Fertilized egg incubation system for in vitro fertilization
阅读说明：本技术 体外受精的受精卵孵育系统 (Fertilized egg incubation system for in vitro fertilization ) 是由 凯文·J·杜迪 于 2018-04-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本说明书的主题尤其可以体现在用于控制孵育器的方法中,该方法包括由控制器接收温度曲线,并且由控制器基于该温度曲线改变孵育器的温度。(The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method for controlling an incubator, the method comprising receiving, by a controller, a temperature profile, and changing, by the controller, a temperature of the incubator based on the temperature profile.)
1. A method for controlling an incubator, comprising:
receiving, by a controller, a temperature profile; and
varying, by the controller, a temperature of an incubator based on the temperature profile.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature profile comprises:
a first description of a first temperature state having a first temperature to be maintained for a first period of time; and
a second description of a second temperature state having a second temperature different from the first temperature to be maintained for a second time period that does not intersect the first time period.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the temperature profile describes a circadian internal body temperature cycle of the female mammal.
4. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the temperature profile describes a temperature cycle that varies from less than or equal to 39 ℃ to greater than or equal to 35 ℃ over a period of greater than 15 hours to less than 48 hours.
5. The method of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein varying the temperature of the incubator based on the temperature profile comprises:
operating a heater configured to heat the incubator to the first temperature;
operating the heater to maintain the incubator at the first temperature for the first period of time;
operating the heater to heat the incubator at the second temperature after the first period of time has elapsed; and
operating the heater to maintain the incubator at the second temperature for the second period of time.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
operating the heater to heat the incubator to the first temperature after the second period of time has elapsed; and
operating the heater to maintain the incubator at the first temperature for the first period of time.
7. The method of any of claims 2 to 6, further comprising:
receiving a temperature change rate threshold; and
operating the heater to change the temperature of the incubator from one of the first temperature and the second temperature to the other of the first temperature and the second temperature at a rate of temperature change based on the rate of change threshold.
8. A method for incubation, comprising:
receiving an incubation sample;
placing the incubation sample in an incubator comprising a heater;
identifying a temperature curve;
controlling the heater based on the temperature profile to heat the incubator to a first temperature;
controlling the heater based on the temperature profile to incubate the incubated sample at the first temperature for a first period of time;
after the first period of time has elapsed, controlling the heater based on the temperature profile to heat the incubator to about a second temperature different from the first temperature; and
controlling the heater based on the temperature profile to incubate the incubated sample at the second temperature for a second period of time.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the temperature profile describes a diurnal internal body temperature cycle of the female mammal.
10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the temperature profile describes a temperature cycle that varies from less than or equal to 39 ℃ to greater than or equal to 35 ℃ over a period of greater than 15 hours to less than 48 hours.
11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the incubation sample comprises at least one of an embryo, a fertilized egg, a non-fertilized egg, and a sperm.
12. An incubation system comprising:
a sample holder;
a heater configured to heat the sample holder;
a temperature sensor configured to provide a temperature feedback signal; and
a controller configured to:
receiving a temperature profile; and is
Varying the temperature of the heater based on the temperature profile and the temperature feedback signal.
13. The incubation system of claim 12, wherein the sample holder holds at least one of an embryo, a fertilized egg, an unfertilized egg, and a sperm.
14. The incubation system of claim 12 or 13, wherein the temperature profile comprises:
a first description of a first temperature state having a first temperature to be maintained for a first period of time; and
a second description of a second temperature state having a second temperature different from the first temperature to be maintained for a second time period that does not intersect the first time period.
15. The incubation system of claim 14, wherein the temperature profile describes a diurnal internal body temperature cycle of the female mammal.
16. The incubation system of claim 14 or 15, wherein the temperature profile describes a temperature cycle that varies from less than or equal to 39 ℃ to greater than or equal to 35 ℃ over a period of greater than 15 hours to less than 48 hours.
17. The incubation system of any one of claims 14-16, wherein varying the temperature of the heater based on the temperature profile and the temperature feedback signal comprises:
operating the heater to heat the sample holder to the first temperature;
operating the heater to maintain the sample holder at the first temperature for the first period of time;
operating the heater to heat the sample holder at the second temperature after the first period of time has elapsed; and
operating the heater to maintain the sample holder at the second temperature for the second period of time.
18. The incubation system of claim 17, wherein varying the temperature of the heater based on the temperature profile and the temperature feedback signal comprises:
operating the heater to heat the sample holder to the first temperature after the second period of time has elapsed; and
operating the heater to maintain the sample holder at the first temperature for the first period of time.
19. The incubation system of any one of claims 14-18, wherein the controller is further configured to:
receiving a temperature change rate threshold; and
operating the heater to change the temperature of the sample holder from one of the first temperature and the second temperature to the other of the first temperature and the second temperature at a rate of change of temperature based on the rate-of-change threshold.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to incubation systems (incubations) used, for example, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedures.
