The present invention relates to methods allowing adherence and outgrowth of embryoid bodies (EBs) using macrocarriers. The methods of the invention are useful for an up-scaled production of myeloid cells, such as macrophage- and microglia-like/-precursor cells, in a bioreactor system. The invention further relates to microglia-like cells or microglial precursor cells obtainable by these methods that are cryopreservable. The invention also concerns a porous macrocarrier coated with a material facilitating cell adherence.

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods to aid in the manipulation of cells. The devices, methods, and systems disclosed herein can be applied towards, for example, automation of the in vitro fertilization process.

Disclosed is a toxicity evaluation system including a chip including a passage, in which a sample flows, and a plurality of recesses provided on the passage, and that traps objects included in the sample, and a pump that injects the sample into the chip. Each of the plurality of recesses has a size, by which one spawn included in the sample is trapped.

Processing and use of fluids from the reproductive tract (biofluids) to improve the in vitro production of mammalian embryos comprising the following steps: a) fractionation and processing of biofluids through a sorting, purification, lyophilization and subsequent storage; b) a method of sperm capacitation in a culture medium supplemented with biofluids; c) in vitro fertilization in a medium enriched with biofluids and d) subsequent in vitro culture with development of the obtained embryos to any stage of preimplantational development in culture media supplemented with biofluids.

Provided is a sample image management system that uses a cell culture vessel including a plurality of microwells and a plurality of first identifiers provided to the respective microwells in pairs. The sample image management system analyzes, in an enlarged sample image including a pair of the first identifier and the microwell, the microwell and the first identifier, and associates at least position information on the microwell with the enlarged sample image.

A device for performing micro-operations on a vesicular target, comprising an injection pipette (27); a barrel assembly (9); and an outer assembly (1). The injection pipette, barrel assembly, and outer assembly being designed and situated in relation to each other such that an axial vacuum passage is created between the injection pipette and the barrel assembly, and a radial vacuum passage is created between the barrel assembly and outer assembly, and such vacuum passages are isolated from each other and from atmospheric pressure (FIG. 8). The device also comprises a means of advancing and withdrawing the distal end of the barrel assembly in relation to the distal end of the outer assembly so as to create a holding well (31) and a means of advancing the pipette into, and withdrawing the pipette from, a vesicular object.

A method of ranking embryos to indicate their development potential. The method comprises: obtaining values for a plurality of characteristics relating to the morphological development of the embryos during an observation period; determining for respective ones of the embryos whether or not the embryo has undergone a direct cleavage event, and ranking the embryos determined to have undergone a direct cleavage event with a ranking that indicates a lower development potential than for the embryos not determined to have undergone a direct cleavage event; and for the embryos not determined to have undergone a direct cleavage event, determining whether or not a duration of a predefined developmental stage for the embryo exceeds a predefined threshold duration, and ranking embryos for which the duration of the predefined developmental stage is determined to exceed the predefined threshold duration with a ranking that indicates a lower development potential than for the embryos for which the duration of the predefined developmental stage is not determined to exceed the predefined threshold duration; and for the embryos for which the duration of the predefined developmental stage is not determined to exceed the predefined threshold duration, determining whether or not the relative durations of two predefined developmental stages for the embryo is outside a predefined range, and ranking embryos for which the relative durations of two predefined developmental stages for the embryo is outside a predefined range with a ranking that indicates a lower development potential than for the embryos for which the relative durations of two predefined developmental stages for the embryo is not outside the predefined range.

The present invention relates to an imaging device for observing the development of a living cell or a set of living cells such as embryos, comprising a lighting system, means for relative displacement and an imaging system equipped with a wide-field camera which is adapted to allow the identification, the imaging and the observation of one or more living cells or sets of living cells to be observed. The invention also relates to a method for observing the development of embryos by means of such a device.

Embodiments disclose a device for testing biological specimen. The device includes a sample carrier and a detachable cover. The sample carrier includes a specimen holding area. The detachable cover is placed on top of the specimen holding area. The detachable cover includes a magnifying component configured to align with the specimen holding area. The focal length of the magnifying component is from 0.1 mm to 8.5 mm. The magnifying component has a linear magnification ratio of at least 1. Some embodiments further include a multi-camera configuration. These embodiments include a first camera module and a second camera module arranged to capture one or more images of the first holding area and the second holding area, respectively. The processor may perform different analytic processes on the captured images of different holding areas to determine an outcome with regard to the biological specimen.

The invention relates to an apparatus (200) for incubation of a viable biological material (2); said apparatus comprises: a housing (4) having an extension in a longitudinal direction X, in a transversal direction Y, and in a direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transversal direction; said housing comprising: two or more culture dish compartments (6), each being adapted to accommodate, one or more culture dishes (8) comprising a biological material (2); wherein said apparatus comprises an image capturing device (10); wherein said apparatus comprises a control unit (12) for controlling the operation thereof; wherein at least part of said image capturing device is being configured to be movable in relation to the two or more culture dish compartments (6), thereby allowing capture of images of one or more of said biological materials (2) accommodated in said one or more culture dishes (8); and wherein said apparatus comprises a FLIM unit (11) (fluorescent lifetime imaging microscope); wherein at least part of said FLIM unit (11) is being configured to be movable in relation to the two or more culture dish compartments (6), thereby allowing capture of FLIM spectra of one or more of said biological materials (2) accommodated in said one or more culture dishes (8).