WO2020254951A1

WO2020254951A1 - System and process for cultivating, controlling and protecting an in vitro embryo development

Info

Publication number: WO2020254951A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/055602
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aldo Descrovi; Luca Gianaroli; Maria Cristina MAGLI
Original assignee: Iiarg International Institutes Of Advanced Reproduction And Genetics Sa
Priority date: 2019-06-21
Filing date: 2020-06-16
Publication date: 2020-12-24
Also published as: EP3987000A1

Abstract

A system and a process for cultivating, controlling and protecting an in vitro embryo development are described, the system comprising: -a plurality of culture plates (50), each culture plate (50) comprising an identification code (11) detectable by a visual detecting device (35); -a device (10) for cultivating, controlling and protecting an in vitro embryo development, comprising: - at least one incubation unit (1) comprising at least one storing unit (2) of the in vitro embryo; - at least one inlet/outlet unit (3) of biological material; said at least one inlet/outlet unit (3) of biological material being in fluid communication with said incubation unit (1); - at least one movement system (4) for collecting a sample of biological material from said inlet/outlet unit and bringing it in least one storing unit (2) of the in vitro embryo or vice-versa; - at least one storing unit (2) for a plurality of culture plates (50) comprising a plurality of positioning cells (51); each positioning cell (51) being shaped to house a culture plate (50); -at least one visual detecting device (35) to detect an identification code positioned on a culture plate (50); -at least one processor (7) configured to control the movements of said movement system (4); - at least one storing unit (8) adapted to store at least the position of each positioning cell (51) and an association between an identification code (11) and a positioning cell (51).

Description

"SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR CULTIVATING, CONTROLLING AND PROTECTING AN IN VITRO EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT"

Field of the invention

The present invention concerns the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

In particular, the present invention concerns a system and a process for cultivating, controlling and protecting an in vitro embryo development.

Known art

The levels of infertility have dramatically increased in the last decades, so much indeed that this phenomenon currently affects about 20% of couples, for whom the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the only possibility of conceiving.

The current IVF techniques require numerous interventions by the biologists, including the direct manipulation of gametes, zygotes and embryos, as well as their regular monitoring, with a microscope, to control their morphology and development during the culture period. The extracorporeal step provides that the gametes and embryos are preserved in an incubator so that to maintain optimal conditions in terms of temperature, C02 and humidity.

The fertilization of the oocyte and the development of the embryo strictly depend on the ability to keep the aforesaid parameters (temperature, C02 and humidity) stable. In particular, repeated exposure to the outer environment during the manipulations can have severe consequences on the proper development of the embryo.

In the known devices for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of in vitro embryos, the safety and reliability is generally transferred to the operators. In other words, the embryos are preserved in culture plates which have an identification code that associates the culture plate, and consequently the embryo contained therein, with the client.

However, an error in the positioning of the culture plate inside the incubation unit is not easily detectable and can translate into an inappropriate execution of the therapy to which the embryo should be subjected. By way of example, the culture plate containing the embryo could be brought outside the incubation unit a number of times greater than required and provided, thus subjecting the embryo to a stressful situation which could be critical for the proper development of the embryo itself.

The Applicant has also for example noted that whenever several culture plates are extracted simultaneously for being subjected to different processes requiring different timings, there is no way to control, aside from the visual control by the operator, that the culture plate placed back inside the incubator is the correct one, in other words that it is the one that really must be reinserted inside the incubator.

Moreover, the Applicant has observed that it is generally possible to record some environmental parameters inside the incubator, such as for example humidity and temperature, but that to date it is not possible to record the same parameters in a specific way for an individual embryo and for the specific treatment cycle.

The Applicant has thus addressed the problem of implementing a system and a process for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo which allows to reduce exposure to the outer environment and contact with the operator of the embryo to a minimum and which can reduce the safety and storing error issues present in known systems.

