FIG. 4.

Photographs representing the components and function of the tilting embryo culture system (TECS). This system allows for continual and programmable movement of embryos within existing culture platforms, including Petri, center-well organ, and four-well culture dishes. A) Photographs of the two primary components, a motherboard component that controls the speed, angle, and period of tilting and the mechanical component that drives stage tilting and houses conventional culture dish technologies. B) The placement of the motherboard component on the outside of a tissue culture incubator. C) Two mechanical components within a tissue culture incubator that are at opposing angles of tilt. This mechanical component inside the incubator is attached to the motherboard component outside the incubator by a small cable that allows complete closure of the incubator and separation of the two components. D) Photograph of the mechanical component and its tilted stage. Photographs kindly provided by Dr. Keiji Naruse and STREX Incorporated of Japan.