A Fully Automated Semen Preparation Robot
Millan et al, ASRM, 2024
To be usable for fertilization of eggs in the laboratory, forward-swimming (motile) sperm need to be separated from the ejaculate (sperm + seminal plasma). The process is normally manual and typically involves ‘washing’ steps (centrifugation) that can damage some sperm cells. This study presents a novel robotic system for fully automated semen preparation, that eliminates the need for centrifugation. During preclinical testing, the robotic system achieved successful motile sperm recovery, without carry-over of seminal plasma and demonstrated its potential for clinical use in ICSI cycles. The method was used in the clinic for 4 patients, resulting in one ongoing pregnancy. This is a significant step towards standardizing and streamlining handling of sperm during IVF/ICSI.