Labeling method for embryo culture dishes for assisted reproduction

Abstract

A method for labeling embryo culture dishes used in assisted reproductive technology is provided, comprising the following steps: inserting the embryo culture dish into an adapter; inserting the adapter into the drawer of a labeling machine and closing the drawer; inputting or importing embryo-related information corresponding to the embryo culture dish into a host computer; and the labeling machine labeling the embryo-related information onto the embryo culture dish. This method allows for the automatic and rapid labeling of embryo-related information before use, facilitating accurate, efficient, centralized management and culture of large numbers of embryos for assisted reproductive technology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of assisted reproduction, and more particularly to a labeling method for embryo culture dishes used in assisted reproduction. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, the number of people using assisted reproduction has been increasing, and assisted reproductive technology has been developing and being applied more and more rapidly.

[0003] For assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics, the daily workload involves dealing with a large number of diverse patients and providing multiple embryos for doctors and patients to cultivate and select, in order to choose the best embryos for further development. For tiny embryos invisible to the human eye, how to differentiate and efficiently manage these different embryos, how to achieve absolute accuracy in embryo management, and how to ensure the safety of embryo culture are all urgent problems that need to be solved.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to study a labeling method for embryo culture dishes used in assisted reproduction to solve one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a method for labeling embryo culture dishes for assisted reproduction is provided, characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0006] Insert the embryo culture dish into the adapter;

[0007] Insert the adapter into the drawer of the cutting machine and close the drawer;

[0008] Input or import embryo-related information corresponding to the embryo culture dish into the host computer;

[0009] The etching machine inscribes embryo information onto the embryo culture dish.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, the labeling method for embryo culture dishes used in assisted reproduction further includes sterilizing the embryo culture dishes using an ultraviolet sterilization unit during the writing of embryo-related information.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, the cutting device includes:

[0012] The cabinet has drawers inside that can be opened or closed;

[0013] An inscription unit is used to inscribe embryo-related information onto the embryo culture dish while the drawer is closed; and

[0014] The control unit is used to control the writing unit to automatically write based on embryo-related information.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the writing unit writes embryo-related information on the bottom surface of the embryo culture dish in a mirror-image manner.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, the embryo-related information is mirrored and visible in a normal morphology when the embryo is observed under a microscope.

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the embryo culture dish includes a bottom that is at least partially transparent to light.

[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, multiple embryo culture dishes for use by the same user are installed in the adapter, and the user's name, the date of inscription, and a unique numerical label are engraved on each embryo culture dish.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, after the adapter of the upper drawer is removed, the writing unit continues to write on the embryo culture dish on the adapter of the lower drawer.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, the writing intensity of the writing unit is adjusted so that the embryo-related information is invisible to the naked eye but visible under a microscope.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, embryo-related information is edited, formatted, and / or visually previewed in a host computer; during the writing process, progress information is displayed on the host computer through color changes.

[0022] This invention can achieve one or more of the following technical effects:

[0023] It enables the automatic writing of embryo-related information on embryo culture dishes to effectively distinguish embryos from different users as well as different embryos from the same user;

[0024] It can achieve a direct and unique association between an embryo and a culture dish, improving management efficiency and enabling absolute accuracy in embryo management;

[0025] Embryo-related information is physically inscribed on the bottom (outer surface) of the culture dish using a scriber, avoiding potential contamination caused by chemical reactions or the introduction of other substances, thus improving the safety of embryo culture.

[0026] The embryos are placed in a petri dish (i.e., the inner surface of the bottom of the petri dish), which isolates them from the embryo information and further improves the safety of the culture environment.

[0027] While writing the inscription process, ultraviolet disinfection is used, which improves the efficiency of the petri dish pretreatment and can achieve high safety of the petri dish.

[0028] It can preprocess multiple culture dishes in batches at the same time, and the multi-layer drawer structure can realize the continuous processing of culture dishes in different drawers, which greatly improves efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a labeling process for an embryo culture dish used in assisted reproduction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a cutting plate machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of the cutting machine after part of the box has been removed.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of a labeling process for an embryo culture dish used in assisted reproduction according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cutter head clamping structure of a cutting machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the information inscribed on the culture dishes according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention (corresponding to culture dishes 1-12, each culture dish has a unique number and other information is the same, used for 12 embryos of the same user).

