Flow Cytometric Sperm Selection for Viability and Normal Morphology

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Solution Overview

Problem

Limited quantities of high-genetic-value gametes, such as sperm and oocytes, reduce the efficiency of genetic dissemination and improvement in animal breeding, particularly in livestock, due to the presence of abnormal morphology and nonmotile or unviable sperm cells.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the selection, staining, irradiation, and differentiation of sperm cells based on orientation and viability, followed by the collection of subpopulations with reduced abnormal morphology and enhanced viability, using techniques like flow cytometry and microfluidics to enrich sperm populations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sperm cells with abnormal morphology are included in the population, then the total quantity of gametes is maintained, but the efficiency of genetic dissemination and improvement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of genetic disseminationVSAvoidquantity of viable sperm cells

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes sperm cells with abnormal morphology from the population through flow cytometry-based sorting. The system identifies and separates abnormal cells based on their fluorescence characteristics, thereby concentrating the viable sperm cells with normal morphology into a purified subpopulation for breeding use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating sperm cells based on their individual morphological characteristics and viability status. Through flow cytometry, the system identifies specific subpopulations with desirable traits (normal morphology, high viability) and selects only those for breeding, rather than treating all sperm cells uniformly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If sperm cells are sorted based on orientation and viability, then the proportion of viable oriented sperm cells is improved, but the complexity of the processing method increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviability and orientation of sperm cellsVSAvoidcomplexity of sorting method

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical sorting methods with flow cytometry-based optical detection and sorting. Instead of using mechanical filters or physical separation techniques, the system uses fluorescent dyes and optical detection to identify and sort sperm cells based on their morphology and viability, simplifying the overall process while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes color changes through fluorescent dye staining to differentiate sperm cell populations. Viable and abnormal cells are stained with fluorescent dyes that emit different signals, allowing the flow cytometer to detect and sort cells based on their fluorescence characteristics, thereby simplifying the sorting mechanism while improving classification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Manufacturing precision

If abnormal morphology sperm cells are removed, then the quality of sperm population is improved, but the total number of available gametes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of sperm populationVSAvoidtotal number of sperm cells

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by removing only the portion of sperm cells that have abnormal morphology while retaining viable cells with normal morphology. The flow cytometry system selectively identifies and removes abnormal cells based on their fluorescence characteristics, thereby improving quality while preserving the maximum number of viable gametes for breeding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

The method improves the efficiency of sperm use in breeding by reducing abnormal morphology and increasing the proportion of viable, oriented sperm cells, thereby enhancing fertility and conception rates.

Implementation Method 1

staining the sperm cells in the population; irradiating the sperm cells in the population; detecting fluorescence emitted by the sperm cells in the population in response to the step of irradiating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

the magnetic particles bind to dead or damaged sperm cells in the population through an electrical charge interaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical charge interaction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS12359168B2Method for improved sperm cell populations

Publication Date: 2025.07.15 INGURAN LLC

AI summary

The invention provides methods of flow-cytometrically processing sperm cells in which greater than 25% of sperm cells in the population to be processed have abnormal morphology.