CatSper Activity Testing via Calcium-Free Sperm Motility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for male infertility, particularly related to CatSper channel function, are labor-intensive, costly, and unable to reliably detect functional defects, leading to ineffective reproductive treatment strategies.
Innovation Solution
An in vitro method involving a calcium-free test solution to assess sperm motility, allowing for the detection of CatSper channel activity without labor-intensive purification, using agents like EGTA to reduce calcium concentration and potentially applying activation stimuli to determine infertility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional in vitro fertilization methods are used, then fertilization can occur in the laboratory, but the procedure is time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and isolates the critical fertilization event by injecting a single sperm directly into the oocyte using micromanipulation techniques, separating this key step from the complex conventional in vitro fertilization process. This extraction of the essential fertilization action eliminates unnecessary procedural steps, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining fertilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary preparation by selecting and preparing a single sperm cell before the injection process. The sperm is selected, activated if necessary, and positioned ready for injection prior to contacting the oocyte. This preliminary action streamlines the overall procedure by having everything prepared in advance, reducing the actual time required for the fertilization event itself.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sperm are used in conventional fertilization, then fertilization may occur, but the procedure becomes more complex and less controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the fertilization process by focusing on a single sperm cell rather than multiple sperm. This segmentation allows for precise control over which sperm fertilizes the oocyte, enabling accurate selection based on morphological and functional criteria. By dividing the complex multi-sperm interaction into a controlled single-sperm event, the procedure becomes more manageable and precise.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality control by selecting sperm with specific desirable characteristics (morphology, motility, genetic quality) for injection into the oocyte. Rather than relying on random natural selection among multiple sperm, the method applies targeted quality criteria to the selected sperm, ensuring high-quality fertilization while simplifying the overall procedure through controlled selection.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional IVF procedures are performed, then fertilization can be achieved, but the process requires extensive laboratory equipment and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables self-service fertilization by directly injecting selected sperm into the oocyte in a simplified manner, reducing dependence on complex laboratory equipment and procedures. The micromanipulation technique allows the operator to perform the critical fertilization step with minimal equipment, making the procedure more accessible and easier to perform while maintaining high fertilization success rates.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining or diagnosing infertility of a male subject comprising the steps of (a) contacting a sperm sample obtained from said subject with a calcium-free test solution, (b) detecting the motility of the sperm in said sample under the test condition of step (a), and (c) determining infertility of the male subject based on the motility detected in step (b). Further, the present invention relates to a kit for use in a method for determining or diagnosing infertility of a male subject comprising (a) a calcium-free test solution, and (b) a calcium-containing control solution.