Micromanipulation and storage apparatus and methods

1. An apparatus for micromanipulation of at least one biological material, said apparatus including a vessel defining:

a reservoir with an open top;

a channel formed at a bottom of the reservoir opposite the open top;

a first sub-reservoir at a first end of the channel; and

a second sub-reservoir at a second end of the channel,

wherein the open top extends from the first sub-reservoir to the second sub-reservoir, and

wherein the channel narrows between the first and second sub-reservoirs to form an intermediate restriction dimensioned to resist passage of said biological material but allow passage of liquid treatment solutions.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said intermediate restriction is dimensioned to resist passage of an embryo but allow passage of liquid treatment solutions.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said vessel defines gradual transitions between the intermediate restriction and the sub-reservoirs which are relatively wider than the intermediate restriction.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a floor of each sub-reservoir slopes down towards the channel at the bottom of the vessel.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said vessel is formed of a thermally diffusive material.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said vessel optimises heat transfer in the region of said sub-reservoirs and channel.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , including one of a cap and lid adapted to seal the open top of said vessel.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , including a portion adapted to receive at least one of a bar-code and other indicia.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the restriction is defined by convex surfaces of side walls of the channel.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the convex surfaces are curved in a first direction over at least part of a length of a channel, and curved in a second direction over at least part of a depth of the channel.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel further defines one or more divots in the bottom of the vessel.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more divots is dimensioned to capture the biological material within a small pocket within the intermediate restriction.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the one or more divots comprise a first divot positioned near a start of the restriction and a second divot positioned at the middle of the restriction.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the vessel has a thickness between 1 mm and 0.05 mm.