Modular incubator systems and related methods

Abstract

A modular incubator system includes a base module including a base housing, one or more control components supported by the base housing, and one or more connectors coupled to the base housing; a first incubation chamber module located externally to the base housing, coupled to a first connector of the one or more connectors, and comprising a first incubation chamber configured to house a first culture dish containing a first biological specimen; and a second incubation chamber module located externally to the base housing, coupled to the first connector or a second connector of the one or more connectors, and comprising a second incubation chamber configured to house a second culture dish containing a second biological specimen, wherein the first and second incubation chamber modules are movable with respect to each other and with respect to the base housing. Methods include arranging the chamber modules with respect to each other.

Description

MODULAR INCUBATOR SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODSCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 574,975, filed on April 5, 2024. The entire content of this application is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to modular incubator systems that are configurable and scalable for incubating and examining multiple biological specimens according to a protocol.BACKGROUND

[0003] Assisted reproductive technology (ART) protocols involve maturing a fertilized oocyte into an embryo within an embryo culture dish located in an incubator. Several types of incubators have been described and are commercially available. Some incubators include camera systems to enable generation of digital images of the maturing embryo; these types of incubators are referred to as time-lapse incubators.

[0004] Existing incubator systems for ART include a housing. The housing includes one or more incubation chambers, where each incubation chamber is configured to hold one or more embryo culture dishes. In some incubator systems, the incubation chambers are configured to hold a single embryo culture dish, and are structured so as to provide a controlled environment for each incubation chamber to facilitate the maturation of the embryo. In other incubator systems, the incubation chambers are configured to hold more than one embryo culture dish, and provide a single controlled environment for all of the embryo culture dishes located in the incubation chamber. The housing also includes a control system. The control system is configured to control the environment within the incubation chambers. For example, a control system may be configured to deliver gas, such as air, carbon dioxide, or nitrogen, or combinations thereof, to the incubation chamber; to remove gas from the incubation chamber; and to control the temperature within the incubation chamber, among other things. The gas may be mixed within the housing, or the incubator may use a pre-mixed gas supply. The control system frequently includes electronic components to provide signals to heating elements associated with the incubation chambers to ensure the temperature within the incubation chamber is maintained within a desired range.

[0005] The incubator systems are typically used in an ART laboratory, or more particularly, in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory, or an IVF lab. IVF labs vary in functional space such that different labs may be required to purchase incubation chambers of certain dimensions or configurations in order for embryologists and other people to place the incubator in an appropriate location that facilitates a desired workflow process within the IVF lab. In addition, IVF labs vary in size, such that IVF labs may be smaller in large cities where real estate is expensive and space is limited compared to IVF labs in suburbs or less developed areas where real estate is more affordable and space is less limited. Furthermore, if an IVF lab desires to increase the number of incubation chambers available so as to accommodate an increase in number of embryos for different patients, the IVF lab is required to purchase a complete new incubator system, which includes a housing that contains the incubation chamber or chambers and the control system. The IVF lab may also include a gas mixing apparatus

[0006] These restrictions present problems to the IVF labs as they are relatively limited in how they can increase capacity of the lab to help with IVF patients and ART, and do so in an economically and space-efficient manner. There remains a need for new incubators to address these problems, among other things.SUMMARY

[0007] The present incubator systems address this need. By developing a modular incubator system, it is now possible to provide a system to IVF labs (e.g., and to ART labs, more generally) that is scalable and can be reconfigured easily to be useful in different IVF labs, and provide a solution for scalability without requiring the IVF labs to purchase completely new incubators that contain the control system in addition to the incubation chambers.

[0008] The present incubator systems include a base module provided in a base housing, and one or more incubation chamber modules, each incubation chamber module having its own housing. In some embodiments, a housing is a structure configured to contain all of the components for that module. For example, as described herein, the base module includes a gas supply system (e.g., a gas mixing and / or management system) and a control system, wherein the gas supply system and the control system are contained within the base housing. In some embodiments, the base module only includes a control system, and the gas supply system can be provided external to the base module. In addition, as described herein, the incubation chamber module includes at least one incubation chamber configured toaccommodate one or more embryo culture dishes, wherein the at least one incubation chamber is located within a chamber housing that is physically separate from the base housing.

[0009] Alternatively, the present modular incubator systems can be understood as including a separate base module having a control system, and optionally a gas supply system, and one or more incubation chamber modules having an incubation chamber access panel disposed on a lateral sidewall of the module housing or a lateral sidewall of the incubation chambers. This is in contrast to existing incubator systems in which the access panel is located on the upper surface of the incubation chamber module (or the upper surface of each incubation chamber). As appreciated from the disclosure herein, providing the incubation chamber access panels on a lateral sidewall instead of the upper surface provides an additional advantage for the scalability and customization of the incubator systems by allowing an incubation chamber module to be stacked on another incubation chamber module. In the illustrated embodiments, the chamber access panels are provided on a front (or forward-facing) sidewall of the incubation chamber module or incubation chamber.

[0010] With the separate base module and incubation chamber modules, the present incubator systems provide flexibility in configuration and design, and result in a system that is scalable.

[0011] Additional details of the present modular incubator systems are described in the following description, claims, and are illustrated in the drawings.

[0012] It will be understood that the present incubator systems provide an advantage in that the system can be incrementally expanded. The systems can have multiple configurations to allow usability in different IVF labs and in ART labs more generally.

[0013] With the scalable nature of the present incubator system, a single system has been created that enables smaller sized IVF labs to utilize embryo incubators while also meeting the demands of larger IVF labs with larger patient populations. The same advantage provided by this feature also applies in ART labs, more generally.

[0014] As used herein, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” and “below” are used to provide a relative relationship between structures. The use of these terms does not indicate or require that a particular structure must be located at a particular location in the apparatus.

[0015] In one aspect, a modular incubator system includes a base module including a base housing, one or more control components supported by the base housing, and one or more connectors coupled to the base housing; a first incubation chamber module locatedexternally to the base housing, coupled to a first connector of the one or more connectors, and including a first incubation chamber configured to house a first culture dish containing a first biological specimen; and a second incubation chamber module located externally to the base housing, coupled to the first connector or to a second connector of the one or more connectors, and including a second incubation chamber configured to house a second culture dish containing a second biological specimen, wherein the first and second incubation chamber modules are movable with respect to each other and with respect to the base housing.

[0016] In some embodiments, the second incubation chamber module is connected to the second connector.

[0017] In some embodiments, the second incubation chamber module is positioned at a top surface of the first incubation chamber module.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first and second incubation chamber modules are arranged in a stacked configuration.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first and second incubation chambers are arranged in a matrix configuration.

[0020] In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second incubation chamber modules is positioned at one of a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the base module.

[0021] In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second incubation chamber modules are positioned at one of a front side and a rear side of the base module.

[0022] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes one or more additional incubation chamber modules that are coupled to at least one of the first connector, the second connector, or one or more other connectors of the one or more connectors.

[0023] In some embodiments, the one or more additional incubation chamber modules include up to five additional incubation chamber modules.

[0024] In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second incubation chamber modules includes multiple additional incubation chambers configured to respectively house multiple additional culture dishes respectively containing one or more additional biological specimens.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first incubation chamber, the second incubation chamber, and the multiple additional incubation chambers are arranged in a matrix configuration.

[0026] In some embodiments, at least one of the first and second incubation chamber modules includes four incubation chambers.

[0027] In some embodiments, the first incubation chamber module includes a first module housing, and the first incubation chamber includes a first access panel that is located at a front side of the first module housing and is openable and closeable with respect to the first module housing.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first access panel includes a display, and the display is operable to display information associated with the first incubation chamber.

[0029] In some embodiments, the first incubation chamber includes a first imaging system and the second incubation chamber includes a second imaging system.

[0030] In some embodiments, the information includes one or more of identity information associated with a person, an indicator tracking a progression of a protocol being carried out on the first biological specimen, an environmental condition within the first incubation chamber, and one or more images of the first biological specimen captured by the first imaging system.

[0031] In some embodiments, the second incubation chamber module includes a second module housing, and the second incubation chamber includes a second access panel that is located at a front side of the second module housing and is openable and closeable with respect to the second module housing.

[0032] In some embodiments, at least one of the first biological specimen and the second biological specimen is an embryo.

[0033] In some embodiments, the first and second incubation chambers respectively include first and second RFID detectors that are configured to detect first and second RFID information respectively associated the first and second biological specimens.

[0034] In some embodiments, the first and second RFID information is respectively located on the first and second culture dishes.

[0035] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system is configured to control a first environment of the first incubation chamber separately from a second environment of the second incubation chamber.

