Automated Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Device

Background & Unmet Need

• In vitro fertilization procedures were introduced in the 1970s, enabling the creation of human embryos outside of the body to assist couples dealing with infertility
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), invented by Dr. Gianpiero Palermo in 1992, is a procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg
• ICSI is widely used and is one of the preferred methods of IVF, resulting in ~2 M babies to date
• However, ISCI requires multiple labor-intensive steps, increasing costs and allowing for human error
• Unmet Need: Automated procedure for ICSI to reduce costs and increase

Technology Overview

• The Technology: Automated microfluidic platform for ICSI
• Combines all aspects of ICSI into a single, easy to use microfluidics platform
• The device consists of an oocyte (egg) reservoir, an oocyte cumulus removal channel, an oocyte immobilizing station, a sperm reservoir, a motile sperm isolation channel and station, and an embryo culturing chamber
• Compared to manual ICSI procedures, this technology promises to reduce labor intensity and costs and improve ICSI consistency

Technology Applications

• Automated device for intracytoplasmic sperm injection of human embryos for IVF
• Animal husbandry programs
• Platform for fertility research

Technology Advantages

• Disposable microfluidics cassette is inexpensive and easy to use
• Automation increases throughput and reliability
• Reduces associated labor intensity and costs