Using nanobots and robotics to increase the likelihood that IVF will succeed
Artificial Reproductive
Techniques (ART) treatments have greatly improved in terms of success rates and
safety thanks to recent technological developments in the field of fertility
therapy. The micro-assisted fertilization approach known as intracytoplasmic
sperm injection (ICSI) has been used in clinical settings for more than 20
years.
While the insemination of
eggs process used in IVF entails combining thousands of motile sperms with each
egg in a dish in the hopes that the sperm and egg would interact biochemically.
However, relatively few eggs become fertilized following incubation when either
the egg or the sperm components are inadequate. ICSI, however, has been
demonstrated to be of great benefit in situations of oligospermia (low sperm
count), teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm morphology), and sperm transport
disorder, when sperm production is adequate but sperm motility, quality, and
concentration are diminished.
Ø Changes
to ICSI Technique
With ICSI and IVF, the
number of viable sperm needed for egg fertilization has decreased from 100 to
just one, revolutionizing the treatment of male infertility. Due to this, men
with low or no sperm counts have recently been able to produce viable sperm for
egg fertilization using aggressive new approaches. By choosing the best sperms
and embryos, the application of artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, laser-assisted
hatching, and robotic ICSI methods have revolutionized the results.
1. Artificial
intelligence
At this time, the technology built on
artificial intelligence, which is still in clinical testing, has a very high
predicted success rate in determining the best embryo in terms of its growth
pattern. In this method, an AI system examines a vast quantity of data
(hundreds of photos of each embryo) and determines which embryos have the best
chance of becoming foetal hearts. The best-scoring embryo, which has the best
chance of developing into a healthy foetus, can then be chosen for tr2.
Nanobots and robotic technology
2. Nanobots and robotic
technology
Automation of ICSI by
robotic and nanotechnology has made it possible to analyze oocyte penetration
in real-time by choosing the best sperm or embryo. The best sperm cell is
chosen and transported via nanotechnology until it enters the egg, where it is
then implanted to create a healthy embryo. In contrast, in robot-assisted ICSI,
the system carries out highly reproducible sperm insertion into an oocyte,
picoliter volume sperm aspiration, robotic sperm immobilization, and visual
tracking of the single sperm. Numerous such trials have been carried out
successfully with a high success rate of above 90% and survival rate, requiring
little human involvement.
3. Laser-Assisted
Hatching
In some circumstances, it
is also possible that the embryo implantation in the uterus fails for arbitrary
reasons. In these situations, the best embryo is selected, and it undergoes a
process called "laser aided hatching" before being implanted.
Scientifically, laser-aided hatching enables to make of a small opening on the
outer layer of the embryo because in some circumstances the outer layer of the
embryo may thicken abnormally, making it simpler for the embryo to implant
better to the endometrium.