阅读说明：本技术 人工授精装置和使用该装置进行人工授精的方法 (Artificial insemination device and method for artificial insemination using the same ) 是由 安娜·拉托雷·杜克 于 2018-05-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于将精子(15)沉积在对象的宫颈入口处的人工授精装置(1A,1B,1B’,1B”,1B”’,1C,1D,1E,1F),该装置包括用于容纳精子(15)的纵向管(3)以及连接到管(3)的柔性引导组件(2A,2B,2B’,2B”,2B”’,2C,2D,2E,2F),其中,该引导组件布置成用于附接到插入单元(7),以便于借助于插入单元(7)将管(3)至少部分地插入阴道。(An artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) for depositing sperm (15) at the cervical entrance of a subject, the device comprising a longitudinal tube (3) for accommodating sperm (15) and a flexible guiding assembly (2A, 2B ', 2B"', 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F) connected to the tube (3), wherein the guiding assembly is arranged for attachment to an insertion unit (7) for facilitating at least partial insertion of the tube (3) into the vagina by means of the insertion unit (7).)

1. An artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) for depositing sperm (15) at a cervical access of a subject, said device comprising:

-a longitudinal tube (3) for containing sperm (15), and

-a flexible guiding assembly (2A, 2B, 2B', 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F) connected to the tube (3),

wherein the guiding assembly (2A, 2B ', 2B "', 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F) is arranged to be releasably attached to an insertion unit (7) for facilitating insertion of the tube (3) at least partially into the vagina by means of the insertion unit (7).

2. An artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tube (3) is an integral part of the guide assembly (2A, 2B ', 2B"', 2C, 2D, 2E) or is embedded in the guide assembly.

3. An artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the length of the tube (3) and the shape/size of the guiding assembly (2A, 2B ', 2B"', 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F) are adapted such that the tube (3) extends from the distal end (5A, 5B ', 5B "', 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F) of the guiding assembly to the proximal end (4A, 4B ', 4B"', 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F) of the guiding assembly, preferably extends beyond the proximal end of the guiding assembly and/or beyond the distal end of the guiding assembly.

4. An artificial insemination device (1B, 1B ', 1B "', 1E, 1F) as defined in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:

-the guiding component is a flexible sheet (2B, 2B', 2E, 2F),

-the material, shape and dimensions of the sheets (2B, 2B ', 2B "', 2E, 2F) are of a type allowing the sheets to be at least partially wound around the insertion unit (7), and

-the sheet (2B, 2B ', 2B ", 2B'", 2E, 2F) is provided with releasable attachment means (18, 19, 23) for releasably attaching the sheet to the insertion unit (7).

5. An artificial insemination device (1B "', 1E, 1F) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the sheet (1B" ', 2E, 2F) comprises a first transverse section (32, 38), a second transverse section (33, 39) and a third transverse section (34, 40) between the first section (32, 38) and the second section (33, 39) seen in the longitudinal length of the sheet (1B "', 2E, 2F), wherein the transverse width (W) of the third section₃) Less than a lateral width (W) of each of the first and second sections₁，W₂)。

6. An artificial insemination device (1B "', 1E, 1F) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the sheet (1B"', 2E, 2F) comprises a fourth transverse section (52, 53), which fourth transverse section (52, 53) extends from the distal end (5B "', 5E, 5F) of the sheet (1B"', 2E, 2F) towards the first section (32, 38), wherein the fourth section (52, 53) has a longitudinal length of 0.5-1cm and a transverse width of 1-3 cm.

7. An artificial insemination device (1B, 1B ', 1B "', 1E, 1F) as defined in any of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said releasable attachment means comprises an adhesive material (18, 23) provided on at least a portion of the inner surface of the sheet (2B, 2B ', 2B"', 2E, 2F).

8. An artificial insemination device (1E, 1F) as described in claim 7, characterized in that said at least a part of the sheets (2E, 2F) provided with the adhesive material (23) is covered by a removable protective cover (47), which is inflexible or substantially inflexible.

9. An artificial insemination device (1B ') as described in any of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the tube (3) is connected to the sheet (2B') at one lateral side (59) of the sheet (2B ') and is provided with one or more strips (18) of adhesive material at the opposite lateral side (58) of the sheet (2B').

10. An artificial insemination device (1B ') as claimed in any of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that said releasable attachment means comprises one or more strips (19) formed of friction generating material, said one or more strips (19) being arranged on the inner surface of the sheet (2B') and extending substantially transversely with respect to the direction from the proximal end (4B ') of the sheet to the distal end (5B') of the sheet (2B '), wherein the friction generating material is of a type providing friction between the sheet (2B') and the insertion unit (7).

11. An artificial insemination device (1B ") as defined in any of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the sheet (2B") is provided with at least one perforation line (24) extending from the proximal end (4B ") of the sheet (2B") to the distal end (5B ") of the sheet (2B").

12. An artificial insemination device (1B ") as described in any of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the sheet (2B") is a laminate comprising at least two layers (20, 21, 45, 46, 54, 55) superimposed on each other and the tube (3) is embedded between the two layers (20, 21, 45, 46, 54, 55).

13. An artificial insemination device (1B ', 1B "', 1D, 1E, 1F) according to any of claims 4 to 12, characterized in that the thickness of the sheet (2B ', 2B"', 2D, 2E, 2F) at the proximal side (30, 31) of the tube (3) is adapted to obtain a smooth transition from the part of the sheet (2B ', 2B "', 2D, 2E, 2F) without the tube (3) to the part of the sheet (2B ', 2B"', 2D, 2E, 2F) where the tube is arranged.

14. An artificial insemination device (1A) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said guiding assembly is a hollow tubular sleeve (2A) having a proximal end (4A) with an opening (6) for introducing said insertion unit (7) into said sleeve (2A).

15. An artificial insemination device (1C) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guiding assembly comprises at least two winding strips (2C, 2C ') connected to the tube (3) and placed spaced apart on the tube (3), each winding strip (2C, 2C') being arranged to be tightly wound around the insertion unit (7), and each winding strip (2C, 2C ') being provided with a locking device (23) for holding the strip (2C, 2C') in a wound position.

16. An artificial insemination device (1D) according to any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that said guiding assembly comprises a strip (2D) attached or attachable to the tube (3) along a longitudinal portion of the tube (3), wherein said strip (2D) is arranged for fixing to the insertion unit (7) by means of an adhesive material (23) provided on said strip (2D), and wherein the tube (3) is located between the strip (2D) and the insertion unit (7).

17. An artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by a connector (36) having an inlet (50) and an outlet (48), wherein the inlet (50) is adapted to ensure a fluid tight connection with a sperm suction tube (14) and the outlet (48) is adapted to ensure a fluid tight connection with the distal end (10) of the tube (3).

18. An artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) as described in claim 17, characterized in that said outlet (48) of said connector (36) is permanently fixed to the distal end (10) of said tube (3).

19. An artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) as described in claim 17 or 18, characterized in that said inlet (50) has a truncated cone shape tapering in a direction towards said outlet (48).

20. An artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) as defined in any of claims 1 to 19, characterized by a pumping mechanism (13) permanently connected to the proximal end (11) of the tube (3) in a fluid-tight manner.

21. Use of an artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) according to any one of claims 1 to 20 for artificial insemination, wherein the device is releasably attached to an insertion unit (7), the insertion unit (7) being in the form of a substantially elongated element that is at least partially insertable into the vagina of a subject and has a length allowing sperm (15) to be deposited at the entrance of the cervix.