[0036] In some embodiments, the base module is configured to send power and control signals to each of the first and second incubation chamber modules, and each of the first and second incubation chamber modules is configured to send detection signals to the base module.

[0037] In some embodiments, the base module further includes a gas supply system that is configured to provide one or more gases to the first and second incubation chamber modules respectively through a first gas line and a second gas line.

[0038] In another aspect, a method includes arranging the first and second incubation chamber modules of a modular incubator system with respect to each other, wherein the modular incubator system includes a base module including a base housing, one or more control components supported by the base housing, and one or more connectors coupled to the base housing; a first incubation chamber module located externally to the base housing, coupled to a first connector of the one or more connectors, and including a first incubation chamber configured to house a first culture dish containing a first biological specimen; and a second incubation chamber module located externally to the base housing, coupled to the first connector or to a second connector of the one or more connectors, and including a second incubation chamber configured to house a second culture dish containing a second biological specimen, wherein the first and second incubation chamber modules are movable with respect to each other and with respect to the base housing.

[0039] In some embodiments, the method further includes stacking the second incubation chamber module on top of the first incubation chamber module.

[0040] In some embodiments, the method further includes placing the first and second culture dishes respectively within the first and second incubation chambers and carrying out a protocol on the first and second biological specimens within the first and second culture dishes.

[0041] In some embodiments, the method further includes capturing one or more first images of the first biological specimen and capturing one or more second images of the second biological specimen.

[0042] In some embodiments, the method further includes displaying the one or more first images of the first biological specimen on a first display of the first incubation chamber and displaying the one or more second images of the second biological specimen on a second display of the second incubation chamber.

[0043] In some embodiments, the first biological specimen is a first embryo and the second biological specimen is a second embryo.

[0044] In some embodiments, the protocol includes an IVF protocol.

[0045] In another aspect, a modular incubator system configured to provide an incubation environment for embryo growth includes a base module comprising a gas supply system and a control system located within a base housing, the base module further comprising aplurality of incubation chamber module connectors; and at least one incubation chamber module connected to the base module by way of one of the incubation chamber module connectors, the incubation chamber module comprising at least one incubation chamber configured to accommodate one or more embryo culture dishes, the at least one incubation chamber module is located within a module housing that is physically separate from the base housing.

[0046] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes multiple incubation chamber modules, each incubation chamber module connected to the base module by way of an incubation chamber module connector.

[0047] In some embodiments, the incubation chamber module includes multiple incubation chambers.

[0048] In some embodiments, each incubation chamber module includes four separate incubation chambers.

[0049] In some embodiments, each incubation chamber is configured to accommodate a single embryo culture dish.

[0050] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes a display having a screen to display an image of an embryo, patient information, or combinations thereof.

[0051] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system includes from two to six incubation chamber modules connected to a single base module.

[0052] In some embodiments, each incubation chamber provides an individually controlled incubation environment.

[0053] In some embodiments, the base module further includes a pre-mixed gas supply (e.g., that receives gas from an external gas source), a pure gas supply (e.g., that receives gas from an external gas source), or combinations thereof.

[0054] In some embodiments, the incubation chamber module further includes a humidification source.

[0055] In some embodiments, the incubation chamber module further includes a temperature controller configured to maintain the temperature within an incubation chamber at a temperature suitable for embryo growth.

[0056] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes at least one gas line in the form of tubing providing a gas flow pathway between the base module and the incubation chamber module, at least one power line in the form of a cable providing a power supply from the base module to the incubation chamber module, and at least one data line inthe form of a cable providing a data flow pathway between the base module and the incubation chamber module.

[0057] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes a single gas line, a single power line, and a single data line.

[0058] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes a wireless data connection.

[0059] In some embodiments, each incubation chamber includes a chamber monitoring system configured to control the environment within each incubation chamber, detect and track an embryo dish within each incubation chamber, or recording and transferring data of each incubation chamber, or combinations thereof.

[0060] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes an imaging system configured to obtain images of an embryo located in an embryo culture dish within an incubation chamber.

[0061] In another aspect, a modular incubator system configured to provide an incubation environment for embryo growth includes a base module including a control system located within a base housing; and a first incubation chamber module connected to the base module, the incubation chamber module including multiple incubation chambers, each incubation chamber configured to accommodate one or more embryo culture dishes, each incubation chamber including an incubator chamber access panel movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration to allow insertion or removal of an embryo culture dish into or from the incubation chamber, the access panel being disposed on a lateral sidewall of a module housing of the incubation chamber.

[0062] In some embodiments, the base module further includes a gas supply system.

[0063] In some embodiments, the incubation chamber access panel is located on a front sidewall of the module housing.

[0064] In some embodiments, each access panel includes a display.

[0065] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes an incubator system display operably connected to the base module, or the incubation chamber module, or combinations thereof.

[0066] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system further includes a second incubator chamber module stacked above the first incubator chamber module.

[0067] In another aspect, a modular incubator system includes a base module comprising a base housing, a gas supply system, one or more control components supported by the base housing, and one or more connectors coupled to the base housing. The modular incubatorsystem further includes an incubation chamber module located externally to the base housing, coupled to a first connector of the one or more connectors, and including multiple incubation chambers configured to respectively house multiple culture dishes containing multiple, respective biological specimens, wherein the incubation chamber module is movable with respect to the base housing.

[0068] Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description, figures, and claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] Fig. l is a schematic illustration of an example modular incubator system.

[0070] Fig. 2 is a more detailed schematic illustration of the modular incubator system ofFig. 1.

[0071] Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of an example incubation chamber module of the modular incubator system of Fig. 1.

[0072] Fig. 4 is a more detailed schematic illustration of the modular incubator system of Fig. 1.

[0073] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of two example modular incubator systems.

[0074] Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an access panel of an incubation chamber of the modular incubator systems of Fig. 6.

[0075] Fig. 7 is perspective view of two example modular incubator systems.

[0076] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an example modular incubator system.

[0077] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an example modular incubator system.

[0078] Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of an incubation chamber of the modular incubator system of Fig. 9, with an access panel in an open configuration.

[0079] Fig. 11 is a schematic illustration of an example modular incubator system.

[0080] Fig. 12 is a more detailed schematic illustration of the modular incubator system of Fig. 11.

[0081] Fig. 13 is a schematic illustration of an example incubation chamber of the modular incubator system of Fig. 11.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0082] The present disclosure relates to a modular incubator system. The system provides an environment suitable for embryos to develop and grow during in vitro fertilization / assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments. The system comprises aplurality of modules. In one embodiment, the present modular incubator system includes a base module that comprises a gas supply system and a control system contained in a base housing. In another embodiment, the modular incubator system includes a base module that comprises the control system without a gas supply system. In such an embodiment, the gas supply system can be provided external to the base module, and the modular incubator system can be configured such that the externally located gas supply system delivers premixed gas to the base module. The base module also includes a plurality of incubation chamber connectors. The modular incubator system also includes at least one incubation chamber module connected to the base module. The incubation chamber module is connected to the base module by way of one of the incubation chamber module connectors. The incubation chamber module also includes at least one incubation chamber that is configured (that is, it is sized and shaped) to accommodate one or more embryo culture dishes. The at least one incubation chamber module is located within a module housing that is physically separate from the base housing.

[0083] The term "housing" is defined above. In the context of the present disclosure, the housing may be a fully enclosed apparatus so that the internal components of the modules are not visible to a person in an IVF lab. Or, the housing may be partially enclosed, for example, multiple sidewalls may have panels to shield the internal components from view, but a back sidewall may be open to provide internal access. Or, the housing may be a frame structure with no sidewalls, where the frame provides supports for the components contained within the housing.

[0084] In some embodiments, the base module includes a control system, and a modular incubator system display. Typically, the modular incubator system display has a larger viewing area than displays provided on incubation chamber access panels. The modular incubator system display can be provided as an integral component of the base module (e.g., it is built as a portion of the base module housing), or it can be provided as a separate device operably connected to the base module. The modular incubator system display is configured to display information for any of the incubation chambers of the incubation chamber module; whereas the incubation chamber displays only display information unique to the corresponding incubation chamber. The modular incubator system display may be provided with a base module that contains a control system and a gas supply system, or a base module that contains a control system without a gas supply system.

[0085] The gas supply system may be understood to be one or more devices receiving gas from an external source and configured to direct the gas to one or more incubation chambersof the incubation chamber module to provide the desired environmental conditions within the incubation chambers. The gas may be a pre-mixed gas. Or, alternatively, the gas can be stored in tanks as pure individual gases that are then subsequently mixed in a desired concentration for the appropriate environmental conditions within the incubation chambers. Typically, the gas supply system includes air, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. In some embodiments, the gas supply system can be understood to include one or more gas storage containers, and optional gas mixing container, and tubing to direct gas from the gas supply system of the base module towards the incubation chamber module. The gas supply system may also include one or more valves to allow selective gas flow to individual incubation chambers of the incubation chamber module. In one preferred embodiment, the base module includes a fully enclosed base housing having six panels to define an enclosed housing containing the gas supply system and the control system.

