Recovery and processing of human embryos formed in vivo

Abstract

A process for recovering one or more blastocysts from a uterus of a human is disclose which comprises placing a device transvaginally into a cervical canal of the patient; delivering fluid through the device to the uterus and applying a vacuum to the uterus to aspirate fluid and entrained one or more blastocysts from the uterus; and causing a disruption of to the uterus and/or to one or more embryos remaining in the uterus following removal of one or more blastocysts from the uterus to reduce the chance that any such retained embryos remaining in the uterus will form a viable pregnancy, wherein the causing a disruption comprises one or more of the following: inducing a mechanical disruption of the uterus, delivering a hormonal agent to the uterus, delivering a chemical agent to the uterus, inducing a thermal disruption of the uterus, or using ultrasound or radiofrequency energy to induce said disruption. Kits and uterine lavage systems are further provided for performing the processes described in the invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for recovering one or more blastocysts from a uterus of a human, comprising:
 placing a device transvaginally into a cervical canal of the patient;   delivering fluid through the device to the uterus and applying a vacuum to the uterus to aspirate fluid and entrained one or more blastocysts from the uterus; and   causing a disruption of to the uterus and/or to one or more retained embryos remaining in the uterus following removal of one or more blastocysts from the uterus to reduce the chance that any such retained embryos remaining in the uterus will form a viable pregnancy, wherein said causing a disruption comprises using ultrasound energy in the uterus.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising storing recovered one or more blastocysts in a container. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising diagnosing at least one of the one or more blastocysts. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 13 , further comprising treating at least one of the one or more blastocysts. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting at least one of the one or more blastocysts for implantation. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising returning at least one of the one or more blastocyst to the woman's uterus. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving electronically at a clinic information from a host, the information derived from containers that uniquely identify the one or more blastocysts and associates the one or more blastocysts with respective women, the information including data that tracks transportation and processing of the one or more blastocysts. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein delivering fluid comprises automatically delivering fluid through the device to the uterus and automatically applying a vacuum to the uterus to aspirate fluid and entrained one or more blastocysts from the uterus. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein automatically delivering fluid comprises automatically cyclically delivering fluid through the device to the uterus and automatically applying a vacuum to the uterus includes infusing fluid in periodic pulses and applying a vacuum intermittently. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the vacuum is applied intermittently to be syncopated to pulsations of the fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the process avoids delivering fluid and the entrained one or more blastocysts out the Fallopian tubes of the human. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said causing a disruption comprises causing the disruption to the uterus and/or to any retained embryos prior to said retained embryos implanting into the uterine wall. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said causing a disruption comprises causing the disruption to the uterus and/or to any retained embryos subsequent to said retained embryos implanting into the uterine wall.