A device for supporting development of a cellular deposit comprising at least one of a cell or a tissue derived from an ovary. The device comprises an inlet well, an outlet well, and an enclosed culture chamber disposed between the inlet well and the outlet well. The device further comprises an inlet channel fluidly coupling the inlet well to the culture chamber and an outlet chamber and/or at least one outlet channel fluidly coupling the culture chamber to the outlet well. At least one of the outlet chamber and the at least one outlet channel is sized to prevent passage of the cellular deposit therethrough.

Microfluidic systems are configured to process liquid samples that include cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), such as raw follicular fluid, in an automated and continuous manner to produce oocytes separate or “denuded” from surrounding cumulus cells. The systems include a substrate and a channel that can have two or more sub-channels. Each channel includes an inlet, an outlet, and one or more stages arranged in series. Each of the stages includes one or more expansion units and one or more constriction units. At least one stage includes constriction units having jagged internal surfaces, e.g., teeth, that help remove the cumulus cells from the COCs.

Disclosed are a software for analyzing images of a fertilized egg, the software providing a means for executing a process including: (a) a step of measuring the difference in area between the female pronucleus and the male pronucleus from images of a fertilized egg obtained in a period of 1 to 10 hours before the time of occurrence of male and female pronuclear membrane breakdown as a reference; (b) a step of measuring the difference in are between the female pronucleus and the male pronucleus from images of the fertilized egg obtained immediately before the time of occurrence of male and female pronuclear membrane breakdown as the reference; and (c) a step of storing the measured values of the area difference obtained in the step (a) and the area difference obtained in the step (b), to be readable at any time as needed, and an apparatus incorporating this software.

A method for testing includes capturing a sequence of video images of a sample comprising semen. The sequence of video images is analyzed by a processor so as to compute and output a motile sperm concentration of the sample.

An egg sealing unit for an automated biological sample collection system and method of use. The egg sealing unit seals the section of egg from which the shell has been removed. The egg sealing unit includes a sampler, an applicator and an imaging adaptor providing an optical conduit between the surface of an egg and the CAM. The applicator is configured to deliver exogenous material to the CAM, the sampler is configured to collect samples from the CAM and the imaging adaptor allows the CAM to be monitored.

A scaffolding material for culturing a stem cell, which contains a synthetic resin, and has a storage elasticity at 100 C. of 1.010.sup.4 Pa or more and 1.010.sup.8 Pa or less, and a ratio between the storage elasticity at 25 C. and the storage elasticity at 100 C. ((storage elasticity at 25 C.)/(storage elasticity at 100 C.)) of 1.010.sup.1 or more and 1.010.sup.5 or less. The scaffolding material for stem cell culture has suitable hydrophilicity and strength, high fixation of stem cells after seeding, highly efficient cell proliferation, and excellent scratch resistance.

A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a control unit. The control unit detects, on a basis of an optical image of a cell in culture captured at a first imaging interval, whether there is a change in a state of the cell, and switches, when detecting the change in the state, an imaging mode from the first imaging interval to a second imaging interval shorter than the first imaging interval.

A sample holder includes a slide, containing a depression in a surface of the slide. A cover slip is fixed to the slide over the depression so as to define a sample chamber, while leaving a loading area of the depression uncovered, so that a liquid sample deposited in the loading area is drawn into the sample chamber by capillary action.

A device and method for protecting cells, gametes, embryos, and oocytes from the harmful effect of illumination. The device is a culture dish that is optimized to create a dark environment inside of the dish. The culture dish features a base, an exterior wall connected to the outer rim of the base that forms an enclosure, and a lid connected to the exterior wall. The dish is preferably made of polystyrene and lid is preferably made of aluminum foil.

The method features the following steps: reducing a room exposure to sunlight, where the cells and embryos are located; covering the room ceiling lighting with color filter-luminaires; shielding the transparent surfaces of the applied aspiration set and test tube from light; applying a colored red-light filter to the IVF workstation; and incubate cells and embryos in a light-protected place.