Incubation and/or storage container system and method

A container assembly comprising (i) a vessel for containing a biological medium, gametes and/or one or more embryo(s), the vessel having a CO2 permeable wall, (ii) a closure device for selective access to the interior of the vessel, and (iii) a buffer chamber for a CO2 enriched atmosphere cooperable with the vessel and in communication with the CO2 permeable wall for CO2 equilibration in the vessel after removal of the container assembly from a CO2 enriched environment.

An intravaginal incubation container assembly comprising (i) a vessel for containing a biological medium and gametes, (ii) a closure member for selective access to the interior of the vessel, and (iii) a buffer chamber at least partly surrounding the vessel for maintaining temperature and/or aqueous CO2 levels inside the vessel when the container assembly is removed from the vagina.

A storage method for gametes and/or embryos comprising the steps of:

• i) providing a CO2 permeable vessel for storage gametes and/or at least one embryo, ii) substantially entirely filling the vessel with a biological medium and introducing gametes and/or at least one embryo into the biological medium, iii) closing the vessel iv) maintaining around the vessel a CO2 enriched atmosphere during storage of the gametes and/or at least one embryo.

An incubation container comprising a vessel for containing a biological medium and gametes, a closure device for selective access to the interior of the vessel, the closure device comprising lower and upper disc-shaped members having respective registrable orifices for accessing the interior of the vessel, the lower disc-shaped member being fixed relative to the vessel, at least one of the vessel and the lower disc-shaped member having a peripheral flange, the upper disc-shaped member being mounted for rotation on the lower disc-shaped member, the upper disc-shaped member having one or more peripheral hooks for clipping the upper disc on the peripheral flange for restraining the upper disc-shaped member separating from the vessel in any relative angular position, the closure device having an open position in which the orifices are in registration and a closed position in which the orifices are out of registration and the upper disc-shaped member is in sealing engagement over the orifice of the lower disc-shaped member.

An incubation container comprising a vessel for containing a biological medium and gametes, the vessel having a peripheral flange, a closure device for selective access to the interior of the vessel, the closure device comprising lower and upper disc-shaped members with respective registrable orifices for accessing the interior of the vessel, the lower disc-shaped member being fixed relative to the vessel, at least one of the vessel and the lower disc-shaped member having a peripheral flange, the upper disc-shaped member being mounted for rotation on the lower disc-shaped member between a position in which the orifices are in and out of registration, the upper disc-shaped member having a peripheral skirt including cutouts at circumferentially spaced locations, the peripheral flange having at least one radial protrusion audibly clearing an edge of at least one of the cutouts, and the closure device having an open position when the orifices are in registration and closed position in which the orifices are out of registration and the upper disc-shaped member is in sealing engagement over the orifice of the lower disc-shaped member, whereby the protrusion audibly clearing said edge of the one of the cutouts as the closure device reaches the closed position.