Summary of the Invention

Thus, in its first aspect, the invention concerns a system for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo, comprising:

- a plurality of culture plates, each culture plate comprising an identification code detectable by a visual detecting device;

- a device for cultivating, controlling and protecting an in vitro embryo development, comprising:

- at least one incubation unit comprising at least one storing unit of the in vitro embryo;

- at least one inlet/outlet unit of biological material; said at least one inlet/outlet unit of biological material being in fluid communication with said incubation unit;

- at least one movement system for collecting a sample of biological material from said inlet/outlet unit and bringing it in least one storing unit of the in vitro embryo or vice- versa;

- at least one storing unit for a plurality of culture plates comprising a plurality of positioning cells; each positioning cell being shaped to house a culture plate; - at least one visual detecting device to detect an identification code positioned on a culture plate;

- at least one processor configured to control the movements of said movement system;

- at least one storing unit adapted to store at least the position of each positioning cell and an association between an identification code and a positioning cell.

In the aforesaid aspect, the present invention can have at least one of the preferred characteristics defined hereunder.

Preferably, the identification code is a bar code or a Qr-code.

Advantageously, the visual detecting device to detect a code comprises a laser reader to read the bar codes or QRcodes positioned at an outlet towards the external environment of the device for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo.

Conveniently, the processor is also configured to control the inlet opening or the outlet opening.

In a second aspect, the present invention concerns a process for managing an in vitro embryo with a system such as the one previously described, characterized by comprising the following steps:

- generating an identification code associated with at least one client;

- inserting a culture plate containing biological material in said device; said culture plate being provided with said identification code generated;

- detecting, by means of a visual detecting device, said identification code transcribed on said culture plate;

- associating said identification code with a positioning cell;

- storing the association between said identification code and a positioning cell; said positioning cell being identified by at least two space coordinates;

- positioning said culture plate provided with said identification code in the positioning cell associated therewith, by means of the movement system;

- modifying an operation status of the positioning cell;

- storing the modification of the operation status of the positioning cell in which said culture plate was inserted. In the aforesaid aspect, the present invention can have at least one of the preferred characteristics defined hereunder.

Preferably, the process comprises a step of recording the parameters of the culture plate inserted in the device whose identification code was read for the first time by the visual detecting device and associated with a positioning cell.

Conveniently, the process also comprises the steps of:

- sending to said processor a request for collecting a given culture plate or an identification code associated with a culture plate;

- searching, in the storing unit, the position of the culture plate associated with the requested identification code or vice-versa;

- commanding said movement system to collect the culture plate requested;

- detecting the identification code associated with the collected culture plate, by means of said visual detecting device, modifying the operation status of the positioning cell from which the culture plate was collected, if the identification code detected corresponds to the one associated with the culture plate requested, sending an alarm signal if the code read does not correspond to the identification code associated with the culture plate requested.

Advantageously, in the step of detecting the identification code associated with the culture plate collected from a positioning cell, an opening of the device for extracting the culture plate is authorized if the code detected corresponds to the one associated with the requested culture plate, an alarm signal is sent if the identification code detected does not correspond to the identification code associated with the requested culture plate.

Preferably, the step of recording the parameters of the culture plate comprises the steps of:

- detecting at least one environmental parameter inside said device;

- associating an identification code, associated with a culture plate, with the environmental parameter detected;

- storing the detected parameter associated with the identification code and the respective association.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer in the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a system for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo and of a process for managing the in vitro embryo with such system according to the present invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Such description will be set forth hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings, only provided by way of example and thus not limiting, in which:

- figure 1 shows a partially sectional schematic side view of a system for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows an enlarged partially sectional schematic side view of an embodiment of the inlet/outlet unit of biological material according to the present invention;

- figure 3 is a flow chart of the first insertion of a culture plate into the device for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo; and

- figure 4 is a flow chart of an extraction of a culture plate from the device for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

With reference to figure 1, a system for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo according to the present invention is denoted by the numeral reference 100.