[0086] The control system of the base module is a system that includes one or more cables and a circuit board to allow for selective transmission of electrical signals towards the incubation chamber module and to receive transmission of electrical signals from the incubation chamber module. In a preferred embodiment, the control system includes a power line to provide electric power to the at least one incubation chamber module, and also includes a data line to allow for the transmission of data between or among the at least one incubation chamber modules and the base module. In some embodiments, the power and data lines from the base module to the incubation chamber module may be combined into a single physical line. As one example, the control system may include a power supply with a power line physically connecting the base module and the at least one incubation chamber modules, and a data line providing an operable connection (wired or wireless) between the base module and the at least one incubation chamber modules. The control system may also include one or more network hubs to facilitate data transfer among the various modules. The control system may be operably connected to one or more system-on-module (SOM) circuitry within the incubation chamber modules, as described herein.

[0087] The base module includes multiple incubation chamber connectors. The connectors can be physical connectors located on the housing of the base module. Or, alternatively, the connectors can be understood to be a configuration of the tubing and cables connecting the base module to the incubation chamber modules. By providing multiple connectors, the present incubator systems have enabled the system to be modular and scalable. Thus, it is possible to connect a single incubation chamber module to the base module. Alternatively, it is possible to connect two incubation chamber modules to the basemodule. In addition, more than two incubation chamber modules can be connected to the single base module. For example, in at least one embodiment, the present incubator systems have from two to six incubation chamber modules connected to a single base module.

[0088] The incubation chamber module includes one or more incubation chambers. The incubation chambers are configured to accommodate one or more embryo culture dishes. In at least one embodiment, each incubation chamber is configured to accommodate a single embryo culture dish. Each culture dish may have multiple embryo wells or microwells such that multiple embryos, from a single patient, are stored and grown in a single embryo culture dish. The at least one incubation chamber is located within a module housing that is physically separate from the base housing. As described herein, the module housing is a discreet apparatus from the base housing. The module housing can be located at multiple positions within an IVF lab relative to the base housing. In some examples, the module housing can be placed adjacent the base housing such that the module housing and the base housing contact each other. In other examples, the module housing can be placed away from the base housing so there is no direct contact between surfaces of the housings. In yet other examples, some of the module housings may be adjacent the base housing, and other module housings may be spaced apart from the base housing. The module housing includes one or more incubation chambers, as described herein. As access is needed to the interior of each incubation chamber, the module housing may include one or more movable panels to allow the incubation chamber to assume an open configuration or a closed configuration. These movable panels are also referred to as incubation chamber access panels. Preferably, in the closed configuration, a controlled environment is obtained to facilitate growth and development of the embryos. In the open configuration, the embryo culture dish can be placed in the incubation chamber or removed from the incubation chamber.

[0089] As described herein, unlike existing incubator systems, in the illustrated embodiments the incubation chamber access panels are provided on a lateral sidewall of the incubation chamber module, and preferably on the front or forward-facing sidewall. In addition, it can be understood that in the illustrated embodiments, a single incubation chamber module includes multiple incubation chamber access panels. This is unlike some incubator systems that have a single access panel that provides access to multiple incubation chambers or to a single incubation chamber containing multiple embryo culture dishes. Thus, in these embodiments, the incubation chamber modules can be stacked relative to each other and still provide access to each incubation chamber without disturbing the environment of other incubation chambers.

[0090] As described herein, the present modular incubator system can include a plurality (more than one) incubation chamber modules, wherein each incubation chamber module is connected to the base module by way of at least one incubation chamber connector. In some embodiments, the base module can include the same number of incubation chamber connectors as incubation chamber modules. Or, the base module can include fewer incubation chamber connectors. In such embodiments, the system may include additional connectors in the tubing, cables, or both, to allow for more incubation chamber modules to be connected. The arrangement of the incubation chamber modules relative to each other, or relative to the base module can be in a serial arrangement, a parallel arrangement, or combinations thereof.

[0091] As described herein, in some embodiments, the incubation chamber module may include multiple incubation chambers. For example, an individual incubation chamber module may include from two to thirty-six incubation chambers. In some preferred embodiments, the incubation chamber module includes four separate incubation chambers. Allowing the incubation chambers to be separated as discreet units in an incubation chamber module allows the environment in each incubation chamber to remain undisturbed as dishes are removed and replaced from other incubation chambers and be selectively controlled so that the growth conditions for the embryo can be customized based on the user's preference. It can be understood therefore that the present incubator systems can include incubation chamber modules that include at least one incubation chamber that provides an individually controlled incubation environment.

[0092] In some embodiments of the present systems, the incubation chamber module may include one or more humidification sources. For example, there may be a heated water vessel associated with each incubation chamber module that allows humidity to build up in each chamber module. The level of humidification can be measured with a sensor and controlled by passing dry gas through the incubator. Thus, the desired atmospheric humidity can also be controlled within the incubation chambers.

[0093] In some embodiments of the present systems, the incubation chamber module also comprises a temperature controller. The temperature controller is configured to maintain the temperature with an incubation chamber. For example, the temperature controller may maintain the temperature in each incubation chamber at or about 37 degrees Celsius, which is a temperature suitable for embryo growth.

[0094] The present modular incubator system may also be understood to include at least one gas line that is tubing that provides a gas flow pathway between the base module and theincubation chamber module(s), at least one power line that is a cable providing a power supply from the base module to the incubation chamber module(s), and at least one data line that is a cable providing a data flow pathway between the base module and the incubation chamber module(s). In an embodiment, the incubator system comprises a single gas line, a single power line, and a single data line. As stated herein, the data line may be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

[0095] In addition, in some embodiments, each incubation chamber includes a chamber monitoring system. The chamber monitoring system includes circuitry and is configured to control the environment within each incubation chamber, to detect and track an embryo dish within each incubation chamber, to record and to transfer data of each incubation chamber, or combinations thereof. The chamber monitoring system may be understood to be a System- on-Module (SOM) circuit.

[0096] In some embodiments, the present incubator systems include an imaging system configured to obtain images of an embryo located in an embryo culture dish within the incubation chamber. The imaging system can include a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, or it can include various lenses and lighting sources, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, each incubation chamber has its own imaging system. In other embodiments, an imaging system can be movable relative to the incubation chambers such that a single imaging system can obtain images from more than one incubation chamber.

[0097] The present incubator systems may also include a display that has a screen to display an image of an embryo, patient information, system information, or combinations thereof. The display may be a liquid crystal display or a light emitting diode display. The display may be provided on each incubation chamber to allow selective display of information unique to that chamber, or a single display may be provided for an individual incubation chamber module, or a single display may be provided for the entire incubator system, or the system may be configured with combinations thereof. The display can be understood to be similar to the display screen of conventional tablet computers or mobile phones. As described herein, the display can be provided on an incubation chamber access panel, or an incubator system display can be provided as a component of the base module or as a stand-alone display, or combinations thereof.

[0098] In one particular embodiment, the incubation chamber module includes a plurality of incubation chambers, a gas reservoir, and a network hub. The gas reservoir provides gas to each incubation chamber by way of one or more gas lines. The gas lines are connectedfrom an output port of the gas reservoir and to an inlet port on each incubation chamber. Each incubation chamber also includes a gas outlet port to allow gas to be removed or directed away from the incubation chamber. Each incubation chamber includes a SOM circuit board, a door sensor, and radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag detector, a heating system, an imaging systems, a display unit, one or more valves, and a space to accommodate a single embryo culture dish. The network hub is connected to each incubation chamber, and the network hub provides data communication to the control system of the base module.

[0099] The environment within an incubation chamber can be controlled by the SOM circuit opening and closing the valve or valves at appropriate time intervals to maintain the desired gas concentrations, and to also purge the chamber of ambient air resulting from the opening and closing of the chamber door. The SOM circuit can also monitor and control the temperature in the chamber by communicating with a heating element of the chamber. The SOM circuit will also be configured to detect RFID tags or read barcodes associated with individual embryo culture dishes, and it can be configured to display the patient information associated with that RFID tag on the display screen. If it is desired to record or store data, the data obtained with the SOM circuit for a particular incubation chamber will be transmitted to the base module through a network hub associated with a group of incubation chamber modules so it can be stored on the base module, or to a locally located server in the IVF lab, or on a cloud-based server accessible via the internet. Examples of data that may be recorded and stored include temperature logs, RFID tag readings, and embryo images, among other things.

