Related field of the invention

The present invention relates to a single-use sterile product which can be used to conventional to W St? fertilization (IVF) method for patients admitted to assisted- reproductive technology (ART) centers for IVF and is manufactured from non-toxic polystyrene plastic material.

Prfor Art

As is known, for couples to have a baby naturally, approximately 150-200 out of millions of sperms are able to pass throughout the genital tract and reach to the female egg cells (oocytes), of which only one becomes mature every month and then is carried to the fe8opian tubes. Fertilization completely occurs after only one of the few numbers of motile sperm cells, which swims-up through the uterus and can reach to the fallopian tubes, enters into the egg cell. The couples that are not lucky to have this chance admit to the IVF centers or clinics.

Conventional IVF method Is similar to toe natural fertilization and is one of the assisted reproductive techniques used in IVF centers.

Conventional IVF method is based upon creating a medium where toe egg and sperm cells of couples can contact with each other. The similar inventions/technoiogies/products that are going to be desorbed may be either toe innovations disclosed to toe patent application/document or toe techniques that are not disclosed but available in toe maikets.

Assisted-reproductive techniques (ARTs) are implemented by physicians and embryologists in particular and also by other healthcare professionals.

Technical problems that the invention intendsto solve

The apparatus will be manufactured from polystyrene plastic material as a square shaped crystalline (transparent) 3x3x1 cm in size with a sperm swim-up canal opened thereon in minimal sizes, 30 mM (micrometer) in depth and 1.5 mm (millimeter) in width; thereby, a competition medium for sperm cells can be created and good swimmer sperms with good morphology will fertilize the egg in a very short time. On the apparatus, there are two wells with 1 cm in diameter and 1 cm in depth and one well with 3 cm in diameter and 1 cm in depth. These three wells are connected with each other on the bottom via a T-shape canal, which is 30 mM (micrometer) in depth and 1.5 mm (millimeter) in width, in this apparatus, sperms follow a way for reaching to the egg similar to the way that they swlms-up through the uterus to reach toe egg. Sperm cell swim-up apparatus, which has been developed to achieve the aim of the invention, is demonstrated as follows. I am in the opinion that there is a need for such disposable materials in IVF centers

Drawings

Figure 1: Top view of the bottom of toe natural fertilization apparatus

Figure 2: Top view of the top of the natural fertilization apparatus

Figure^: View from below of the top of foe natural fertilization apparatus

Figure 4: Top view of foe natural fertilization apparatus with the top and bottom parts attached to each other

Figure _, 5; Detailed technical drawing of the natural fertilization apparatus

Definition of the reference numerals in drawings

The parts in the drawings ate numbered and explained as follows:

1. Bottom piece of the natural fertilization apparatus

2. Top piece of the natural fertilization apparatus

3. TWo wells with 1 cm in diameter and 1 cm in depth for placing eggs (oocytes)

4. One well with 3 mm in diameter and 1 cm in depth for placing sperm cells

5. Open-end T-shaped canal, 30 mM (micrometer) in depth and 1.5 mm (millimeter) in width, connecting the two egg wells and one sperm well at the bottom of the polystyrene plastic product

6. Notches on the bottom piece for attaching the top piece to the bottom piece Description of the invention

Polystyrene plastic component is compatible with human tissue and cells and Is nontoxic. Polystyrene apparatus is composed of bottom (1) and top (2) pieces. The top

(2) piece is attachable to fee bottom (1) piece. When the top (2) piece is attached to the bottom (1) piece, the T-shaped canal (5) with 30 mM (micrometer) in depth and 1.5 mm (millimeter) in width is formed therebetween. There are notches (6) on the bottom (1 ) piece, which definitely set the size of the canal between these two pieces after they are attached to each other.

Various commercial culture media alike foe body fluids in terms of chemical components and other parameters are used In IVF laboratories. While attaching the top (2) piece to the bottom piece (1), the notches (6) on tie bottom (1) piece allows the top piece to proportionately mesh the bottom piece and then the T-shaped canal (5) is formed. This T-shaped canal (5) connects one sperm well (4) and two egg wells

(3) to each other via open-ends at the bottom. Egg and sperm wells (3,4) and T- shaped canal ($) can be filled with certain amount of culture medium. Subsequently, the wells that are half-filled (3,4) with culture medium are covered with paraffin oil, which are available in IVF centers, for the prevention of evaporation and contamination. The oocytes are collected from female patients via the OPU (oocyte pick-up) procedure under general anesthesia by an experienced physician. Some of the collected oocytes are placed into the bottom of each of two egg wells (3) on the apparatus using a pipe. Thereafter, following necessary sperm washing procedures, certain amount of sperm sample taken from the spouse of the female is precisely placed into the sperm well (4) in its purest form.

The fastest (good swimmer) sperms in the sample placed into the sperm well (4) are expected to reach to the egg wells (3) by passing through the T-shaped canal. Cumulus dells that surround the eggs release hyaluronic add. Hyaluronic acid creates a chemical effect for sperms to move towards to that direction. The apparatus that kept at 37°C for one night in the incubators containing CO* are checked for the occurrence of fertilization after 14-16 hours.

Industrial Applicability

This product to available to be manufactured as disposable materials used in !VF centers.