The researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have developed an exact and safe 3D imaging technique to identify the sperm cells that move at a high speed. This research study was guided by Natan Shaked of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at TAU’s Faculty of Engineering together with TAU doctoral student Gili Dardikman-Yoffe and was further published in Science Advances.
Findings and the aid to doctors:
The new technology unfolded, gives doctors the ability to choose the highest quality sperm for injection into an egg during IVF treatment, potentially increasing the chances of a woman being pregnant and giving birth to a healthy baby.
Infertility is a major issue that demands a novel & safe approach:
In the words of Natan Shaked “The IVF procedure was invented to help fertility problems. The most common type of IVF today is intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which involves sperm selection by a clinical embryologist and injection into the woman’s egg. To that end, an effort is made to select the sperm cell that is most likely to create a healthy embryo.”
Whenever it comes to females’ natural fertilization, the egg receiving the fastest sperm must have the genetic material of high-quality. Now, in order to overcome the real obstacles in the course of the female reproductive system- progressive exercise can allow this “best” sperm to reach the right place at the right pace.
The clear & better images, means the more transparency in the treatment course of action:
Light Computed Tomography (CT) technology was chosen by the researchers for the exclusive task of sperm cell imaging. Using this technique, researchers obtained clear, accurate CT images of sperm in- three dimensions of space (one micron is one millionth of a meter), and the fourth dimension as time- second sub-millisecond time (motion) dimension.
Shaked explained the benefits of this imaging technology as, “We were able to create high-resolution imaging of the sperm head while it was moving fast, without the need for stains that could harm the embryo. The new technology can greatly improve the selection of sperm cells in vitro, potentially increasing the chance of pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby.”