[0100] In some embodiments of the present modular incubator systems, the incubation chamber module includes incubation chamber access panel displays and is free of a display having a display screen with a larger viewing area than the viewing area of the access panel displays.

[0101] It can be understood that the base module can control the actions of the chamber modules. For example, the control system of the base module can allow for gas to be delivered to the incubation chamber modules at different times. As another example, the control system of the base module can coordinate imaging systems so as to move the imaging systems and obtain embryo images at the same time for each incubation chamber.

[0102] The modular incubator systems described herein can be made using conventional components and techniques, as understood by persons skilled in the art.

[0103] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example modular incubator system 100 that is designed for incubating one or more biological specimens. In some examples, the biological specimens are embryos (e.g., human embryos). In other examples, the biological specimens may be non-reproductive specimens, such as cell cultures or other biological specimens. The modular incubator system 100 includes a base module 110 and one or more incubation chamber modules 140 (e.g., a single incubation chamber module 140 or more than one incubation chamber module 140). The one or more incubation chamber modules 140 are physically separate units with respect to each other and with respect to the base module 110. Accordingly, the one or more incubation chamber modules 140 are not attached to each other or to the base module 110 (e.g., whether permanently or in any other inflexible manner) and can be moved with respect to each other. The one or more incubation chamber modules 140 are in fluid communication and electrical communication with the base module 110. For the sake of simplicity, only one incubation chamber module 140 is illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0104] The base module 110 includes a gas supply system 112, a control system 114 including one or more processors that control various components of the modular incubator system 100, and a base housing 116 that at least partially contains and / or at least partially supports each of the gas supply system 112 and the control system 114. The gas supply system 112 is designed to deliver any of multiple gasses (e.g., air, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen) to the incubation chamber module 140 to achieve one or more desired environmental conditions within the incubation chamber module 140. The base module 110 also includes one or more connectors by which the base module 110 can communicate with the one or more incubation chamber modules 140. Two connectors 118a and 118b are illustrated in the example of Fig. 1. the connectors 118a and 118b may be integrally formed with the base housing 116 or embodied as separate components that are assembled with or otherwise connected to the base housing 116. The connectors 118a and 118b may be provided as one or more fluid or electronic components, such as valves, tubing lines, cables, or other connection components or mechanisms.

[0105] The incubation chamber module 140 includes a module housing 146 and one or more incubation chambers 144 (e.g., incubators) that are at least partially contained in and / or at least partially supported by the module housing 146. Each incubation chamber 144 provides a separate (e.g., discreet, isolated) environment for incubating one or more biological specimens. Four separate incubation chambers 144a, 144b, 144c, and 144d are illustrated in the example of Fig. 1. In other embodiments, any of the incubation chamber modules discussed herein may include less than four or more than four incubation chambers(e.g., one, two, three, five, six, seven, or eight, etc. incubation chambers). The incubation chamber module 140 is operably (e.g., fluidly, electrically, or otherwise) connected to the base module 110 at the connector 118a, and such connection is illustrated by the representative connection 142. In some embodiments, one or more additional incubation chamber modules 140 may be connected to the connector 118a or to the connector 118b. In other embodiments, no incubation chamber module 140 is connected to the connector 118b.

[0106] Fig. 2 illustrates a detailed schematic of the modular incubator system 100, including the base module 110 and multiple incubation chamber modules 140 (e.g., six incubation chamber modules 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, and 140f). In the example of Fig. 2, two sets 141a and 141b of incubation chamber modules are arranged in parallel with respect to the base module 110, where each set 141a and 141b includes three incubation chamber modules 140a, 140b, and 140c and 140d, 140e, and 140f, respectively. The incubation chamber modules within each set 141a and 141b are operably configured serially with respect to each other. In the example embodiment of Fig. 2, the incubation chamber modules (within a set of three) are serially positioned with respect to one another. That is, each upstream incubation chamber module 140 provides both gas and power to the immediate downstream incubation chamber module 140. In other embodiments, as will be discussed below with respect to Fig. 11, the gas line 136 and the power line 130 each provide gas and power directly to each incubation chamber module.

[0107] The base module 110 includes one or more power lines 130 (e.g., 130a, 130b) and one or more data input or output lines 132 that may communicate with the gas supply system 112 and the control system 114 of the base module 110. The gas supply system 112 includes a gas mixing box (refer to Fig. 4) and one or more gas inlet lines 136 that supply one or more gases to the gas mixing box. In some embodiments, the one or more gas inlet lines 136 deliver a single gas mixture (e.g., a premixed combination of gases). In other embodiments, each of multiple gas inlet lines 136 delivers a respective pure gas (e.g., nitrogen or carbon dioxide) or a gas mixture (e.g., air). The gas supply system 112 also includes one or more gas outlet lines 136 (e.g., 136a and 136b) through which a gas mixture 138 respectively flows from the gas mixing box of the gas supply system 112 to the sets 141a and 141b of the incubation chamber modules 140. Each incubation chamber module 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, and 140f includes one or more respective system-on-module (SoM) circuits that are coupled to one or more network hubs 145 for providing data back to the base module 110.

[0108] Fig. 3 illustrates an example schematic of the incubation chamber module 140, such as any of the incubation chamber modules 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, 140e, or 140f. In theexample of Fig. 3, the incubation chamber module 140 includes the four incubation chambers 144 (e.g., 144a, 144b, 144c, and 144d). The incubation chamber module 140 includes a heated gas reservoir 147 and a dedicated network hub 145. Each incubation chamber 144 includes a valve 151 (e.g. a gas inlet valve) that controls a flow of heated gas from the heated gas reservoir 147. The valve 151 may be positioned within the incubation chamber 144, as shown in Fig. 3, or positioned externally to the incubation chamber 144, as shown in Fig. 4. Each incubation chamber 144 also includes a platform 153 for supporting at least one culture dish in which a biological specimen is located, an imaging system 155 for capturing images (e.g., still images or videos) of the specimen, a heating system 157 for heating an interior region of the incubation chamber to a desired temperature, a display 159, an RFID detector 161 that is configured to detect RFID information on or otherwise associated with the culture dish, a sensor 163 for detecting an open or closed state of an access panel, door, lid, or other access component of the incubation chamber, and one or more circuit boards 165 (e.g., one or more SoM circuits and one or more breakout boards). In some implementations, the imaging system 155 is configured to capture the images as part of one or more time-lapsed imaging protocols for producing one or more series of time-lapsed images.

[0109] The display 159 can display the images captured by the imaging system 155 and additional information related to the biological specimen simultaneously or at separate times. The incubation chamber module 140 also includes a network hub 149 to which all of the incubation chambers 144 are electrically coupled and which is electrically coupled to a network hub 145 of Fig. 2.

[0110] Fig. 4 illustrates another detailed schematic of the modular incubator system 100. Only one incubation chamber module 140 is illustrated in the example of Fig. 4 and may be embodied substantially as described and illustrated with respect to Fig. 3. The gas supply system 112 includes a gas mixing box 111 that receives one or more gases from one or more external sources. The gas inlet lines 134 of the gas supply system 112 include a pure nitrogen line 113, a pure carbon dioxide line 115, and an air line 117. The gas supply system 112 further includes a valve 119 that controls a flow of nitrogen into the gas mixing box 111, a valve 121 that controls a flow of carbon dioxide into the gas mixing box 111, and one or more filters 123 (e.g., a volatile organic compound (VOC) filter and a high efficiency particulate air (HEP A) filter) that filter air flowing through the air line 117. A pump 125 controls a flow of air into the gas mixing box 111. The nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and air may be delivered to the gas mixing box 111 through a common fluid line 127 or through separate fluid lines. The gas supply system 112 also includes a carbon dioxide sensor 129 and anoxygen sensor 131 for respectively measuring concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen within the gas mixing box 111. As discussed above with respect to Figs. 2 and 3, the one or more gas outlet lines 136 supply the gas mixture 138 to the heated gas reservoir 147 of the incubation chamber module 140 to be stored.[oni] The control system 114 of the base module 110 includes the data input-output line 132, at which input data 133 may be received and from which output data 135 may be sent. The control system 114 also includes a digital connectivity module 137 that communicates with the data line 132, a system SoM 139 (e.g., a computer) that communicates with the data connectivity module 137, and a data storage 155 that communicates with the system SoM 139. The SoM 139 communicates with (e.g., sends data to and receives data from) a module SoM 199 of the incubation chamber module 140.

[0112] Fig. 5 illustrates an example modular incubator system 200 and an example modular incubator system 300 that are positioned on a top surface of a table. The modular incubator system 200 may be an embodiment of the modular incubator system 100. The system 200 includes a base module 210 and incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., two incubation chamber modules 240a and 240b) that are coupled to the base module 210. The system 200 also includes a display 260 that has a display screen 262 and is disposed on top of base module 210.

