Method and means for detecting pregnancy in domestic farm animal species

摘要

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.