Biomaterial handling device

Abstract

A biomaterial handling device is described that will provide for functionality for performing both IVF procedures and washing techniques in a single device. Disclosed embodiments provide increased protection to biomaterial samples during processing and handling. Embodiments of the invention reduce labor intensive processes for both IVF and washing treatments and address reduced risks of contamination of biological samples by providing an increasingly sterile environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biomaterial handling device comprising:
 a main body portion comprising:
 an internal receptacle; 
 a waste chamber connected to the internal receptacle; 
 at least one output port connected to the waste chamber; and 
 an insert having an inlet port opening at one end of the insert and a wash chamber, wherein the inlet port opening allows access to the wash chamber disposed within an interior of the insert, wherein the wash chamber terminates into an opening at a bottom end of the insert, wherein the insert is disposed within the internal receptacle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a sealing ring around an exterior circumference of the insert, wherein the internal receptacle is sealed by the sealing ring. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removably attached lid connected to the main body portion for sealing the inlet port opening and the output port.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the output port terminates in an output port opening, wherein the output port extends from the waste chamber such that the output port opening is fixed at a height between the inlet port opening and the connection of the wash chamber to the internal receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion comprises:
 a gas permeable moisture barrier.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier includes a high CO 2  permeability low water permeability material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier includes one of polymethlpentene (PMP), silicone and low density polyethylene (LDPE). 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the lid includes respective seals for sealing the inlet port opening and the output port. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the seals comprise a material made from one of a thermoplastic elastomer and silicon. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the one of the respective seals is a gas permeable moisture barrier. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier is a membrane disposed in the lid. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the membrane is fixed to the lid. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the lid comprises an access port and the gas permeable moisture barrier is applied through the access port and over the inlet port opening. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier is mineral oil. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier forms a seal along edges of the access port. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the access port accommodates overflow of the gas permeable moisture barrier. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier includes a high CO 2  permeable low water permeable material. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier includes one of polymethlpentene (PMP), silicone and low density polyethylene (LDPE). 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the main body portion. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the insert and the main body portion comprise a material made from polystyrene. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the lid comprises a material made from one of polystyrene, polypropylene, and hi-density polyethylene. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port opening is generally oval in shape. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter disposed at a bottom end of the insert, wherein the insert and filter are disposed within the internal receptacle. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the filter is attached to the insert by one of an ultrasonic weld or a thermal weld. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the filter comprises a mesh filter. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the mesh filter comprises a hole size in a range from approximately 30-500 microns. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the mesh filter comprises a material made from one of polyester, nylon, polystyrene, glass, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, and paper. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiving portion configured into one side of the main body portion and an attaching portion configured on an opposite side of the main body portion, wherein the attaching portion of one device attaches to the receiving portion of another device. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein multiple devices are attached to one another via respective attaching portions and receiving portions of the multiple devices to form an array of devices. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the receiving portion comprises a female member and the attaching portion comprises a male member, wherein the male member is sized to correspond to attach to the female member in a secure fashion. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the female member and the male member are removably attached. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the female member and the male member are attached via interference fit arrangement. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the female member and the male member are attached via a snap-fit arrangement. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the female member comprises a slot configuration and the male member is attached to the female member by sliding into the slot configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the female member comprises a key slot and the male member comprises a protrusion. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for performing an IVF procedure and washing technique, comprising:
 a main body portion comprising:
 an internal receptacle configured to perform the IVF procedure therein; 
 a waste chamber connected to the internal receptacle; and 
 an output port connected to the waste chamber, the output port terminating in an output port opening, wherein the output port extends from the waste chamber such that the output port opening is fixed at a height between an opening of the internal receptacle and the connection of the waste chamber to the receptacle, 
 wherein the main body portion is configured to receive media into the internal receptacle, through the waste chamber and output port, and out of the output port opening to perform the washing technique. 
   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 an insert having a wash chamber disposed within an interior of the insert,
 wherein the wash chamber terminates into an opening at a bottom end of the insert, the insert further comprising a sealing ring around an exterior circumference of the insert, wherein the insert is disposed within the internal receptacle and the internal receptacle is sealed by the sealing ring. 
   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a removably attached lid connected to the main body portion for sealing the internal receptacle and the output port opening.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the lid includes respective seals for sealing the internal receptacle and the output port opening. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the seals comprise a material made from one of a thermoplastic elastomer and silicon. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the one of the respective seals is a gas permeable moisture barrier. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier is a membrane disposed in the lid. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the membrane is fixed to the lid. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the lid comprises an access port and the gas permeable moisture barrier is applied through the access port and over the inlet port opening. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier is mineral oil. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier forms a seal along edges of the access port. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the access port accommodates overflow of the gas permeable moisture barrier. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier includes a high CO 2  permeability low water permeability material. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier includes one of polymethlpentene (PMP), silicone and low density polyethylene (LDPE). 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the main body portion. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the insert, the main body portion and lid comprise a material made from hi-density polyethylene. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the insert comprises a substantially oval shaped inlet port opening at one end of the insert, wherein the inlet port opening allows access to the wash chamber. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , further comprising a filter disposed at a bottom end of the insert, wherein the attached insert and filter are disposed within the internal receptacle. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the filter is attached to the insert by one of an ultrasonic weld or a thermal weld. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the filter comprises a mesh filter. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the mesh filter comprises a hole size in a range from approximately 30-500 microns. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the mesh filter comprises a material made from one of polyester, nylon, polystyrene, glass, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, and paper. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising a receiving portion configured into one side of the main body portion and an attaching portion configured on an opposite side of the main body portion, wherein the attaching portion of one apparatus attaches to the receiving portion of another apparatus. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein multiple apparatuses are attached to one another via respective attaching portions and receiving portions of the multiple apparatuses to form an array of apparatuses. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 58 , wherein the receiving portion comprises a female member and the attaching portion comprises a male member, wherein the male member is sized to correspond to attach to the female member in a secure fashion. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the female member and the male member are removably attached. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the female member and the male member are attached via interference fit arrangement. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the female member and the male member are attached via a snap-fit arrangement. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the female member comprises a slot configuration and the male member is attached to the female member by sliding into the slot configuration. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the female member comprises a key slot and the male member comprises a protrusion. 
     