The system 100 comprises a plurality of culture plates 50 shaped to house biological material and a device 10 for cultivating, controlling and protecting the development of an in vitro embryo.

Each culture plate 50 comprises an identification code 11 containing data apt to identify the client, i.e. the parents of the embryo, and the positioning of the culture plate in the device 10.

The device 10, as shown in figures 1 and 2, essentially consists of modular units communicating with each other through a movement system 4 and two automatic openings which allow the transfer of culture plates 50 containing the biological material from one unit to another or outside of the device, without compromising the conditions of the controlled environment inside the device itself. The units composing the device 10 are essentially an incubation unit 1 comprising, at least partially, a movement system 4, an inlet/outlet unit 3 of the biological material comprising at least two doors 36, 39, at least one processor 7 configured at least to control the movements of the movement system 4; a storing unit 8 configured to store, as described in more detail hereunder, at least the position of each positioning cell 51 and at least one association between an identification code 11 and a positioning cell 51.

The incubation unit 1 further comprises at least one storing unit 2 comprising a plurality of positioning cells 51 each shaped to accommodate a culture plate 50.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, there are four storing units 2, but there could be a greater or lesser number of storing units 2 without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

Each storing unit 2 comprises a plurality of positioning cells 51, by way of example, the storing units 2 depicted in figures 1-2 each have five positioning cells 51.

In the storing unit 2, the positioning cells 51 are arranged in a corresponding position, but at a different height.

Preferably, all positioning cells 51 of the same storing unit 2 have the same shape and the same sizes, and are arranged so that overlap each other, but are mutually spaced vertically.

Inside the device 10, each positioning cell 51 has a mapped position determined by at least two space coordinates.

In particular, the first coordinate is an angular coordinate that identifies the storing unit 2, whereas the second coordinate identifies the height of the positioning cell 51 in the respective storing unit.

The position of each positioning cell 51 is stored in the storing unit 8, for example an SD card.

The incubation unit 1 is provided with at least one movement system 4, i.e. a robotic arm preferably cylindrical in shape for transporting the biological material.

The device 10 further has at least one processor configured to control the movements of the movement system 4 in order to collect and put back the culture plates 50 from/in the positioning cells 51.

The processor 7 can further be configured to associate a previously created identification code 1 1, such as a traditional bar code or a two-dimensional bar code (Qr- code), with a client, typically the parents of the embryo, in the device 10.

The processor 7 can further be configured to associate the identification code 11 with a positioning cell 51 and to record a series of environmental parameters, by associating them with the respective identification code 11.

Finally, the processor 7 can be configured to control the correspondence between the identification code 11 being read by a visual detecting device 35, such as a camera or a bar code reader, and to authorize the opening of the device 10 itself.

Preferably, several processors 7, for example three processors each configured for a specific operation, can be present to make the system more reliable and robust.

In particular, a first processor T is configured to operate the movement system 4.

In particular, the first processor T can be configured to operate the motors of the movement system 4, to detect the travel limits, to detect any motor blocking of the movement system 4, to detect overcurrents, to detect timeouts in the movements.

By way of example, an 8-bits, 16MHz CPU speed, 4096 bytes SRAM ATMega2560 Microchip processor can be used to this end.

A second processor 7" can be configured to manage the environmental control. In particular, the second processor 7" can be configured to drive gas control valves, to acquire data from different sensors, such as sensors for: temperature, percentage of CO2, percentage of humidity, to keep the set environmental parameters. By way of example, an 8-bits, 16MHz CPU speed, 4096 bytes SRAM ATMega2560 Microchip processor can be used to this end.

A third processor 7"' can be dedicated to the interfacing.

In particular, the third processor 7"' can be configured to coordinate the first and the second processors 7', 7", to manage the interactions via display, to manage the data communication via Ethernet, to store the data log on the storing unit 8, to manage the reading of the identification code 11 via the visual detecting device 35. By way of example a 32 bits STM32F7 processor provided with CPU speed up to 192MHz, 320kB RAM, 1024kB 16MHz Flash can be used to this end.

