Apparatus and method for culturing oocytes, embryos, stem cells and cells

Abstract

An apparatus for the culturing of oocytes, embryos, stem cells and cells allows the culturing of the specimens by communally growing or grouping of the specimens and maintains identification of the specimens and allows for the ease in use and location of the specimens in the apparatus. The ability to group the embryos increases cleavage rates, embryos scores and increases the likelihood of better embryos and pregnancy results. This will increase the chances of the survival and future growth or use of the specimens. The apparatus takes the form of a dish which is formed with a plurality of integral wells in which the specimens are placed. The wells or chambers may be subdivided into separate compartments which contain individual embryos or other specimens that are being cultured. The compartments will be interconnected so that the culturing media and culturing byproducts from each specimen can be shared by all of the specimens in any one well, but so that the specimens cannot migrate from one compartment to another.