US 12,268,418 B2
Egg preparation in an intelligent automated in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection platform
Adolfo Flores-Saiffe Farias, Zapopan (MX); Gerardo Mendizabal-Ruiz, Guadalajara (MX); Jacques Cohen, New York, NY (US); Alan Murray, Greenwich, CT (US); Alejandro Chavez-Badiola, Mexico City (MX); Cesar Millan, Zapopan (MX); Roberto Valencia-Murillo, Las Paz (MX); Vladimir C. Ocegueda Hernandez, Zapopan (MX); Nuno Costa-Borges, Barcelona (ES); Angel Alvarez, Guadalajara (MX); and Johann Aguayo, Guadalajara (MX)
Assigned to Conceivable Life Sciences Inc., New York, NY (US)
Filed by Conceivable Life Sciences Inc., New York, NY (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/431,132.
Application 18/431,132 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2024/013428, filed on Jan. 30, 2024.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/523,258, filed on Jun. 26, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0428601 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/43 (2006.01); A61B 17/425 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/02 (2006.01); C12M 1/22 (2006.01); C12M 1/26 (2006.01); C12M 1/36 (2006.01); C12M 3/00 (2006.01); C12N 5/073 (2010.01); G01N 33/50 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01); G06T 7/20 (2017.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); G06V 10/82 (2022.01); G06V 20/69 (2022.01); A61B 34/32 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/43 (2013.01) [A61B 17/425 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); C12M 21/06 (2013.01); C12M 23/10 (2013.01); C12M 23/48 (2013.01); C12M 23/50 (2013.01); C12M 33/04 (2013.01); C12M 41/06 (2013.01); C12M 41/18 (2013.01); C12M 41/48 (2013.01); C12N 5/0604 (2013.01); G01N 33/5091 (2013.01); G01N 35/0099 (2013.01); G01N 35/10 (2013.01); G01N 35/1011 (2013.01); G06T 7/20 (2013.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); G06V 10/82 (2022.01); G06V 20/693 (2022.01); A61B 34/32 (2016.02); G06T 2207/20081 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30024 (2013.01); G06V 20/69 (2022.01); G06V 20/698 (2022.01); G06V 2201/03 (2022.01)] 12 Claims
 
1. A method for automated, artificial-intelligence-based retrieval of a cumulus-oocyte-complex (COC) including an oocyte and cumulus cells, the method comprising:
placing a vessel containing a follicular fluid sample on a motorized stage of a microscope;
scanning the follicular fluid sample, robotically, using an imaging system and an artificial intelligence/machine learning system (AI/ML system) to create an image object, wherein:
the imaging system includes a microscopy system, a camera system, and a lighting system, and
the robotically scanning the follicular fluid sample includes controlling the motorized stage to move in a specified pattern and autonomously managing autofocusing and zooming to create the image object;
identifying the COC within the image object, and a location of the COC, based at least in part on comparing the image object to a predetermined threshold using an AI/ML system, wherein the predetermined threshold is an optical pattern with a probability of corresponding to a COC mass;
instructing a robotic pipettor to move to the location to be adjacent to the COC;
determining an intake volume based on outer physical limits of the COC detected in the image object;
once the robotic pipettor is adjacent to the COC, beginning aspiration, using the robotic pipettor, based at least in part by applying negative pressure to the COC and adjacent fluid to aspirate the intake volume;
removing the robotic pipettor from the vessel;
moving the motorized stage to present a wash dish containing handling medium in proximity to the robotic pipettor;
lowering the robotic pipettor into a wash area of the wash dish for removal of the cumulus cells from the COC; and
applying positive pressure to the robotic pipettor to expel a volume of the COC and adjacent fluid into the handling medium, wherein the expelled volume is controlled at least in part using the AI/ML system, so that an end of the positive pressure corresponds to a time at which the COC mass exits the robotic pipettor.