Perfluoro-n-Octane Operating Liquid for Mercury-Free Piezo-ICSI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Piezo-ICSI methods for intracytoplasmic sperm injection in humans are not approved for clinical use due to inefficiencies and the toxicity of mercury, and there is a need for a safer and more effective operating liquid to improve fertilization rates and standardize the procedure.
Innovation Solution
The use of purified perfluoro-n-octane with an H-value of 1000 ppm or less as the operating liquid in Piezo-ICSI apparatus and kits, which includes injection micropipettes, to facilitate precise and safe piercing of oocytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mercury is used as operating liquid in Piezo-ICSI, then the success rate of sperm injection is improved, but the toxicity and safety concerns worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces toxic mercury with perfluoro-n-octane, a safer alternative that can be easily disposed of or degraded. This disposable approach eliminates the need to handle toxic substances long-term, resolving the contradiction between achieving high injection success rates and avoiding toxicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces perfluoro-n-octane as an intermediary substance that mediates the piezoelectric effect in the micropipette. This intermediary enables the piercing function while being non-toxic, thus resolving the contradiction between functional effectiveness and safety.
2Reliability
If conventional ICSI is used, then the procedure is well-established, but the labor intensity and skill requirement worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanically intensive conventional ICSI procedure with a piezoelectrically-driven system. The piezoelectric effect automatically generates the precise mechanical force needed for piercing, reducing the operator's manual skill requirements while maintaining procedural reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezoelectric micropipette system performs the piercing action autonomously through electrical stimulation, eliminating the need for highly skilled manual manipulation. The system serves itself by converting electrical signals into the precise mechanical movements required, reducing labor intensity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If piezoelectric effect is used for piercing, then the stress on oocyte is reduced, but the fertilization rate initially worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters such as piezoelectric pulse duration, intensity, and frequency to achieve the optimal balance between gentle piercing (reducing oocyte stress) and effective sperm injection (maintaining fertilization rate). By carefully adjusting these parameters, both contradictions are resolved simultaneously.
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
Enhances fertilization success rates, improves embryo development, and simplifies the ICSI procedure, potentially leading to its approval for clinical use and automation in assisted reproduction.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric effect is used to pierce the oocyte. The piezoelectric effect is the phenomenon that certain materials accumulate electric charge in response to mechanical stress, and conversely mechanical stress can be induced by application of electricity. A brief 'Piezo pulse' is applied to the micropipette containing the sperm to produce ultra-fast, sub-micron forward momentum of the micropipette.
Implementation Method 2
when the piezo pulse is applied, the micropipette moves forward but the operating liquid does not move due to the laws of inertia and the high specific gravity of the liquid. It is believed that the rapidly moving micropipette and stationary operating liquid generate negative pressure in the micropipette tip which pulls open the zona pellucida.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to an operating liquid for Piezo-mediated microinjection. In particular, the present invention relates to use of purified perfluoron-octane or a composition comprising purified perfluoro-n-octane as operating liquid for Piezo-mediated intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Piezo-ICSI). The present invention further relates to methods of fertilising an oocyte in vitro by Piezo-ICSI using purified perfluoro-n-octane or a composition comprising purified perfluoro-noctane as operating liquid and methods of assisted reproduction using methods of the invention.