Method, system, apparatus and kit for semen analysis

• US 20070243578A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kokopelli Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Kokopelli Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Mullen, Ken, Noftsker, Christina
• Application Number:
  US11/787,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20070243578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/40.500
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48 Biological material, e.g. blood, urine G01N33/02, G01N33/26, G01N33/44, G01N33/46 take precedence; Haemocytometers counting blood corpuscules distributed over a surface by scanning the surface G06M11/02

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed towards a method, system, apparatus and/or kit for collecting samples of bodily fluids, and more specifically towards collection of supplies that enable a lay person to collect and analyze a semen sample for use at home for male fertility or in the animal husbandry arts. In one embodiment, the semen analysis method includes a sperm count or determination of sperm concentration or sperm density, and may include an evaluation of motility and/or morphology. An exemplary kit may include at least a microscope, microscope slides, cover slips and other items may be included in the kit to facilitate the analysis method (such as, for example, instructions; microscope attachments; specialized microscope slides that create a fixed volume or depth, hemacytometer slides, counting chambers, or similar slides that have a fixed volume or depth and/or rulings to define an area thus defining a volume; specialized microscope slides that incorporate stains or other materials to aid in visualizing, analyzing, or counting sperm; pipettes, transfer pipettes, or disposable pipettes for transferring the sample from the collection container to the microscope slide; graduated cylinders or other devices for measuring volume; semen standard solutions; semen collection vessels and/or semen collection condoms) and any combination of the forgoing corresponding supplies.

Claims

1. A portable kit for collecting and evaluating bodily fluids, the kit comprising:

a) at least one microscope comprising a light source, an eyepiece lens optically connected to at least one objective lens and a stage, the eyepiece lens, objective lens, stage and light source all being within an approximately equivalent optical path; and

b) at least one microscope slide, each microscope slide adapted to retain bodily fluid thereon for determining sperm count, sperm density, sperm concentration, sperm motility or morphology of sperm, the stage adapted to hold the microscope slide so that the microscope slide is in the optical path when the microscope is agitated.

2. The portable kit of claim 1, the microscope slide further comprising a removably attachable cover slip above the microscope slide, each removably attachable cover slip adapted to retain the bodily fluid on the microscope slide.

3. The portable kit of claim 1, the microscope slide further comprising a secondary material thereon, the secondary material adapted to aid in the visualization, analysis or counting of bodily fluid on the microscope slide while viewed through the optical path.

4. The portable kit of claim 3, the secondary material comprising a stain.

5. The portable kit of claim 1, the microscope further comprising at least one reticule having one or more visual indicators to aid in the visualization, analysis or counting of bodily fluid on the microscope slide while the microscope slide is viewed through the optical path.

6. The portable kit of claim 1, the kit further comprising a sample collection container adapted to collect bodily fluid.

7. The test kit of claim 6, the sample collection container being a collection condom.

8. The test kit of claim 1 wherein the bodily fluid is semen containing one or more sperm.

9. The test kit of claim 1, the kit further comprising a prepared comparative slide and a pre-adhered cover slip, each comparative slide adapted to visually assist help an untrained user to obtain a correct focus setting on the microscope.

10. The test kit of claim 1, each prepared comparative slide containing real or simulated stained sperm.

11. The test kit of claim 1, the microscope'"'"'s light source being positioned to illuminate the microscope slide at a point above the microscope slide.

12. The test kit of claim 8, the kit further comprising a semen standard solution containing particles adapted to mimic the size and shape of sperm.

13. The test kit of claim 12, the particles being beads, spheres, or like shaped particles approximating the size of a sperm head.

14. The test kit of claim 8, the kit further comprising particles, beads, spheres or like particles adapted to attach to sperm to visually assist an untrained user in performing sperm counting and/or evaluating motility.

15. A method for collecting and evaluating bodily fluids, the steps comprising:

a) introducing at least one microscope, the microscope comprising a light source, an eyepiece lens optically connected to at least one objective lens, the eyepiece lens, objective lens and light source all being within an approximately equivalent optical path;

b) introducing at least one microscope slide from within this, each microscope slide adapted to retain bodily fluid on one surface of the microscope slide for determining sperm count, sperm density, sperm concentration, sperm motility or morphology of sperm;

c) instructing a user of the method to first obtain a semen sample containing sperm, place the semen sample on the microscope slide, and insert the microscope slide on the microscope stage; and

d) instructing and allowing a user of the method to count the sperm in one or more locations on the microscope slide, calculate an average of the sperm counts, and multiply the average sperm count by a predetermined conversion factor to determine the user'"'"'s sperm count, sperm density, sperm concentration, sperm motility or morphology of sperm.

16. The method of claim 15, the microscope slide further comprising the steps of allowing a user of the method to count rapidly and slowly progressive sperm on the microscope slide, count non-progressive and immotile sperm on the microscope slide, and calculate an average percentage of sperm for each class of sperm motility.

17. The method of claim 15, each microscope slide further comprising one or more visual indicators placed thereon adapted to aid in the visualization, analysis or counting of bodily fluid on the microscope slide while viewed through the optical path.

18. The method of claim 15, the microscope'"'"'s light source being positioned at a point above the microscope slide.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of introducing a secondary material adapted to aid in the visualization, analysis or counting of bodily fluid, and mixing the secondary material with a portion of the semen sample prior to allowing a user to view the microscope slide through the optical path

20. The product according to the process of claim 15.

21. A portable kit for collecting and evaluating semen samples containing one or more sperm, the kit comprising:

a) at least one microscope comprising a light source, an eyepiece lens optically connected to at least one objective lens and a stage, the eyepiece lens, objective lens, stage and light source all being within an approximately equivalent optical path, the microscope'"'"'s light source being positioned to illuminate the microscope slide at a point above the microscope slide;

b) at least one microscope slide, each microscope slide adapted to retain each semen sample on the microscope slide for determining sperm count, sperm density, sperm concentration, sperm motility or morphology of sperm, the stage adapted to hold the microscope slide so that the microscope slide is in the optical path, the microscope slide further comprising a secondary material thereon, the secondary material adapted to aid in the visualization, analysis or counting of sperm on the microscope slide while viewed through the optical path;

c) at least one sample collection container adapted to collect the semen sample;

d) at least one prepared comparative slide having a pre-adhered cover slip, each comparative slide adapted to visually assist help an untrained user to obtain a correct focus setting on the microscope; and

e) at least one semen standard solution containing particles adapted to mimic the shape of sperm when viewed through the microscope.

22. An apparatus for collecting and evaluating a semen sample containing one or more sperm, the apparatus comprising:

a) a digital microscope in electronic communication with a computer, the digital microscope having an optical path; and

b) at least one microscope slide, each microscope slide adapted to retain at least one semen sample thereon, the computer adapted to image the semen sample when placed in the optical path and assist a user in determining sperm count, sperm density, sperm concentration, sperm motility or morphology of sperm.