22. Use according to claim 21, characterized in that the insertion unit (7) is a finger (7).

23. Use of an artificial insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) according to any one of claims 1 to 20 for the administration of liquid drugs in the vagina or rectum or for vaginal or rectal lavage.

24. Method for artificial insemination of a subject, wherein the method comprises:

-providing an artificial insemination device (1A, 1B, 1B ', 1B ", 1B'", 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) according to any one of claims 1 to 20,

-attaching or fixing the insemination device to a suitable insertion unit (7) by means of the guiding assembly (2A, 2B, 2B', 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F),

-sucking sperm (15) into the tube (3) via the distal end (10) of the tube (3),

-inserting the insertion unit (7) with the attached insemination device (1A, 1B, 1B', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) into the vagina of the subject,

-ejecting at least some sperm (15) from the distal end (10) of the tube (3), and

-removing the insertion unit (7) with the attached insemination device (1A, 1B ', 1B "', 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) from the vagina.

25. The method of claim 25, further comprising: -cutting off a portion of the tube (3) extending beyond the distal end (8) of the insertion unit (7) before inserting the insertion unit (7) into the vagina.

26. Method according to claim 24 or 25 for attaching a device (1B "', 1E, 1F) according to claim 5 or 6 to an insertion unit in the form of a finger (7), characterized in that the sheet (2B"', 2E, 2F) is attached to the finger (7), wherein the third section (34, 40) of the sheet is arranged at a proximal interphalangeal joint 35 or a distal interphalangeal joint of the finger (7) such that each of the first section (32, 38) and the second section (33, 39) of the sheet is wound around the finger (7) to a greater extent than the third section (34, 40).

27. A kit, comprising:

-a device 1A, 1B ', 1B ", 1B'", 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F) according to any one of claims 1 to 20, and

-a sterile package having a compartment for containing the device.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for artificial insemination, wherein insemination may be performed without a doctor or other medical professional. If the object to be inseminated is a woman, the woman himself or, for example, her partner can perform insemination, in which case insemination may be performed in a reliable and comfortable place and at a convenient time selected by the woman and/or her partner.

Insemination methods contemplated by the present invention include depositing sperm cells into a subject's vagina at the cervical portal, wherein the method may be performed without the need for clinics and/or medical professionals, but may be performed by staff without medical expertise.

As used herein, the term "home insemination" is defined as the method of insemination. As used herein, the term "at the cervical entrance" is defined as at or near the cervical entrance, wherein near the cervical entrance may be, for example, a location about 2 centimeters from the cervical entrance within the vagina.

This method of insemination is simple, painless, and the cervix acts as a filter to prevent any contaminated fluid from entering the uterus. As the distance between the point of sperm ejection and the cervical entrance decreases, the success rate of the insemination procedure increases and female orgasm or female sexual pleasure may increase to sperm uptake in the uterus.

Background

Several ways of performing home insemination are known in the art. One well known method for home insemination of females is the turkish lubricating tube method, wherein the turkish lubricating tube or some other needleless injector is used to aspirate collected sperm, inject the sperm into the vagina, and then expect the sperm to find its way to the female's cervix. However, the Turkish lubrication tube method lacks the intimate and associative nature of sexual intercourse and thus may stress and/or make the insemination process uncomfortable for certain women.

A newer approach is described in U.S. patent publication No.2014/0200400, wherein an artificial penis is provided which is provided with an internal passage along its longitudinal length. An inner tube is placed in the channel and attached to the hub at the proximal end of the artificial penis, while the ends of the outer tube are attached to the hub and the pumping mechanism, respectively. Although the improved artificial penis method brings sexual activity into the insemination process, it is limited to the following facts: not all women will prefer an artificial penis and/or an artificial penis with a fixed size. Another disadvantage of the artificial penis method and other similar methods is that even though the inner and outer tubes may be discarded after use and replaced with a clean new tube, careful cleaning of the inside and outside of the artificial penis is required in order to prevent infection the next time the artificial penis is used.

It should be noted that many times several insemination attempts are needed before the completion of the conception, which means that the known devices for home insemination should be completely sterilized between each use of the device in order to minimize the risk of infection.

With the known method, the person handling the lubricating tube of the turkey, the artificial penis or any similar element cannot directly feel the position of the cervical inlet. Instead, the person will have to imagine where the cervical entrance is, which naturally significantly reduces the possibility of actually depositing sperm at the cervical entrance.

There is therefore a need for a device for home insemination which makes it possible to perform insemination in a comfortable way during sexual intercourse and at the same time reduces/eliminates the known risk of infection.

Disclosure of Invention

A first aspect of the invention is to provide an insemination device that may be used with a variety of different insertion units.

A second aspect of the invention is to provide a insemination device that may be used with an insertion unit that enables a subject to comfortably perform insemination.

A third aspect of the invention is to provide an insemination device, wherein a user of the device may use his/her tactile sensation to guide the device into a subject's vagina such that an exit point of sperm is at or near a cervical entrance.

A fourth aspect of the invention is to provide an insemination device that is inexpensive to manufacture and simple and reliable to use.

A novel and unique way of achieving these and other aspects in accordance with the present invention is to provide an artificial insemination device comprising a longitudinal tube for receiving sperm to be used for insemination and a flexible guide assembly connected to the tube, wherein the guide assembly is arranged for releasable attachment to an insertion unit for at least partially inserting the tube into the vagina by means of the insertion unit.

As used herein, the term "insertion unit" is defined as a finger, a penis, a sexual toy such as an artificial penis, or some other substantially elongated element capable of being at least partially inserted into the vagina of a subject, wherein the length of the insertion unit is sufficient for a user/operator of the insertion unit to position the distal end of the tube at the entrance of the cervix.

Women's sexually sexed couples, singles women without male partners, or heterosexed couples with male sterility or reduced fertility may use the present invention.

With the present invention, it is possible to use fresh sperm as well as sperm without semen. Frozen sperm can also be used, in which case the sperm must be thawed prior to use. As used herein, the term "sperm" is defined as all types of sperm.

As used herein, the term "distal end" of any element, unit or the like is defined as the end intended to be closest to the subject's cervix during insemination. Accordingly, the term "proximal" of said element, unit or the like is defined as the opposite end intended to be furthest away from the cervix of said subject during insemination.

When the subject is a female, the insemination device of the present invention allows to combine the insemination procedure with the intimacy and association properties of intercourse, since an insertion unit (such as her partner's finger or penis) can be selected; or her own fingers or sexual toys) to make the insemination process comfortable and/or sexually pleasing to the woman. With known home insemination devices, the object inserted into the vagina of a woman is part of the manufactured insemination device, such as the specially designed artificial penis disclosed in US2014/0200400, which may be uncomfortable and/or not sexually pleasing for any woman.

When the object is an animal, such as a domestic animal, it is possible to select an insertion unit that is suitable and comfortable for the particular animal, depending on the shape and size of the insertion unit, for example. For example, a farmer can wear a plastic glove on one of his hands and then attach the insemination device of the invention to one of his gloved fingers, so that he can use the tactile sensation to guide the distal end of the tube towards the cervix entrance of the animal, or possibly even inside the cervix.

