Search

KR-102962527-B1 - VITRIFICATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PREPARING SAMPLE

KR102962527B1KR 102962527 B1KR102962527 B1KR 102962527B1KR-102962527-B1

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatuses and related methods for rapidly freezing a sample, for example, using liquid nitrogen. The apparatus comprises an input portion having an input port, a sample chamber, a waste reservoir fluidly communicating with the sample chamber, and a filtration mechanism that allows a fluid introduced through the input port to selectively pass through the sample chamber into the waste reservoir while holding a sample within the sample chamber. The sample chamber, the waste reservoir, and the filtration mechanism are configured to draw fluid from the sample chamber into the waste reservoir through the filtration mechanism via capillary action.

Inventors

  • 린, 사브리나 씨.
  • 니, 샤오-츠

Assignees

  • 넥스프링 유에스 옵코 인코포레이티드

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20180420
Priority Date
20170421

Claims (16)

  1. As a vitrification device (1601), An input part (1610) having an input port (1604); Sample chamber (sample chamber; 1611); A waste reservoir (1612) fluidly connected to the sample chamber (1611); A filtering mechanism (1621) that holds a sample in the sample chamber (1611) and allows a fluid introduced through the input port (1604) to selectively pass through the sample chamber (1611) into the waste storage tank (1612); and It includes a handle portion (1602) coupled to the input portion (1610), and The above waste storage (1612) is located within the handle portion (1602), and The sample chamber (1611), waste storage (1612), and filtration mechanism are configured to draw fluid from the sample chamber (1611) into the waste storage (1612) through the filtration mechanism (1621) via capillary action, and The waste storage tank (1612) is sized and configured to have a capacity to hold all waste fluids used during the pre-treating and preparation of samples for vitrification, so that the waste storage tank (1612) does not reach its maximum capacity and does not need to be emptied. Vitrification device.
  2. In Article 1, It further includes at least one viewing window (1605), said viewing window (1605) configured so that a sample in said sample chamber (1611) can be observed through said viewing window (1605). Vitrification device.
  3. In Article 1, The input port (1604) is configured to prevent the passage of air bubbles into the sample chamber (1611), and Optionally, the input port (1604) comprises a recess (1604a) and an input channel (1604b), and the input channel (1604b) provides fluid communication between the recess (1604a) and the sample chamber (1611). Vitrification device.
  4. In Paragraph 3, The input port (1604) includes a raised portion (1622) at the end of the recess (1604a) near the input channel (1604b) to maintain any bubble formed in the input port (1604) over the input channel (1604b). Vitrification device.
  5. In Paragraph 3, The above recess (1604a) includes a first recess portion and a second recess portion (1624), the second recess portion (1624) is located at the end of the recess (1604a) near the input channel (1604b) and is lower than the first recess portion, and Optionally, further comprising a ramp portion between the first recess portion and the second recess portion (1624), Vitrification device.
  6. In Paragraph 3, The above recess (1604a) further includes a narrow portion (1626) at the end of the recess (1604a) near the input channel (1604b), and Optionally, the bottom portion of the recess (1604a) is slanted so that the bottom portion declines toward the input channel (1604b). Vitrification device.
  7. In Article 1, In order to expose the sample chamber (1611) when the input portion (1610) is immersed in liquid nitrogen and to allow the liquid nitrogen to flow close to the sample in the sample chamber (1611), the first opening (1607) is further included in the wall of the handle portion (1602) at the location of the sample chamber (1611). Vitrification device.
  8. In Article 7, A second opening (1605) further comprising, on the wall of the handle portion (1602) at the location of the sample chamber (1611), diametrically opposite from the first opening (1607). Vitrification device.
  9. In Article 8, The sample chamber (1611) is made of a transparent material so that the first opening (1607) and the second opening (1605) of the wall of the handle portion (1602) form an observation window (1605; 1607). Vitrification device.
  10. In Article 1, The above filtration mechanism (1621) is manufactured from a filter material selected from the group consisting of sintered polyethylene beads, polymer mesh, and fibrous paper, Vitrification device.
  11. In Article 1, The above filtration mechanism (1621) is made of an absorbent material configured to enable the removal of fluid from the sample chamber (1611), Vitrification device.
  12. A method for preparing a sample using a vitrification device (1601), The above-mentioned glassing device (1601) includes an input portion (1610) having an input port (1604) and a handle portion (1602) coupled to the input portion (1610). The method for preparing the above sample is: A step of transferring a sample into the sample chamber (1611) of the vitrification device (1601) and adjacent to the filtration mechanism (1621) of the vitrification device (1601); and A step of treating the sample with the first fluid by pressurizing the first fluid through the sample chamber (1611) into the waste storage (1612) of the vitrification device (1601) while the filtration mechanism (1621) holds the sample in the sample chamber (1611); and The method includes the step of vitrifying the sample within the sample chamber (1611), Pressurizing the first fluid into the waste storage (1612) initiates capillary action, thereby drawing subsequent fluids into the waste storage (1612) through the sample chamber (1611), and The above waste storage (1612) is located within the handle portion (1602), and The waste storage tank (1612) is sized and configured to have a capacity to hold all waste fluids used during the pre-treating and preparation of samples for vitrification, so that the waste storage tank (1612) does not reach its maximum capacity and does not need to be emptied. Method for preparing a sample.
  13. In Article 12, By bringing the sample chamber (1611) into contact with liquid nitrogen, the sample is vitrified. Method for preparing a sample.
  14. delete
  15. delete
  16. delete

