Device for collecting animal semen
The device ( 1 ) comprises an inlet element ( 28 ) comprising an interface ( 40 ) for connecting to an artificial vagina and delimiting an inlet opening ( 14 ), a filter delimiting with the inlet element ( 28 ) an inlet chamber ( 41 ) on the side of the filter turned towards the opening ( 14 ) and a collection bag ( 4 ) extending between a closed end ( 8 ) and an open end ( 7 ) in which said inlet element is engaged; said bag and said filter delimiting a collection chamber ( 42 ) on the side of the filter turned towards the end ( 8 ); by means of which the semen entering through the opening ( 14 ) passes through the filter and comes to the collection chamber ( 42 ); the filter being a perforated wall ( 30 ) having a tubular portion ( 22 ) and a bottom portion ( 15 ) closing said tubular portion, and having a surface density of orifices ( 24 ) that is greater on said bottom portion than on said tubular portion.
1. A collection device for the collection of animal semen, comprising:
an inlet element comprising a mechanical interface connector configured to connect to an artificial vagina and delimiting an inlet opening in the collection device;
a filter formed by a perforated wall comprising a first face and a second face, said perforated wall associated with the inlet element, said first face delimiting with the inlet element an inlet chamber; and
a collection bag extending between a closed distal end zone and a proximal end zone, said proximal end zone having an opening in-which is fixed to said inlet element; said collection bag and said second face of said filter delimiting a collection chamber;
wherein semen entering the collection device via the inlet opening passes through the filter and is collected in the collection chamber; and
wherein the perforated wall has a tubular portion extending axially between a first end closest to said proximal end zone of said collection bag and a second end closest to said closed distal end zone of said collection bag and a bottom portion extending transversally to said tubular portion and closing the second end of the tubular portion; said perforated wall is perforated by a plurality of orifices distributed over said tubular portion according to a first predetermined pattern and on said bottom portion according to a second predetermined pattern, said first predetermined pattern and second predetermined pattern providing a surface density of orifices that is greater on said bottom portion than on said tubular portion.
2. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said tubular portion has a circular cross-section.
3. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said second face of said tubular portion is a ribbed outer face.
4. The collection device according to claim 3 , characterized in that said ribbed outer face has straight ribs longitudinally oriented along the tubular portion.
5. The collection device according to claim 4 , characterized in that said ribs are distributed around the tubular portion, according to a predetermined angular pitch.
6. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said plurality of orifices have a predetermined minimum diameter between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, said surface density of orifices being between 3 and 16 orifices per cm 2 .
7. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first predetermined pattern provides a surface density of orifices on the tubular portion between 3 and 7 orifices per cm 2 .
8. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said second predetermined pattern provides a surface density of orifices on the bottom portion between 10 and 16 orifices per cm 2 .
9. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that, according to at least one of said first predetermined pattern and said second predetermined pattern, said plurality of orifices are arranged in a grid of rectangles.
10. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that, according to at least one of said first predetermined pattern and said second predetermined pattern, said plurality of orifices are arranged in a quincunx.
11. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that each of said plurality of orifices is delimited by a funnel-shaped surface increasing in diameter towards the second face of the filter.
12. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said inlet element and said perforated wall are formed of injection-moulded thermoplastic material.
13. The collection device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the material from which said perforated wall is made comprises a polyolefin-type polymer having a surface tension less than 30 dynes.
14. The collection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a protection bag which covers said collection bag and which is fixed to said inlet element.