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New device may improve IVF process by selecting healthiest, strongest sperm
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A new microfluidic device may help women undergoing in vitro fertilization become pregnant with fewer treatment cycles, according to findings published in Advanced Science.
The device named SPARTAN, short for Simple Periodic Array for Trapping and Isolation uses three-dimensional posts that create an obstacle course for moving sperm cells. Sperm cells that are the strongest and healthiest make it to the end of the course fastest and are then collected and used in the IVF process. The device may also be helpful in preventing damage to cells that occur during traditional sorting methods and the whole sorting process takes 5 to 30 minutes.
Developers of the device are also hopeful that it will decrease IVF costs by reducing the amounts of cycles women need to undergo before successfully becoming pregnant.
“With SPARTAN, we not only get sperm with excellent motility, but also with normal morphology and better DNA integrity, helping families worldwide by reducing the stress of multiple IVF procedures, while potentially increasing pregnancy rates,” Erkan Tüzel, PhD, associate professor of physics, biomedical engineering and computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, said in a press release. “This could increase patients’ chances of getting pregnant.”
Disclosures: Tüzel reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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