The processor 7 or processors are connected to a display unit 6 such as a monitor or display, for example a touchscreen display that allows to display some steps of the process or some environmental parameters inside the incubation unit 1.

A single processor, generically denoted by the numeral reference 7, will be referred to in the rest of the present description.

In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the storing units 2 are arranged inside the incubation unit 1 along a circumference arranged concentrically to the movement system 4. The position of each storing unit 2 is identified by an angular coordinate.

Each storing unit 2 is provided with a plurality of positioning cells 51 each shaped to support at least one culture plate 50.

The movement system 4 has the task of collecting the culture plates 50 from the inlet/outlet unit 3 and of placing them in the appropriate storing units 2 and vice-versa.

The inlet/outlet unit 3 is fluidically connected to and extends from the incubation unit 1, by way of example an embodiment of an inlet/outlet unit adapted for the purpose is described in figure 3.

An enlarged embodiment of the inlet/outlet unit 3 of the biological material is shown in figure 3. The inlet/outlet unit 3 of the biological material is in fluid communication with the incubation unit 1. The inlet/outlet unit 3 has the primary task of allowing the operator to collect and insert the biological material from/into the device 100, and in particular from/into the incubation unit 1.

The inlet/outlet unit 3 of biological material, shown in the figures, comprises an elongated tubular body 30 comprising an inlet opening 31, an outlet opening 32 and a conveyor belt 33 extending inside the tubular body 30 between the inlet opening 31 and the outlet opening 32.

The outlet opening 32 is designed to put the tubular body 30 in fluid communication with the inside of the incubation unit 1, whereas the inlet opening 31 is designed to put the inside of the tubular body 30 in communication with the environment outside the incubation unit 1.

The inlet opening 31 is closed by a door 36 and by an automated locking system which allows the opening of the door 36 for accessing the inlet opening 31 only in view of given parameters controlled by the processor 7.

In specific, the locking system comprises: a lever 37, a module for connecting to the processor of the lever 37 and a code reader 35 arranged and designed to detect the proper position and the identification code 11 of a culture plate 50 placed on the conveyor belt 33.

The lever 37 is movable between a locked position of the door 36 and an unlocked position wherein the opening of the door 36 is allowed and, thus, the access to the inlet opening 31.

The code reader 35 detects and transmits the proper positioning of the culture plate 50 at the inlet opening 31 and the identification code 11 of the culture plate 50 to the processor.

Whenever the identification code 11 of the plate placed at the opening 31 corresponds to that of the culture plate 50 required, the movement of the lever 37 towards the unlocked position would be authorized by the processor 7, and consequently the unlocking of the door 36 to collect the culture plate 50 required.

Vice-versa, whenever the code read by the code reader 35 and transmitted to the processor does not correspond to that of the culture plate 50 required, the opening of the door 36 would not be allowed and an alarm signal, preferably acoustic or visual, would be sent to the appropriate display unit 6.

A motorized door 39, always controlled by the processor, is present at the outlet opening 32. The motor of the door 39, of the electric type, is connected to a gear train and opens and closes the door 39, under control of the processor.

The processor 7 controls the opening of the door 36, only if it verified that the door 39 is closed and vice-versa.

In other words, the doors 36 and 39 cannot be opened simultaneously but, on the contrary, the opening of one of the two doors 36, 37 requires the other to stay closed.

The code reader 35 is positioned outside the inlet/outlet unit 3 so that not to contaminate the environment inside the inlet/outlet unit 3 and consequently the environment inside the incubation unit 1.

The code reader 35 captures the image through an inspection window obtained on a side wall of the elongated tubular body 30 and sends it to the processor so that the latter can check the identification code 11 placed on the plate and implement the subsequent operations deriving from the correspondence or non-correspondence of the identification code 11. The conveyor belt 33 comprises a belt element 40, a first driven pulley 41 and a second pulley 42.

