Apparatus and method for processing microscopic single cell biological specimens with a single microtool

摘要

An oocyte and embryo-positioning apparatus enables a plurality of oocytes, embryos or other cell specimens to be held and positioned for injection therein of fluid molecular reagents such as DNA, RNA, protein, cells, spermatozoa and cells; and removal of cells, fragments of cells, cytoplasm, nuclei and cellular organelles. The oocytes and embryos are kept separate from each other in open marked or unmarked well-compartments that are located in the culture container. Each well-compartment comprises one or more finger like structures that can position one oocyte or one embryo. The lanes between the digits of the fingers may be sloped allowing the oocytes or embryo to position at the narrowest and lowest point of the compartment. The method and oocytes and embryo-positioning apparatus of this invention includes a culturing container, such as a Petrie dish, in which the oocytes and embryos are held for micromanipulation. The Petrie dish preferably contains a plurality of the oocyte or embryo-holding finger like-structures which can be positioned in the Petrie dish in a predetermined pattern. For example, the well-compartments can be positioned in the Petrie dish as a strip of well-compartments between the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions, or in any other planned deployment. Marked well-compartments can be identified by letters or numbers or symbols.