[0113] The base module 210 is substantially similar in construction and function to the base module 110 and accordingly includes a housing 216, the gas supply system 112, the control system 114, the one or more connectors 118, and other structural and functional components of the base module 110. The incubation chamber modules 240a and 240b are substantially similar in construction and function to the incubation chamber modules 140. Accordingly, each incubation chamber module 240a and 240b includes the incubation chambers 144 (e.g., the incubation chambers 144a, 144b, 144c, and 144d) and the incubation chamber module housing 146, which has an internal wall structure that provides compartmentalization for the incubation chambers 144a, 144b, 144c, and 144d. Furthermore, the incubation chamber modules 240 are physically separate units with respect to each other and with respect to the base module 210. Accordingly, the one or more incubation chamber modules 240 are not attached to each other or to the base module 210 (e.g., whether permanently or in any other inflexible manner) and can be moved with respect to each other.

[0114] Referring to Fig. 6, each incubation chamber 144 includes an access panel 180 that is pivotable between a closed configuration in which the access panel 180 is closed against the housing 146 (shown in Fig. 6) and an open configuration in which the accesspanel 180 has been pivoted downward away from the housing 146 to allow access to an interior region of the chamber 144. Accordingly, each incubation chamber 144 may be opened independently of the other, remaining incubation chambers 144. The access panel 180 includes a door 161 and a display 170 that is attached to a lateral (e.g., front) side of the door 161 so that a screen 172 of the display 170 is easily observable by a user. In the closed configuration, the door 161 is secured to the housing 146 via a latch or other closure mechanism. The door 161 includes a grasping feature 181 (e.g., a lip or flange) along its top edge that facilitates grasping of the door 161 to open or close the access panel 180.

[0115] In some embodiments, the platform 153 (refer to Fig. 3) extends outwardly from the housing 146 and is sized and shaped to support a culture dish within an interior region of the incubation chamber 144. In some embodiments, an outward extension of the platform 153 from the housing 146 facilitates placement of the culture dish on the platform 153 and removal of the culture dish from the platform 153 when desired. The door 161 forms an interior pocket that is sized and shaped so as to accommodate (e.g., so as not to interfere with) the outward projection of the platform 153 and culture dish when the access panel 180 is closed against the housing 146. Such configuration may be similar to that illustrated with respect to the incubation chambers 644 in Fig. 12.

[0116] In some implementations, the display screen 172 displays one or more of several types of information that is unique to or otherwise associated with the respective incubation chamber 144. Such information may include patient information; a dish identification string (e.g., “Dish 2”) if more than one dish is associated with a single patient; a day, date, time, or other indicator related to or tracking a progression of a protocol (e.g., an IVF protocol) being carried out on the specimen; one or more environmental conditions within the incubation chamber 144 (e.g., a temperature, a gas concentration, or a humidity level); one or more images (e.g., still images or video) captured by the imaging system 155 (refer to Fig. 3), onscreen controls that allow a user to switch between screens displaying different information, to end or pause the incubation of a dish, to change imaging parameters, and / or to supply other information related to the operation of the incubation chamber 144. Example patient information that may be displayed on the display screen 172 includes a name of the patient or other, secondary unique identification character string associated with the patient, an electronic medical record (EMR) number, a date of birth, and other patient information. In some implementations, the display screen 172 additionally displays a current date and a current time.

[0117] As discussed above with respect to Fig. 3, each incubation chamber 144 includes one or more platforms 153 (not illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6) within its interior region. In some embodiments, each incubation chamber 144 includes only a single platform 153 that is sized and shaped to support only a single culture dish and includes an interior region that is sized and shaped to accommodate (e.g., house) only the single dish. In such embodiments, the interior region of each incubation chamber 144 may have a maximum length of about 5 cm to about 15 cm, a maximum width of about 3 cm to about 12 cm, and a maximum height of about 1 cm to about 5 cm. For example, in some embodiments, each incubation chamber 144 includes only a single platform 153, but that sized and shaped to support more than one culture dish, and includes a correspondingly sized and shaped interior region. In some embodiments, each incubation chamber 144 includes multiple (e.g., two) platforms 153 that are sized and shaped to collectively support multiple culture dishes and includes a correspondingly sized and shaped interior region.

[0118] The display 260 is supported by the housing 216 of the base module 210 (e.g., the display is positioned on top of the base module 210). The display 260 includes a housing 269, the screen 262, and internal electronics. In some embodiments, the housing 269 includes a stand 273 that directly contacts the base module 210. In some embodiments, the display 260 is an integral component of the base module 210 (e.g., the display housing 269 is formed integrally with the housing 216). In some embodiments, the display 260 is formed separately from the base module 210 such that the display housing 269 is not integral with the housing 216. The modular incubator system 200 is configured such that the display screen 262 can display any of the above-discussed information related to any of the incubation chambers 144 of the incubation chamber module 240 and can display information related the system 200 as whole. In some embodiments, the display screen 262 has a height of about 3 cm to about 20 cm and width of about 3 cm to about 20 cm. In other embodiments, the display screen 262 may have a height and / or a width that falls outside of these respective ranges. In some embodiments, the display screen 262 has a portrait orientation (e.g., with a width of about 5 cm and a height of about 10 cm). In some embodiments, the display screen 262 has a landscape orientation (e.g., with a width of about 10 cm and a height of about 5 cm).

[0119] Referring again to Fig. 5, in the example system 200, the incubation chambers 144 of each incubation chamber module 240 are arranged in a row (e.g., a 1 x 4 array or matrix configuration), and one module 240a is stacked (e.g., directly stacked or otherwise stacked) on top of the other module 240b. Together, the modules 240 provide a 2 x 4 matrixconfiguration of the incubation chambers 144. Advantageously, the size, shape, and lateral position of the access panels 180 prevent the panels 180 from interfering with a top surface of the incubation chamber modules 240, thereby permitting the modules 240 to be arranged in the stacked configuration. This advantage feature of the access panels also applies to access panels of each of the modular incubator systems 100, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and others discussed in this disclosure. The incubation chamber modules 240 may be coupled to the housing 216 at the one or more connectors 118 (shown in Fig. 1).

[0120] The coupling capability offered by the connectors 118 advantageously provides the modular incubator system 200 with a flexible positional configurability in that the incubation chamber modules 240 can be positioned, oriented, stacked, or otherwise arranged in a variety of configurations external to a footprint or three-dimensional profile of the base module 210. The coupling capability also advantageously provides the modular incubator system 200 with a flexible scalability as to the number incubation chamber modules 240 that may be coupled to the base module 210 as part of the same modular incubator system 200. In this respect, the incubator system 200 has a modular character in that each incubation chamber module 240 can be included with or removed from the system 200 as a unit to scale the system 200 up in size, capacity (e.g., a number of specimens that can be incubated and observed), and / or complexity or scale the system 200 down in size, capacity, and / or complexity. Advantageously, the inclusion or removal of a module 240 can be selected based on one or more of the needs of the protocol according to which the biological specimens are incubated, the conditions of the surrounding laboratory environment (e.g., the size and shape of nearby equipment or of available space for accommodating the incubator system 200), and the capabilities of a user of the system. All of the above-discussed advantages also apply to each of the modular incubator systems 100, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and others discussed in this disclosure.

[0121] Still referring to Fig. 5, the modular incubator system 300 may be an embodiment of the modular incubator system 100. Furthermore, the system 300 is substantially similar in construction and function to the modular incubator system 200, except that the system 300 includes a different number and arrangement of incubation chamber modules 240.

[0122] The system 300 includes a base module 310 and four of the incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., incubation chamber modules 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d) that were discussed above with respect to the modular incubator system 200. The system 300 also includes the display 260, which is positioned on top of the base module 310 in an integral or separate manner, as discussed above with respect to the modular incubator system 200. The base 1module 310 is substantially similar in construction and function to the base modules 110 and 210, except that the base module 310 is configured to communicate with four of the incubation chamber modules 240. The base module 310 accordingly includes a housing 316, the gas supply system 112, the control system 114, the one or more connectors 118 at which the incubation chamber modules 240 are coupled to the base module 310, and other structural and functional components of the base modules 110 and 210.

[0123] In the example system 300, a set 375 of two stacked incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., modules 240a and 240b) is located at the left side of the base module 310 and a set 375 of two stacked incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., modules 240c and 240d) is located at the right side of the base module 310 such that the base module 310 is centered between the two sets 375 of modules 240. Together, the modules 240 in each set 375 provide a 2 x 4 matrix configuration of the incubation chambers 144. Collectively, the two sets 375 form a 2 x 8 matrix configuration of the incubation chambers 144.