Naturally, the desired shape and size (in particular the length) of the insertion unit adapted to a particular subject depends on the anatomy of the particular subject, such as the distance from the vaginal opening to the entrance of the cervix. The insemination device of the invention may be produced and sold independently of the insertion unit, since the user of the device may already have the insertion unit to which s/he wishes the guide member to be attached. Thus, the insertion unit does not have a standardized shape/size, but since the user has a real-time understanding of the different shapes/sizes of different suitable insertion units (such as fingers or penis), it is easy for the user to ensure that the shape and size of the guide assembly of a particular insemination device fits the shape and size of a particular insertion unit.

The tube may be an integral part of the guide assembly or embedded in the guide assembly, such as if the tube and guide assembly are manufactured as one unit. Alternatively, the tube may be attached to the guide assembly, such as by means of an adhesive, during manufacture of the insemination device or before the user attaches the insemination device to the insertion unit.

Male sperm cells will only survive for a short period of time at room temperature. Therefore, it is preferable to suck sperm into the tube just before the actual insemination is performed, in order to improve the survival rate of sperm cells. This may be achieved, for example, by positioning the distal end of the tube in the collected sperm so as to draw sperm into the tube at the last step prior to insemination, such as by operating a pumping mechanism attached to the proximal end of the tube. The sperm that has been collected may be fresh sperm collected in e.g. a cup or bottle within a short time before the actual insemination. The sperm that has been collected may also be sperm in a sperm straw delivered from a sperm bank, in which case the distal end of the tube is attached to the sperm straw in order to draw sperm into the tube.

When sperm have been sucked into the tube, the actual insemination of the subject is ready to be performed by inserting the insertion unit at least partially into the vagina in such a way that the tube is also inserted at least partially into the vagina when the tube is connected with the guide assembly attached to the insertion unit. When the insertion unit is inside the vagina, sperm are ejected from the tube into the vagina, such as by operating a pumping mechanism attached to the proximal end of the tube. The pumping mechanism may be permanently attached to the proximal end of the tube in a fluid tight manner, or the pumping mechanism may be adapted to be connected to the proximal end of the tube by a user.

The tube may be adapted such that its distal end may be directly connected to the sperm suction tube, such as when the outer diameter of the distal end of the tube is slightly less than the inner diameter of the sperm suction tube. The sperm straw is typically made of a biocompatible material, such as polyethylene terephthalate or ionomer resin, and may have an internal diameter of, for example, 2.5mm or 2.25 mm. The distal end of the tube may have an outer diameter of about 2.4mm so that the tube fits tightly inside a standard sperm pipette having an inner diameter of about 2.5mm, or the outer diameter may be 2.15mm so that it fits tightly inside a standard sperm pipette having an inner diameter of about 2.25 mm.

The insemination device may include a connector having an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet, wherein the outlet is adapted to be coupled to the distal end of the tube in a fluid tight manner, and the inlet may be adapted to be coupled to a sperm straw in a fluid tight manner.

The inner diameter of the inlet of the connector may be adjusted so that a sperm suction tube having a particular outer diameter will fit fluid tightly inside the inlet. However, it is preferred that the opening of the inlet of the connector has the shape of a truncated cone tapering in a direction towards the outlet of the connector, so that different sperm straws having different outer diameters fit closely inside the inlet of such a connector (smaller diameter sperm straws will have to be inserted further into the opening before a fluid tight connection is obtained than larger outer diameter sperm straws).

In order to prevent the user from mistakenly connecting the outlet of the connector with the distal end of the tube in a non-fluid-tight manner, the outlet of the connector may be permanently attached to the distal end of the tube in a fluid-tight manner to prevent leakage when sperm are sucked into the tube, in which case the connector should be removed from the tube after sperm have been sucked into the tube and before the insertion unit with the insemination device is inserted into the vagina, such as by cutting the tube near the outlet of the connector, for example by means of scissors.

To prevent a user from mistakenly connecting the proximal end of the tube to the pumping mechanism in a non-fluid-tight manner, the proximal end of the tube may be permanently connected to the pumping mechanism in a fluid-tight manner to prevent leakage when being drawn into or pumped out of the tube.

As used herein, the term "pumping mechanism" is defined as a rubber ball, a syringe (e.g., 1-5ml in volume), a dropper, or some other suitable mechanism that can be attached to a tube in order to draw sperm into the tube (suction), and then eject sperm out of the tube (pumping). A syringe is preferred because the user can aspirate sperm from multiple sperm straws in sequence before starting the actual insemination.

During ej ection of sperm, the insertion unit is preferably positioned such that the distal end of the tube is as close as possible to the entrance of the cervix, so that the distance traveled by the ej ected sperm is as short as possible, in order to increase the likelihood of sperm entering the cervix and thereby increase the likelihood of conception.

The flexible guiding assembly is adapted to facilitate releasable attachment of the insemination device to the insertion unit in a manner wherein in the attached position the tube extends along at least a part of the longitudinal length of the insertion unit and wherein the distance between said tube and the outer surface of the insertion unit is preferably as small as possible. Knowing the position of the distal end of the tube relative to the distal end of the insertion unit, the user can guide the distal end of the tube as close as possible to the cervical entrance by simply positioning the distal end of the insertion unit at a suitable position inside the subject's vagina. If the distal end of the tube is located at the distal end of the insertion unit, the distal end of the tube will be located at the entrance of the cervix when the distal end of the insertion unit is located at the entrance of the cervix.

In a preferred embodiment, the insemination device is adapted to be attached to the insertion unit in the form of a user's finger, and since the guiding assembly is flexible, the movement of the user's finger within the vagina will not be much restricted by the insemination device, which provides a very simple and easy way to allow the user to become familiar with the position of the cervical entrance to position the cervical entrance using his/her tactile sensation in order to guide/position the distal end of the tube as close as possible to the cervical entrance during the ejection of sperm.

A lubricant may be provided on at least a portion of the outer surface of the guide assembly to facilitate insertion of the insertion unit with the insemination device into the vagina of the subject. Preferably, at least the part of the outer surface provided with such a lubricant is covered by a protective film, wherein the film is removed by the user before insemination. The purpose of such a protective film is to maintain the effectiveness of the lubricant during storage of the insemination device.

To minimize the risk of infection, the insemination device of the present invention is intended to be discarded after a single use. This also means that there is no need to clean and/or sterilize the insemination device after use.

The tube is preferably an integral part of or embedded in the flexible guide assembly, so that the tube does not become detached from the guide assembly during use of the insemination device. Other advantages are that the user does not have to spend time attaching the tube to the guide assembly and that the user is avoided for some reason from accidentally attaching the tube to the guide assembly at an inappropriate position.

The length of the tube and the shape/size of the guide assembly may be adapted such that the tube extends from the distal end of the guide assembly to the proximal end of the guide assembly, which enables a user of the insemination device to position the distal end of the tube at the entrance of the cervix by simply attaching the guide assembly to the insertion unit with the distal end of the guide assembly at or near the distal end of the insertion unit and the proximal end of the guide assembly towards the proximal end of the insertion unit. The user then only needs to position the distal end of the insertion unit at the entrance of the cervix, in order to automatically position the distal end of the tube at the entrance of the cervix. The user can intuitively perform positioning of the distal end of the insertion unit at the entrance of the cervix by using his/her knowledge of the shape of the insertion unit, and if the insertion unit is attached to one of his/her fingers, he/she can also perform positioning using his/her sense of touch.

