Cell tray

Abstract

Apparatus (20) is provided for use with a fluid that contains biological cells. The apparatus (20) includes a tray (22) shaped to define (a) a flat upper surface (24) configured to support the fluid, the upper surface (24) not being completely surrounded by a wall and having a surface area that is less than 900 mm2, and (b) an underside (26). The apparatus (20) further includes a plurality of protrusions (30) protruding from the underside (26) of the tray (22). The tray (22) has a thickness between 0.4 and 0.8 mm, and a property selected from the group consisting of: transparency, and translucency. Other embodiments are also described.

1 . Apparatus for use with a fluid that contains biological cells, the apparatus comprising:
 a tray shaped to define:
 a flat planar upper surface configured to support the fluid, the upper surface not being completely surrounded by a wall and having a surface area that is less than 900 mm2, and 
 an underside; and 
   a plurality of protrusions protruding from the underside of the tray, the tray having:
 a thickness between 0.4 and 0.8 mm, and 
 a property selected from the group consisting of: transparency, and translucency. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the flat planar upper surface is shaped to define an outer perimeter,   at least some of the outer perimeter does not contact any element extending higher than the flat planar upper surface, and   at least some of the outer perimeter contacts an element extending higher than the flat planar upper surface.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein at least 40% of the outer perimeter does not contact any element extending higher than the flat planar upper surface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein at least 60% of the outer perimeter does not contact any element extending higher than the flat planar upper surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein at least 80% of the outer perimeter does not contact any element extending higher than the flat planar upper surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray is transparent. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface has a level of hydrophobicity such that it is configured to contact a drop of water with a contact angle that is between 60 and 120 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is shaped and sized to fit inside a cryogenic vial having a length of 44 mm and a diameter of 12.5 mm. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising the apparatus according to  claim 1 , the system further comprising a cryogenic vial, wherein the apparatus is shaped and sized to fit inside the vial. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle comprising:
 a first handle portion being generally perpendicular to the tray, and disposed at an end of the tray; and   a second handle portion being generally parallel to the tray, and coupled to the first handle portion.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the first handle portion is disposed at a proximal end of the tray, wherein the tray has a central longitudinal axis that extends through the proximal end and a distal end of the tray, and wherein the central longitudinal axis falls on or is generally parallel to a plane defined by the first handle portion. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the handle further comprises a handle wall coupled to the end of the tray, and   each of the first handle portion and the second handle portion is:
 generally perpendicular to the handle wall, and 
 coupled to the tray, by being coupled to the handle wall. 
   
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are configured to separate the entire underside of the tray from a flat surface on which the tray may be placed. 
     
     
         23 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises at least four supporting protrusions, each of a majority of which is less than 3 mm from a respective corner of the underside of the tray, such that each of the corners of the underside of the tray is within 3 mm of at least one of the supporting protrusions. 
     
     
         45 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray is rectangular. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus according to  claim 55 , wherein a length of the tray is between 12 and 25 mm. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein a width of the tray is between 3 and 12 mm. 
     
     
         59 - 101 . (canceled) 
     
     
         102 . A method of cryogenic storage of fluid, the method comprising:
 providing apparatus that includes (i) a tray shaped to define (a) a flat planar upper surface configured to support the fluid, the flat planar upper surface not being completely surrounded by a wall and having a surface area that is less than 900 mm2, and (b) an underside, the tray having a thickness between 0.4 and 0.8 mm, and a property selected from the group consisting of: transparency, and translucency, and (ii) a plurality of protrusions protruding from the underside of the tray;   extracting from a subject a fluid that contains biological cells;   placing droplets of the fluid on the flat planar upper surface of the tray of the apparatus; and   placing the apparatus into a cryogenic vial.   
     
     
         103 . The method according to  claim 102 , further comprising cryopreserving the droplets of the fluid by placing the cryogenic vial in a freezer. 
     
     
         104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . The method according to  claim 102 ,
 wherein the apparatus further includes a handle including (a) a first handle portion being generally perpendicular to the tray, and disposed at an end of the tray, and (b) a second handle portion being generally parallel to the tray, and coupled to the first handle portion, and   wherein the method further comprises removing the tray from a cryogenic vial by grasping one of the first and the second handle portions.   
     
     
         106 . The method according to  claim 105 , wherein the first handle portion is disposed at a proximal end of the tray, and wherein a plane defined by the first handle portion is generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tray that extends through the proximal end and a distal end of the tray. 
     
     
         107 . (canceled) 
     
     
         108 . The method according to  claim 102 ,
 wherein extracting the fluid from the subject comprises extracting seminal fluid from the subject, and   wherein placing the droplets of the fluid on the flat planar upper surface of the tray comprises placing droplets of the seminal fluid on the flat planar upper surface of the tray.   
     
     
         109 . The method according to  claim 102 , wherein:
 the flat planar upper surface is shaped to define an outer perimeter,   at least some of the outer perimeter does not contact any element extending higher than the flat planar upper surface, and   at least some of the outer perimeter contacts an element extending higher than the flat planar upper surface.   
     
     
         110 . The method according to  claim 109 , wherein at least 60% of the outer perimeter does not contact any element extending higher than the flat planar upper surface. 
     
     
         111 . The method according to  claim 102 , wherein the plurality of protrusions includes at least four supporting protrusions, each of a majority of which is less than 3 mm from a respective corner of the underside of the tray, such that each of the corners of the underside of the tray is within 3 mm of at least one of the supporting protrusions.