Collection systems for cytometer sorting of sperm

• US 7,195,920 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: XY, LLC (Inguran LLC)
• Original Assignee: XY Incorporated (Inguran LLC)
• Inventors: Seidel, George E., Herickhoff, Lisa, Schenk, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLENHORST, MAUREEN
• Application Number:
  US10/378,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20030129091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 422/73, 422/82.05, 422/82.08, 422/82.09, 436/8, 436/10, 436 17- 18, 436/63, 436/164, 436/172, 435/283.1, 435/287.1, 435/2, 435/6, 209/571, 209/576
• US Class Current: 436/63
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/027 New or modified breeds of vertebrates
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/02 Preservation of living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0226 Physiologically active agents, i.e. substances affecting physiological processes of cells and tissue to be preserved, e.g. anti-oxidants or nutrients
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 19/02 for artificial insemination
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 19/04 for embryo transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/873 Techniques for producing new embryos, e.g. nuclear transfer, manipulation of totipotent cells or production of chimeric embryos
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0612 sorting of gametes, e.g. according to sex or motility
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/04 Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor C12Q1/6897 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/30 Staining; Impregnating ; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/52 Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper and including single- and multilayer analytical elements immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/101666 Particle count or volume standard or control [e.g., platelet count standards, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/108331 Preservative, buffer, anticoagulant or diluent

Abstract

Improved flow cytometer system particularly adapted to use for sex-selected sperm sorting include enhanced sheath fluid and other strategies which minimize stress on the sperm cells, including a 2.9 percent sodium citrate sheath solution for bovine species and a HEPES bovine gamete media for equine species. Improved collection systems and techniques for the process are described so that commercial applications of sperms samples as well as the resulting animals may be achieved.

Claims

1. A method of sorting cells comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a cell source which supplies viable sperm cells to be sorted;

b. establishing a sheath fluid to create a sheath fluid environment for said viable sperm cells;

c. sensing a property of said viable sperm cells;

d. discriminating between said viable sperm cells having a desired sex characteristic at a rate of at least about 1200 sorts per second; and

e. collecting said viable sperm cells having the desired sex characteristic comprising the step of cushioning said cells from impact with a collection container.

2. A method of sorting cells as described in claim 1 wherein said step of establishing a sheath fluid to create a sheath fluid environment for said viable sperm cells comprises the step of establishing a sheath fluid to create a sheath fluid environment for said viable sperm cells at a pressure of at least about fifty pounds per square inch.

3. A method of sorting cells as described in claim 1 wherein said step of collecting comprises the step of collecting in an angled collector.