Background
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure in which an egg is fertilized extracorporeally by sperm. IVF typically comprises several steps: ovulation induction, ovum taking, semen taking, fertilization, embryo culture and embryo transplantation. To keep fertilized eggs (fertilizedegg) alive, the fertilized eggs are placed in a nutrient solution (culture medium) and maintained in an incubation environment that facilitates the survival and growth of the fertilized eggs (e.g., developing embryos).
In the case of mammals (e.g., humans), the incubation environment is similar to the female reproductive tract (e.g., fallopian tubes, uterus) with respect to temperature, gas concentration, and the like. Some existing IVF incubation techniques include placing an inseminated egg (inseminated egg) in a container (e.g., a sample tube) and temporarily inserting the container into the body of the female (e.g., the vagina of the future mother).
Other existing IVF incubation techniques include placing fertilized ova in an environmentally controlled mechanical incubator and allowing the embryos to develop. In the case of human IVF, the temperature of the incubator is maintained at an average human internal body temperature of about 37 ℃ (98.6 ° F). Typically, such incubation systems have sensors and temperature controls to maintain a set temperature throughout the incubation process, although in some cases, the temperature may vary for a given incubation system, given design and temperature control process (e.g., hysteresis in the temperature control loop). That is, the design of temperature control in such systems is to maintain a set temperature throughout the incubation.
SUMMARY
In general, this document describes incubation systems used, for example, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedures.
In a first aspect, a method for controlling an incubator includes receiving, by a controller, a temperature profile (temptureprofile), and changing, by the controller, a temperature of the incubator based on the temperature profile.
In a second aspect, according to
In a third aspect, according to
In a fourth aspect, according to
In a fifth aspect, according to any one of
In a sixth aspect, according to
In a seventh aspect according to any one of
In an eighth aspect, a method for incubating includes receiving an incubation sample, placing the incubation sample in an incubator that includes a heater, identifying a temperature profile, controlling the heater based on the temperature profile to heat the incubator to a first temperature, controlling the heater based on the temperature profile to incubate the incubation sample at the first temperature for a first period of time, controlling the heater based on the temperature profile to heat the incubator to about a second temperature different from the first temperature after the first period of time has elapsed, and controlling the heater based on the temperature profile to incubate the incubation sample at the second temperature for a second period of time.
In a ninth aspect, according to
In a tenth aspect, according to
In an eleventh aspect, according to any one of
In a twelfth aspect, an incubation system includes a sample holder (sample holder), a heater configured to heat the sample holder, a temperature sensor configured to provide a temperature feedback signal, and a controller configured to receive a temperature profile and vary a temperature of the heater based on the temperature profile and the temperature feedback signal.
In a thirteenth aspect, according to
In a fourteenth aspect, according to
In a fifteenth aspect, according to aspect 14, the temperature profile describes a diurnal internal body temperature cycle of the female mammal.
In a sixteenth aspect, according to aspects 14 or 15, the temperature profile describes a temperature cycle that varies from less than or equal to 39 ℃ to greater than or equal to 35 ℃ over a period of greater than 15 hours to less than 48 hours.
In a seventeenth aspect, according to any one of aspects 14 to 16, varying the temperature of the heater based on the temperature profile and the temperature feedback signal includes operating the heater to heat the sample holder to the first temperature, operating the heater to maintain the sample holder at the first temperature for the first period of time, operating the heater to heat the sample holder at the second temperature after the first period of time has elapsed, and operating the heater to maintain the sample holder at the second temperature for the second period of time.
In an eighteenth aspect, according to aspect 17, changing the temperature of the heater based on the temperature profile and the temperature feedback signal includes operating the heater to heat the sample holder to the first temperature after a second time period has elapsed, and operating the heater to maintain the sample holder at the first temperature for the first time period.
In a nineteenth aspect, according to any one of aspects 14 to 18, the controller is further configured to receive a rate of change of temperature threshold, and operate the heater to change the temperature of the sample holder from one of the first and second temperatures to the other of the first and second temperatures at a rate of change of temperature based on the rate of change threshold.
The systems and techniques described here may provide one or more of the following advantages. First, the system can provide a more physiological ambient temperature (more physiological environmental temperature) for the fertilized ovum and/or developing embryo. Second, the system may provide a controlled, variable ambient temperature that promotes viability of the fertilized ovum and/or developing embryo. Third, the system can automate and simulate natural cyclic variations in the physiological ambient temperature of the normal, reproductive-healthy female reproductive tract.
The systems and techniques described here may provide one or more of the following advantages. First, the system can provide a more physiological ambient temperature for the fertilized ovum and/or developing embryo. Second, the system may provide a controlled, variable ambient temperature that promotes viability of the fertilized ovum and/or developing embryo. Third, the system can automate and simulate natural cyclic variations in the physiological ambient temperature of the normal, reproductive-healthy female reproductive tract.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.