[0036] Figure 7 According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a schematic diagram of the hole positions (engraving positions) is visualized, edited, and / or previewed via a host computer. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These specific embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention in detail, but should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all of these should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] See Figure 1 A labeling method for embryo culture dishes used in assisted reproduction is provided, characterized by the following steps:

[0040] Insert the embryo culture dish into the adapter;

[0041] Insert the adapter into the drawer of the cutting machine and close the drawer;

[0042] Input or import embryo-related information corresponding to the embryo culture dish into the host computer;

[0043] The etching machine inscribes embryo information onto the embryo culture dish.

[0044] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the labeling method for embryo culture dishes for assisted reproduction further includes sterilizing the embryo culture dishes using an ultraviolet sterilization unit during the writing of embryo-related information.

[0045] Preferably, ultraviolet disinfection is used to disinfect the internal environment in advance during non-writing work, which can improve work efficiency. Alternatively, disinfection can be carried out while working.

[0046] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 2-3 The cutting machine includes:

[0047] The cabinet has drawers inside that can be opened or closed;

[0048] An inscription unit is used to inscribe embryo-related information onto the embryo culture dish while the drawer is closed; and

[0049] The control unit is used to control the writing unit to automatically write based on embryo-related information.

[0050] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 6 The writing unit writes the embryo-related information on the bottom surface of the embryo culture dish in a mirror-like manner.

[0051] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the embryo-related information is mirrored and visible in a normal morphology when the embryo is observed under a microscope.

[0052] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the embryo culture dish includes a bottom that is at least partially transparent to light.

[0053] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, multiple embryo culture dishes for use by the same user are installed in the adapter, and the user's name, the inscription time, and a unique numerical label are engraved on each embryo culture dish.

[0054] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, after the adapter of the upper drawer is removed, the writing unit continues to write on the embryo culture dish on the adapter of the lower drawer.

[0055] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the writing force of the writing unit is adjusted so that the embryo-related information is invisible to the naked eye but visible under a microscope.

[0056] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, embryo-related information is edited, formatted, and / or visually previewed in a host computer; during the writing process, progress information is displayed on the host computer through color changes. Preferably, the formatting can be as follows: Figure 7 The arrangement shown can also be a serpentine arrangement, and the font size and weight can be adjusted. Arrangement methods include, but are not limited to, those mentioned above, all serving the purpose of information distribution.

[0057] Example 2

[0058] The specific structure of a preferred engraving machine of the present invention will be described in further detail below.

[0059] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 2-3 A cutting plate machine is provided, characterized by comprising:

[0060] The cabinet has drawers inside that can be opened or closed;

[0061] The embryo culture dish is removably fixed to the drawer;

[0062] The writing unit is used to write embryo-related information on the bottom surface of the embryo culture dish when the drawer is closed;

[0063] An input unit is used to input the embryo-related information in a customized manner to the control unit described below; and

[0064] The control unit is used to control the writing unit to automatically write based on customized embryo-related information.

[0065] It is understood that the input unit can be specifically configured for the cutting machine, or it can be replaced by a host computer such as a PC.

[0066] Preferably, the box body is provided with drawer slides for supporting and guiding the drawer. The drawer is an adapter-loading drawer. The petri dish adapter is removably fixed inside the adapter-loading drawer. Petri dishes of different shapes and / or sizes can be placed in the drawer using different adapters, but the invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the petri dishes can also be placed directly in the drawer.

[0067] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the etching machine further includes an ultraviolet sterilization unit for sterilizing the embryo culture dish. Advantageously, ultraviolet sterilization is used simultaneously with the etching process, which improves the efficiency of culture dish pretreatment and achieves high safety of the culture dish.

[0068] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 3The writing unit includes: an XY motion module; and a writing module disposed on the XY motion module. Preferably, the control unit includes a motherboard and a heat sink.

[0069] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the drawer closed, the inscription module is positioned above the embryo culture dish, and the embryo culture dish is fixed upside down to the drawer. In other words, the bottom of the embryo culture dish faces upward, facilitating the inscription module to inscribe embryo-related information on the bottom (outer surface). Preferably, the embryo-related information includes, for example, the names of both the male and female partners, the date of inscription (i.e., the time when the gametes were placed in the dish for culture), and the label of each embryo (e.g., 1-16 evenly distributed and engraved in the bottom space of the dish), etc.

