GB2393406A

GB2393406A - Keyed receptacle assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2393406A
Application number: GB0319558A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giles Andrew Bishop
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 2002-09-03
Filing date: 2003-08-20
Publication date: 2004-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-20
Also published as: GB0220362D0; GB2393406B; GB0319558D0

Abstract

A keyed receptacle assembly, suitable for storing oocytes or embryos, features multiple receptacles (22,35 fig. 1) each with a mutually common shaped portion 51,52 which can engage shape receptive portions on a base unit of the assembly. Other apparatus which are largely the same, as per the three different views of fig.4, differ in that they all have their own differently shaped key such that receptacles from different assemblies can not be confused with each other. The receptacles of a single assembly may be of a different shape, 23, 35 and may store oocytes either pre or post fertilization with sperm, or may alternately store a sample sperm alone. The device may help to prevent the confusion of samples from different parent sets during IVF treatment.

Description

1 2393406

STORAGE APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS

This invention relates to storage apparatus and systems.

The invention is more particularly concerned with apparatus and systems for storing oocytes or embryos before use.

Conventionally, during IVF procedures, ooctyes are collected from a woman and stored on a flat dish in a suitable medium. The oocytes are fertilised by sperm and retained for several days during which the embryos become blastocysts. The blastocysts are inspected and the one or more most viable ones are loaded in a catheter for transfer to the uterus of the woman. Storing and handling ooctyes and embryos presents various difficulties. Where the ooctyes or embryos are all stored together it makes handling and selection relatively difficult.

It is particularly important to ensure that there is no risk of oocytes, embryos or sperm being incorrectly identified with the wrong couple.

It is an object of the present invention to provide alternative storage apparatus and systems. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided storage apparatus for ooctyes or embryos including a plurality of receptacles for containing the ooctyes or embryos that are keyed so that only appropriately keyed receptacles can be fitted in the apparatus.

The apparatus preferably includes at least two different kinds of receptacles. The receptacles may include tubes and each tube may include a cap, the tubes being keyed by means of a key on the cap. The receptacles may include dishes, the dishes being keyed by means of a key on the cap. Each receptacle preferably has a key formation extending laterally of the receptacle adapted to be received in a keyway in a support body. The apparatus preferably includes a support body, the receptacles including a plurality of tubes arranged around the support body and a plurality of dishes stacked one above the other. The tubes and stack of dishes preferably locate in respective semicylindrical recesses arranged around the support body. The receptacles are preferably colour coded. The apparatus may include warming means which may include a mass of material that undergoes a phase change when it is warmed to temperatures suitable for storage of oocytes or embryos. The apparatus may include a gas passage by which air with an increased level of carbon dioxide can be supplied to the receptacles.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising a plurality of storage apparatus for oocytes or embryos, each apparatus having a plurality of receptacles that fit with the apparatus but do not fit with others of the apparatus.

Each apparatus may include a support body having a plurality of keyways, the keyways in each support body being different from the keyvays in the support body of other apparatus, the receptacles for each apparatus having keys that fit only the keyways of the support body of that apparatus.

Storage apparatus according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a perspective, exploded view of the upper end of a receptacle of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a perspective, exploded view of a different receptacle of the apparatus; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a system of three different apparatus, With reference first to Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus comprises a support body 1 of a vertical, upright shape with two parallel walls 2 and 3, two walls 4 and 5 inclined at an angle of about 90 relative to one another and a fifth wall 6 of semicylindrical shape. Two semicylindrical recesses 8 and 9 extend vertically between the walls 2 and 5 and the walls 3 and 4 respectively. A third recesses 10 of the same size and shape extends vertically at the juncture of the walls 4 and 5.

The upper surface 11 of the support body 1 is flat and has a centrally located square recess 12 containing a keyway insert 13. The insert 13 extends substantially the entire height of the support body and has four keyways 14 to 17 each of L shape when viewed from above.

The keyways 14 to 17 are used to retain a particular group of receptacles with the body 1 and to prevent other groups of receptacles being retained.

The receptacles are of two different types. There are three receptacles 21 to 23 in the form of elongate test tubes arranged vertically in respective ones of the recesses 8 to 10. Each test tube 21 to 23 has a moulded ring 25 (Figure 2) bonded to the upper, open end of the test tube and an L-shape key 26 extending laterally from the ring. Each test tube 21 to 23 also has a cap 27 removable engageable with the ring 25 to close the test tube. The cap 27 also has a laterally- extending key 28 aligned with and of the same shape as the key 26 on the ring 25.

