Container for culturing, micro manipulation and identification of small specimens

Abstract

A disposable polymer container for manipulation of small specimens adapted to optimize heat transfer between an external heating element and specimens herein contained. In particular, this invention relates to the field of containers for Assisted Reproductive Technology hereunder In-vitro fertilization (IVF).

1 . A polymer specimen container for spermatozoa, sperm precursor cells, oocytes, pre-implantation embryos, zygotes, blastocysts, embryonic cells or stem cells, said polymer specimen container comprising:
 a specimen carrier comprising a bottom base that is externally flat and connected to a wall, said wall comprising an open hollow structure comprising recesses and ridges, wherein said open hollow wall structure has its lowest level above the lowest level of said bottom base, and further comprising:   a lid, comprising a top and a bottom surface, wherein said top surface comprises protrusions complementary to at least one of said recesses or ridges in said open hollow wall structure, thereby avoiding scratching of the bottom base during stacking of said polymer specimen container.   
     
     
         2 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said open hollow structure comprises an area for identification. 
     
     
         23 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said area for identification comprises a barcode, inscription, embossed text, writing or RFID tag. 
     
     
         24 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the internal surface of said bottom base that is externally flat is treated so as to modify its surface properties. 
     
     
         25 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said open wall structure forms substantially a square with or without rounded corners or being substantially circular. 
     
     
         26 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said open wall structure comprises an innermost wall structure forming a well substantially square with or without rounded corners, or being substantially circular. 
     
     
         27 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said open wall structure comprises an innermost wall structure forming a circular well, wherein the center of said circular well is substantially identical to the center of the said specimen carrier. 
     
     
         28 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said flat bottom base that is externally flat comprises one or more individually separated wells for holding liquid medium sustaining the specimens during procedure. 
     
     
         29 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 28 , wherein said individual wells have a slope between a flat bottom of said one or more individually separated wells and a well structure. 
     
     
         30 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , comprising at least an innermost and an outermost wall structure, said innermost wall structure interconnected by a bottom base being externally flat and having equal or lower base height than any other carrier structures. 
     
     
         31 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 28 , wherein said individual wells have a slope between a flat bottom of said one or more individually separated wells and a well structure and wherein said slope has an angle of 45 degrees or less. 
     
     
         32 . A method of using the polymer specimen container according to  claim 1  in an assisted reproductive procedure comprising:
 providing the polymer specimen container of  claim 1 ; and 
 contacting said polymer specimen container with spermatozoa, sperm precursor cells, oocytes, pre-implantation embryos, zygotes, blastocysts, embryonic cells or stem cells during an assisted reproductive procedure. 
 
     
     
         33 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid fits into structures of said specimen carrier. 
     
     
         34 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said lid further comprises small protrusions for securing gas exchange between the outside of said container and the inside of said container during use. 
     
     
         35 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , said polymer specimen carrier being square or square with rounded corners having a side length of 25 mm or less. 
     
     
         36 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 35 , comprising circular well(s) having a diameter of 90 mm or less. 
     
     
         37 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer specimen carrier is substantially circular and comprises a diameter of 120 mm or less. 
     
     
         38 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1  wherein said polymer specimen carrier comprises a height of 20 mm or less. 
     
     
         39 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom base that is externally flat comprises a thickness of 12 mm or less. 
     
     
         40 . The polymer specimen carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom base that is externally flat is embedded with well structures.