[0070] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 6 The writing module is used to write embryo-related information onto the bottom surface of the embryo culture dish in a mirror-image manner. The embryo culture dish preferably includes a bottom that is at least partially translucent. Advantageously, the embryo-related information written mirror-image (reverse-image) on the outer surface of the bottom is readily visible (visible in its normal morphology) when the doctor observes the embryo under a microscope. The translucent bottom of the embryo culture dish facilitates easy observation of the embryo information by the doctor under a microscope.

[0071] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drawer, when closed, forms a sealed space for accommodating the embryo culture dish; the embryo culture dish is preferably made of plastic or glass. Preferably, the housing includes an isolated first space and a second space. The first space corresponds to the sealed space. The second space is used to accommodate a control unit, which is cooled by a fan provided on the housing. The embryo culture dish is preferably made of medical-grade plastic or glass.

[0072] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate cutting machine further includes an adapter disposed in the drawer, to which the embryo culture dish is removably secured. Advantageously, the adapter includes a first plate, a second plate, and a fixing unit connecting the first plate and the second plate. Opening, for example, the upper first plate, allows the culture dish to be conveniently placed into or removed from a groove in the second plate. The adapter equipped with the culture dish can be integrally arranged inside the drawer.

[0073] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adapter is used to fix multiple embryo culture dishes.

[0074] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, there are multiple drawers, which are stacked vertically via their respective tracks and form a central through-hole corresponding to the adapter. When the adapter of the upper drawer is removed, the writing module can continue to write on the embryo culture dish on the adapter of the lower drawer. Advantageously, continuous operation of the culture dish pretreatment system can be achieved. When the adapter of the upper drawer is removed, the writing module can continue to write on the lower culture dish through the central through-hole. In other words, the drawer is formed as a frame structure with a large area of ​​open space at the bottom, and the adapter is fixed to the frame of the drawer.

[0075] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the writing module comprises multiple components; preferably, the writing module includes: a writing blade; a lifting unit for controlling the up-and-down movement of the writing blade; a positioning unit for positioning the writing position of the writing blade on the embryo culture dish; and a writing blade force loading and control unit for adjusting the writing force of the writing blade; preferably, the embryo-related information is invisible to the naked eye but visible under a microscope. Advantageously, embryo information visible only under a microscope can improve writing efficiency and minimize the reduction in the structural strength of the culture dish.

[0076] Example 3

[0077] Below, we will further combine Figure 4-7 A detailed description of the labeling treatment method for embryo culture dishes used in assisted reproduction according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a labeling method for embryo culture dishes used in assisted reproduction is provided, characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0079] Start the equipment (dish engraving machine);

[0080] Insert the petri dish into the adapter;

[0081] Insert the adapter into the device drawer;

[0082] Connect the device to the host computer;

[0083] Enter patient information into the host computer or import patient information files;

[0084] Click the function execution button;

[0085] Remove the adapter after the process is complete;

[0086] Remove the petri dish from the adapter.

[0087] More specifically, connect the device (plate engraving machine) to the power supply, press the power button to turn it on; load the culture dish into the culture dish loading adapter; pull out the device drawer, insert the adapter, and push the drawer back to the bottom; connect the device to the host computer, open the host computer software, enter the patient information or import the patient information file in the host computer software; click the function execution button, wait for the device to execute the engraving function, after which pull out the drawer, take out the adapter, and take out the engraved culture dish from the adapter.

[0088] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device self-disinfection function is provided as follows: connect the device to the power supply, press the power button to turn on the device; press the disinfection function button, the disinfection indicator light will light up, and the device will use deep ultraviolet light to irradiate the inside for 30 minutes. During this period, the indicator light will continue to light up, and the disinfection function button can be pressed again to forcibly stop the disinfection.

[0089] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an image closed-loop feedback structure is also provided as follows: The image closed-loop feedback structure is a closed-loop image feedback structure achieved by installing a monitoring camera inside the engraving machine's housing to monitor the cutting head in real time. Its purpose is to record the movement and position of the cutting head in real time during the engraving stage of the engraving machine. This recording is based on the physical cutting head and can record the complete operation and position changes, thereby achieving precise control of movement and position.

[0090] Preferably, image acquisition is accomplished through a camera array, with cameras distributed at multiple locations within the chassis, including an internal track imaging group, a cutter head imaging group, and an overall imaging group, forming an image array. This image array allows for precise determination of the cutter head's absolute position, thus enabling better image closure and feedback. It is understood that the invention is not limited to this; the cutter head's positioning can also be determined using position sensors or other methods.

