US4744368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means for detecting pregnancy in domestic farm animal
Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc
•
Filing: 1986-05-13
•
Granted: 1988-05-17
•
Expires: 2006-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A device for detecting pregnancy in animals comprises a finger receptacle adapted to fit over a human finger. On the outer surface of the receptacle is a transducer housing having a transducer therein for transmitting ultrasonic sound waves and for receiving echo ultrasonic sound waves in response thereto and converting the echo ultrasonic sound waves into an electrical echo signal. Electrical leads carry the echo signal from the transducer to a computer or a strip chart recorder for analyzing and visually displaying indices which provide an indication of the velocity of the blood flow detected in the uterine artery of the animal by the transducer. The method of the present invention comprises placing the transducer in contact with the uterine artery of the animal, and measuring the velocity of blood flow in the uterine artery. An increase in the blood flow over the animal's normal blood flow in the uterine artery is an indication of pregnancy. The blood flow of the uterine artery in one horn of the animal's uterus can be compared to the blood flow of the uterine artery in the other horn of the animal's uterus to determine whether one of the two uterine horns has a developing embryo therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald F. Young
- 👤 Leroy R. Waite
- 👤 Stephen P. Ford
- 👤 Alan J. Conley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/06; A61B10/00; A61B10/0012; A61B8/08; A61B8/0866; A61B8/12; A61B8/42; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4455; A61D; A61D17/00; A61D17/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for detecting pregnancy in an animal having first and second uterine horns and first and second uterine arteries within said first and second uterine horns, respectively said method comprising: taking a first measurement indicating the velocity of blood flow within said first uterine artery taking a second measurement of the velocity of blood flow within said second uterine artery; comparing said first and second measurements whereby an elevation of one of said measurements substantially above the other of said measurements indicates pregnancy in the one of said uterine horns associated with said one elevated measurement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for detecting pregnancy in an animal having first and second uterine horns and first and second uterine arteries within said first and second uterine horns, respectively said method comprising: taking a first measurement indicating the velocity of blood flow within said first uterine artery taking a second measurement of the velocity of blood flow within said second uterine artery; comparing said first and second measurements whereby an elevation of one of said measurements substantially above the other of said measurements indicates pregnancy in the one of said uterine horns associated with said one elevated measurement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said taking of said first and second measurements is accomplished by placing a transducer means in contact with said first and second uterine arteries, respectively, transmitting an ultrasonic transmitted signal from said transducer means into said first and second arteries, respectively, using said transducer means to receive an echo ultrasonic signal resulting from said transmitted signal, converting said ultrasonic echo signal to an electrical echo signal, and carrying said electronic echo signal to analyzing means for analyzing said electronic echo signal.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting pregnancy in an animal comprising: taking a first measurement indicating the velocity of blood flow within the uterine artery of said animal at a time when said animal is known not to be pregnant; taking a second measurement indicating the velocity of blood flow within said uterine artery of said animal at a time when said animal is suspected of being pregnant, but before an embryo is readily detectable by manual palpation; comparing said first and second measurements whereby pregnancy will be indicated by said second measurement being substantially greater than said first measurement.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for detecting pregnancy in an animal comprising: taking a first measurement indicating the velocity of blood flow within the uterine artery of said animal at a time when said animal is known not to be pregnant; taking a second measurement indicating the velocity of blood flow within said uterine artery of said animal at a time when said animal is suspected of being pregnant, but before an embryo is readily detectable by manual palpation; comparing said first and second measurements whereby pregnancy will be indicated by said second measurement being substantially greater than said first measurement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said taking of said first and second measurements is accomplished by placing a transducer means in contact with said uterine artery, transmitting an ultrasonic transmitted signal from said transducer means into said uterine artery, using said transducer means to receive an ultrasonic echo signal resulting from said transmitted signal and to convert said ultrasonic echo signal into an electric echo signal, and carrying said electronic echo signal to analyzing means for analyzing said electronic signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2755796A
Cited
US4314563A
Cited
US4144877A
Cited
US4237729A
Cited
US4336808A
Cited
US4416286A
Cited
US4355643A
Cited
US4434669A
Cited
US4545386A
Cited
US4476874A
Cited
US4582066A
Cited
US4674517A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-17 | 1991-11-16 | 1992-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-17 | 1995-11-16 | 1996-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-17 | 1999-11-16 | 2000-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |