Sperm Sorting Filter with Air Ejection for Motility Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sperm sorting systems face challenges such as high manufacturing costs, low sperm sorting quality due to trapped air pushing low motility sperms through filters, inconvenient operation due to long and complex flow paths, and the need to move the entire system to a microscope for analysis.
Innovation Solution
A sperm sorting device with a base and sorting unit featuring a central protruding block, intermediate ring, and surrounding wall, along with a sorting filter that allows air to be squeezed out, enabling highly motile sperms to swim upward naturally, and a method involving the addition of semen specimen in drops, followed by a sorting medium to enhance motility sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional sperm sorting systems are used, then sperm sorting function is provided, but manufacturing cost is high and manufacturing quantity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components including a base, sorting unit, mounting member, and sorting filter that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation enables easier manufacturing and quality control while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sorting filter is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced. This approach reduces manufacturing costs for the overall system and allows for high-volume production of the main device body without concern for filter wear or contamination.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional sorting filter structure is used, then filtering function is provided, but trapped air pushes low motility sperms through filter reducing sorting quality
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting member includes an air ejection structure that actively removes trapped air from the filtering surface before sperm sorting begins. This preliminary action prevents air from pushing low motility sperms through the filter, ensuring high sorting quality from the start.
Solution Approach 2:
The air ejection structure acts as an intermediary mechanism between the sorting filter and the sperm sample. It mediates the harmful air trapping effect by actively ejecting air bubbles, allowing only highly motile sperms to pass through the filter naturally.
3Ease of operation
If long and complex flow paths are used, then sperm sorting function is provided, but operation becomes inconvenient requiring syringe injection
Solution Approach 1:
The complex flow path and syringe injection mechanism are extracted from the device. The simplified design allows direct placement of the semen sample into the base, eliminating the need for syringe injection and long flow paths while maintaining effective sperm sorting.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of forcing the sample through a long complex path using a syringe, the design inverts the approach by creating a simple direct path where highly motile sperms naturally swim upward through the filter. The air ejection structure supports this inverted flow direction, making operation convenient without complex mechanisms.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If entire sperm sorting system is moved to microscope, then analysis function is provided, but operation convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting unit including the filter and mounting member can be extracted from the base for direct microscopic analysis. This separation allows the main device to remain stationary while only the relevant sorting component needs to be examined, maintaining analysis capability without requiring movement of the entire system.
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 device enhances sperm sorting quality by allowing highly motile sperms to swim upward through the filter naturally, improving motility and forward motility rates, and simplifies the operation by allowing direct analysis on a microscope without moving the entire system.
Implementation Method 1
highly motile sperms to swim upward through the filter naturally
Implementation Method 2
trapped air may push sperms with low motility through its filter
Data Source
AI summary
A sperm sorting device suitable for selectively isolating motile sperms from a semen specimen includes a base and a sorting unit. The base comprises a central protruding block including a truncated cone-shaped surface, a bottom wall that surrounds the central protruding block, and an intermediate ring. The intermediate ring connects to the bottom wall via an inner wall surface. The sorting unit includes a sorting ring and a protruding ring. The sorting ring includes a central hole for a sorting filter that filters the semen specimen and is beveled at an angle that increases a permeable surface of the sorting filter. The protruding ring connects to the sorting ring via an inner sleeve surface. The sperm sorting device enhances sperm sorting quality by allowing the motile sperms to swim upward through the first sorting filter naturally.