[0091] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 5 The cutting tool is a tool with a certain degree of hardness that can leave visible or invisible engraving marks on the surface of a petri dish. Cutting tools can be cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, or pyramidal in shape, designed to reduce debris generation during the engraving process while preventing damage to the petri dish. The clamp consists of a main body and cutting tool securing holes and cutting tool holes on the main body. The clamp is used to secure the cutting tool and allows it to move up and down, ensuring that the cutting tool does not move unnecessarily during movement.

[0092] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a limiter is provided on the linear motion module to ensure that the movement range of the cutter head is within the writing range and to avoid impact on both ends.

[0093] Preferably, a brake component is added to the motor to lock the motion module in the power-off state, thus preventing the cutter head from moving unexpectedly during handling and movement.

[0094] Preferably, a fuse is included in the circuit to limit the maximum current and prevent loss of life and property due to a malfunction. Moving wiring harnesses are wrapped with nylon cable chains to prevent unnecessary interference during movement.

[0095] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conversion process from a single character to a trajectory path is as follows:

[0096] (1) Generate an image suitable for the size of a single character;

[0097] (2) Perform an erosion operation on the text in the image to transform it into a single-pixel trajectory image;

[0098] (3) Starting from any point in the text using the flow algorithm, search sequentially until there are no more unrecorded points. This is considered a path.

[0099] (4) Then check if there are any unvisited points. If so, select a point together and repeat (3) until the text path is completely recorded.

[0100] (5) These recorded paths are saved as a group, which is the trajectory diagram of this word, and saved as an nc file according to a fixed setting format.

[0101] Preferably, the texturing path in the petri dish is generated as follows:

[0102] (1) Select appropriate well positions (marking locations) on the petri dish;

[0103] (2) Arrange the holes to maximize the usable space;

[0104] (3) Based on the arrangement position, search for the path of the individual character recorded for each character and add it to the file;

[0105] (4) Finally, adapt all 9 plates on the adapter.

[0106] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the engraving machine is not limited to a single clamp working alone; multiple clamps can be used for simultaneous engraving by stacking vertically or horizontally. Simultaneous stacking includes independent stacking and shared stacking. Independent stacking involves replicating the complete engraving device in multiple layers, with independent control boards, but sharing a common control unit to form a whole. Shared stacking involves multiple independent compartments that are mechanically separated but share a common control unit.

[0107] Preferably, the stacked design involves creating multiple layers within the etching machine. Taking a two-layer etching device as an example, the upper and lower etching devices are independent in terms of mechanical structure, fixtures, and tracks. Independent stacking simply means the two layers share a host computer, while shared stacking uses a single control unit to control the motors of both etching devices, also sharing the host computer. The stacked devices employ a curved fit design at the joint, ensuring a unified design. Without considering the height of the chassis, the stacked design can be configured with any number of layers to meet specific usage requirements.

[0108] Left-right stacking is similar to top-bottom stacking, but the difference is that one expands horizontally while the other expands vertically. Combining top-bottom and left-right allows for multi-dimensional, three-dimensional designs, enabling simultaneous stacking of both elements and creating more combinations to maximize product cutting efficiency.

[0109] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the number of fertilized eggs collected varies depending on the number of eggs placed on the culture dish for a user (e.g., a couple). The number of fertilized eggs is generally between 5 and 16. During the dish preparation stage, the arrangement of the wells can be independently designed. The well arrangement is not only adapted to the number of fertilized eggs but also designed for space utilization. By maximizing the area of ​​the blocks, the well positions are selected based on the maximum available space for different numbers of fertilized eggs. See also... Figure 7 The arrangement of holes can be visualized on the host computer.

[0110] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the doctor can complete tasks such as entering embryo-related information, selecting culture dishes, serial port debugging, importing files, adjusting the number of wells, adjusting left and right positions, clearing, and previewing on the host computer. After confirming the entered information, the doctor can enter the preview page to further correct the entered information. After confirming through the preview that the information and well positions of the nine culture dishes are correct, the doctor can click "Start Culture Dish Engraving" to begin the engraving process. During the engraving process, the doctor can monitor the progress in real time by observing the color changes on the host computer screen. Clicking "Stop Engraving" will stop the engraving process and return the motor to its initial position. During the engraving stage, the doctor can also return to modify the information to enter and confirm the next batch of data.