The length of the tube and the shape/size of the guide assembly may be adjusted such that the tube extends beyond the distal end of the guide assembly, e.g. by more than 10-150 mm. One of the advantages is that sperm that have been collected can be aspirated from, for example, an open container, even when the opening of the container is of a type that does not allow the distal end of the insertion unit to enter the container via the opening, so long as the diameter of the distal end portion of the tube is adapted to the opening of the container. Another advantage is that it is easier to connect the distal end of the tube to, for example, a sperm suction tube with sperm already collected, since the portion of the tube extending beyond the distal end of the guide assembly can be conveniently grasped by the user in order to facilitate the act of attaching the tube to the sperm suction tube.

For embodiments in which the tube extends beyond the distal end of the guide assembly, after sperm has been drawn into the tube, the portion of the tube extending beyond the distal end of the guide assembly may conveniently be excised so that the distal end of the remaining tube is located at the distal end of the guide assembly.

The proximal end of the tube may extend beyond the proximal end of the guide assembly and the portion of the tube extending beyond the proximal end of the guide assembly preferably has a length adapted to allow the proximal end of the tube to remain outside the vagina during actual insemination. This has the advantage that the pumping mechanism connected to the proximal end of the tube can always remain outside the vagina for ease of handling.

The flexible guide assembly is preferably arranged to be able to releasably attach the insemination device to the insertion unit without damage, or otherwise permanently change the insertion unit, since the releasable attachment is obtained due to friction between the guide assembly and the insertion unit and/or due to adhesive material provided on the guide assembly.

In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible guide assembly may be a hollow tubular sleeve having a proximal end with an opening for introducing the insertion unit into the sleeve. The distal end of the sleeve is preferably closed.

The shape and size of the hollow tubular sleeve preferably fits closely over the selected insertion unit. For example, when the insertion unit is a finger, the shape and size of the sleeve preferably allows the sleeve to be easily placed on the finger while ensuring that the sleeve does not fall off during insemination.

Once placed at the desired location on the insertion unit, the sleeve may be held in place on the insertion unit due to friction between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the insertion unit (such as if the sleeve is made of silicone and the insertion unit is a user's finger).

The sleeve may have fixing means for further fixing the sleeve to the insertion unit. The fixation means is preferably a string attached to the proximal end of the sleeve and arranged for pressing the proximal end of the sleeve towards the insertion unit by looping the string around the proximal end of the sleeve, in which position the string is tightened by knotting the end of the string.

The shape and size of the hollow tubular sleeve is preferably matched to the shape and size of the selected insertion unit in order to increase the friction between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the insertion unit.

The hollow tubular sleeve is preferably formed with a tube which is an integral part of the sleeve or embedded in the sleeve, wherein the tube preferably extends along the entire length of the sleeve (i.e. from the proximal end of the sleeve to the distal end of the sleeve), or the tube may extend beyond the distal and/or proximal end of the sleeve.

For the embodiment of a hollow tubular sleeve closed at its distal end, the sleeve may be provided with air holes at its distal end, so that when the insertion unit is inserted into the sleeve through an opening at its proximal end, air can escape from the interior of the sleeve through said air holes. By having such air holes, the hollow tubular sleeve can be tightly fitted over the insertion unit (such as a user's finger) because air inside the sleeve can escape from the interior of the sleeve through the air holes when the sleeve is fitted over the insertion unit. Such a tight fit between the sleeve and the insertion unit increases the friction between the sleeve and the insertion unit, which keeps the sleeve in place on the insertion unit during use of the insemination device.

The flexible hollow tubular sleeve is preferably made of an elastically deformable material, such as silicone, polyurethane latex or rubber, so that the sleeve can be easily and conveniently placed on the insertion unit and at the same time gently treat the vaginal wall and skin of the subject to be inseminated.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the flexible guide assembly is a flexible sheet, wherein the sheet is of a type that allows the sheet to be at least partially wound around the insertion unit, and wherein the sheet is provided with releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the sheet to the insertion unit.

The flexible sheet may have different shapes (such as rectangular, circular or triangular) and different sizes depending on the shape/size of the insertion unit to which the sheet is intended to be attached.

One advantage of using a guide assembly in the form of such a flexible sheet is that a particular sheet having a particular shape and a particular size can be rolled up and attached to different insertion units having different shapes and/or sizes (such as different fingers having different circumferences and lengths), provided that the sheet can be attached to the insertion unit with sufficient attachment force. On the one hand, the sheet does not have to be wound around the entire circumference of the insertion unit. On the other hand, the sheet may overlap itself when the sheet is wound around the insertion unit. The attachment force is sufficient when the guide assembly substantially maintains the intended position on the insertion unit during use of the insemination device.

Preferably, the thickness of the flexible sheet is too small so that the user can feel touch through the sheet when the insertion unit is, for example, a finger or a penis. The thickness is, for example, 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

The flexible sheet is preferably adapted to be wrapped around the insertion unit in the form of a finger in a manner in which the fingertip is not covered by the sheet, such that the tactile sensation of the user is increased due to the direct contact between the skin of the fingertip, the vaginal wall and the entrance of the cervix.

The flexible sheet may advantageously be shaped and dimensioned and further adapted to be wound around the insertion unit in the form of a finger such that a part of the finger at or around the proximal and/or distal interphalangeal joints is not covered by said sheet, such that one or both joints may be moved more easily, which enables a more comfortable use of the insemination device by the user.

The releasable attachment means of the flexible sheet may be an adhesive material provided on at least a portion of an inner side of the sheet, wherein the inner side is a side of the sheet facing the insertion unit when the sheet is wound around the insertion unit.

As used herein, the term "inboard" of the flexible guide assembly is defined as: when the guide assembly is located in the intended attachment position on the insertion unit, the side of the guide assembly facing the insertion unit, and the term "outer side" of the guide assembly is defined as the opposite side of the sheet facing away from the insertion unit. Accordingly, the term "inner surface" of the guide assembly is defined as the surface facing the insertion unit, and the term "outer surface" is the surface facing away.

An adhesive material may be provided on the entire inner surface of the sheet in order to increase the attachment force. Another way of increasing the attachment force is by providing one or more straps made of adhesive material on the inner surface of the sheet, wherein each strap is a continuous or discontinuous strap, and wherein each strap preferably extends from the proximal end of the sheet to the distal end of the sheet.

The flexible guide assembly may be a flexible sheet, wherein the tube is located at one lateral side of the sheet and one or more straps of adhesive material are provided on the opposite lateral side of the sheet. By starting the winding with the lateral side with the tube and ending the winding with the lateral side with the adhesive band or bands, such a sheet can be wound around an insertion unit having a circumference smaller than the lateral width of the sheet, so that at least a part of said sheet with adhesive material can adhere to the sheet itself and thereby maintain the sheet in the wound position on the insertion unit during use. Preferably, the tube and/or each of the one or more straps of adhesive material extend along the entire longitudinal length of the sheet, i.e. between the distal and proximal ends of the sheet.

In addition to the adhesive material provided on at least a portion of the inner side of the sheet, the releasable attachment assembly of the flexible sheet may comprise one or more strips of friction generating material provided on the inner surface of the sheet and preferably extending substantially transversely with respect to the direction from the proximal end of the sheet to the distal end of the sheet, wherein the friction generating material is of a type that provides a friction force between the sheet and the insertion unit such that displacement of the sheet with respect to the insertion unit, in particular displacement in the direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the insertion unit, is prevented. The strip may for example be made of silicone, which has a suitable friction against the skin of a human body.

