GB2394276A

GB2394276A - Temperature controlled storage apparatus for embryos or oocytes

Info

Publication number: GB2394276A
Application number: GB0319556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Group Plc Smiths; Richard Hingley
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 2002-09-03
Filing date: 2003-08-20
Publication date: 2004-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-20
Also published as: GB0220363D0; GB0319556D0; GB2394276B

Abstract

A storage apparatus for oocytes or embryos including a support body 4, a plurality of receivers 9 mounted within the body, a removable receptacle 13 received within each receiver 9 and containing an oocyte or embryo, cover means 16 for covering the receptacles 13 and warming means 2 for maintaining the receptacles 13 at the optimum temperature. The receptacles 13 may be arranged in a circular configuration with the cover 16 rotatable to expose different ones of the individual receivers 9. The receptacles 13 may be of tubular form. The warming means 2 may be located in the base 1 of the apparatus and constitute an electrical heater or heat retaining material. There may be a gas supplied to the receptacles 13. The receptacles 13 and receivers 9 may be provided with cooperating keys and keyways (30',31', figure 2). The apparatus may include at least one drawer (32', figure 2) having a plurality of locations (36', figure 2) for the storage of oocytes with the receptacles 13 used to store sperm.

Description

STORAGE APPARATUS

This invention relates to storage apparatus.

The invention is more particularly concerned with apparatus 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 successfully fertilised oocyte become embryos. The embryos are inspected and the one or more most viable ones are loaded in a catheter for transfer to the uterus of the woman. The storage and handling of the ooctyes and embryos presents various difficulties. Where the ooctyes or embryos are all stored together it makes handling and selection relatively difficult. If each oocyte or embryo is stored separately there is a risk that there may be errors in identification. There can also be problems in maintaining the correct environmental conditions for the oocytes and embryos.

It is an object of the present invention to provide alternative storage apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided storage apparatus for ooctyes or embryos including a support body, a plurality of receivers mounted with the body, a removable receptacle received with each receiver and containing an oocyte or embryo, cover means for covering the receptacles and warming means for maintaining the receptacles at the optimum temperature.

(\ The receivers and receptacles are preferably arranged around a circle. The cover means may be rotatable to expose different individual ones of the receivers. The receivers and receptacles may be of tubular fomm. The warming means preferably includes an electrical heater or a substance capable of retaining heat, and may be in a base of the apparatus. The storage apparatus may include a gas inlet whereby a gas can be supplied to the receptacles.

The receptacles and receivers may each be provided with cooperating shaped keys and keyways. The apparatus may include at least one drawer having a plurality of locations for storing oocytes, the receptacles being used to store sperm.

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 partly cut-away perspective view of the apparatus; and Figure 2 is a partly cut-away perspective view of alternative apparatus.

With reference first to Figure 1, the apparatus is of generally cylindrical shape, being circular when viewed from above. The apparatus has a base 1 including warming means 2, which could, for exarnpl&>be an electrically-operated heater. Alternatively, the warming means 2 could beta mass of a heat-retaining material, such as a wax or gel that solidifies when its temperature falls below about 37 C so that it gives up its latent heat of fusion around this temperature.

A support body or plate 4 is spaced above the base 1. The plate 4 is hollow, enclosing a plenum chamber 5 that connects with a port 6 projecting at the side of the plate. The port 6 connects via tubing 7 with a source 8 of gas, which comprises a mixture of purified air with 5% added carbon dioxide. Alternatively, a small gas cylinder could be connected directly to the port 6. The carbon dioxide gas mixture is commonly used to prevent degradation of the medium in which oocytes are bathed. The support plate 4 has six receiver stations in the form of thin tubes 9 mounted vertically and extending downwardly from the plate. The lower end 10 of each tube 9 is in thermal contact with the base 1. The upper end I I of each tube 9 is open and accessible via apertures 12 in the plate 4. The plenum chamber 5 opens into each aperture 12 so that gas flows over the contents at each receiving station. Each tube 9 houses a tubular pot 13, which is slidable into and out of the tube. The pots 13 are open at their upper ends 14 and have an outwardly-projecting flange 15. Each pot 13 contains an individual oocyte or embryo in a suitable medium, all the pots in the apparatus containing oocytes or embryos for the same woman.

A cover 16 is rotatably mounted with the plate 4 about a vertical, central axis 17. The cover 16 is thermally insulating and has an indentation 18 in its edge the size and shape of which are such as to enable access to a selected station of one of the tubes 9 and pots 13. The cover 16 may be indexed so that it clicks into position over each station. The plate 4 has a blank station without a tube and pot so that the indentation in the cover can be positioned at this station when access is not required to any pot.

An outer, thermally-insulating cylindrical jacket 20 extends around the apparatus to maintain its temperature.

\ The apparatus enables all the ooctyes or embryos for one woman to be kept together so that there is less risk of them being confused with those for a different woman. Also, because each oocyte and embryo is individually contained in a pot, selection between them is easier and those not selected are handled less. The apparatus could also be used to store sperm so that all a couple's donations are kept together.

The invention could be modified in various ways. For example, the warming means need not be in the base but could, for example, be in the cover. The apparatus need not be circular but could, for example, be linear, with a slidable cover.

Figure 2 shows an alternative arrangement with a linear sliding lid 16' covering a number of apertures 19' in which are received respective test tubes 9'. The upper end 11' of each tube 9' is shaped with a key 30' to fit in a correspondingly shaped keyway 31' in the apertures 19' so that only correctly keyed test tubes can be fitted in the apparatus. The test tubes 9' are used to store sperm. The apparatus has three sliding drawers 32' received in slots 33' in the front face of the apparatus housing. The drawers 32' have a key 34' along one side engaging in a correspondingly shaped keyway 35' so that only correctly keyed drawers can fit in the apparatus. The drawers 32' each have a number of wells 36' in which the oocytes are stored initially and which are subsequently used to store the embryos. The drawers 32' could include a heat retaining substance. The apparatus could include an electric heater or a heat retaining substance and may also include provision for the drawers 32' to be supplied with an air and carbon dioxide mix. Each couple is given a matching key, which may also be colour coded, so that the various donations can be matched to each other and to the couple at all

\ s stages of the IVF process. The IVF clinic has a supply of storage housings (which could be reusable or disposable) and disposable drawers and test tubes with a variety of different keys.

Claims

\ CLAIMS

1. Storage apparatus for ooctyes or embryos including a support body, a plurality of receivers mounted with the body, a removable receptacle received with each receiver and containing an oocyte or embryo, cover means for covering the receptacles and warming means for maintaining the receptacles at the optimum temperature.

2. Storage apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the receivers and receptacles are

arranged around a circle.

3. Storage apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the cover means is rotatable to expose different individual ones of the receivers.

4. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receivers and receptacles are of tubular form.

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

6. Storage apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the warming means includes Substance capable of retaining heat.

7. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the warming means is in a base of the apparatus.

\

8. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims including a gas inlet whereby a gas can be supplied to the receptacles.

9. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacles and receivers are each provided with cooperating shaped keys and keyways.

10. Storage apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus includes at least one drawer having a plurality of locations for storing oocytes and wherein the receptacles are used to store sperm.

11. Storage apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. Storage apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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