Rotating Bioreactor IVF for Viable Blastocyst Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in vitro fertilization methods face challenges in optimizing the culture media for supporting gamete development, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development, particularly in achieving viable blastocyst stage embryos, leading to lower pregnancy rates and multiple births.
Innovation Solution
A bioreactor system is used for in vitro fertilization that provides controlled conditions of space collocation, low hydrodynamic stress, and three-dimensional freedom, facilitating fertilization and culturing zygotes into blastocyst stage embryos through a rotating bioreactor containing a specialized medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single culture medium is used throughout IVF procedures, then the process is simplified and easier to operate, but the embryonic development and viability are significantly impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the culture medium into multiple specialized formulations, each optimized for specific stages of embryonic development (e.g., fertilization medium, cleavage stage medium, blastocyst stage medium). This segmentation allows each medium to provide tailored nutrients and conditions appropriate for the developmental stage, thereby improving embryonic viability while maintaining operational simplicity through a standardized multi-medium protocol.
2Quantity of substance
If tissue culture media are used for IVF procedures, then the media system is comprehensive with array of amino acids and vitamins, but components in the media significantly impair embryonic development and viability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes harmful components from conventional tissue culture media that impede embryonic development. By eliminating toxic substances while retaining essential nutrients, the specialized IVF media provides comprehensive nutritional support without the adverse effects of standard tissue culture formulations, thus improving embryonic viability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by formulating different media with specific compositions tailored to the unique nutritional and environmental requirements of each embryonic development stage. Each medium contains precisely optimized concentrations of amino acids, vitamins, and other constituents appropriate for that specific stage, rather than using a uniform comprehensive formulation throughout.
3Device complexity
If simple culture media are used consisting of balanced salt solutions, then the media composition is straightforward and easy to prepare, but the media lack key components found in the female reproductive tract
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the composition parameters of simple balanced salt solutions by adding specific nutrients, growth factors, and biochemical components that mimic the female reproductive tract environment. These parameter changes transform basic media into specialized formulations that provide comprehensive support for gamete and embryonic development while maintaining relative simplicity in preparation and use.
Data Source
AI summary
A highly effective technique for fertilizing an oocyte with a sperm cell to produce a zygote can be carried out in a bioreactor and the zygote can optionally be cultured in the bioreactor into a blastocyst stage embryo for implantation into the uterus of a female recipient. The success rate and probability of fertilization is enhanced by operating the bioreactor reactor under conditions of inter-galactic motion which increases the probability of the sperm coming in close proximity to and fertilizing the oocyte. This method involves the steps of collecting an oocyte from a female donor, collecting sperm from a male donor, fertilizing the oocyte with the sperm in a rotating bioreactor to produce a zygote, culturing the zygote into a blastocyst stage embryo, and implanting the blastocyst stage embryo into a uterus of a recipient female.