     
         66 . An apparatus for performing an IVF procedure and washing technique, comprising:
 a main body portion comprising:
 an internal receptacle configured to perform the IVF procedure therein; 
 a waste chamber connected to an opening of the internal receptacle; and 
 an output port connected to the waste chamber, the output port terminating in an output port opening, wherein the output port extends from the waste chamber such that the output port opening is fixed at a height between an opening of the internal receptacle and the connection of the waste chamber to the receptacle, 
 wherein the main body portion is configured to receive media into the internal receptacle, through the waste chamber and output port, and out of the output port opening to perform the washing technique. 
   
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , further comprising a filter disposed at the opening of the internal receptacle. 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 66 , further comprising:
 a removably attached lid connected to the main body portion for sealing the opening of the internal receptacle.   
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 68 , wherein the lid includes respective seals for sealing the opening of the internal receptacle and the output port. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 69 , wherein the one of the respective seals is a gas permeable moisture barrier. 
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier is a membrane disposed in the lid. 
     
     
         72 . The device of  claim 71 , wherein the membrane is fixed to the lid. 
     
     
         73 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the lid comprises an access port and the gas permeable moisture barrier is applied through the access port and over the inlet port opening. 
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier is mineral oil. 
     
     
         75 . The device of  claim 73 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier forms a seal along edges of the access port. 
     
     
         76 . The device of  claim 73 , wherein the access port accommodates overflow of the gas permeable moisture barrier. 
     
     
         77 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier includes a high CO 2  permeability low water permeability material. 
     
     
         78 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the gas permeable moisture barrier includes one of polymethlpentene (PMP), silicone and low density polyethylene (LDPE).