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US 6,662,750 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for creating a pathway in an animal
OwnerMark E. Anderson, Donald E. Andersoninventors
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OwnerMark E. Anderson, Donald E. Andersoninventors
Estimating the term…
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. In addition to AI and embryo transplant, other applications for the pathway include other therapeutic, diagnostic or procedures, such as introducing fluoroscopic cameras, instruments, and drug delivery.
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:
A method of creating a pathway in a tract of an animal, useful in association with a catheter having a membrane initially positioned substantially inside the catheter, the method comprising:
A catheter useful for creating a pathway in a tract of an animal, the catheter comprising:
A membrane useful in association with a catheter configured to create a pathway in a tract of an animal, the membrane configured to be initially positioned substantially inside the catheter, the membrane configured to extend from an opening of the catheter and into the tract, and wherein the membrane is configured to extend without sliding action between the membrane and the tract.
A membrane useful in association with a catheter configured to create a pathway in a tract of an animal, the membrane configured to be initially positioned substantially inside the catheter, the membrane configured to extend from an opening of the catheter and into the tract, and wherein the membrane is configured to extend by unfolding in an inside-out manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.