Embryo Transfer Catheter Air Bubble Elimination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional 'transfer bubble method' in embryo transfer procedures involves large volumes of air that can act as a barrier to embryo movement and attachment to the uterine wall, leading to low pregnancy rates and the need for multiple embryo delivery, which increases the risk of multiple births and raises ethical concerns.
Innovation Solution
A delivery catheter with an inner lumen that replaces air with a separation oil, allowing precise measurement and delivery of fluid media, including a wash fluid, separation oil, and embryo culture medium, facilitating embryo movement and interaction with the uterine surface, and potentially incorporating hormones for luteal phase stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the transfer bubble method is used to load the catheter with alternate air and transfer liquid, then the embryos are contained within the fluid and visualization is eased, but large volumes of air (approximately 100 microliters) are ejected with the embryos, creating a barrier that prohibits embryo movement and attachment to the uterine wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful air bubble component from the catheter loading system. Instead of using the conventional transfer bubble method that ejects 100 microliters of air, the invention uses a loading syringe that allows precise control to eliminate air bubbles from the catheter lumen before embryo transfer, thereby removing the barrier that prevents embryo movement and attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a loading syringe as an intermediary device between the operator and the catheter. This syringe serves as a mediator that enables precise control over the loading process, allowing the operator to draw up the transfer medium containing embryos and carefully eject it without introducing air bubbles, thus mediating between the need for easy loading and the need to avoid air bubble formation.
2Reliability
If multiple embryos are delivered to increase the chance of successful implantation, then the probability of at least one successful implantation increases, but unwanted multiple births result and jeopardize the health of mother and/or children
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/random process of embryo distribution with a controlled fluid dynamics system. By using a loading syringe to deliver embryos in a precise volume of transfer medium without air bubbles, the system ensures that embryos are delivered in a controlled manner, improving the reliability of implantation for fewer embryos and thereby reducing the need to transfer multiple embryos.
3Ease of operation
If latent embryos attach themselves to the internal walls of the catheter, then further manipulation of the embryos is required, but this decreases the likelihood of successful ET
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the problem of embryo attachment to catheter walls by removing the air bubble interface that causes surface tension adhesion. By delivering embryos in a bubble-free liquid medium through the loading syringe, the invention prevents embryos from adhering to the catheter internal walls, thereby eliminating the need for further manipulation and maintaining high ET success rates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the volume of air transferred, enhances embryo implantation success rates, and may reduce the need for multiple embryo delivery, thereby improving pregnancy outcomes and addressing ethical concerns related to multiple births.
Implementation Method 1
This air bubble creates an area of surface tension to which the embryos may adhere and remain positioned
Implementation Method 2
at least one visual marker situated on the exterior surface adjacent its distal end thereof to enable accurate volumes of fluid media in which one or more embryos are situated to be drawn into the deliver catheter
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A method of embryo transfer ("ET") that improves fertility rates by eliminating transferred air during the procedure is provided. Also provided is a method for hormonally enhancing the uterine wall of a patient either prior to or during the time of ET. Quantitative administration of transfer solutions is accomplished with a modified apparatus that provides for implantation of an embryo into the uterus of a patient. The apparatus comprises an outer sheath and an inner lumen arranged to be slidably disposed within the outer sheath. The inner lumen includes at least one visual marker situated on the exterior surface adjacent its distal end thereof.