Microinjection of cryoprotectants for preservation of cells

Patent Number: 7094601

This patent is useful for cryopreservation of extremely sensitive cells such as oocytes and stem cells. Particularly, the patent deals with microinjection of various agents that protect cells during cryopreservation. The patent has 2 independent claims. The first covers the culture of oocytes (the concept that "culture" will be frozen) such that a cryopreservation agent is injected into the oocyte and the cryopreservation agent contains a sugar, has the property of being non-permeable to the cell's membrane, and the injected oocyte is subsequently incubated in a hypertonic media. The second independent claim is very close to the first one with the exception that embryos are the cells cryopreserved.

View this patent on the USPTO website.