Mesoscale sperm handling devices
First Claim
1. A device for the in vitro fertilization of an egg, the device comprising:
- a solid substrate microfabricated to define;
a plurality of flow systems, each said flow system comprising;
an egg nesting chamber;
a sperm inlet port; and
an elongate channel of mesoscale cross-sectional dimension, communicating between said egg nesting chamber and said sperm inlet port, which permits competitive sperm migration from said inlet port to said nesting chamber for egg fertilization; and
an egg disposed within each said nesting chamber.
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Abstract
Devices and methods are provided for the clinical analysis of a sperm sample. The devices include a solid substrate, typically on the order of a few millimeters thick and approximately 0.2 to 2.0 centimeters square, microfabricated to define a sample inlet port and a mesoscale flow channel extending from the inlet port. In one embodiment, a sperm sample is applied to the inlet port, and the competitive migration of the sperm sample through the mesoscale flow channel is detected to serve as an indicator of sperm motility. In another embodiment, the substrate of the device is microfabricated with a sperm inlet port, an egg nesting chamber, and an elongate mesoscale flow channel communicating between the egg nesting chamber and the inlet port. In this embodiment, a sperm sample is applied to the inlet port, and the sperm in the sample are permitted to competitively migrate from the inlet port through the channel to the egg nesting chamber, where in vitro fertilization occurs. The devices of the invention may be used in a wide range of applications in the analysis of a sperm sample, including the analysis of sperm morphology or motility, to assess sperm binding properties, and for in vitro fertilization.
485 Citations
2 Claims
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1. A device for the in vitro fertilization of an egg, the device comprising:
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a solid substrate microfabricated to define; a plurality of flow systems, each said flow system comprising; an egg nesting chamber; a sperm inlet port; and an elongate channel of mesoscale cross-sectional dimension, communicating between said egg nesting chamber and said sperm inlet port, which permits competitive sperm migration from said inlet port to said nesting chamber for egg fertilization; and an egg disposed within each said nesting chamber.
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2. A device for the in vitro fertilization of an egg, the device comprising:
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a solid substrate microfabricated to define; a plurality of egg nesting chambers; a sperm inlet port; and a plurality of elongate channels, each said channel being of mesoscale cross-sectional dimension, and each said channel communicating between said sperm inlet port and one of said egg nesting chambers, thereby to permit competitive sperm migration from said inlet port through each said channel to each said nesting chamber for egg fertilization; and an egg disposed within each said nesting chamber.
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Specification