Device for performing micro-operations on a vesicular object

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A device for performing micro-operations on a vesicular target, comprising: a, an injection pipette capable of injection or aspiration (27) such pipette having an opening at its distal end (28); b, a barrel assembly (9) having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the pipette so as to create an axial vacuum passage (29) between the outside of the pipette (27) and the inside of the barrel assembly (9), such axial vacuum passage terminating at a secondary aperture (32), the barrel assembly is provided with external O-rings (20 and 23) situated on either side of a shunt (21) through the barrel assembly wall, the distal end of the barrel assembly forming an inner tip (26); c, an outer assembly having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the barrel assembly so as to create a radial vacuum passage between the inside of the outer assembly and the outside of the barrel assembly (30), such radial vacuum passage terminating at its distal end at a primary aperture (8), the outer assembly having both a radial vacuum port (3) and an axial vacuum port (4), the distal end of the outer assembly forming an outer tip (7); d, the barrel assembly (9) being inserted into the outer assembly (1) and the injection pipette (27) being inserted into the barrel assembly; e, the injection pipette, barrel assembly, and outer assembly being designed and situated in relation to each other such that the axial vacuum passage between the pipette and the barrel assembly, via the barrel assembly shunt (21), is in fluid contact with the axial vacuum port, and the radial vacuum passage between the barrel assembly and outer assembly, is in fluid communication with the radial vacuum port, and, due to the external O-rings (20 and 23) between the barrel assembly and the outer assembly, the axial and radial passages are isolated from each other and from atmospheric pressure; f, a coupling (12) securely attached to an upper barrel assembly (10); g, external threads (6) on the proximal end of the outer assembly (11); h, said coupling (12) having interior threads (14) and being of such size and designed so as to receive and engage the exterior threads (6) on the outer assembly (1), the rotation of such barrel assembly either advancing or withdrawing the inner tip in relation to the outer tip so as to create a holding well (31) to cradle the surface of the embryo or other vesicular object; whereby allowing: the position of the distal end of the barrel assembly, that is, the tip of the inner tip (26), to be adjusted in relationship to the distal end of the outer assembly, that is, the tip of the outer tip (7), by rotating the barrel assembly, via the coupling, thereby creating the desired contour of the holding well (31), and allowing the simultaneous holding of the vesicular object at the primary aperture by applying negative pressure in the radial vacuum passage; injection into or aspiration from the vesicular object via the pipette; and aspiration from the vesicular object at the secondary aperture (32) by applying negative pressure in the axial vacuum passage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device;

(2) FIG. 2 is an elevational exploded view of the components of the barrel assembly used with the present device;

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-section view of a barrel assembly used with the present device;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the barrel assembly used with the present device;

(5) FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the vacuum jacket and outer tip;

(6) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled vacuum jacket and outer tip shown in FIG. 5;

(7) FIG. 7 is an assembly diagram of the components of the device shown in FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the device shown in FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 9 is a detail view at “A” shown in FIG. 8;

(10) FIG. 10 is a detail view at “B” shown in FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 11 is a detail cross-sectional view of the distal end of the device (the tip) shown in use, with the pipette advanced and having pierced a vesicular object.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(12) 1. Outer Assembly

(13) 2. Vacuum Jacket

(14) 3. Radial Vacuum Port

(15) 4. Axial Vacuum Port

(16) 5. Inside of Vacuum Jacket

(17) 6. Threads on Outer Surface of Vacuum Jacket

(18) 7. Outer Tip

(19) 8. Primary Aperture

(20) 9. Barrel Assembly

(21) 10. Upper Barrel

(22) 11. External Threads on Upper Barrel

(23) 12. Coupling

(24) 13. Knurled Outer Surface of Coupling

(25) 14. Internal Distal Threads on Inner Surface of Coupling

(26) 15. Internal Threads in Upper Barrel

(27) 16. External Threads on Lower Barrel

(28) 17. Inner Seal

(29) 18. Lower Barrel

(30) 19. Groove for Proximal O-ring

(31) 20. Proximal O-ring

(32) 21. Shunt

(33) 22. Groove for Distal O-ring

(34) 23. Distal O-ring

(35) 24. Nipple of Lower Barrel

(36) 25. Ferrule

(37) 26. Inner Tip

(38) 27. Injection Pipette

(39) 28. Open Tip of Pipette

(40) 29. Axial Vacuum Passage

(41) 30. Radial Vacuum Passage

(42) 31. Holding Well

(43) 32. Secondary Aperture

(44) 33. Central Bore

(45) 34. Vesicular Object, Especially the Envelope of Living Cells of an Early Embryo

(46) 35. Internal Proximal Threads on Inner Surface of Coupling

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(47) Elements

(48) A device for performing micro-operations on a vesicular object is shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, in addition to a pipette (27) capable of injection and aspiration through an opening in its distal end (28), the device includes two separate generally cylindrical assemblies. The first assembly is an outer assembly (1) and the second assembly is a barrel assembly (9). The barrel assembly (9) is inserted into the outer assembly (1) as shown in FIG. 7.

