Disposable micro devices for clinical ICSI

This paper presents the first gamete holding device containing both sperm and oocytes on the same device. The device is of low-cost and disposable. Experiments demonstrated a success rate of 100% for holding/releasing hamster oocytes. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) experiments on 120 hamster oocytes with donated human sperm resulted in an average oocyte survival rate of 90.7%, which compares favorably with the survival rate (86%) achieved by proficient injection technicians using conventional tools. The experimental results also confirmed that the gamete holding device is capable of facilitating ICSI procedures without causing additional cell damage compared to conventional approaches.