Pilot Clinical Evaluation of an Automatic Horizontal Sperm Swim-Out Method for Semen Preparation
Acosta Gomez et al., 2025
Traditional sperm preparation for IVF typically relies on centrifugation, a process that can damage sperm cells and requires lengthy handling. Centrifugation has also been linked to DNA damage in sperm, which may compromise embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes.
In this study, the authors present an automated system that avoids centrifugation by selecting motile sperm through their natural swimming ability in microchannels within a dish. An integrated AI monitors sperm migration in real time, streamlining selection while reducing potential harm.
Clinical comparison using sibling oocytes showed the automated method achieved 100% progressive sperm motility compared to 88.5% with conventional methods, while reducing processing time to 25 minutes. Fertilization rates, embryo development, and pregnancy outcomes were equivalent between methods, with seven transferred embryos resulting in four ongoing pregnancies and three live births to date.
This centrifuge-free automation represents the first successful births using automated dish-based sperm selection, offering a gentler, faster, and more standardized approach to sperm preparation.