For embodiments of the invention in which the guide assembly is a flexible sheet, the sheet is preferably provided with at least one perforation line extending from the proximal end of the sheet to the distal end of the sheet. The purpose of the at least one perforation line is to enable a user to reduce the transverse length of the sheet material by simply tearing off a portion of the sheet material at such perforation line. The elastic sheet is preferably provided with an adhesive material over the entire inner surface of the sheet.

If such a sheet having at least one perforation line is wound around an insertion unit having a circumference smaller than the lateral width of the sheet, the lateral width of the sheet can be reduced by tearing off an appropriate portion of the sheet. In this way, it is possible to reduce the degree to which the sheets themselves overlap when wound around the insertion unit, or even reduce the width of the sheets so that the sheet width is smaller than the circumference of the insertion unit so that the sheets themselves do not overlap. Although a higher degree of overlap increases the strength of the attachment of the sheet to the insertion unit, the user may choose to reduce the lateral width of the sheet by tearing off an appropriate portion of the sheet along the perforation line, because the sensitivity of the insertion unit, for example in the form of a finger, is reduced in the area covered by the sheet (and even in the area where the sheet overlaps itself).

Naturally, the transverse length of the sheet material according to the invention can also be reduced by simply cutting off an appropriate portion of the sheet material by means of e.g. scissors, regardless of the presence or absence of the perforation lines.

The tube may be attached on the inner side of the sheet such that the tube is located between the insertion unit and the sheet when the sheet is wound around the insertion unit. The tube may be attached on the inside of the sheet by means of, for example, a suitable adhesive or by means of at least two attachment strips, one at the distal end of the sheet and one at the proximal end of the sheet.

For embodiments of the invention where the guide member is a flexible sheet, the sheet may be a laminate comprising two or more layers (such as film layers), wherein each layer is made of a suitable material (such as a hypoallergenic material that is non-reactive with the tissue of the user). Suitable materials for the membrane layer may be, for example, plastics, silicones, polyurethanes and/or latexes. The layers are preferably superimposed on each other so as to provide a laminate, and the tube is advantageously located between the two or more layers and may be attached to each adjacent layer, for example by means of an adhesive. It is preferred to have a smooth transition from the portion of the sheet without the tube to the portion of the sheet where the tube is located, such as by varying the thickness of one or more layers near the tube. This smooth transition makes the contact between the device of the present invention and the vagina more pleasant.

For embodiments of the invention in which the guide assembly is a flexible sheet, the tube preferably extends along a middle portion of the sheet. The term "middle portion" of the sheet is defined as the middle portion of the sheet seen in the transverse direction of the sheet and extending between the distal and proximal ends of the sheet.

The layers of the laminate sheet may be laminated together by, for example, adhesive, pressure, welding or heat.

The laminate sheet may comprise at least three layers including a transparent upper layer, a transparent lower layer and a third intermediate layer which is heart-shaped and has a suitable visible colour. The purpose of the heart-shaped third layer is to provide a sheet with an attractive visual appearance.

For embodiments in which the flexible guide member is a flexible sheet, it is preferred that the entire inner side of the sheet (or at least a suitable portion thereof) is provided with a suitable adhesive to releasably adhere the sheet to the insertion unit, and/or that at least a portion of the outer side of the sheet is provided with a suitable lubricant (such as a lubricant coating).

In a preferred embodiment, the artificial insemination device comprises a flexible sheet and a longitudinal tube secured to the sheet, the longitudinal tube extending along the sheet (such as along a middle portion of the sheet) between a distal end and a proximal end of the sheet, the sheet being shaped and sized to have a first transverse section, a second transverse section, and a third transverse section located between the first and second sections when viewed over a longitudinal length of the sheet, wherein a transverse width of the third section is less than a transverse width of each of the first and second sections. In this way, the first and second sections of the sheet can be wound around the insertion unit to a greater extent than the third section. The first section is closer to the distal end of the sheet than the third section of the sheet. The distal end of the first section may be the distal end of the sheet and the proximal end of the second section may be the proximal end of the sheet. The sheet of such a device is preferably suitable for attachment to a finger when the third section has a transverse width of 15-35mm (such as 30mm) and each of the first and second sections has a transverse width of 40-60mm (such as 48 mm).

Such a device is particularly suitable for an insertion unit in the form of an attachment to a finger, wherein the sheet is attached to the finger, wherein the third section of the sheet is located at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger. Each of the first and second sections of the sheet will wrap around the finger to a greater extent than the third portion. The advantage of this is that sufficient attachment of the sheet to the finger is obtained, while the bending of the finger at the proximal interphalangeal joint is only hindered to a small extent by the sheet. Preferably, such a sheet is dimensioned such that when the middle portion of the sheet is attached to the underside of the finger, the upper side of the proximal interphalangeal joint is not covered or is largely not covered by the sheet, so that the attached sheet does not stretch much when the finger is bent.

In an alternative to the above embodiment in which the distal end of the first section is not the distal end of the sheet, the sheet comprises a fourth transverse section extending from the distal end of the sheet towards the first section. The fourth section has a longitudinal length (e.g., 0.5-1cm) and a lateral width (e.g., about 3cm or less, such as 1.5cm or 1cm) that is small enough to leave the underside of the fingertip uncovered by the sheet when the middle portion of the sheet is secured to the upper side of the finger. The tactile feel of the finger is highest at the underside of the fingertip, which means that a device with a flexible plate (which has such a fourth section located at such a position on the finger) makes it easy for the user to guide the distal end of the tube towards the cervical entrance.

The thickness of the finger decreases in the direction towards the distal end of the finger (the tip of the finger) and therefore it is preferred that the transverse width of the first section is slightly less than the transverse width of the second section to such an extent that: when the sheet is wrapped around a finger (with the third section located at the proximal interphalangeal joint), the first and second sections extend substantially equally around the finger.

Such a flexible sheet may be shaped as a christmas tree, with a fourth section closest to the distal end of the sheet, followed by a first section, a third section, and ending in a second section at the proximal end of the sheet, wherein the second transverse section has a transverse width greater than the first transverse section, and the third transverse section has a transverse width less than each of the first and second sections. It is also within the scope of the invention that the first and second sections may have the same lateral width or that the first section may have a greater lateral width than the second section. Sheet shapes other than christmas tree shapes are also within the scope of the invention.

For embodiments of the invention in which the guide member is a flexible sheet, the sheet may be shaped and dimensioned (such as by having a longitudinal length of about 4-6cm along its longest longitudinal portion and a transverse width of about 4-6cm along its widest transverse portion) such that its longitudinal length corresponds to the distance from the fingertip to the proximal interphalangeal joint of an adult middle finger (some adult fingers are shorter and some adult fingers are longer) so that the sheet may be attached to the finger, wherein it extends only from the fingertip to the proximal interphalangeal joint, i.e., does not cover the proximal interphalangeal joint or covers only a small portion of the proximal interphalangeal joint.

In another embodiment of the invention, the flexible guiding assembly may be at least two winding strips connected to the tube and placed spaced apart along the tube, wherein each winding strip is arranged for tightly winding around the insertion unit to form a closed loop and is provided with locking means for holding the strip in a wound position on the insertion unit such that the strip is releasably attached to the insertion unit.

Each of the at least two wound strips preferably extends substantially transversely with respect to the longitudinal length of the tube such that each wound strip, when attached to the insertion unit, extends around the insertion unit in a direction substantially transverse with respect to the direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the insertion unit. .

The locking means of the wound strips may be an adhesive material provided on the inner side at one end of each wound strip, or more preferably on the entire inner side of each wound strip, so that a user may wind each strip around the insertion unit and then back on itself to lock the strip in a tensioned position around the insertion unit.

The winding strip is preferably made of plastic, silicone, polyurethane and/or latex. Each wound strip may comprise two layers of film, for example a plastics film, laminated together with the tube between the layers. The two layers may be superimposed by means of welding.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the flexible guiding assembly may be a narrow strip having a substantially rectangular shape, wherein the tube is connected to the inner side of the strip along the longitudinal length of the strip and the inner side of the strip is provided with an adhesive material for releasably attaching the strip to the insertion unit.

The lateral width of the strip is limited to such an extent that: the strip covers as little area of the insertion unit as possible while providing sufficient adhesion to substantially maintain the strip in the intended position on the insertion unit. In other words, the strip narrows due to its limited transverse width and is not intended to be wound around the insertion unit.

The minimum required transverse width of the strip depends on parameters such as the strength of the adhesive material provided on the inner side of the strip, the nature of the outer surface of the selected insertion unit and the shape/size of the tube.

Embodiments having strips are particularly suitable for use with an insertion unit in the form of a finger, wherein the reduction of the area covered by the strips increases the tactile sensation for the user, which is desirable for some users.

The strips are preferably made of silicone, polyurethane, latex and/or plastic.

An advantage of both the winding strip and the narrow strip is that both types of guide assemblies, when used with an insertion unit in the form of a user's finger, significantly reduce the area of the finger covered by the guide assembly and thus significantly improve the user's tactile feel.

For embodiments according to the invention in which the guiding member is a flexible sheet, at least two wound strips or a narrow strip, the adhesive material of the insertion unit provided thereon in the form of a finger, a penis or another body part of the user for attaching the insemination device thereto is preferably a hydrocolloid adhesive, an acrylic adhesive or other similar adhesive substantially non-reactive with the tissue of the patient. When used in a moist or wet environment (such as the vagina), the hydrocolloid adhesive absorbs moisture and allows the skin to breathe such that the guide assembly does not become detached from the insertion unit (such as a finger).

For embodiments of the invention in which the guiding assembly is a flexible sheet, at least two wound strips or a narrow strip, it is preferred that at least part of the inner side of the sheet provided with the adhesive material is covered by a protective cover, such as a protective film, wherein the cover is removed by the user before attaching the sheet to the insertion unit. The purpose of the detachable protective cover is to maintain the adhesive strength of the adhesive material during storage of the insemination device. The adhesive material is preferably adjusted such that its adhesiveness after a single use is reduced to such an extent that it cannot be repeatedly adhered to the fingers, because repeated use poses a risk of contamination and possible infection.

The protective cover may be flexible, but preferably it is inflexible or substantially inflexible, such that the flexible sheet remains in a flat state during transport until the protective cover is removed. The boot and the sheet are easily removed if they are initially in a flat state. The protective cover may be a release film, such as a silicone top layer liner with a silicone top layer.

The insemination device of the invention is preferably manufactured as an insemination kit in a sterile package, such as a plastic bag, wherein the kit comprises a longitudinal tube and a flexible guide assembly and possibly a pumping mechanism, wherein the tube may be an integral part of the guide assembly or the tube and the guide assembly may be separate parts intended to be connected to each other by a user. In such a kit, the portion of the guide assembly provided with the adhesive material is advantageously covered by a protective cover (such as a protective film) to be removed by the user before attaching the guide assembly to the insertion unit.

The invention also relates to a method for performing artificial insemination of a subject using an insemination device or an insemination kit according to the invention, wherein the method comprises:

-drawing sperm into the tube via the distal end of the tube,

attaching or securing the insemination device to a suitable insertion unit by means of a guide assembly,

-inserting the insertion unit with the attached insemination device into the vagina of the subject,

-ejecting at least some of the sperm from the distal end of the tube, and

-removing the insertion unit of the insemination device to which the band is attached from the vagina.

The method may further include cutting away a distal portion of the tube extending beyond the distal end of the insertion unit prior to inserting the insertion unit into the vagina.

Where the insemination device includes a connector having an outlet permanently attached to the distal end of the tube and an inlet adapted for connection to a sperm suction tube (such as an inlet having an opening shaped as a truncated cone tapering in a direction towards the outlet of the connector), the method of the invention further comprises the steps of: the connector inlet is connected to the sperm straw prior to drawing sperm into the tube, and the connector is then removed from the tube by cutting (e.g., using scissors) the distal end of the tube proximal to the connector.

In case the guiding assembly is a flexible sheet provided with releasable attachment means in the form of an adhesive provided on at least a part of the inner side of the sheet (or the entire inner side of the sheet), and in case at least the part of the sheet provided with adhesive material is covered by the protective cover, the method of the invention further comprises the step of removing the protective cover from the sheet before attaching the sheet to the insertion unit.

The invention may also be used for vaginal or rectal lavage, or for administering liquid drugs in the vagina or rectum.

Drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below, with reference to fig. 1 to 18 only an exemplary embodiment of an artificial insemination device being described, wherein:

fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding assembly is a hollow tubular sleeve, and the device is attached to a finger,

fig. 2 shows the same device as shown in fig. 1, wherein the device has been connected to a sperm pipette and syringe,

fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding member is a resiliently flexible sheet and the device is attached to a finger.

Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding assembly is a flexible sheet.

Fig. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding assembly is a flexible sheet,

figure 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view along a portion of the sheet shown in figure 5,

fig. 7 and 8 show a fifth embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding member is a flexible sheet,

fig. 9 and 10 show a sixth embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding assembly is two wound strips,

fig. 11 and 12 show a seventh embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding member is a narrow strip,

fig. 13 to 15 show an eighth embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding member is a sheet,

fig. 16 to 17 show a ninth embodiment of the insemination device, wherein the guiding member is a sheet, and

fig. 18a to 18f show steps of using the insemination device, wherein the guiding member is a sheet.

The insemination device according to the figures is shown and described as attached to a finger. However, within the scope of the invention, the insemination device can be attached to other types of insertion units, in which case, for example, the shape/size of the guide assembly and/or the position of the tube relative to the guide assembly may differ significantly from the embodiment shown in the figures.

Detailed Description

The insemination device 1A shown in fig. 1 consists of a hollow tubular sleeve 2A and a tube 3 connected thereto. The proximal end 4A of the sleeve 2A has an opening 6. An insertion unit in the form of a user's finger 7 has been introduced into the sleeve 2A through said opening 6 such that the distal end 5A of the sleeve 2A is located at the distal end 8 of the finger 7 and the proximal end 4A of the sleeve 2A is located at the proximal end 9 of the finger 7. The tube 3 is embedded in the material of the sleeve 2A along the longitudinal length of the sleeve 2A and extends beyond the proximal end 4A and the distal end 5A of the sleeve 2A. The releasable attachment means securing the sleeve 2A to the finger 7 is mainly friction between the sleeve 2A and the finger 7.

