Embryo collection device

An embryo collection device for extracting and holding embryos from an embryo-containing irrigant fluid, comprising:

• a vessel including a base and a sidewall, said sidewall including structure defining an outlet port spaced a distance above said base for conveying filtered irrigant fluid from said vessel;
• filter means within said vessel for filtering embryos from the embryo-containing fluid, said filter means including an upright irrigant fluid-pervious filter spaced inwardly from said sidewall and presenting inner and outer opposed faces and an upper margin, there being an irrigant fluid-retaining region between said said outer face of said upright filter and said vessel sidewall;
• and
• a lid member removably attached to said filter means and including structure defining an irrigant fluid inlet therethrough for delivering embryo-containing irrigant fluid to said filter means,
• said vessel sidewall port being located relative to the upper margin of said filter for continuously maintaining substantially the entirety of said upright filter and both said inner and outer faces thereof in contact with said irrigant fluid during and subsequent to filtration of the fluid, said irrigant fluid being maintained within said region and inboard of said filter whereby filtered embryos remain bathed within irrigant fluid during and subsequent to filtration of the fluid,
• said vessel base being substantially flat for permitting placement of the device in a microscope for embryo identification and counting.

An embryo collection device for extracting and holding embryos from an embryo-containing irrigant fluid, comprising:

• a vessel including a base and a sidewall, said sidewall including structure defining an outlet port spaced a distance above said base for conveying filtered irrigant fluid from said vessel;
• filter means within said vessel for filtering embryos from the embryo-containing fluid, said filter means including an upright irrigant fluid-pervious filter spaced inwardly from said sidewall and presenting inner and outer opposed faces and an upper margin, there being an irrigant fluid-retaining region between said outer face of said upright filter and said vessel sidewall;
• and
• a lid member removably attached to said filter means and including structure defining an irrigant fluid inlet therethrough for delivering embryo-containing irrigant fluid to said filter means,
• said vessel sidewall port being located relative to the upper margin of said filter for continuously maintaining substantially the entirety of said upright filter and both said inner and outer faces thereof in contact with said irrigant fluid during and subsequent to filtration of the fluid, said irrigant fluid being maintained within said region and inboard of said filter whereby filtered embryos remain bathed within irrigant fluid during and subsequent to filtration of the fluid,
• said vessel base and sidewall being formed of substantially transparent synthetic resin material.

An embryo collection device for extracting and holding embryos from an embryo-containing irrigant fluid, comprising:

• a vessel including a base and a sidewall, said sidewall including structure defining an outlet port spaced a distance above said base for conveying filtered irrigant fluid from said vessel;
• filter means within said vessel for filtering embryos from the embryo-containing fluid, said filter means including an upright filter spaced inwardly from said sidewall and presenting an upper margin, there being an irrigant fluid-retaining region between said upright filter and said vessel sidewall;
• and
• a lid member removably attached to said filter means and including structure defining an irrigant fluid inlet therethrough for delivering embryo-containing irrigant fluid to said filter means,
• said vessel sidewall port being located relative to the upper margin of said filter for continuously maintaining substantially the entirety of said upright filter in contact with said irrigant fluid during and subsequent to filtration of the fluid, said irrigant fluid being maintained within said region and inboard of said filter whereby filtered embryos remain bathed within irrigant fluid during and subsequent to filtration of the fluid,
• said filter means further including support structure for said upright filter, and including structure for directing incoming embryo-containing irrigant fluid thereto, said support structure including a bottom wall bonded to said vessel base, a plurality of upwardly extending posts integrally molded to said bottom wall, and a connector bonded to the top of said support posts and extending upwardly therefrom.