Straw for the preservation of a predetermined dose of liquid-based substance, in particular pure or diluted animal semen; and set comprising it

Abstract

The invention relates to a straw comprising a tube ( 11 ) and a gas-permeable and liquid-tight stopper ( 12 ), said stopper ( 12 ) being arranged in the tube ( 11 ), close to an end ( 16 ). The invention is characterised in that the stopper ( 12 ) comprises an indicator component ( 20 ) having a first pre-determined colour in the absence of previous contact with said substance ( 21 ) and a second pre-determined colour, of a different shade from that of the first colour, once it has been in contact with said substance ( 21 ). The assembly comprises the straw ( 10 ) and a device ( 26 ) for controlling the filling of the straw.

1 . A straw for the preservation of a predetermined dose of liquid-based substance, comprising a tube ( 11 ) and a gas-permeable liquid-tight stopper ( 12 ), which stopper ( 12 ) is disposed in the tube ( 11 ) in the neighborhood of one end ( 16 ), which tube ( 11 ) and which stopper ( 12 ) are configured for the stopper ( 12 ) to be able to slide in the tube ( 11 ) towards the other end ( 17 ), wherein said stopper ( 12 ) comprises an indicator component ( 20 ) having a first predetermined color in the absence of prior contact with said substance ( 21 ) and a second predetermined color, having a hue different from the hue of the first color, when it has been in contact with said substance ( 21 ). 
     
     
         2 . A straw according to  claim 1 , wherein said indicator component ( 20 ) emits light of which the spectrum comprises at least one peak ( 22 ,  35 ,  37 ) having a crest ( 23 ,  36 ,  38 ) of predetermined wavelength when it has been in contact with said substance and does not comprise said peak ( 22 ,  35 ,  37 ) in the absence of prior contact with said substance. 
     
     
         3 . A straw according to  claim 2 , wherein said indicator component ( 20 ) emits light of which the spectrum comprises said at least one peak ( 22 ,  35 ,  37 ) in response to illumination by light comprising a predetermined range of wavelengths that is offset relative to the predetermined wavelength of said crest ( 23 ,  36 ,  38 ). 
     
     
         4 . A straw according to  claim 1 , wherein said stopper ( 12 ) is formed by two plugs ( 13 ,  14 ) made from a fibrous substance enclosing a sealing agent ( 20 ) formed by a powder ( 15 ) transforming on contact with said substance ( 21 ) into an impermeable paste or gel ( 15 ′) adhering to the wall of the tube ( 11 ) so that the stopper ( 12 ) is liquid-tight, said indicator component comprising said sealing agent ( 20 ). 
     
     
         5 . A straw according to  claim 4 , wherein said powder ( 15 ) comprises a powder of a salt that is non-fluorophore in the dry state and fluorophore when it is dissolved in water. 
     
     
         6 . A straw according to  claim 5 , wherein said salt forms part of the group comprising a fluorescein salt, a Rhodamine B salt, a Rhodamine 6G salt and a salt of Eriochrome® Cyanine R. 
     
     
         7 . A straw according to  claim 5 , wherein said powder ( 15 ) comprises between 1/100 and 1/100000 by weight of said salt powder. 
     
     
         8 . A straw according to  claim 5 , wherein said powder ( 15 ) is formed by said salt powder and by powder of material that polymerizes on contact with water. 
     
     
         9 . A straw according to  claim 8 , wherein said powder of material that polymerizes on contact with water is alginate. 
     
     
         10 . A straw according to  claim 1 , wherein said indicator component comprises an indicator thread having a first predetermined color in the absence of prior contact with said substance and a second predetermined color, having a hue different from the first color hue, when it has been in contact with said substance. 
     
     
         11 . A straw according to  claim 10 , wherein said stopper is formed by two plugs ( 13 ,  14 ) made from a braided fibrous substance enclosing a sealing agent ( 20 ) formed by a powder ( 15 ) which, on contact with a liquid, transforms into an impermeable paste or gel ( 15 ′) adhering to the wall of the tube so that the stopper is liquid-tight, at least one of the two plugs ( 13 ,  14 ) comprising said indicator thread. 
     
     
         12 . A set comprising a straw according to  claim 1  and a device ( 26 ) for checking filling of said straw, wherein said checking device  26 ) comprises a detection member ( 27 ) for detecting whether said indicator component ( 20 ) has taken on said hue of the second color. 
     
     
         13 . A set according to  claim 12 , wherein the indicator component ( 20 ) of the stopper ( 12 ) of the straw ( 10 ) emits light of which the spectrum comprises at least one peak ( 22 ,  35 ,  37 ) having a crest ( 23 ,  36 ,  38 ) of predetermined wavelength when the indicator component ( 20 ) has been in contact with said substance ( 21 ) and does not comprise said peak ( 22 ,  35 ,  37 ) in the absence of prior contact with said substance ( 21 ); and said detection member ( 27 ) comprised by the checking device ( 26 ) is configured to detect the absence from or the presence in the spectrum formed by the light emitted by said indicator component ( 20 ), of said at least one peak ( 22 ,  35 ,  37 ). 
     
     
         14 . A set according to  claim 13 , wherein said indicator component ( 20 ) of the stopper ( 12 ) of the straw ( 10 ) emits light of which the spectrum comprises said at least one peak ( 22 ,  35 ,  37 ) in response to illumination by light comprising a predetermined range of wavelengths that is offset relative to the predetermined wavelength of said crest ( 23 ,  36 ,  38 ); and said checking device ( 26 ) further comprises an illuminating member ( 29 ) to illuminate said indicator component ( 20 ) by light comprising said predetermined range of wavelengths. 
     
     
         15 . A set according to  claim 12 , wherein the checking device ( 26 ) forms part of a filler machine ( 25 ) for straws and comprises a processing unit ( 28 ) linked to a detection member ( 27 ) configured to emit a stop signal for the filler machine ( 25 ) if the detection member ( 27 ) detects a straw ( 10 ) in which the indicator component ( 20 ) has not taken on said hue of the second color.