Non-invasive Embryo Viability Assessment via Culture Medium Biochemistry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing embryo viability during in vitro fertilization (IVF) are not accurate enough, leading to low success rates and increased risks of multiple pregnancies due to the transfer of multiple embryos, which can result in health complications for both mothers and children.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive method that assesses the reducing potential of the embryo culture medium by quantifying the alpha-1 fragment of human haptoglobin, which is found in higher amounts in non-viable embryos, allowing for the selection of viable embryos for implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple embryos are transferred to increase pregnancy success rate, then the pregnancy success rate is improved, but the risk of multiple pregnancies and health complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by assessing embryo viability before transfer using biochemical markers in the culture medium. This allows the selection of the single most viable embryo for transfer, ensuring high pregnancy success rates without needing to transfer multiple embryos, thereby avoiding the health risks associated with multiple pregnancies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/visual assessment methods (microscopic inspection, morphological scoring) with biochemical analysis of the culture medium. By measuring biochemical markers such as haptoglobin, glucose, and pyruvate levels, the system objectively determines embryo viability, enabling more accurate selection of embryos with high implantation potential.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If single embryo transfer is used to avoid multiple pregnancies, then health risks are reduced, but the pregnancy success rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using biochemical markers from the culture medium to continuously assess embryo viability and implantation potential. This feedback mechanism allows for the identification of the single embryo with the highest likelihood of successful implantation, ensuring that single embryo transfer maintains high pregnancy success rates while avoiding multiple pregnancies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the assessment parameters from morphological characteristics to biochemical markers in the culture medium. By measuring parameters such as haptoglobin levels, glucose consumption, and pyruvate production, the system gains more sensitive and accurate information about embryo viability, enabling confident selection of a single embryo for transfer.
3Ease of operation
If morphological markers are used to assess embryo viability, then the assessment is simple and non-invasive, but the prediction accuracy of implantation potential is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by analyzing the biochemical environment (culture medium) surrounding the embryo rather than directly examining the embryo itself. This non-invasive method measures markers such as haptoglobin, glucose, and pyruvate in the culture medium, providing accurate predictions of implantation potential while maintaining operational simplicity and avoiding harm to the embryo.
4Measurement precision
If molecular markers such as gene expression profile are used to assess embryo viability, then the prediction accuracy is improved, but the complexity and cost of the assessment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential viability information from the complex molecular profile by focusing on specific biochemical markers in the culture medium. Instead of analyzing the entire gene expression profile or chromosomal complement, the method measures key indicators such as haptoglobin levels, glucose consumption, and pyruvate production, achieving high prediction accuracy with simpler and more cost-effective techniques.
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 method achieves a 100% success rate in identifying non-viable embryos and a 54% pregnancy rate among viable embryos selected, significantly improving IVF success rates while reducing the risks associated with multiple pregnancies.
Implementation Method 1
the reducing potential of which causes the reduction of the disulphide bond of the haptoglobin molecule resulting in fragmentation of said haptoglobin molecule
Data Source
AI summary
The non-invasive method of assessing the reducing potential of culture medium of in vitro cultured embryos as part of an ART procedure serves as an alternative or supportive method to assess the viability of in vitro cultured embryos without doing any harm to the embryos.