[0124] Fig. 7 illustrates another example modular incubator system 400 that is positioned on a top surface of a table. The modular incubator system 400 may be an embodiment of the modular incubator system 100. Furthermore, the system 400 is substantially similar in construction and function to the modular incubator systems 200, 300, except that the system 400 includes a different number and arrangement of incubation chamber modules 240.

[0125] The system 400 includes a base module 410 and four of the incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., incubation chamber modules 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d) that were discussed above with respect to the modular incubator system 200. The system 400 also includes the display 260, which is positioned on top of the base module 410 in an integral or separate manner, as discussed above with respect to the modular incubator system 200. The base module 410 is substantially similar in construction and function to the base modules 110, 210, 310. The base module 410 accordingly includes a housing 416, the gas supply system 112, the control system 114, the one or more connectors 118 at which the incubation chamber modules 240 are coupled to the base module 410, and other structural and functional components of the base modules 110, 210, and 310.

[0126] In the example system 400, a set 475 of two stacked incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., modules 240a and 240b) is located at the front (e.g., forward-facing) side of the base module 410 and a set 475 of two stacked incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., modules 240b and 240d) is located at the rear (e.g., backward-facing) side of the base module 410 such that the base module 410 is centered between the two sets 475 of modules 240.Together, the modules 240 in each set 475 provide a 2 x 4 matrix configuration of theincubation chambers 144. Collectively, the two sets 475 form a 2 x 4 x 2 matrix configuration of the incubation chambers 144.

[0127] Fig. 7 also illustrates another example modular incubator system 500 that is positioned on a top surface of a table. The modular incubator system 500 may be an embodiment of the modular incubator system 100. Furthermore, the system 500 is substantially similar in construction and function to the modular incubator systems 200, 300, 400, except that the system 500 includes a different number and arrangement of incubation chamber modules 240.

[0128] The system 500 includes a base module 510 and six of the incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., incubation chamber modules 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f) that were discussed above with respect to the modular incubator system 200. The system 500 also includes the display 260, which is separated from and in wired or wireless communication with the base module 510. The display 260 may be placed at any position appropriate for viewing by a user of the system 500 and is illustrated as positioned next to (e.g., at left sides of) the base module 510 and the incubation chamber modules 240. The base module 510 is substantially similar in construction and function to the base modules 110, 210, 310, 410, except that the base module 510 is configured to communicate with six of the incubation chamber modules 240. The base module 510 accordingly includes a housing 516, the gas supply system 112, the control system 114, the one or more connectors 118 at which the incubation chamber modules 240 are coupled to the base module 510, and other structural and functional components of the base modules 110, 210, 310, and 410.

[0129] In the example system 500, six incubation chamber modules 240 are arranged in a 3 x 2 matrix configuration (e.g., including three rows and two columns of incubation chamber modules 240). Accordingly, three incubation chamber modules 240 are stacked on top of each other in each column. This arrangement provides a 3 x 8 matrix configuration of the incubation chambers 144. The modules 240 are positioned in front of (e.g. at a front side) of the base module 510.

[0130] Fig. 8 illustrates another example modular incubator system 600 that is positioned on a top surface of a table. The modular incubator system 600 may be an embodiment of the modular incubator system 100. Furthermore, the system 600 is substantially similar in construction and function to the modular incubator system 500, except that the system 500 includes a different number and arrangement of incubation chamber modules 240.

[0131] The system 600 includes a base module 610 and three of the incubation chamber modules 240 (e.g., incubation chamber modules 240a, 240b, 240c) that were discussed abovewith respect to the modular incubator system 200. The system 600 also includes the display 260, which is separated from and in wired or wireless communication with the base module 610. The display 260 may be placed at any position appropriate for viewing by a user of the system 600 and is illustrated as positioned next to (e.g., at right sides of) the incubation chamber modules 240. The base module 610 is substantially similar in construction and function to the base modules 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, except that the base module 610 is configured to communicate with three of the incubation chamber modules 240. The base module 610 accordingly includes a housing 616, the gas supply system 112, the control system 114, the one or more connectors 118 at which the incubation chamber modules 240 are coupled to the base module 610, and other structural and functional components of the base modules 110, 210, 310, 410, 510.

[0132] In the example system 600, three incubation chamber modules 240 are arranged in a 3 x 1 matrix configuration (e.g., including three rows and one column of incubation chamber modules 240), which provides a 3 x 4 matrix configuration of the incubation chamber modules 144. Accordingly, three incubation chamber modules 240 are stacked on top of each other in the column. The modules 240 are positioned in front of (e.g. at a front side) of the base module 610.

[0133]

[0134] Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate another example modular incubator system 700 that is positioned on a top surface of a table. The modular incubator system 700 may be an embodiment of the modular incubator system 100. For example, the system 700 is substantially similar in construction and function to the modular incubator systems 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 except that the system 700 includes a different number and arrangement of incubation chamber modules incubation chamber modules 740, and one or more dimensions of the modules 740 may differ from one or more respective dimensions of the incubation chamber modules 240.

[0135] The system 700 includes the base module 210 that was discussed above with respect to the modular incubator system 200 and two incubation chamber modules 740 (e.g., incubation chamber modules 740a, 740b). The system 700 also includes the display 260, although not illustrated. As discussed above with respect to the modular incubator systems 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, the display 260 may be integrally or separately located at a top surface of the base module 210 or separated from (e.g., and in wired or wireless communication with) the base module 210 and placed at any position appropriate for viewing by a user of the system 700.

[0136] The incubation chamber modules 740 are substantially similar in construction and function to the incubation chamber modules 240, except that the modules 740 include incubation chambers 744 (e.g., chambers 744a, 744b, 744c, 744d) with an access panel 780 that is more elongated than the access panel 180 of the incubation chambers 144.Accordingly, the incubation chamber modules 740 are physically separate units with respect to each other and with respect to the base module 210. The incubation chamber modules 740 are not attached to each other or to the base module 210 (e.g., whether permanently or in any other inflexible manner) and can be moved with respect to each other. Furthermore, each incubation chamber module 740 includes a housing 746 that has an internal wall structure that provides compartmentalization for the incubation chambers 744a, 744b, 744c, and 744d.

[0137] Referring particularly to Fig. 10, each incubation chamber 744 includes a platform 753 for supporting at least one culture dish 701 in which a biological specimen is located, as well as several components of the incubation chambers 144 that are illustrated in Fig. 3, including the imaging system 155 for capturing images (e.g., still images or videos) of the specimen, the heating system 157 for heating an interior region of the incubation chamber to a desired temperature, a display 759 (only one display 759 is illustrated), the RFID detector 161 for reading RFID information on the culture dish, the sensor 163 for detecting an open or closed state of the access panel 780, and the one or more circuit boards 165 (e.g., one or more SoM circuits 143 and one or more breakout boards). The display 759 can display the images captured by the imaging system 155 and additional information related to the biological specimen (e.g., such as that discussed with respect to the display 159) simultaneously or at separate times. The module housing 746 at least partially contains and / or at least partially supports the various components of the incubation chambers 744. The incubation chamber module 740 also includes the network hub 145 to which all of the incubation chambers 744 are electrically coupled.

[0138] As discussed above, each incubation chamber 744 includes an access panel 780 that is pivotable between a closed configuration in which the access panel 780 is closed against the housing 746 (shown in Fig. 9) and an open configuration in which the access panel 780 has been pivoted downward away from the housing 746 to allow access to an interior region of the chamber 744 (shown in Fig. 10). Accordingly, each incubation chamber 744 may be opened independently of the other, remaining incubation chambers 744. The access panel 780 includes a door 761 and the display 759 that is attached to a lateral (e.g., front) side of the door 761 so that a screen 772 of the display 759 is easily observable by a user. In the closed configuration, the door 761 is secured to the housing 746 via a latchor another closure mechanism. The door 761 includes a grasping feature 781 (e.g., a lip or flange) along its top edge that facilitates grasping of the door 761 to open or close the access panel 780.

[0139] The platform 753 extends outwardly from the housing 746 and is sized and shaped to support the culture dish 701 within an interior region of the incubation chamber 744. In some embodiments, an outward extension of the platform 753 from the housing 746 facilitates placement of the culture dish 701 on the platform 753 and removal of the culture dish 701 from the platform 753 when desired. As discussed above, the culture dish contains a biological specimen (e.g., an embryo 750, illustrated on the display screen 262 in Fig. 8). The door 761 forms an interior pocket 783 that is sized and shaped so as to accommodate (e.g., so as not to interfere with) the outward projection of the platform 753 and culture dish 701 when the access panel 780 is closed against the housing 746.

