Gas permeable intravaginal culture device

1 . An intravaginal culture apparatus, comprising:

an outer housing configured for vaginal insertion, wherein the outer housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion removably couples with the lower portion;

a first inner vessel located at the upper portion, wherein the first inner vessel is configured to house a first plurality of embryos;

a second inner vessel located at the lower portion, wherein the second inner vessel is configured to house a second plurality of embryos;

wherein the first inner vessel and the second inner vessel each include a base and a removable lid configured to sealingly engage with the respective base; and

wherein the outer housing, the first inner vessel base and the second inner vessel base are CO 2 (carbon dioxide) permeable.

2 . The intravaginal culture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first inner vessel is removably received in the upper portion, and wherein the second inner vessel is removably received in the lower portion.

3 . The intravaginal culture apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the outer housing and the first inner vessel base and the second inner vessel base are formed of crystal polystyrene.

4 . The intravaginal culture apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first inner vessel lid and the second inner vessel lid are formed of a polymer.

5 . The intravaginal culture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion removably couples with the lower portion through a threaded connection.

6 . The intravaginal culture apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the intravaginal culture apparatus is devoid of a CO 2 enriched buffer chamber.

7 . An apparatus, comprising:

an outer vessel configured for insertion into a vaginal canal, wherein the outer vessel includes an upper portion configured to sealingly engage with a lower portion;

a first inner vessel defining a first receiving chamber, wherein the first inner vessel is removably received in the upper portion;

a second inner vessel defining a second receiving chamber, wherein the second inner vessel is removably received in the lower portion;

a first lid removably coupled to the first inner vessel;

a second lid removably coupled to the second inner vessel;

wherein the first receiving chamber and the second receiving chamber are each configured to house a culture medium and at least one of a gamete and an embryo; and

wherein the outer vessel, the first inner vessel, and the second inner vessel each include a gas permeable portion configured to permit the passage of CO 2 between the vaginal canal and the first and the second receiving chambers.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the outer vessel, the first inner vessel, and the second inner vessel are formed of crystal polystyrene.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 ,

wherein the first lid is configured to selectively provide access to the first receiving chamber; and

wherein the second lid is configured to selectively provide access to the second receiving chamber.

10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first receiving chamber further includes an internal fillet.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a base of the first inner vessel is configured to be received in a well of a 4-well laboratory dish.

12 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the upper portion threadingly engages with the lower portion, wherein an interference seal is formed between the upper portion and the lower portion while in a closed configuration, and wherein the outer vessel is configured to prevent the ingress of vaginal liquids while in the closed configuration.