#77 : A Micro 3D Printed Device for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Removes the Requirement for a Holding Pipette and Reduces Complexity of the Procedure

Background and Aims: One of the most skilled procedures performed by embryologists is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which takes significant experience to master. Conducting the procedure requires a high level of concentration with training a significant burden on clinical laboratory efficiency. Advancement of a micro 3D printed device to hold oocytes has removed the requirement for a holding pipette, reducing the complexity of the ICSI procedure. This study shows that the microICSIÔ device reduces the technical difficulty of ICSI, improving the speed and precision of the procedure.

Method: ICSI was performed conventionally (C-ICSI) and within the microICSIÔ device on abattoir derived porcine denuded oocytes matured in vitro for 39-44 h in NCSU-23 medium containing eCG, hCG, porcine follicular fluid, EGF and insulin. Timing data was captured by video recording for pipette setup and injection time per oocyte for two embryologists and compared between each technique. Oocyte injection time was taken from when a sperm loaded injection pipette was in focus with the oocyte until the injection pipette was removed from the oocyte.

Results: Results were compared between C-ICSI and microICSIÔ (Mean ± SD). Pipette setup time was reduced from 278 ± 21 seconds to 109 ± 3 seconds by removing the holding pipette. During the procedure, absence of a holding pipette resulted in embryologists adjusting their hands on average only 3 times during oocyte injection compared to 10 times for C-ICSI when moving between microinjector, pipette and microscope controllers. Oocyte traceability was also improved due to the microICSIÔ device’s numbered array. Embryologist’s injection time was reduced from 42 ± 12 seconds for C-ICSI to 14 ± 5 seconds for microICSIÔ per oocyte.

Conclusion: The microICSIÔ device reduces pipette set-up time and the complexity of the ICSI procedure, reducing the time required for oocyte injection by half.