Micromanipulation and storage apparatus and methods

A vessel for vitrification of biological material, the vessel comprising:

• a reservoir having a bottom wall and a top opening directly opposite the bottom wall;
• a channel formed in the reservoir;
• and
• two sub-reservoirs at either end of the channel;
• wherein the bottom wall provides a bottom wall for each of the two sub-reservoirs and the channel,
• wherein the channel includes a restriction dimensioned to resist passage of the biological material but allow passage of liquid treatment solutions;
• and
• wherein a thickness of the material of the vessel is between 1 mm and 0.05 mm.

An apparatus for micromanipulation, vitrification and storage of biological material, the apparatus including:

• a vessel having a reservoir defined by a bottom wall, a side wall in surrounding relation to the bottom wall and a top opening directly opposite the bottom wall and defined by an upper end of the side wall, a channel formed in a portion of the reservoir and defined by the bottom wall and the side wall, a first sub-reservoir at one end of the bottom wall of the channel and a second sub-reservoir at an opposite end of the bottom wall of the channel, with the bottom wall and side wall of the channel defining an intermediate restriction between the first and second sub-reservoirs which is dimensioned to resist passage of biological material but allow passage of liquid treatment solutions,
• the bottom wall providing a bottom wall for the first sub-reservoir, the second sub-reservoir and the channel,
• the first and second sub-reservoirs each having a width which tapers toward the restriction, and
• the vessel being formed of a material having a thermal diffusivity and a thickness such that biological material in the vessel is adapted to be vitrified.