Fig. 2 shows the same insemination device 1A as shown in fig. 1, wherein it can be seen that the distal end 5A of the sleeve 2A is provided with air holes 12, which air holes 12 allow air to escape from the interior of the sleeve 2A during insertion of e.g. a finger 7 as shown in fig. 1 into the sleeve 2A.

To illustrate how the insemination device of the present invention is connected to the pumping mechanism of the present invention, the proximal end 11 of the tube 3 in fig. 2 is connected to a syringe 13.

To illustrate how the insemination device of the present invention can be connected to a sperm suction tube containing sperm, fig. 2 shows the distal end 10 of the tube 3, the distal end 10 being attached to a sperm suction tube 14 containing sperm 15. Each of the syringe 13 and the sperm suction tube 14 is secured to the tube 3 by means of a securing strap 16, the securing strap 16 being intended to be wrapped around the distal end 10 of the tube 3 and the end of the sperm suction tube 14.

The insemination device 1B shown in fig. 3 consists of a flexible sheet 2B having a substantially rectangular shape and a tube 3 attached to the flexible sheet 2B. The sheet 2B is wound around the user's finger 7, and the sheet 2B overlaps itself. The sheet 2B is held in place on the fingers 7 by means of releasable attachment means in the form of an adhesive coating (not shown) provided on the inner surface of the sheet 2B (i.e. the side of the sheet 2B facing the fingers 7). It is most practical to wind the sheet 2B around a portion of the finger 7 having substantially the same diameter, which is why the distal end 5B of the sheet 2B is at a small distance X from the distal end 8 of the finger 7. This also leaves the fingertips uncovered by the sheet 2B.

The sheet 2B shown in fig. 3 may be a laminate consisting of two film layers laminated on each other, with the tube 3 between the two layers.

The insemination device 1B ' shown in fig. 4 consists of a flexible sheet 2B ' having a substantially rectangular shape and a tube 3 connected to the inner surface of the sheet 2B ' by means of two attachment strips 17. The inner surface of the sheet 2B' is provided with releasable attachment means in the form of a continuous strap 18 formed of adhesive material and four strips 19 formed of friction generating material. Strap 18 is located at one lateral side 58 of sheet 2B 'and tube 3 is located at the opposite lateral side 59 of sheet 2B'. Strap 18 extends from proximal end 4B ' to distal end 5B ' of sheet 2B '. Each strip 19 extends in a wave-like manner in the transverse direction, so that when the sheet 2B 'is attached to an insertion unit during use of the device 1B', the strips 19 will extend around the insertion unit.

By winding the sheet 2B 'around the insertion unit starting with the lateral side 59 of the sheet 2B' with the tube 3 attached and ending with the lateral side 58 of the sheet 2B 'with the continuous strap 18 in place, so that at least a portion of the sheet 1B' with the continuous strap 18 can be adhered to the sheet 2B 'itself, thereby maintaining the sheet 2B' in the wound position, the insemination device 1B 'can be attached to the insertion unit (such as the finger 7) with a circumference smaller than the lateral width of the sheet 2B'.

The insemination device 1B' shown in fig. 5 and 6 consists of a flexible sheet 2B "and a tube 3. The sheet 2B "consists of two plastic layers 20, 21 superimposed on each other by a continuous welded portion 22, the continuous welded portion 22 extending along a peripheral edge of the sheet 2B". The tube 3 is located between the two layers 20, 21 and, in order to obtain a sheet thickness that does not change abruptly at the location of the tube 3, the thickness of one of the layers 21 changes at the location of the tube 3, as shown by the hatched areas 30, 31 in fig. 6. Although the two layers 20, 21 of the embodiment shown in fig. 5 and 6 abut each other in the portion of the sheet without the tube, they are shown spaced apart for illustrative purposes.

The inner surface of the sheet 2B "shown in fig. 5 and 6 is provided with releasable attachment means in the form of an adhesive coating 23 for attaching the device 1B" to the finger 7. The sheet 2B "is perforated along four lines 24, wherein each line 24 extends from a proximal end 4B" to a distal end 5B "of the sheet 2B".

The proximal end 11 of tube 3 extends beyond the proximal end 4B "of sheet 2B", while the distal end 10 of tube 3 is located at the distal end 5B "of sheet 2B". Thus, the embodiment shown in fig. 5 and 6 is intended to be wound around an insertion unit, wherein the distal end 5B "of the sheet 2B" is located at the distal end of the insertion unit.

Alternatively, the distal end 10 of the tube 3 may extend beyond the distal end 5B "of the sheet 2B" so that the distal tube end 10 may enter, for example, an open container with collected sperm to be drawn into the tube 3, and then the distal portion of the tube 3 extending beyond the sheet distal end 5B' may be cut away.

The insemination device 1B "'shown in fig. 7 and 8 is made of a flexible sheet 2B ″'And a tube 3, the tube 3 being attached to the inner surface of the sheet 2B' "by means of an adhesive. Sheet 2B '"is composed of two layers (e.g., plastic layers) superimposed on each other by a continuous welded portion 25, which continuous welded portion 25 extends along the circumferential edge of sheet 2B'". The inner surface of the sheet 2B '"is provided with an adhesive 23, which adhesive 23 is used to releasably attach the device 1B'" to the finger 7, as shown in fig. 7. The sheet 2B' "has a christmas tree shape with a first transverse section 32 comprising two curved portions 26, 28, a second transverse section 33 comprising two curved portions 27, 29, a third transverse section 34 between the first and second sections 32, 33 and a fourth section 52, wherein the transverse width W of the third section 34₃Is less than the transverse width W of the first section 32₁The lateral width W of the first section 32₁Is smaller than the transverse width W of the second section 33₂And the fourth section 52 is of minimum lateral width W₄Part of sheet 2B "'.

As shown in fig. 7, the shape and size of the sheet 2B' "is such that it extends along almost the entire length of the finger 7 and does not overlap itself when wrapped around the finger 7. In particular, a large amount of skin on the top side of the finger 7 is not covered by the sheet 2B' ", in order to increase the sensitivity of the finger skin. Fig. 7 shows a preferred position of the sheet 2B' "on the finger 7, wherein the sheet and the middle portion of the tube 3 extend along the underside of the finger 7 and the third transverse section 34 is located at the proximal interphalangeal joint 35. When the finger is bent, mainly the skin at the upper side of the proximal interphalangeal joint 35 stretches, which means that the sheet 2B' "in the position shown on the finger 7 does not stretch too much when the finger is bent.

The insemination device 1B "' shown in fig. 7 and 8 may be modified by positioning the tube 3 between two layers bonded together, for example by a suitable adhesive. The sheet 2B' "may also be attached to the upper side of the finger 7 so that the underside of the fingertip is not covered in case the user wishes to have a high tactile sensation.

The insemination device 1C shown in fig. 9 and 10 consists of two wound strips 2C, 2C' and a tube 3 attached to them. In fig. 9, each wound strip 2C, 2C ' is shown in an attached position on the user's finger 7, wherein each strip 2C, 2C ' overlaps itself and forms a closed loop. The strips 2C, 2C 'are held in place on the finger 7 by means of an adhesive coating 23 provided on the inner surface of each strip 2C, 2C'. The strips 2C, 2C ' are positioned at a mutual distance Y on the finger 7 and the tube 3 projects between the wound strips 2C, 2C ' so that the portion of the tube 3 extending between the strips 2C, 2C ' is as close as possible to the finger 7. The advantage of the long distance Y and the protruding tube portion is that the portion of the tube 3 extending between the strips 2C, 2C' is kept as close as possible to the finger 7, which reduces the possibility that the tube 3 gets stuck on something and thereby changes its position relative to the finger 7.

