Vented microcradle for prenidial incubator

• US 7,121,998 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2005
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eurica Califorrniaa
• Original Assignee: Eurica Califorrniaa
• Inventors: Califorrniaa, Eurica
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/908,861
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 600 33- 35, 600 21- 22, 128897-898, 435/7.2, 435/29, 435/366, 435/373, 435/374, 435/325, 435/288.4, 435/288.5, 435/297.5, 435/305.2, 435/305.3
• US Class Current: 600/33
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/02 Preservation of living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0263 Non-refrigerated containers specially adapted for transporting or storing living parts whilst preserving, e.g. cool boxes, blood bags or "straws" for cryopreservation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/435 for embryo or ova transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/06 for in vitro fertilization
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/00 Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/04 Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/14 Incubators; Climatic chambers per se B01L1/00

Abstract

A vented microcradle comprising a microfabricated enclosure designed to maintain a human embryo or hatching in a controlled care environment, the enclosure forming a cradle support for the human embryo or hatchling and having a ventilation system to provide the human embryo or hatchling with gentle fluidic ventilation via associated microfluidics. In a preferred embodiment, the microfabricated enclosure is a picket fence structure with a vented flooring; the vented flooring, which has a grill-like pattern, forms part of the ventilation system in connection with associated microfluidics.

Claims

1. A vented microcradle comprising a microfabricated enclosure designed to maintain a human embryo or hatchling in a controlled environment for medical care, the enclosure, having a flooring surrounded by a wall structure with an open top and having a ventilation port in the flooring or wall comprising a microfabricated grill pattern of openings to permit flow in and out of the enclosure, forming a cradle support for the human embryo or hatchling and having a microfluidic ventilation system connected to the ventilation port including means for selectably providing a flow in, out, or to and fro through the ventilation port, to provide the human embryo or hatchling with gentle, fluidic ventilation via associated microfluidics.

2. The vented microcradle of claim 1 wherein the ventilation system includes connections, channels, valves, reservoirs, and pumps to urge fluid through the ventilation system to ventilate the human embryo or hatchling within the enclosure.

3. The vented microcradle of claim 2 wherein flow is controlled in reference to feedback provided by means of thermal images or measurements taken of an actual body temperature of the human embryo or hatchling within the enclosure and which said actual body temperature can differ from an ambient temperature of a fluid incubation medium.

4. The vented microcradle of claim 2 wherein the ventilation system further includes means to deliver and withdraw medications and other fluidic treatments.

5. The vented microcradle of claim 1 further including means to monitor and maintain the controlled environment and patient health or status within the enclosure.

6. The vented microcradle of claim 1 wherein the wall structure comprises a picket fence structure.

7. The vented microcradle of claim 1 wherein the enclosure further includes a plurality of ventilation ports.

8. The microfluidic ventilation system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is made by etching in a glass containment reservoir.

9. The vented microcradle of claim 1 further including intimate integration with a device or system selected from the group consisting of microfluidics, openings, sensors, light emitting diodes, fiber optics, cameras or imagers, structures with breachable apertures or spaces, medical or surgical units, thermal or chemical conditioning units, hygiene administration units, feedback control devices and systems, and means for thermoregulating a patient, whereby the vented microcradle forms a central structure in a prenidial incubator environment and accepts intimate combination with other patient care devices and systems.

10. A vented microcradle comprising a microfabricated glass enclosure designed to maintain a human embryo or hatchling in a controlled environment for medical care, the enclosure, having a vented flooring comprising a grill pattern of openings surrounded by a wall structure, the wall structure including openings that are evenly spaced to form a picket fence structure, forming a cradle support for the human embryo or hatchling and having a microfluidic ventilation system connected to the vented flooring including means for providing a flow to and fro through the vented flooring in likeness to the beating of cilia along the lumen of the fallopian tube, to provide the human embryo or hatchling with gentle, fluidic ventilation via associated microfluidics.

11. The vented microcradle of claim 10 wherein the ventilation system includes connections, channels, valves, reservoirs, and pumps to urge fluid through the ventilation system to ventilate the human embryo or hatchling within the enclosure.

12. The vented microcradle of claim 11 wherein flow is controlled in reference to feedback provided by means of thermal images or measurements taken of an actual body temperature of the human embryo or hatchling within the enclosure and which said actual body temperature can differ from an ambient temperature of a fluid incubation medium.

13. The vented microcradle of claim 11 wherein the ventilation system further includes means to deliver and withdraw medications and other fluidic treatments.

14. The vented microcradle of claim 10 further including means to monitor and maintain the controlled environment and patient health or status within the enclosure.

15. The vented microcradle of claim 10 further including intimate integration with a device or system selected from the group consisting of microfluidics, openings, sensors, light emitting diodes, fiber optics, cameras or imagers, structures with breachable apertures or spaces, medical or surgical units, thermal or chemical conditioning units, hygiene administration units, feedback control devices and systems, and means for thermoregulating a patient, whereby the vented microcradle forms a central structure in a prenidial incubator environment and accepts intimate combination with other patient care devices and systems.

16. A microfluidic ventilation system comprising a vented flooring connected to a microfluidic system designed to ventilate a human embryo or hatchling in a controlled environment for medical care, the vented flooring, comprising a microfabricated grill pattern of openings in a supporting substrate, forming a resting support for the human embryo or hatchling and having a microfluidic connection underneath to establish fluidic communication between the vented flooring and the microfluidic system, the microfluidic system including means for selectably providing a flow in, out, or to and fro through the vented flooring, to provide the human embryo or hatchling with gentle, fluidic ventilation via associated microfluidics.

17. The microfluidic ventilation system of claim 16 wherein the ventilation system includes connections, channels, valves, reservoirs, and pumps to urge fluid through the ventilation system to ventilate the human embryo or hatchling within the enclosure.

18. The microfluidic ventilation system of claim 17 wherein flow is controlled in reference to feedback provided by means of thermal images or measurements taken of an actual body temperature of the human embryo or hatchling on top of the resting support and which said actual body temperature can differ from an ambient temperature of a fluid incubation medium.

19. The microfluidic ventilation system of claim 17 wherein the ventilation system further includes means to deliver and withdraw medications and other fluidic treatments.

20. The microfluidic ventilation system of claim 16 further including means to monitor and maintain the controlled environment and patient health or status on top of the resting support.

21. The microfluidic ventilation system of claim 16 wherein the supporting substrate is made of glass.

22. The microfluidic ventilation system of claim 16 further including intimate integration with a device or system selected from the group consisting of microfluidics, openings, sensors, light emitting diodes, fiber optics, cameras or imagers, structures with breachable apertures or spaces, medical or surgical units, thermal or chemical conditioning units, hygiene administration units, feedback control devices and systems, and means for thermoregulating a patient, whereby the vented flooring forms the central resting support in a prenidial incubator environment and accepts intimate combination with other patient care devices and systems.