Description

Vitrification device and method for preparing a sample [0001] This application claims the benefit and priority thereto of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/488,655 filed April 21, 2017, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. [0002] The present disclosure generally relates to vitrification devices and methods for preparing samples. [0003] Human oocyte cryopreservation is one of the technologies used to preserve female fertility. Female oocytes are extracted, frozen, and stored. Later, the oocytes can be thawed and fertilized, and then transferred to the uterus as embryos. Alternatively, fertilized embryos can be frozen and stored, and later thawed and transferred to the woman's uterus. [0004] Vitrification is a rapid freezing process that freezes biological samples within seconds, for example, using liquid nitrogen. Vitrification of oocytes or embryos has been shown to produce much better results than those obtained by slow freezing techniques in terms of the fertility and viability of oocytes and embryos. [0005] Biological samples to be preserved by vitrification are typically small in size, very fragile, and sensitive to loss of activity and damage during human handling, such as during transfer by micropipetting. Typically, samples are transferred to vitrification tools to be maintained and pretreated and prepared for vitrification using various agents or solutions before being exposed to liquid nitrogen. Similarly, for thawing, frozen samples are also treated with various warming agents or solutions. Each manipulation step involves transferring a sample, such as an oocyte or embryo, from one solution to another using a micropipette. Therefore, conventional processes and tools carry a significant risk of sample damage, and human errors and variations associated with such manipulation cannot be avoided. [0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of a vitrification apparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0016] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a cap of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0017] FIG. 2b is a cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 2a according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0018] FIG. 2c is a front view of the cap of FIG. 2a according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the input portion of a vitrification device covered with a cap according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0020] FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the front portion of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0021] FIG. 4b is a plan view of the front portion of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0022] FIG. 5a is a cross-sectional view of a part of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in which a cap is coupled to the input part of the device. [0023] FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of the input portion of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0024] FIG. 5c is a front view of the cap portion of FIG. 5b according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0025] FIG. 6a is a perspective view of part of the input portion of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0026] FIG. 6b is a side view of a portion of a filtration grate according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0027] FIGS. 7a to 7c are partial drawings of various embodiments of the input portion of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0028] FIGS. 8a and 8b are plan views of various embodiments of the input portion of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0029] FIG. 9a is a plan view of a part of a vitrification apparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0030] Fig. 9b is a cross-sectional view of a vitrification apparatus taken along line AA of Fig. 9a. [0031] FIG. 9c is an enlarged view of the region (D) as shown in FIG. 9b, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0032] FIG. 10a is a perspective view of part of the input portion of a vitrification device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0033] FIG. 10b is a cross-sectional view of the vitrification apparatus of FIG. 10a according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0034] FIG. 10c is a front view of the vitrification apparatus of FIG. 10a according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0035] FIG. 11a illustrates exemplary procedures for freezing embryo samples using a vitrification apparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0036] FIG. 11b illustrates exemplary procedures for thawing embryo samples using a vitrification apparatus according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0037] FIGS. 12a an