Each wound strip 2C, 2C' consists of an upper layer 24 and a lower layer 25 superimposed on each other, with the tube 3 located between the layers 24, 25. The two layers 24, 25 may be superimposed by means of welding and may be made of silicone, polyurethane or plastic.

The insemination device 1D shown in fig. 11 and 12 consists of a strip 2D and a tube 3 attached to the strip 2D. In fig. 11, the narrow strip 2D is attached to the user's finger 7 and extends along a longitudinal portion of the finger 7, wherein the portion of the tube 3 connected to the strip 2D is located between the strip 2D and the finger 7. The narrow strip 2D is secured to the finger 7 by means of an adhesive coating 23 on the inner surface of the strip 2D, i.e. the side facing the finger 7 in fig. 11.

The insemination device 1E shown in fig. 13 to 15 is composed of a sheet 2E, a tube 3, a connector 36 and a pumping mechanism 13.

As shown in fig. 13, the flexible sheet 2E has a first transverse section 38 comprising two curved portions 41, 43, a second transverse section 39 comprising two curved portions 42, 44, a third transverse section 40 and a fourth transverse section 53, wherein the transverse width W of the third section 40₃Less than the transverse width W of the first section 38₁And the lateral width W of the second section 39₂And the lateral width W of the fourth section₄Small enough (e.g., about 1cm) to clear the underside of the uncovered fingertip when attached to the finger 7, as shown in fig. 15.

The sheet 2E is a laminate comprising a first layer 45 and a second layer 46 having the same shape and superimposed on each other. The tube 3 is connected to the sheet 2E by being fixed between the two layers 45, 46. The inner side of the sheet 2E (i.e., the outer side of the second layer 46) is provided with the adhesive 23, and the adhesive strength of the adhesive 23 is maintained by a detachable protective cover 47.

The distal end 10 of the tube 3 is permanently attached to the outlet 48 of the connector 36 and the proximal end 11 of the tube is permanently attached to the pumping mechanism 13. The opening 49 of the inlet 50 of the connector 36 has the shape of a truncated cone tapering in a direction towards the outlet 48 of the connector 36.

The device 1E is shaped and dimensioned to be particularly suitable for attachment to a finger by means of a third transverse section 40 located at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the finger. Fig. 14 and 15 show a preferred position of sheet 2E on a finger 7 of a hand, with the third transverse section 40 located at the proximal interphalangeal joint 35 of the finger 7, with the distal end 5E of sheet 2E towards the distal end 8 of the finger 7, and the proximal end 4E of sheet 2E towards the proximal end 9 of the finger 7. The central portion of the sheet 2E is located on the upper side of the finger 7 and extends almost to the most distal end 8 of the finger. The underside of the fingertip is uncovered, which is advantageous because this part of the fingertip has the highest tactile sensation.

In fig. 15, the distal end 10 of tube 3 (and therefore also connector 46) is cut away at the proximal end 5E of sheet 2E, which means that the new distal end 10a of tube 3 terminates at the distal end 8 of the finger.

The insemination device 1F shown in fig. 16 and 17 is identical to the device 1E shown in fig. 13 to 15, except that the first layer 54 and the second layer 55 of the sheet 2F have a shape/size different from the corresponding layers 45, 46 of the sheet 2E, the protective cover 56 has a shape/size different from the shape/size of the cover 47 of the sheet 2E, and the laminated sheet 2F comprises a third heart layer 57 between the first layer 54 and the second layer 55. The first layer 54 and the second layer 55 may be transparent and the third layer 57 may have a suitable visible color. Sheet 2F may be modified by removing third layer 57.

The device 1F is shaped and dimensioned to be particularly suitable for attachment to a finger 7, wherein the sheet 2F extends from the distal end 8 of the finger to the proximal interphalangeal joint 35 and the third transverse section 40' is located at the distal interphalangeal joint of the finger. Fig. 17 shows a preferred position of the sheet 2F on the middle finger 7 of the hand, wherein the central portion of the sheet 2F extends along the upper side of the finger 7 and the proximal end 4F of the sheet 2F is just proximal to the articulation 35. The device 1F is advantageous because neither the underside nor the topside of the proximal interphalangeal joint 35 is covered by the sheet 2F.

Fig. 18a to 18f show the steps of using an insemination device according to the present invention, wherein the device comprises a connector 36 and a pumping mechanism 13, both the connector 36 and the pumping mechanism 13 being permanently attached to the tube 3, and wherein the guiding assembly is a sheet. The sheet is shown as having a heart-shape, but the illustrated use is also applicable to sheets shaped as shown in, for example, fig. 7-8 and 13-17. First step (fig. 18 a): the sperm suction tube 14 is attached to the inlet 50 of the connector 36. Second step (fig. 18 b): sperm 15 is drawn from the sperm suction tube 14 into the tube 3 by operation of the pumping mechanism 13. Third step (fig. 18 c): the connector 36 is removed from the device by cutting the distal end 10 of the tube 3 near the outlet 48 by means of scissors 51, and then the new distal end 10a of the tube 3 extends slightly beyond the distal end of the sheet. Fourth step (fig. 18 d): the sheet is removed from the protective cover 47, exposing the adhesive 23 on the inside of the sheet. Fifth step (fig. 18 e): the sheet is attached to the finger 7 with its inner side facing the finger 7 by wrapping the sheet around the finger, and the device is then ready for insertion into the vagina and ready for sperm 15 to be pumped out of the new distal end 10a of the tube 3 by operating the pumping mechanism 13. Sixth step (fig. 18 f): the device is discarded after use.

For the embodiments shown in fig. 1-4 and 7-12, it is intended that the tube 3 should extend beyond the distal end 8 of the finger 7 so that a user can conveniently introduce the distal end 10 of the tube 3 into a portion of sperm, for example, in a cup or bottle, in order to draw sperm into the tube 3 via the distal end 10 of the tube 3. To aspirate sperm, a pumping mechanism such as a syringe 13 shown in fig. 2 may be attached to the proximal end 11 of the tube 3, and the pumping mechanism may be secured to the proximal end 11 by means of a securing strap 16 such as shown in fig. 2. The sperm 15 is preferably sucked into the tube 3 after the device 1A, 1B' ", 1C, 1D has been attached to the finger 7, so that any force applied to the tube 3 during said attachment does not accidentally eject the sperm 15 from the tube 3.

In any of the embodiments shown in fig. 1-4 and 7-12, once sperm have been drawn into the distal end 10 of the tube 3, the portion of the tube 3 extending beyond the distal end 8 of the finger 7 may be cut away so that the new distal end of the tube 3 is located at the distal end 8 of the finger 7. By doing so, the user is able to position the new distal end of tube 3 at the entrance of the cervix simply by positioning distal end 8 of finger 7 at the entrance of the cervix.

Once the insemination device 1B "shown in fig. 5 and 6 has been wound around the insertion unit, the distal end 10 of the catheter 3 may be connected to e.g. a sperm suction tube with sperm, and the proximal end 11 of the tube 3 may be connected to e.g. a syringe, so that the syringe may be operated to suck sperm into the tube 3 prior to actual insemination and subsequently eject sperm through the distal end 10 of the tube 3 during actual insemination.