Embryo Transfer
OwnerQuinn A. Gavagainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embryo from a female animal is transferred to another animal by determining presence of an embryo in the uterus of a donor animal by ultra-sonic imaging and inserting an endoscope vaginally into the uterus to a location adjacent the embryo. A tool of the endoscope projects to a position to extract the embryo washed into a container of the tool which is then closed by moving a closure part to enclose the embryo and extracting the endoscope to remove the embryo for transfer to a recipient animal. The fluid into the container can be controlled in pressure to maintain a required pressure generally matching that inside the uterus.
Claims21
A method for transfer of an embryo from a female animal comprising:
- determining presence of an embryo in the uterus of a donor animal by ultra-sonic imaging;
- inserting an endoscope vaginally into the uterus to a location adjacent the embryo;
- operating a tool of the endoscope to extract the embryo into a container of the tool;
- closing the container of the tool to enclose the embryo and extracting the endoscope to remove the embryo for transfer to a recipient animal.
A method for transfer of an embryo from a female animal comprising:
- inserting an endoscope vaginally into the uterus to a location adjacent the embryo;
- operating a tool of the endoscope to extract the embryo into a container of the tool;
- guiding the endoscope to a position within the uterus by a guide tube inserted into the uterus through the vagina;
- holding the guide tube fixed relative to the uterus during operation of the tool so as to locate an end of the guide tube at a fixed position within the uterus;
- and operating components the endoscope for moving an end of the endoscope relative to an end of the guide tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.