A new, highly automated in vitro fertilisation (IVF) system has led to a successful birth, offering hope that the technology could reduce human error during these delicate procedures.
One common method in IVF is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which sperm is directly injected into an egg in a laboratory dish. This technique is frequently used for male infertility, as it bypasses the sperm’s need to reach the egg naturally. The embryos created are then implanted into the uterus. Another IVF approach involves mixing sperm and eggs together in a dish, relying on fertilisation to occur naturally, although this method generally has a lower success rate and requires less intervention from medical professionals.
However, ICSI is not without its challenges. It requires extreme precision and judgment from the medical team. As Jacques Cohen, a scientist at Conceivable Life Sciences, points out, “Medical professionals, like anyone, can become tired or distracted, leading to errors that can lower the chances of successful fertilisation and pregnancies.”
To overcome these challenges, Cohen and his team developed a machine capable of automating 23 critical steps of the ICSI procedure. The machine is operated by a person who initiates each step through a button press while observing a live video feed of the process, even if they are located far away.
The machine utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to select the healthiest sperm based on their appearance. It also immobilizes sperm using a laser to make them easier to handle, before injecting them into eggs. This process has been tested before, resulting in two successful births, though earlier versions of the system still required some manual input.
For this trial, Cohen’s team recruited a couple facing infertility. The man’s sperm lacked mobility, and the woman had difficulty producing eggs, so donor eggs were used. Of the eight eggs provided, five were randomly chosen to be fertilized using the automated system, producing four embryos. The remaining three eggs were fertilised manually, all resulting in embryos.
AI was then used to evaluate the embryos, selecting the two best based on their chromosomal appearance. Interestingly, both selected embryos came from the automated procedure, although Cohen cautions that the small sample size makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the quality of embryos.
One of the embryos was unsuccessful, but the second led to a successful pregnancy and birth.
This milestone is seen as an exciting proof of concept. Joyce Harper from University College London believes more extensive studies are needed to compare birth rates from automated and manual ICSI procedures.
Despite the promising results, the widespread use of automated IVF remains uncertain due to its higher initial costs. Harper notes that this method may not be widely available right away. However, Cohen is optimistic, stating that over time, as the system is refined, costs for both patients and clinics will likely decrease.
This development represents a significant step forward in IVF technology, potentially offering greater consistency and fewer errors in fertility treatments.
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