the female bovinesaid uterus. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the said diluent is aspirated from a multi-dose, sterile bag into the said syringe. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising achieving fluid communication between the said syringe and the said pipette by connecting a luer connector on the said proximal end of the said pipette and a luer connector on the said syringe. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing fluid communication between the said syringe and the said pipette by forcing one end of an elongate elastomeric tube over a luer connector on one end of the said syringe and by forcing a portion of an opposite end of the elongate elastomeric said tube over the said proximal end of the said pipette. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of both said diluent and the reduced sperm count said semen are pumped transferred into the said uterus. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 wherein an additional step is added as follows:, further comprising: 
 conducting an ovulation examination prior to insemination to determine which ovary will ovulate; and, 
 pumping substantially all of the diluent and reduced sperm count sementransferring said insemination solution into a corresponding uterine horn, which will act as a conduit to transport sperm to fertilize an egg. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the said pipette has comprises an outside diameter of less not greater than 0.134 inches. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced sperm count said semen is are sex sorted. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced sperm count said semen is are unsorted. 
     
     
       10. A catheter free, speculum free, non-surgical method for artificial insemination of a female bovine comprising the following steps:
 (1) aspirating diluent into a single, disposable, syringe, the syringe being made of a material that is non-toxic to bovine sperm;   (2) positioning an adaptor between the syringe and at least one semen straw having a conventional sperm count to facilitate aspiration of the sperm count semen into contact with the diluent in the syringe forming an insemination solution within the syringe with the diluent;   (3) attaching the syringe to a one-piece hollow, elongate, straight, rigid metal pipette having a constant diameter along its length, a longitudinal axis extending along its length, and a proximal and distal end, the distal end of the metal pipette being rounded and including no outlet port on the longitudinal axis of the pipette at its distal end but including only at least one transverse outlet port formed in close proximity to the distal end of the pipette, the at least one outlet port being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pipette;   (4) inserting the distal end of the pipette sequentially through a female bovine's vagina, through the cervix and into the uterus using rectal palpation; and   (5) pumping at least a portion of the insemination solution from the syringe through the pipette into the female bovine.   
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the conventional sperm count semen is sex sorted. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the conventional sperm count semen is unsorted. 
     
     
       13. A catheter free, speculum free An instrument for artificial inseminationof a female bovine with a cervix and a uterus, the instrument sized and arranged to receive a liquid diluent and semen, the instrument, comprising:
 a single, disposable syringe having a proximal and a distal end, the syringe being made of a material that is non-toxic to bovine sperm and being sized and arranged to hold the liquid diluent and semen sized to contain an insemination solution comprising a diluent and semen; 
 a single, one-piece, hollow, elongate, straight, rigid, metal pipette having a constant diameter along its length, a longitudinal axis extending along its length, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end formed integral with the pipette and having a smooth rounded shape to facilitate insertion through the female bovine's cervix and into the uterus, the pipette defining and a passageway from the extending between proximal end to the and distal end of the pipette and ends, said distal end including no outlet port on its a longitudinal axis at its distal end but of said pipette, said distal end including only at least one transverse outlet port formed proximate the distal end of the pipette, the at least one outlet port being transverse to the said longitudinal axisof the pipette, an outside diameter of the pipette being less than 0.134 inches, the pipette being removably attachable to the single disposable syringe; and 
 means to achieve a fluid tight fluid-tight connection between the distal end of the said syringe and the proximal end of the  said pipette to allow the liquid diluent and the semen in the syringe to flow facilitate transfer of said insemination solution from the said syringe, through the said pipette, and out the at least one transverse said outlet port. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 1, wherein said semen straw has a conventional sperm count. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1, wherein said semen straw has a reduced sperm count. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 1, further comprising artificially inseminating said bovine. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 1, wherein said distal end of said pipette comprises a rounded distal end. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 1, wherein said semen from said semen straw are transferred into said syringe via aspiration. 
     
     
       19. The instrument of claim 13, wherein said semen are sex-sorted. 
     
     
       20. The instrument of claim 13, wherein said semen are unsorted. 
     
     
       21. A method for artificial insemination, comprising:
 combining semen from a semen straw with an amount of diluent to form an insemination solution within a container;   coupling a proximal end of a one-piece, straight, rigid, metal pipette to said container via an adapter;   said pipette having a constant diameter along its length, and a passageway extending between proximal and distal ends;   said distal end including no outlet port on a longitudinal axis of said pipette, said distal end including only at least one outlet port transverse to said longitudinal axis;   inserting a distal end of said pipette into the reproductive system of a female bovine; and   transferring at least a portion of said insemination solution from said container to said reproductive system of said female bovine.