Claims
- 1. A method of vitrification of a biological specimen, comprising:
(a) placing the biological specimen on a transfer instrument; (b) placing the transfer instrument and the biological specimen directly into a freezing material, wherein the biological specimen is directly exposed to the freezing material thereby undergoing vitrification, and further wherein the biological specimen will be viable after the biological specimen is thawed.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological specimen is selected from the group consisting of an embryo, a sperm, an oocyte, a blastocyst and a morula.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer instrument is selected from the group consisting of a loop, a net and a paddle.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) further comprises:
(i) treating the biological specimen with a cryoprotectant prior to vitrification.
- 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
(c) thawing the biological specimen which has undergone vitrification.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) further comprises:
(i) transferring the biological specimen which has undergone vitrification into a storage container, the storage container containing a freezing material; and (ii) storing the storage container containing the biological specimen which has undergone vitrification until the biological specimen is ready to be thawed.
- 7. The method of claim 5, wherein (c) further comprises:
(i) removing the biological specimen from the freezing material; and (ii) placing the biological specimen in a thaw solution.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the thaw solution is contained within a culture dish.
- 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the thaw solution is contained within a straw.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) further comprises:
(i) placing the biological specimen in a base medium, wherein the biological specimen is selected from the group consisting of an embryo, an oocyte, a sperm, a blastocyst and a morula, wherein the transfer instrument is selected from the group consisting of a loop, a net and a paddle; and further wherein (b) further comprises:
(i) placing the transfer instrument containing the biological specimen into the freezing material, wherein the freezing material is located within a container, such that the biological specimen undergoes vitrification and; (ii) sealing the container which contains the freezing material, the transfer instrument, and the biological specimen.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the base medium comprises one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of a cryoprotectant and a viscosity increasing compound.
- 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
(c) thawing the biological specimen which has undergone vitrification.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein (c) further comprises:
(i) removing the biological specimen from the freezing material; and (ii) placing the biological specimen in a thaw solution.
- 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the thaw solution is contained within a culture dish.
- 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the thaw solution is contained within a straw.
- 16. A biological specimen which has undergone vitrification produced by the method of claim 1.
- 17. A biological specimen which has undergone vitrification produced by the method of claim 11.
- 18. A method of vitrification of a biological specimen, comprising:
(a) placing the biological specimen in a base medium, wherein the biological specimen is selected from the group consisting of an embryo, an oocyte, a sperm, a blastocyst and a morula; (b) using a transfer instrument to move the biological specimen into a freezing material located within a container, such that the biological specimen is directly exposed to the freezing material and undergoes vitrification; (c) sealing the container which contains the freezing material, the transfer instrument, and the biological specimen; (d) subjecting the sealed container to storage; (e) removing the biological specimen from the sealed container; and (f) placing the biological specimen in a thaw solution.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the transfer instrument is a loop.
- 20. A method of vitrification of developmental cells, comprising:
(a) placing one or more developmental cells directly into a freezing material, such that each developmental cell is directly exposed to the freezing material thereby undergoing vitrification, wherein the vitrified developmental cells, when thawed, cultured and implanted into suitable host organisms, will result in a fertility rate equal to that of developmental cells which had not undergone vitrification.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the developmental cells are selected from the group consisting of embryos, sperm, oocytes, morulae and blastocysts.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein a loop is utilized to transport the developmental cells into the freezing material.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein (a) further comprises:
(i) treating the biological specimen with a cryoprotectant prior to vitrification.
- 24. A method of vitrification of a mammalian blastocyst or mammalian cleavage stage embryo comprising:
(a) placing one or more blastocysts or cleavage stage embryos directly into a freezing material, such that each blastocyst or cleavage stage embryo is directly exposed to the freezing material thereby undergoing vitrification, wherein at least 80 percent of the vitrified blastocysts or cleavage stage embryos will be viable after being thawed and cultured.
- 25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least 90 percent of the vitrified blastocysts or cleavage stage embryos will be viable after being thawed and cultured.
- 26. The method of claim 24, wherein a loop is utilized to transport the blastocyst or cleavage stage embryo into the freezing material.
- 27. The method of claim 24, wherein (a) further comprises:
(i) treating the blastocyst or cleavage stage embryo with a cryoprotectant prior to vitrification.
- 28. The method of claim 24, wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of humans, rodents and bovines.
- 29. A method of vitrification of a horse embryo or pig embryo comprising:
(a) placing one or more embryos directly into a freezing material, such that each embryo is directly exposed to the freezing material thereby undergoing vitrification, wherein at least 25 percent of the vitrified embryos will be viable after being thawed and cultured.
- 30. The method of claim 29 wherein at least 50 percent of the vitrified embryos will be viable after being thawed and cultured.
- 31. The method of claim 29, wherein a loop is utilized to transport the embryo into the freezing material.
- 32. The method of claim 29, wherein (a) further comprises: treating the embryo with a cryoprotectant prior to vitrification.
- 33. A kit for the vitrification of a biological specimen, comprising:
(a) a base medium; (b) instructions for vitrifying a biological specimen wherein the specimen is directly exposed to a freezing material; (c) a loop; and (d) a vial, wherein the vial is of an appropriate size and shape for storing the loop containing a vitrified biological specimen.
- 34. The kit of claim 33, further comprising:
(e) a cryoprotectant.
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority from United States Provisional Patent Application No. 60/104,266, filed Oct. 14, 1998.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
[0002] Statement as to Rights to Inventions Made Under Federally-Sponsored Research and Development
[0003] Part of the work performed during development of this invention utilized U.S. Government Funds, specifically the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Grant No. HD22023. Therefore, the U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60104266 |
Oct 1998 |
US |