[0111] It is understood that the various elements of Embodiments 1-3 can be combined, added to, or deleted without creative effort to produce new implementation methods, all of which are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0112] This invention can achieve one or more of the following technical effects:

[0113] It enables the automatic writing of embryo-related information on embryo culture dishes to effectively distinguish embryos from different users as well as different embryos from the same user;

[0114] It can achieve a direct and unique association between an embryo and a culture dish, improving management efficiency and enabling absolute accuracy in embryo management;

[0115] Embryo-related information is physically inscribed on the bottom (outer surface) of the culture dish using a scriber, avoiding potential contamination caused by chemical reactions or the introduction of other substances, thus improving the safety of embryo culture.

[0116] The embryos are placed in a petri dish (i.e., the inner surface of the bottom of the petri dish), which isolates them from the embryo information and further improves the safety of the culture environment.

[0117] While writing the inscription process, ultraviolet disinfection is used, which improves the efficiency of the petri dish pretreatment and can achieve high safety of the petri dish.

[0118] It can preprocess multiple culture dishes in batches at the same time, and the multi-layer drawer structure can realize the continuous processing of culture dishes in different drawers, which greatly improves efficiency.

[0119] Those skilled in the art should understand that this invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for marking embryo culture dishes used in assisted reproduction using a dish marking machine, characterized in that... The cutting machine includes: The cabinet has drawers inside that can be opened or closed; An adapter is removably fixed to the drawer and used to secure multiple embryo culture dishes for assisted reproduction; The writing unit is used to write embryo-related information on the bottom surface of the embryo culture dish for assisted reproduction while the drawer is closed; An input unit is used to input the embryo-related information in a customized manner to the control unit described below; and A control unit is used to control the writing unit to automatically write based on customized embryo-related information; The writing unit includes an XY motion module and a writing module, with the writing module mounted on the XY motion module. The writing module includes: a writing blade; a lifting unit for controlling the up-and-down movement of the writing blade; a positioning unit for positioning the writing position of the writing blade on the assisted reproductive embryo culture dish; and a writing blade force loading and control unit for adjusting the writing force of the writing blade. The adapter includes a first plate, a second plate, and a fixing unit connecting the first plate and the second plate. Opening the first plate allows the embryo culture dish for assisted reproduction to be placed into or removed from the groove of the second plate. The drawer is formed as a frame structure with a large area of ​​open space at the bottom to form a central through hole corresponding to the adapter. The adapter is fixed to the frame of the drawer. The method includes the following steps: Multiple embryo culture dishes for assisted reproduction are inserted into the adapter; Insert the adapter into the drawer of the cutting machine and close the drawer to form a sealed space for accommodating the embryo culture dish used in assisted reproduction; Input or import relevant embryo information corresponding to the embryo culture dish used for assisted reproduction into the host computer; The etching machine inscribes embryo-related information onto the bottom surface of the multiple assisted reproductive embryo culture dishes; The adapter of the drawer is removed, and the writing module continues to write on multiple assisted reproductive embryo culture dishes on the adapter of the lower drawer.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that... It also includes sterilizing the multiple assisted reproductive embryo culture dishes using an ultraviolet sterilization unit during the writing of embryo-related information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that... The drawers are multiple, and the multiple drawers are stacked one on top of the other via their respective tracks.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that... The writing unit writes embryo-related information on the bottom surface of the embryo culture dish for assisted reproduction in a mirror-image manner.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that... The mirror image of the embryo shows the embryo in its normal morphology when observed under a microscope.

6. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that... The embryo culture dish for assisted reproduction includes a bottom that is at least partially transparent to light.

7. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that... Multiple assisted reproductive embryo culture dishes for the same user are inserted into the adapter, and the user's name, the date of inscription, and a unique numerical label are engraved on each assisted reproductive embryo culture dish.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that A monitoring camera is installed inside the engraving machine to monitor the cutting head of the engraving tool in real time, recording the complete operation and position changes of the cutting head, so as to achieve precise control of movement and position. The cameras are distributed in multiple positions in the machine, including the internal track shooting group, the cutting head shooting group, and the overall shooting group, thus forming an image array. The cutting head adopts a cylindrical tip, a semi-cylindrical tip, or a pyramidal tip to reduce the generation of debris during the engraving process, while the engraving does not damage the embryo culture dish used for assisted reproduction.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that... Adjusting the writing pressure of the writing unit makes the embryo-related information invisible to the naked eye but visible under a microscope, thereby reducing the reduction in the structural strength of the embryo culture dish used for assisted reproduction.

10. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that... Edit, format, and / or visually preview embryo-related information on the host computer; display progress information on the host computer via color changes during the writing process.

Images