Multiwell in-vitro fertilization plate
First Claim
1. A plate assembly useful for in vitro fertilization procedures comprising:
- a base having a top surface divided into top surface portions and a sidewall, said top surface having a plurality of open wells therein, said wells having an inside surface for receiving ova to be cultured into embryos, said wells having substantially flat transparent closed bottoms for facilitating microscopic examination therethrough; and
a removable lid for covering said top surface and at least a portion of said sidewall of said base, said lid being divided into sections, wherein each section of said lid is separately slidably movable between a closed position wherein said each lid section covers said each top surface portion and an open position uncovering said each top surface portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plate assembly for useful for in vitro fertilization procuedures such as receiving ova and for forming, evaluating, holding, manipulating and culturing embryos includes a base with an apportioned top surface and a sidewall. The top surface has a plurality of open wells embedded therein for receiving ova to be cultured. The wells are substantially cylindrical and have substantially flat closed bottoms to facilitate microscopic examination of the well contents. The assembly includes a removable lid for covering the top surface of the base. The lid is preferably divided into sections comparable to the top surface portions of the base. Each lid section may be separately slidably moved between a closed position where the lid covers a comparable portion of the top surface and an open position where the top surface is uncovered. The lid has projections which interact with grooves in the base in a cam/cam follower relationship to allow slidable movement of the lid sections between the closed and the open positions while retaining the lid sections to the base. The inside surface of the lid and the base top surface each have elements which interact when the lid is in the closed position to form a tortuous path for gas interchange between the wells and the outside environment, thus substantially preventing microbial contamination of the wells when the lid is closed.
65 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A plate assembly useful for in vitro fertilization procedures comprising:
-
a base having a top surface divided into top surface portions and a sidewall, said top surface having a plurality of open wells therein, said wells having an inside surface for receiving ova to be cultured into embryos, said wells having substantially flat transparent closed bottoms for facilitating microscopic examination therethrough; and a removable lid for covering said top surface and at least a portion of said sidewall of said base, said lid being divided into sections, wherein each section of said lid is separately slidably movable between a closed position wherein said each lid section covers said each top surface portion and an open position uncovering said each top surface portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A plate assembly for receiving ova, for forming, evaluating, holding, manipulating and culturing embryos comprising:
-
a base having a sidewall and a substantially square top surface having four substantially equal generally cylindrical wells therein, said wells having an inside surface and closed bottoms, said bottoms being substantially flat and transparent for observing therethrough, each well having an open top and a lip projecting above said top surface, said top surface being divided into two substantially equal portions, said portions each having two wells and a perimeter defined by a raised shoulder; and a removable lid for covering said top surface of said base and a first portion of said sidewall, said lid being divided into two substantially equal sections, each section separately slidably movable between a closed position wherein said one portion of said top surface is covered and an open position wherein said one portion of said top surface is uncovered, said lid sections each having an interior surface substantially corresponding to said top surface portions, said surfaces of said lid sections each having thereon two substantially circular raised rings and a perimeter defined by a raised bead, said bead and said rings being positioned and sized so that when said lid sections cover said top surface, said rings are outside and adjacent said lips and said bead is adjacent said raised shoulder forming a tortuous path at said perimeter and at said lip of said wells for gas interchange and substantially preventing microbial contamination. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
-
-
16. A packaged plate assembly useful for in vitro fertilization procedures comprising:
-
a sealed package substantially resistant to the passage of microorganisms having therewithin a plate assembly including a base having a top surface divided into top surface portions and a sidewall, said top surface having a plurality of open wells therein, said wells having an inside surface for receiving ova to be cultured into embryos, said wells having substantially flat transparent closed bottoms for facilitating microscopic examination therethrough; and a removable lid for covering said top surface and at least a portion at said sidewall, of said base, said lid being divided into sections, wherein each section of said lid is separately slidably moved between a closed position wherein said lid section covers said each top surface portion and an open position uncovering said each top surface portion.
-
Specification