Abstract: This invention relates to a system for penetrating the uterus of an animal during a non-surgical procudure, the uterus having a cervix leading to a uterus body. The system comprises a probe having a long tubular body with a central longitudinal axis, open forward and rearward ends, and a probing member projecting forward and laterally outward beyond the forward end of the probe body. The probe is inserted, forward end first, inside the cervix of said animal, and the probe body is manipulated to gently maneuver the probing member in a forward direction through the cervix to a position in which the probing member and the forward open end of the probe body are adjacent the body of the uterus.

Abstract: The invention involves a system for effecting the nonsurgical transplant of embryos into the uterus of an animal. The system comprises (1) a long tubular gripping instrument having an open forward end configured for gripping the walls of the cervix of the uterus when the instrument is inserted to a position inside the cervix, and (2) a probe having a long tubular body which extends through the tubular gripping instrument, the probe being manipulatable to effect movement of the probe relative to the gripping instrument to facilitate passage of the probe and the gripping instrument through the cervix to a position generally adjacent the body of the uterus, and (3) an embryo carrier for carrying one or more embryos to be placed in the uterus of the animal. The embryo carrier is sized for insertion in and through the tubular probe to an embryo release position for release of the embryos into the uterus.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of effecting the non-surgical transplant of embryos into the uterus of an animal. The method involves the use of a long tubular gripping instrument having an open forward end and an external gripping formation generally adjacent its forward end. A probe with a long tubular body having an open forward end extends axially inside the gripping instrument. A probing member projects in a generally non-axial direction from the probe body generally adjacent its forward end. The method comprises the steps of inserting the gripping instrument, forward end first, into a cervix of the uterus, and establishing a grip between the walls of the cervix and the external gripping formation on the gripping instrument. While maintaining said grip, the gripping instrument is pulled in a rearward direction to straighten the cervix.