Columbia University Irving Medical Center is breaking new ground in fertility treatment by using imaging and AI techniques inspired by astrophysics to locate viable sperm cells in men with extremely low sperm counts, giving many men renewed hope for biological fatherhood.
Columbia Fertility Center has developed a novel approach called STAR (Sperm Tracking And Recovery), which utilizes advanced imaging, artificial intelligence, robotics, and microfluidics to detect and retrieve rare sperm cells in cases of severe male infertility. This innovative technique offers a solution for men previously told they had no chance of fathering a child biologically, according to Dr. Zev Williams, the center’s director.
Addressing Azoospermia: The Search for Rare Sperm
For men diagnosed with azoospermia, a condition where sperm cells are nearly or entirely absent from semen, fertility options are extremely limited, often involving painful and invasive surgical sperm retrieval procedures or reliance on sperm donation. Traditional techniques, including the use of centrifuges and manual inspection, are time-intensive, costly, and can damage sperm, reducing their viability.
“The field has been facing significant challenges in finding methods to efficiently locate and retrieve viable sperm cells in men with very low counts,” said Dr. Williams.
Advanced Technology Inspired by Space Exploration
Drawing inspiration from astrophysics methods used to locate distant galaxies, Dr. Williams and his team developed the STAR system. This approach uses high-powered imaging to scan entire semen samples, capturing over 8 million images in under an hour. Artificial intelligence then sifts through these images to identify rare sperm cells among other cellular material.
To isolate the detected sperm cells, Columbia’s researchers collaborated with microfluidics experts to create a microfluidic chip with channels as fine as a human hair. This chip isolates sperm cells without damaging them, unlike traditional methods.
Once identified, a robotic arm retrieves the sperm cells within milliseconds, avoiding the harmful centrifugation process. Dr. Williams notes that the STAR method’s gentler approach avoids lasers, dyes, and other stress-inducing techniques, increasing the likelihood of sperm viability.
Recovered sperm can be directly inserted into an egg during IVF or preserved for future use. As Dr. Williams explained, “You only need one healthy sperm to create an embryo, though we aim to retrieve enough to match the available eggs.”
Bringing Cutting-Edge Technology to Fertility Treatment
“The STAR method reflects the remarkable possibilities of using technologies originally developed for space exploration to create new life here on Earth,” Dr. Williams added. For many men struggling with infertility, the STAR system is transforming what was once seen as an impossible dream into a tangible opportunity to build a family.
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