(49) Outer Assembly

(50) The outer assembly comprises a vacuum jacket and an outer tip. FIG. 5. The vacuum jacket (2) includes a main body portion open at both ends. A conical outer tip, FIG. 5 (7) is frictionally fitted at one end of the vacuum jacket (2) as shown in FIG. 6. The inside diameter of the outer tip at its distal end (7) defines an opening, the primary aperture (8). FIGS. 1 and 3.

(51) The vacuum jacket (2) is provided with external threads FIG. 5 (11) at its proximal end, for threadably engaging internal threads FIG. 3 (14) provided inside a rotatable coupling FIG. 2 (12) such coupling being attached to the upper barrel FIG. 2 (10) by means of external threads (11) on the upper barrel (10). The knurled outer surface (13) of the coupling (12) allows the user to easily thread the barrel assembly (9) into the vacuum jacket FIG. 7. The vacuum jacket is also provided with a radial vacuum port FIG. 6 (3) and an axial vacuum port (4) both of which extend through the wall of the vacuum jacket (2). These vacuum ports provide fluid communication to the interior of the vacuum jacket.

(52) Barrel Assembly

(53) In this embodiment—the barrel assembly FIG. 4 (9) includes an upper barrel (10), a lower barrel (18), a rotatable coupling (12), a spring-energized inner seal positioned between the upper and lower barrel FIG. 3 (17), a ferrule (25) for frictional attachment of the lower barrel to the proximal end of the inner tip, and an inner tip (26). The upper barrel (10) is provided with a blind bore for threadably receiving the lower barrel (18) as shown in FIG. 3.

(54) The lower barrel (18) has external threads (16) for mating with internal threads (15) located within the blind bore provided at the distal end of the upper barrel (10) as shown in FIG. 8. The proximal end of the lower barrel has, inside its threaded end, a blind bore for seating of the inner seal (17). Both the lower barrel (18) and the Upper barrel (10) are provided with co-aligned axial bores forming a continuous central bore. FIG. 3. (33).

(55) The coupling FIG. 3 (12) has distal internal threads (14) for mating with the external threads (6) on the outer surface of the vacuum jacket (2) and proximal internal threads (35) for mating with the external threads (11) on the upper barrel (10). Although it is possible for the coupling and the upper barrel to be manufactured in one piece.

(56) An injection pipette FIG. 7 (27) is slidably received by the axial bores. The axial bores are sized to leave an axial vacuum passage FIG. 10 (29) between the outer surface of the injection pipette (27) and the inside of the axial bore in the lower barrel (18). FIG. 10. Such axial vacuum passage extending along the outside of the injection pipette and terminating at the aperture of the inner tip (secondary aperture) shown in FIG. 11. (32). The injection pipette (27) includes a tapered needle end and opening (28) at its distal end. FIG. 9. A spring-energized lip seal, the inner seal (17), is used to seal the lower barrel (18) against the injection pipette (27). FIG. 8. The distal end of the lower barrel (18) is further provided with a cylindrical portion having a reduced outside diameter as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The outside diameter of the cylindrical portion is less than the inside diameter of the outer tip (7) as shown in FIG. 10 to provide a radial vacuum passage (30) terminating between the inside of the outer tip (7) and outside of the inner tip (26) as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. This provides a circular ring of potential holding force to grasp a portion of the surface of the vesicular object by vacuum. In this embodiment, the distal end of the lower barrel (18) is a metal nipple (24) designed to fit, via self-locking taper, into a stopped bore at the proximal end of a plastic ferrule FIG. 2 (25). The proximal end of the inner tip (26) is frictionally fitted into a stopped bore at the distal end of the ferrule (25) as detailed in FIGS. 2 and 3. The inner tip (26) open at both ends, functions as a guide when the needle end (28) of the injection pipette is extended through the secondary aperture at the distal end of the inner tip FIG. 11 (32). The distal end of the inner tip also provides a floor for the holding well FIG. 11 (31).

