A novel solution for freezing individual spermatozoa using a right angular cryopiece embedded in a grooved petri dish

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Cryobiology
• Embryology

Background:

• Sperm cryopreservation is crucial for assisted reproductive technologies.
• Current methods can be labor-intensive and may impact sperm viability.
• A need exists for improved devices facilitating sperm handling and ICSI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel individual sperm freezing device, Sperm Conservation Device (SpermCD).
• To assess the efficacy of SpermCD in sperm cryopreservation, thawing, and subsequent ICSI procedures.
• To determine fertilization, embryo development, and pregnancy rates using SpermCD.

Main Methods:

• SpermCD, comprising a right angular cryopiece and grooved petri dish, was utilized for individual sperm cryopreservation.
• Sperm freezing was performed on 35 patients with various fertility challenges, including non-obstructive azoospermia.
• Thawed sperm were used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 65 MII oocytes.

Main Results:

• A high sperm recovery rate of 97.1% ± 4.6% was observed after thawing.
• Normal fertilization and high-quality embryo rates were 68.0% ± 33.2% and 24.4% ± 22.2%, respectively.
• Four successful deliveries resulted from the transplantation of eight embryos created using SpermCD.

Conclusions:

• SpermCD is a simple, practical, and effective device for individual sperm cryopreservation.
• The device facilitates efficient sperm transfer and ICSI on the same focal plane.
• SpermCD demonstrates promising outcomes for assisted reproduction, including successful pregnancies.