The first pulley 41 is rotated by a first motor, preferably electric. Similarly, the second pulley 42 is rotated by a second motor, also preferably of the electric type.

Both the first and second motors of the inlet/outlet unit 3 are driven by the processor 7 that also controls the doors 36, 39.

As previously mentioned, the biological material needed for the in vitro fertilization process is contained in appropriate culture plates 50 made of polymeric material. Such plates can be appropriately designed in order to allow an easy grip by the movement system 4 for collecting and putting them back in the cells 51, but the use of conventional plates currently on the market is however possible.

In both cases, each culture plate 50 has an identification code 11, the identification code 11 allows the association with the client and with the respective positioning cell 51.

The process for managing an in vitro embryo with a system such as the one described above starts with the generation of an identification code 11 associated with at least one client. The identification code 11 is for example a traditional bar code or a two- dimensional bar code (Qr-code).

For flexibility of implementation of the process, the identification code 11 is generated outside the device 10 and is also printed and combined physically with a culture plate 50 which will have to contain the biological material.

At this point, the culture plate 50 containing the biological material is physically inserted into the inlet/outlet unit 3.

The access to the inlet/outlet unit 3 is allowed only if the door 39 that puts the inlet/outlet unit 3 in communication with the incubation unit 1 is closed and if no other culture plate 50 is present inside the inlet/outlet unit 3.

Whenever one of the two aforesaid conditions is not verified, i.e. whenever the door 39 that puts the inlet/outlet unit 3 in communication with the incubation unit 1 is open or if another culture plate 50 is present inside the inlet/outlet unit 3, the processor 7 would not allow the opening of the door 36 that puts the inlet/outlet unit 3 in communication with the outer environment.

Once the culture plate 50 containing the identification code 11 is inserted in the inlet/outlet unit 3, it is brought at a visual detecting device 35, for example a laser bar code reader 35' which detects the identification code 11.

At this point, the operator associates the identification code 11 detected with the identification data of the client.

The association of the identification code 11 with the respective identity of the client is stored in the storing unit 8, the processor 7 thus makes an association between the identification code 11 and a free positioning cell 51, i.e. which is not occupied by any culture plate 50.

The association between the identification code 11 can also be carried out by the operator, by selecting that positioning cell 51 among the free ones and displayed as such on the display 6.

The processor 7 searches through the storing unit 8 for the positioning cells 51 distinguished by a free operation status so that to implement the association between the identification code 11 and a free positioning cell 51.

To this end, one of the three following possible working statuses is stored in the storing unit 8 for each positioning cell 51 : free, occupied, subjected to testing.

The free status denotes that the respective positioning cell 51 is not occupied by any culture plate 50, whereas the occupied operation status denotes that the positioning cells 51 are occupied by a respective culture plate 50 and, finally, the subjected to testing status denotes that the positioning cells 51 are occupied by a culture plate 50 which is not inside the incubation unit 1 at that time.

The status of the positioning cells 51 is also visible on the respective display 6 on which each positioning cell 51 associated with a color and/or a written text communicating the respective working statuses of the positioning cells 51 to the operator are displayed.

The respective position inside the incubation unit 1 is also stored for each positioning cell 51. In particular, for each positioning cell 51 the space coordinates which allow to identify its position inside the incubation unit 1 are stored.

Each positioning cell 51 is spatially identified by the storing unit 2 to which it belongs (in turn identified by an angular coordinate) and by a vertical Cartesian coordinate which identifies the plane of the storing unit 2 on which the positioning cell 51 is positioned.

Following the association between the identification code 11 and the positioning cell 51, the culture plate 50 is moved into the respective positioning cell 51 by the movement system 4 driven by a processor 7.

At this point, the processor 7 modifies the operation status of the positioning cell 51 inside which the culture plate was inserted, thus switching it to the occupied status.

