Multichamber and Time-Lapse Embryo Incubators:

These incubators provide a controlled environment for embryo culture, maintaining stable temperature, humidity, and concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen. The separate chambers allow for the simultaneous cultivation of embryos from different patients, minimizing the risk of cross-contamination and ensuring optimal conditions for embryonic development. Time-lapse embryo incubators are sophisticated devices used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) to monitor embryo development continuously and non-invasively. These devices represent a significant advancement over traditional incubators, as they allow embryologists to evaluate embryo progression without needing to open the incubator repeatedly. Here’s how they work and their benefits:

1. Operation: Time-lapse incubators are equipped with integrated cameras that capture images of the embryos at regular intervals, usually every few minutes. These images are then combined to create a time-lapse video that shows the progress of embryonic development over several days.
2. Continuous Monitoring: With constant image recording, embryologists can observe embryo behavior over time, identifying any abnormalities or developmental delays that may affect their implantation potential.
3. Detailed Analysis: Le immagini time-lapse forniscono una visione dettagliata della dinamica dello sviluppo embrionale, consentendo ai biologi di valutarne la velocità di divisione cellulare, la simmetria e la morfologia degli embrioni con maggiore precisione rispetto alle valutazioni tradizionali.
4. Reduced Risk of Disturbance: Since embryos remain inside the incubator during time-lapse monitoring, they are not disturbed by repeated opening and closing of the incubator, minimizing the risk of thermal stress or environmental changes that could affect their development.
5. Clinical Decision Support: The information provided by time-lapse videos allows clinicians to make more informed decisions regarding the selection of embryos for transfer to the mother’s uterus, increasing the chances of success in IVF procedures.
6. Data Archiving and Sharing: Time-lapse videos can be stored and shared with patients for better understanding and awareness of their IVF treatment progress.
7. Microinjection Systems for Assisted Fertilization: These systems allow for the controlled injection of sperm directly into the oocyte for assisted fertilization (ICSI). Using a micromanipulation system equipped with fine micro-needles, the clinical embryologist can perform microinjections with high precision, minimizing the risk of damage to the oocytes and improving fertilization rates.

Continuous Monitoring Systems for Incubator and Laboratory Temperature and Humidity: These systems use high-precision sensors to continuously monitor temperature and humidity not only inside embryo incubators but throughout the IVF laboratory. Any deviation from the preset limits can be detected and corrected promptly, ensuring optimal conditions for embryo development and reducing the risk of treatment failure.

Cryopreservation Systems for Gametes and Embryos:Cryopreservation systems use liquid nitrogen to keep embryos and gametes frozen at extremely low temperatures, ensuring their stability and viability over the long term. These systems allow patients to store excess embryos and gametes for future use, offering long-term reproductive flexibility and options. The technique used for the freezing of oocytes and embryos is exclusively vitrification.

Genomic Screening Technologies (PGT): These technologies allow the genetic evaluation of embryos before transfer to the mother’s uterus, identifying chromosomal and genetic abnormalities that could compromise embryonic development. The removal of a few cells from the embryos enables genetic analysis without damaging their developmental potential, allowing for the selection of healthy embryos and increasing the chances of successful pregnancy.

These state-of-the-art machines represent just a portion of the technologies used in in vitro fertilization, but they highlight the importance of technological innovation in improving clinical outcomes and the quality of care for patients dealing with infertility.