The three test tubes 21 to 23 are retained on the support body 1 by aligning the keys 26 and 28 on the test tubes with respective ones of the keyways 14 to 16 and sliding the tubes down into the recesses 8 to 10, with which they are a close fit. The test tubes 21 to 23 may be used to store oocytes and sperm before fertilization.

The other type of receptacle is in the form of a circular dish assembly of which there are five 31 to 35 stacked one above the other. Each dish assembly 31 to 35 comprises a circular dish 36 with several recesses 37 each for an individual embryo in a culture medium.

As shown in Figure 3, a moulded ring 38 is bonded around the edge of the dish 36 and has an L-shape key 39 extending laterally at one side. The dish assembly is completed by a circular cap 40 lockable onto the ring 38 and which has a radially-projecting key 41 aligned with the key 39 on the ring. The dish assemblies 31 to 35 are retained on the support body 1 by aligning the keys 39 and 41 and sliding the assemblies down to form a stack. The shape of the dish assemblies 31 to 35 is such that they are a close fit with the semicylindrical wall 6 in the support body 1.

s The system of the present invention comprises the apparatus described above and one or more other apparatus that are identical except in that the keys and keyways are of different shapes. Figure 4 shows three typical other apparatus within such a system. The apparatus 50 also has L- shape keys 51 and keyways 52 but they are angled in the opposite sense from the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3. The apparatus 60 has keys 61 of dovetail shape and keyways 62 with a cooperating dovetail recess. The apparatus 70 has keys 71 and keyways 72 of circular shape. It will be appreciated that the receptacles of one apparatus cannot be fitted into a support body of the wrong type so there is no risk of, for example, the test tubes and dish assemblies from different couples becoming mixed. The caps and rings of the test tubes and dish assemblies are preferably colour coded so that each different key has a different colour. Similarly, the support body or keyway is similarly colour coded so that it is immediately apparent which receptacles belong on which support body.

By retaining all the material for one couple in the same apparatus there is less risk of materials from different couples becoming muddled. The keying of the receptacles ensures that only material from one couple can be retained on one apparatus.

The support body could contain warming means, such as an electrical heater or a mass of a material such as a wax or gel that undergoes a phase change when warmed to temperatures around those suitable for storing oocytes and embryos so that it retains its temperature for prolonged periods. This can be used to help maintain the temperature of the oocytes and embryos at the desired level. Also, the apparatus could be provided with gas passages for supplying air with an increased level of carbon dioxide to the dish assemblies, so

as to prevent degradation of the culture medium. It will be appreciated that the receptacles and support body could have various different configurations and that each support body could retain different numbers of receptacles.

Claims

1. Storage apparatus for ooctyes or embryos including a plurality of receptacles for containing the ooctyes or embryos that are keyed so that only appropriately keyed receptacles can be fitted in the apparatus.

2. Storage apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes at least two

different kinds of receptacles.

3. Storage apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the receptacles include tubes.

4. Storage apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein each tube includes a cap and wherein the tubes are keyed by means of a key on the cap.

5. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacles include dishes.

6. Storage apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein each dish includes a cap and wherein the dishes are keyed by means of a key on the cap.

7. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each receptacle has a key formation extending laterally of the receptacle adapted to be received in a keyway in a support body.

8. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus includes a support body and wherein the receptacles include a plurality of tubes arranged around the support body and a plurality of dishes stacked one above the other.

9. Storage apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the tubes and stack of dishes locate in respective semicylindrical recesses arranged around the support body.

10. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacles are colour coded.

Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus includes warming means.

12. Storage apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the warming means includes a mass of material that undergoes a phase change when it is warmed to temperatures suitable for storage of oocytes or embryos.

13. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims including a gas passage by which air with an increased level of carbon dioxide can be supplied to the receptacles.

14. Storage apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A system comprising a plurality of storage apparatus for oocytes or embryos, wherein each apparatus has a plurality of receptacles that fit with that apparatus but do not fit with others of the apparatus.

16. A system according to Claim 15, wherein each apparatus includes a support body having a plurality of keyways, wherein the keyways in each support body are different from the keyways in the support body of other apparatus and wherein the receptacles for each apparatus have keys that f t only the keyways of the support body of that apparatus.

17. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.