The modification of the status of the positioning cell 51 inside which the culture plate 50 is inserted is thus stored in the storing unit 8 and displayed on the display 6. Whenever the insertion of the culture plate 50 in the device 10 is not the first insertion, but one subsequent to a previous removal of the culture plate 50 from the device 10, the process would slightly change as described hereunder.

In this case, the process would start directly with the insertion of the culture plate 50 containing the identification code 11 into the inlet/outlet unit 3.

The culture plate 50 is brought at the visual detecting device 35 which detects the identification code 11.

If the identification code 11 is incorrect, i.e. does not correspond to the identification code 11 of the culture plate 50 that needed to be reinserted, or if no code is read, an alarm, which can be of the acoustic and/or visual type, is emitted on the display 6

Instead, whenever the identification code 11 read was the expected one, i.e. corresponding to a culture plate 50 previously removed from the device 10 to perform a test or an analysis, the opening of the door 39 is authorized and the movement system 4 is driven by the processor 7 to automatically bring back the culture plate 50 in the respective positioning cell 51.

The processor 7 searches through the storing unit 8 for the association between the identification code 11/position of the positioning cell 51 to operate the movement system 4 in order to bring back the culture plate 50 in the positioning cell 51 associated therewith.

Once the culture plate 50 is positioned in the associated cell 51, the processor 7 modifies the operation status of the positioning cell 51 by switching the "subjected to testing" status to the "occupied status". The modification of the operation status of the positioning cell 51 inside which the culture plate 50 is inserted is thus stored in the storing unit 8 and displayed on the display 6.

The flow chart of figure 4 instead describes the procedure whenever the operator requests that a predetermined culture plate 50 is brought outside the device 10, for example to be subjected to some analyses.

In this case, a request for collecting a given culture plate 50 or an identification code 11 associated with a culture plate 50 is sent to the processor 7 by the operator, for example by acting on the display 6.

The processor 7 searches, in the storing unit 8, the position of the culture plate 50 associated with the requested identification code 11 or vice-versa.

In other words, the operator can request a culture plate connected to a predetermined identification code 11 and the processor 7 searches the position of the culture plate 50 associated with the identification code 11 or, whenever the operator requests the extraction of a culture plate 50 housed in a particular positioning cell 51, the processor 7 will search, inside the storing unit, the identification code 11 connected to the positioning cell 51 selected.

The movement system 4 is thus driven to collect the requested culture plate 50 identified through its identification code 11 or its positioning cell 51.

The culture plate 51 is now brought at the visual detecting device 35 which detects the identification code 1 associated with the culture plate 50 collected, if the identification code 11 detected by the visual detecting device 35 corresponds to the one associated with the culture plate 50 requested, the processor 7 modifies the status connected to the positioning cell from which the culture plate 50 was collected, i.e. it switches the respective operation status from occupied to free or to subjected to testing.

The processor 7 further provides to store, in the storing unit 8, and to display on the display 6, the operation status change of the positioning cell 51 from which the culture plate 50 was collected.

Instead, whenever the identification code 11 read by the visual detecting device 35 does not correspond to the identification code associated with the culture plate 50 requested, the processor causes an alarm signal to be sent, which can for example be displayed on the display 6.

According to the present invention, the process further has a step of recording the parameters associated with the culture plates 50.

In particular, the system and process according to the present invention allow to record environmental parameters for each cell 50, in detail: level of humidity, percentage of oxygen, percentage of carbon dioxide and temperature.

The step of recording the environmental parameters associated with a specific culture plate 50 comprises a sub-step of detecting, by means of appropriate sensors, environmental parameters inside the incubation unit 1, of subsequently associating an identification code 11, already associated with a culture plate 50, with the environmental parameters detected and of storing the detected parameters associated with the identification code.

The recording and the association are continued at regular intervals throughout the duration of the treatment of the individual culture plate 50.

