Assembly and method for penetrating the uterus of an animal during a non-surgical procedure

A method for introduction of material into a uterus of a mammal, the method comprising:

• providing a probe assembly comprising:
• a probe adapted to be inserted inside a cervix of said mammal, said probe comprising an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, a forward end, and a rearward end, and a probing member extending laterally away from said longitudinal axis of said elongate body at the forward end of said elongate body, said elongate body being sufficiently flexible to enable said probe to be introduced into a cervix and uterus of an unsedated mammal;
• a channel comprising an inlet located toward said rearward end of said elongate body, an outlet located near said probing member, and an enclosed space extending between said inlet and said outlet, said channel further including a bend such that the channel forms an angle of less than 180° with said longitudinal axis of said elongate body near said outlet;
• and
• a tubular member that may be inserted within and displaced through said channel, said tubular member being longer than said channel and having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, a front end, and a back end;
• inserting a portion of the probe assembly into the cervix of said mammal;
• pushing the probing member and a portion of the elongate body of the probe forward through the cervix by rotating the elongate body generally around the longitudinal axis;
• inserting the tubular member into the inlet of the channel such that the front end of the tubular member extends outside the outlet of the channel;
• and
• introducing the material into the uterus through the outlet opening of the tubular member.