[0140] Referring again to Fig. 9, in the example system 700, the incubation chambers 744 of each incubation chamber module 740 are arranged in a row (e.g., a 1 x 4 array or matrix configuration), and one module 740a is stacked (e.g., directly stacked or otherwise stacked) on top of the other module 740b. Together, the modules 740 form a 2 x 4 matrix configuration of the incubation chambers 744. As discussed above with respect to the incubation chambers 144, the size, shape, and lateral position of the access panels 780 prevent the panels 780 from interfering with a top surface of the incubation chamber modules 740, thereby permitting the modules 740 to be arranged in the stacked configuration. The incubation chamber modules 740 may be coupled to the housing 216 of the base module 210 at the one or more connectors 118 (shown in Fig. 1).

[0141] In some embodiments, any of the base module housings 116, 216, 316, 416, 516, 616, 716, 816 and others may have a length in a range of about 30 cm to about 80 cm (e.g., about 50 cm), a width in a range of about 10 cm to about 40 cm (e.g., about 20 cm), and a height in a range of about 20 cm to about 70 cm (e.g., about 45 cm). In some embodiments, any of the above-discussed housings 146, 746 of the incubation chamber modules 140, 240, 740 may have a length in a range of about 10 cm to about 80 cm (e.g., about 45 cm), a width in a range of about 10 cm to about 100 cm (e.g., about 30 cm), and a height in a range of about 5 cm to about 30 cm (e.g., about 15 cm), depending on a number of incubation chambers 144, 644 that are present within each module. In some embodiments, any of the modular incubator systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 or others that are substantially similar in construction and function may include a profile or footprint (e.g., excluding the display 260) with a total length in a range of about 10 cm to about 100 cm, atotal width in a range of about 10 cm to about 200 cm, and a total height in a range of about 5 cm to about 100 cm, depending on a number and arrangement of incubation chamber modules that are included within the system.

[0142] In some of embodiments, each incubation chamber module 140, 240, 740, 840 may be connected to a separate respective connector 118 of the above-discussed base module 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 810. In some embodiments, any two or more of a total number of incubation chamber modules 140, 240, 740, 840 may be connected to the same connector 118 of the base module 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 810.

[0143] While the above discussed modular incubator systems have been described and illustrated with respect to certain dimensions, sizes, shapes, arrangements, materials, and methods, in some embodiments, an incubator system that is otherwise substantially similar in construction and function to any of the above-discussed incubator systems may include one or more different dimensions, sizes, shapes, arrangements, configurations, and materials or may be utilized according to different methods.

[0144] For example, while the above-discussed incubator modular incubator systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 are described and illustrated as including incubation chamber modules 140, 240, 740 that are provided (e.g., at least in part) in a serial arrangement, in some embodiments, a modular incubator system 800 that is otherwise similar in construction and function to any of the modular incubator systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 may instead include incubation chamber modules 840 (e.g., 840a, 840b, 840c, 840d, 840e, 840f) that are provided in a parallel arrangement with respect to each other, as shown in Fig. 11.

[0145] The modular incubator system 800 also includes a base module 810. The base module 810 includes a gas supply system 812, a control system 814 including one or more processors that control various components of the modular incubator system 800, and a base housing 816 that at least partially contains and / or at least partially supports each of the gas supply system 812 and the control system 814. As discussed above with respect to the gas supply system 112, the gas supply system 112 is designed to deliver any of multiple gasses (e.g., air, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen) to the incubation chamber modules 840 to achieve one or more desired environmental conditions within the chamber modules 840. The base module 810 also includes one or more of the connectors 118 (illustrated in Fig. 1), by which the base module 810 can communicate with the one or more incubation chamber modules 840. The connectors 118 may be integrally formed with the base housing 816 or embodied as separate components that are assembled with or otherwise connected to the base housing 816.The connectors 118 may be provided as one or more fluid or electronic components, such as valves, tubing lines, cables, or other connection components or mechanisms.

[0146] The modular incubator system 800 includes one or more power input lines 830, one or more power output lines 871 (e.g., 871a, 871b, 871c, 871d, 871e, 87 If), one or more upstream data input-output lines 832 (e.g., upstream with respect to the base module 810 and including data input line 832a and data output line 832b that are shown in Fig. 12), and one or more downstream data input-output lines 873 (e.g., downstream with respect to the base module 810 and including lines 873a, 873b, 873c, 873d, 873e, 873f). The upstream data input-output lines 832 may communicate with the gas supply system 812 and the control system 814 of the base module 810. The modular incubator system 800 further includes one or more gas input lines 836 (e.g., 836a, 836b, 836c, 836d, shown in Fig. 12) by which gas is delivered from a gas source external to the modular incubator system 800 and one or more gas output lines 875 (e.g., 875a, 875b, 875c, 875d, 875e, 875f) that deliver gas from the base module 810 to the incubation chamber modules 840.

[0147] Referring to Fig. 12, the gas supply system 812 includes a gas mixing box 811 that includes a buffering tank. In some embodiments, the one or more gas input inlets lines 836 deliver a single gas mixture (e.g., a premixed combination of gases) to the gas mixing box 811. In other embodiments, each of multiple gas inlet lines 836 delivers a respective pure gas (e.g., nitrogen or carbon dioxide) or a gas mixture (e.g., air) to the gas mixing box 811. A gas mixture 138 flows through the gas output lines 875 from the gas mixing box 811 to respective gas reservoirs 847 of the incubation chamber modules 840. The gas supply system 812 also includes a nitrogen regulator 891 that regulates the flow of nitrogen to the gas mixing box 811, a carbon dioxide regulator 893 that regulates the flow of carbon dioxide to the gas mixing box 811 and respective valves 819, 821. The gas supply system 812 also includes one or more filters 823 (e.g., a VOC filter and a HEP A) that filter air flowing through the air line 836d and a pump 825 (e.g., or a compressor) that controls a flow of air into the gas mixing box 811. The nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and air may be delivered to the gas mixing box 811 through a common fluid line 827 or through separate fluid lines. The gas supply system 812 also includes a carbon dioxide sensor 829 and an oxygen sensor 831 for respectively measuring concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen within the gas mixing box 811.

[0148] The one or more power input lines 830 are coupled to a power distribution module 877 of the base module 110, and the power output lines 871 couple the power distribution module 877 to respective SoMs 899 of the incubation chamber modules 840.

[0149] The upstream data input line 832a may deliver input data 133 to the base module 810, and the upstream data output line 832b may receive output data 135 from the base module 810. The control system 814 includes a system SoM 839 (e.g., a computer) that communicates with an internal network hub 845 and a data storage 855 that communicates with the system SoM 839. The SoM 839 communicates with (e.g., sends data to and receives data from) a network hub 849 of each incubation chamber module 840 via a data line 817.

[0150] Still referring to Fig. 12, each incubation chamber module 840 includes a module housing 846 and one or more incubation chambers 844 (e.g., incubators) that are at least partially contained in and / or at least partially supported by the module housing 846, and a common gas reservoir 847 that is coupled to each of multiple incubation chambers 844. Each incubation chamber 844 provides a separate (e.g., discreet, isolated) environment for incubating one or more biological specimens, as discussed above with respect to the chambers 144. Four separate incubation chambers 844a, 844b, 844c, and 844d are illustrated in the example of Fig. 12. The incubation chamber module 840 is operably (e.g., fluidly, electrically, or otherwise) connected to the base module 810 at a connector 118 (e.g., refer to an example representative connection 142 shown in Fig. 1). In some embodiments, one or more additional incubation chamber modules 840 may be connected to a first connector on the base module 810 or to a second connector on the base module 810. In other embodiments, no incubation chamber module 840 is connected to a connector on the base module.

[0151] Each incubation chamber module 840 also includes an SoM 899 (e.g., providing image storage, power distribution, and fan control for each chamber 844 via lines 837, including lines 837a, 837b, 837c, 837d) and a cooling fan 877 that is coupled to the SoM 899. The network hub 849 communicates with each chamber 844 via respective control lines 879 (e.g., lines 879a, 879b, 879c, 879d). Referring to Fig. 13, each incubation chamber 844 includes a chamber wall structure 846 that is defined by at least in part by the housing of the module 840. The chamber 844 also includes a platform (e.g., such as a platform 153 or a platform 753) for supporting at least one culture dish in which a biological specimen is located. In some embodiments, the incubation chamber 844 also includes internal structural features that facilitate insertion, positioning, and removal of one or more culture dishes, such as any like features discussed above with respect to the incubation chambers 144, 744. For example, the platform may extend outwardly from the wall structure 846 and is sized and shaped to support a culture dish within an interior region of the incubation chamber 844. In some embodiments, an outward extension of the platform from the chamber wall structure846 facilitates placement of the culture dish on the platform and removal of the culture dish from the platform when desired.

