Apparatus, Method, and System for the Automated Imaging and Evaluation of Embryos, Oocytes and Stem Cells

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for the automated imaging and evaluation of human embryos, oocytes, or pluripotent cells are described. An apparatus and method for automated dish detection and well occupancy determination are described. In addition, a multi-well culture dish and an illumination assembly for bimodal imaging are described. These inventions find use at least in identifying or in facilitating identification of embryos and oocytes in vitro that are most useful in treating infertility in humans.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for automated imaging and evaluation of human embryos, oocytes, or pluripotent cells with an imaging system, the method comprising:
 receiving a multi-well culture dish comprising a plurality of micro-wells on a stage of the imaging system, wherein the plurality of micro-wells contain a sample comprising a plurality of human embryos or pluripotent cells;   acquiring time-lapse images of the multi-well culture dish with a camera of the at least one time-lapse microscope; and   monitoring operation of the imaging system, wherein monitoring the operation of the imaging system comprises:
 receiving operation data from at least one operation feature of the imaging system; 
 comparing the operation data to a safety threshold, wherein the safety threshold delineates between a safe operation condition of the imaging system and an unsafe operation condition of the imaging system; and 
 triggering a response when the comparison of the operation data to the safety threshold indicates the unsafe operation condition of the imaging system. 
   
     
     
         1 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one operation feature comprises at least one of: a power consuming feature; and an illumination feature. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the power consuming features comprises at least one of: the camera; and a motor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the motor is coupled to the stage, and wherein the motor is configured to focus the imaging system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the illumination feature comprises at least one of: an imaging light source configured to illuminate the sample; and an alignment light source configured to indicate when the multi-well culture dish is properly aligned. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the operation data is indicative of at least one of: current draw; and illumination. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein triggering the response comprises providing an alarm indicative of the unsafe operation condition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein providing the alarm comprises displaying an operational status indicator with a Graphical User Interface (GUI). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein triggering the response comprises turning off the at least one operation feature associated with the operation data triggering the response. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the safety threshold comprises an indicator of at least one of: a power consumption over a period of time; and a duration of illumination. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the safety threshold is selected to prevent over-illumination of the sample. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the specified duration of illumination comprises a first duration of illumination for a first illumination feature and a second duration of illumination for a second illumination feature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first duration of illumination is between 5 and 15 seconds, and wherein the second duration of illumination is between 1 and 7 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first illumination feature comprises an imaging light source configured to illuminate the sample, and wherein the second illumination feature comprises an alignment light source configured to indicate when the multi-well culture dish is properly aligned. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the power consumption over the period of time comprises at least one of: a power draw of 100 percent of a duty cycle for 30 seconds; and a power draw of 25 percent of the duty cycle for 4 minutes. 
     
     
         15 . An automated imaging system for evaluation of human embryos, oocytes, or pluripotent cells to determine a development potential, the system comprising:
 a stage configured to receive a multi-well culture dish, wherein the multi-well culture dish comprises a plurality of micro-wells containing a sample comprising a plurality of human embryos or pluripotent cells;   a time-lapse microscope having at least one operation feature and camera, wherein the operation feature is configured to generate operation data identifying an attribute of operation of the operation feature, and wherein the camera is configured to acquire time-lapse images of the multi-well culture dish on the stage; and   an operation monitor configured to monitor the operation of the imaging system to determine when the imagine system is operating in an unsafe operation condition, wherein the operation monitor is configured to:
 receive the operation data from the at least one operation feature; 
 compare the operation data to a safety threshold, wherein the safety threshold delineates between a safe operation condition of the imaging system and an unsafe operation condition of the imaging system; and 
 trigger a response when the comparison of the operation data to the safety threshold indicates the unsafe operation condition of the imaging system. 
   
     
     
         16 . The automated imaging system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one operation feature comprises at least one of: a power consuming feature; and an illumination feature. 
     
     
         17 . The automated imaging system of  claim 17 , wherein the power consuming features comprises at least one of: the camera; and a motor. 
     
     
         18 . The automated imaging system of  claim 18 , wherein the motor is coupled to the stage, and wherein the motor is configured to focus the imaging system. 
     
     
         19 . The automated imaging system of  claim 17 , wherein the illumination feature comprises at least one of: an imaging light source configured to illuminate the sample; and an alignment light source configured to indicate when the multi-well culture dish is properly aligned. 
     
     
         20 . The automated imaging system of  claim 17 , wherein the operation data is indicative of at least one of: current draw; and illumination. 
     
     
         21 . The automated imaging system of  claim 21 , wherein triggering the response comprises providing an alarm indicative of the unsafe operation condition. 
     
     
         22 . The automated imaging system of  claim 22 , further comprising a Graphical User Interface (GUI) on a display, wherein providing the alarm comprises providing an operational status indicator with the GUI. 
     
     
         23 . The automated imaging system of  claim 21 , wherein triggering the response comprises turning off the at least one operation feature associated with the operation data triggering the response. 
     
     
         24 . The automated imaging system of  claim 21 , wherein the safety threshold comprises an indicator of at least one of: a power consumption over a period of time; and a duration of illumination. 
     
     
         25 . The automated imaging system of  claim 25 , wherein the safety threshold is selected to prevent over-illumination of the sample. 
     
     
         26 . The automated imaging system of  claim 25 , wherein the specified duration of illumination comprises a first duration of illumination for a first illumination feature and a second duration of illumination for a second illumination feature. 
     
     
         27 . The automated imaging system of  claim 27 , wherein the first duration of illumination is between 5 and 15 seconds, and wherein the second duration of illumination is between 1 and 7 minutes. 
     
     
         28 . The automated imaging system of  claim 28 , wherein the first illumination feature comprises an imaging light source configured to illuminate the sample, and wherein the second illumination feature comprises an alignment light source configured to indicate when the multi-well culture dish is properly aligned. 
     
     
         29 . The automated imaging system of  claim 25 , wherein the power consumption over the period of time comprises at least one of: a power draw of 100 percent of a duty cycle for 30 seconds; and a power draw of 25 percent of the duty cycle for 4 minutes.