(57) The ferrule FIG. 2 (25) provides a positive seal between the lower barrel nipple FIG. 2 (24) and the inner tip (26) while also providing a flexible joint to insure the inner tip (26) can align concentrically within the primary aperture (8) of the outer tip FIG. 8 (7) during use. The lower barrel (18) is also provided with grooves (19) and (22) as shown in FIG. 2 for receiving O-rings (20) and (23) as shown in FIG. 8.

(58) The lower barrel (18) is also provided with a shunt, that is, a hole passing from the outer surface of the lower barrel into the central bore. FIG. 8 (21) that places the axial vacuum port (4) in fluid communication with the portion of the axial vacuum passage (29) surrounding the pipette (27). FIG. 10.

(59) Interrelationship of Elements

(60) As shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, when a vacuum is applied through the radial vacuum port (3) the vacuum is in fluid communication with the radial vacuum passage (30). When a vacuum is applied to the axial vacuum port (4), the vacuum is in fluid communication, by means of the shunt (21), with the axial vacuum passage (29), such passage extending from the shunt, distally along the pipette, and terminating at the aperture of the inner tip, the secondary aperture FIG. 11. (32).

(61) As shown in FIG. 9), the position of distal end of the inner tip (26) in relation to the distal end of the outer tip (7), is adjusted with the threaded coupling (12) connecting the vacuum jacket (2) and the barrel assembly (9). FIG. 8.

(62) This provides, and determines the shape of, a holding well FIG. 11 (31), formed by the combination of inner and outer tips at the distal end of the device, for holding a vesicular object such as an embryo or other vesicular structure. FIG. 11.

(63) Operation

(64) 1. As shown in FIG. 7, in operation of the present embodiment, the barrel assembly (9) is inserted through the opening in the proximal end of the outer assembly (1) and, by rotation, the threaded coupling (12) on the barrel assembly is used to advance or withdraw the distal end of the inner tip (26) in relation to the distal end of the outer tip (7) to form the desired contour of the holding well (31) as shown in FIG. 11.
2. An injection pipette (27) is slidably inserted through the bores provided in the barrel assembly (9), passing through the inner seal (17). The position of the injection pipette (27) is slidably adjusted so that the needle end (28) of the injection pipette (27) is slightly retracted from the inner tip opening, the secondary aperture (32). FIG. 11. A vesicular object such as a blastocyst, as shown in FIG. 11, is positioned immediately in front of the primary aperture FIG. 6 (8) of the outer tip (7).
3. A vacuum source (not shown) is connected to the radial vacuum port (3) and a second vacuum source (not shown) is connected to the axial vacuum port (4). FIG. 8. With vacuum applied to the radial vacuum port (3), vacuum through the radial vacuum passage (30) securely holds the vesicular object to the circular ring between inner and outer tips, within the holding well FIG. 11 (31) formed just inside the primary aperture (8).
4. The final position of the inner tip (26) may then be advanced or withdrawn as needed to produce the desired relation with the surface of the vesicular object using the threaded coupling (12) so that the inner tip rests against, and seals against, the secured object. FIG. 11. At which point the vacuum in passage (30) acts only on the ring of the vesicular object's surface in the area (30) between the distal end of the inner tip (26) and the distal end of the outer tip (7). FIG. 11.
5. Vacuum can be applied to the axial vacuum port (4) and thereby to axial vacuum passage (29), to draw the exact point of penetration of the vesicular object surface tightly against the secondary aperture (32) in the distal end of the inner tip at the moment of penetration. FIG. 12.
6. The needle end (28) of the injection pipette (27) may then be slidably extended to pierce the outer surface of the vesicular object. FIG. 11.
7. Fluid can then be injected into, or aspirated from, the vesicular object through the lumen of the injection pipette (27).
8. Vacuum can be applied to the axial vacuum port FIG. 8 (4) and thereby to axial vacuum passage (29), to draw fluid from the central volume of the object through the secondary aperture (32), that is, from between the inside of the inner tip (26) and the outside of the open tip of the pipette (28). FIG. 11.
9. With this procedure, it is possible to inject into or withdraw fluid from the central volume of the vesicular object via the injection pipette (see Step 7 above) and also to aspirate from the central volume of the vesicular object via the secondary aperture (see Step 8 above) simultaneously.
10. Another effect of the vacuum applied to the axial vacuum port (4) is to draw the external surface of the vesicular object taut across the secondary aperture (32), and allow for easy puncture with the needle end (28) of the pipette (27) as shown in FIG. 11.

(65) This apparatus has particular advantage when working with a hatched blastocyst where the external surface of the embryo is very flimsy so it cannot be held on one side and punctured from the opposite side by compression.

(66) While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as examples of various embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments without departing from the scope of the device disclosed above. Thus the scope should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.