[0152] The incubation chamber 844 also includes multiple subsystems and a control unit 925 that is coupled to each of the subsystems via data lines 941 (941a, 941b, 941c, 94 Id, 94 le, 9411). In some embodiments, the control unit 925 includes an SoM 927 and multiple breakout boards 929. The control unit 925 receives power via the line 837 and sends and receives data via the line 879.

[0153] Turning to the subsystems, in some embodiments, the incubation chamber 844 includes a gas system 889 that regulates and monitors the flow of gas within the chamber 844. The gas system 889 receives gas from the gas reservoir 847 via a gas line 931. The gas system 889 may include a valve 851, a CO2 sensor 853, and an exit port 901 by which gas flows out of the gas line 931 into the chamber 844. In some embodiments, the chamber 844 also includes a humidity control system 895 that controls and monitors a humidity level within the chamber 844. The humidity control system 895 includes structural features that guide proper positioning of a humidity vessel (e.g., a container of liquid), as well as a humidity sensor 903.

[0154] In some embodiments, the chamber 844 includes a dish identification system 897 that detects an identity of one or more dishes within the chamber 844. For example the dish identification system 897 may include a barcode reader 905 and an RFID detector 161 that are configured to respectively detect RFID information or a barcode located on or otherwise associated with the culture dish.

[0155] In some embodiments, each chamber 844 also includes an access panel 880 that is pivotable between a closed configuration in which the access panel 880 is closed against a housing that defines the chambers walls (e.g., such as a housing 146) and an open configuration in which the access panel 880 has been pivoted downward away from the housing to allow access to an interior region of the chamber 844 (e.g., refer to the example illustrations of FIGS. 6 and 10). Accordingly, each incubation chamber 844 may be opened independently of the other, remaining incubation chambers 844. The access panel 880 includes a door 861 and a display 870 that is attached to a lateral (e.g., front) side of the door 861 so that a screen 872 of the display 870 is easily observable by a user. In the closed configuration, the door 861 is secured to the wall structure 846 via a latch 907 or other closure mechanism and is sealed to the wall structure 846 along a door seal 909. In some embodiments, the chamber 844 includes a sensor 863 for detecting an open or closed state of an access panel 880. Like the doors 161, 171, the door 861 includes a grasping feature (e.g.,a lip or flange) along its top edge that facilitates grasping of the door 861 to open or close the access panel 880. As discussed above, the culture dish contains a biological specimen (e.g., an embryo). Additionally, and also in a manner similar to the door 761, the door 861 may form an interior pocket that is sized and shaped so as to accommodate (e.g., so as not to interfere with) the outward projection of the platform and culture dish when the access panel 880 is closed against the chamber wall structure 846.

[0156] In some embodiments, the incubation chamber 844 also includes an imaging system 857 for capturing images (e.g., still images or videos) of the specimen. The imaging system 857 may include components 911 that effect illumination of the specimen, one or more lenses 913, a CMOS sensor 915, a window 917 into the chamber 844, and one or more actuators 919 by which the imaging system can be activated and controlled to acquire images.

[0157] In some embodiments, the incubation chamber 844 also includes a heating system 857 for heating an interior region of the incubation chamber to a desired temperature. The heating system 875 may include one or more heaters 921 (e.g., foil heaters or another type of heater) and one or more temperature sensors 923.

[0158] In some embodiments, the modular incubator system 800 may include a flexible number and flexible arrangement of incubation chamber modules 840, such as any of the configurations described above and illustrated with respect to the incubation chamber modules 140, 240, 740 of FIGS. 5-10, and in a manner that captures all of the advantages, benefits, and other effects described with respect to the flexible configurations of the modules 140, 240, 740.

[0159] While the above-discussed modular incubator systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 are described as including respective wired connections between the incubation chamber modules 140, 240, 740, 840 and the housings 116, 216, 316, 416, 516, 616, 816 of the base modules (e.g., via the connectors 118), in some embodiments, a modular incubator system that is otherwise substantially similar in construction and function to any of the modular incubator systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 include one or more respective wireless data connections between the housing of the base module and one or more incubation chamber modules of the modular incubator system. Such embodiments may include modifications to the management of power and gas to accommodate or otherwise effect such wireless communication.

[0160] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any disclosure or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular examples ofparticular disclosures. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate examples can also be implemented in combination in a single example. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single example can also be implemented in multiple examples separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described herein as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub combination or variation of a sub combination.

[0161] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system modules and components in the examples described herein should not be understood as requiring such separation in all examples, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

[0162] Particular examples of the subject matter have been described. Other examples are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A modular incubator system comprising: a base module comprising a base housing, one or more control components supported by the base housing, and one or more connectors coupled to the base housing; a first incubation chamber module located externally to the base housing, coupled to a first connector of the one or more connectors, and comprising a first incubation chamber configured to house a first culture dish containing a first biological specimen; and a second incubation chamber module located externally to the base housing, coupled to the first connector or to a second connector of the one or more connectors, and comprising a second incubation chamber configured to house a second culture dish containing a second biological specimen, wherein the first and second incubation chamber modules are movable with respect to each other and with respect to the base housing.

2. The modular incubator system of claim 1, wherein the second incubation chamber module is connected to the second connector.

3. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the second incubation chamber module is positioned at a top surface of the first incubation chamber module.

4. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second incubation chamber modules are arranged in a stacked configuration.

5. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second incubation chambers are arranged in a matrix configuration.

6. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and second incubation chamber modules is positioned at one of a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the base module.

7. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and second incubation chamber modules are positioned at one of a front side and a rear side of the base module.

8. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more additional incubation chamber modules that are coupled to at least one of the first connector, the second connector, or one or more other connectors of the one or more connectors.

9. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more additional incubation chamber modules comprises up to five additional incubation chamber modules.

10. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and second incubation chamber modules comprises a plurality of additional incubation chambers configured to respectively house a plurality of additional culture dishes respectively containing one or more additional biological specimens.

11. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first incubation chamber, the second incubation chamber, and the plurality of additional incubation chambers are arranged in a matrix configuration.

12. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and second incubation chamber modules comprises four incubation chambers.

13. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first incubation chamber module comprises a first module housing, and wherein the first incubation chamber comprises a first access panel that is located at a front side of the first module housing and is openable and closeable with respect to the first module housing.

14. The modular incubator system of claim 13, wherein the first access panel comprises a display, and wherein the display is operable to display information associated with the first incubation chamber.

15. The modular incubator system of any of claims 13 and 14, wherein the first incubation chamber comprises a first imaging system and the second incubation chamber comprises a second imaging system.

16. The modular incubator system of any of claims 13-15, wherein the information comprises one or more of identity information associated with a person, an indicator tracking a progression of a protocol being carried out on the first biological specimen, an environmental condition within the first incubation chamber, and one or more images of the first biological specimen captured by the first imaging system.

17. The modular incubator system of any of claims 13-16, wherein the second incubation chamber module comprises a second module housing, and wherein the second incubation chamber comprises a second access panel that is located at a front side of the second module housing and is openable and closeable with respect to the second module housing.

18. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first biological specimen and the second biological specimen is an embryo.

19. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second incubation chambers respectively comprise first and second RFID detectors that are configured to detect first and second RFID information respectively associated the first and second biological specimens.

20. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second RFID information is respectively located on the first and second culture dishes.

21. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the modular incubator system is configured to control a first environment of the first incubation chamber separately from a second environment of the second incubation chamber.

22. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the base module is configured to send power and control signals to each of the first and second incubation chamber modules, and wherein each of the first and second incubation chamber modules is configured to send detection signals to the base module.

23. The modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the base module further comprises a gas supply system that is configured to provide one or more gases to the first and second incubation chamber modules respectively through a first gas line and a second gas line.

24. A method comprising: arranging the first and second incubation chamber modules of the modular incubator system of any of the preceding claims with respect to each other.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising stacking the second incubation chamber module on top of the first incubation chamber module.

26. The method of any of claims 24 and 25, further comprising: placing the first and second culture dishes respectively within the first and second incubation chambers; and carrying out a protocol on the first and second biological specimens within the first and second culture dishes.

27. The method of any of claims 24-26, further comprising capturing one or more first images of the first biological specimen and capturing one or more second images of the second biological specimen.

28. The method of any claim 27, further comprising displaying the one or more first images of the first biological specimen on a first display of the first incubation chamber and displaying the one or more second images of the second biological specimen on a second display of the second incubation chamber.

29. The method of any of claims 24-28, wherein the first biological specimen comprises a first embryo and the second biological specimen comprises a second embryo30. The method of claim 29, wherein the protocol comprises an IVF protocol.

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