Several changes can be made to the embodiments described in detail, anyhow remaining within the protection scope of the invention, defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. System (100) for cultivating, controlling and protecting an in vitro embryo development, comprising:

-a plurality of culture plates (50), each culture plate (50) comprising an identification code (11) detectable by a visual detecting device (35);

-a device (10) for cultivating, controlling and protecting an in vitro embryo development, comprising:

- at least one incubation unit (1) comprising at least one storing unit (2) of the in vitro embryo;

- at least one inlet/outlet unit (3) of biological material; said at least one inlet/outlet unit (3) of biological material being in fluid communication with said incubation unit (1);

- at least one movement system (4) for collecting a sample of biological material from said inlet/outlet unit and bringing it in least one storing unit (2) of the in vitro embryo or vice-versa;

-at least one storing unit (2) for a plurality of culture plates (50) comprising a plurality of positioning cells; each positioning cell being shaped to house a culture plate (50);

-at least one visual detecting device (35) to detect an identification code positioned on a culture plate (50);

-at least one processor (7) configured to control the movements of said movement system (4);

- at least one storing unit (8) adapted to store at least the position of each positioning cell (51) and an association between an identification code (11) and a positioning cell (51).

2. System (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said identification code (11) is a bar code or a Qr-code.

3. System (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said visual detecting device (35) to detect a code comprises a laser reader (35’) to read bar code or QRcode positioned at an outlet (31) towards the external environment of said device (10).

4. System (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that said processor is configured to control the opening or the closing of said outlet (31).

5. Process for managing an in vitro embryo with a system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by comprising the following steps:

-generating an identification code (11) associated with at least one client;

- inserting a culture plate (50) containing biological material in said device (10); said culture plate (50) being provided with said identification code (11) generated;

- detecting, by means of a visual detecting device (35), said identification code (11) transcribed on said culture plate (50);

-associating said identification code (11) with a positioning cell (51);

-storing the association between said identification code (11) and a positioning cell (51); said positioning cell (51) being identified by at least two space coordinates;

- positioning said culture plate (50) provided with said identification code (11) in the positioning cell (51) associated therewith, by means of the movement system (4);

-modifying an operation status of the positioning cell (51);

- storing the modification of the operation status of the positioning cell (51) in which said culture plate (50) was inserted in said storing unit (8).

6. Process for managing an in vitro embryo according to claim 5, characterized by comprising an iterative recording step to record environmental parameters of the culture plate (50) inserted in the device (10) whose identification code (11) was associated with a positioning cell (51).

7. Process for managing an in vitro embryo according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by comprising the steps of:

- sending to said at least one processor (7) a request for collecting a given culture plate (50) or an identification code (11) associated with a culture plate (50);

- searching, in the storing unit (8), the position of the culture plate (50) associated with the requested identification code (11) or vice-versa;

-commanding said movement system (4) to collect the culture plate (50) requested;

- detecting the identification code (11) associated with the collected culture plate (50), by means of said visual detecting device (35), modifying the operation status of the positioning cell (51) from which the culture plate (50) was collected, if the identification code detected corresponds to the one associated with the culture plate (50) requested, sending an alarm signal if the identification code (11) read does not correspond to the identification code (11) associated with the culture plate (50) requested.

8. Process for managing an in vitro embryo according to any one of preceding claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, in the step of detecting the identification code (11) associated with the culture plate (50) collected from a positioning cell (51), an opening of the device (10) for extracting the culture plate (50) is authorized if the identification code (11) detected corresponds to the one associated with the requested culture plate (50), an alarm signal is sent if the identification code (11) detected does not correspond to the identification code associated with the requested culture plate (50).

9. Process for managing an in vitro embryo according to claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the step of recording the parameters of the culture plate (50) comprises the steps of:

- detecting at least one environmental parameter inside said device (10);

- associating an identification code (1 1), already associated with a culture plate, with the environmental parameter detected;

- storing the detected parameter associated with the identification code (11).