Egg Preparation System in an Intelligent Automated Fertility Platform
A system for automated, artificial intelligence based oocyte identification and processing includes an imaging system, a set of stations, a set of robotic arms, and an artificial intelligence/machine learning system. The imaging system is positioned in proximity to a biological sample containing a candidate cumulus oocyte complex. The imaging system is configured to identify and locate the candidate cumulus oocyte complex within the biological sample. Each station of the set of stations is configured to receive the biological sample. The set of robotic arms is configured to move the biological sample between one or more stations of the set of stations and denude the candidate cumulus oocyte complex from the biological sample. The artificial intelligence/machine learning system is operatively coupled to at least one of: the imaging system, the set of robotic arms, or the set of stations.
1 . A system for automated, artificial-intelligence-based oocyte identification and processing, the system comprising:
an imaging system positioned in proximity to a biological sample containing a candidate cumulus-oocyte-complex (COC), wherein the imaging system is configured to identify and locate the candidate COC within the biological sample;
a set of stations, wherein each station of the set of stations is configured to receive the biological sample;
a set of robotic arms configured to:
move the biological sample between one or more stations of the set of stations, and
denude the candidate COC from the biological sample; and
a control system configured to control at least one of: the imaging system, the set of robotic arms, or the set of stations.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes:
an upper imaging system positioned above the biological sample, and
a lower imaging system positioned below the biological sample.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the upper imaging system is configured to identify and locate the candidate COC within the biological sample.
4 . The system of claim 2 wherein the lower imaging system is configured to determine if the candidate COC is a COC by identifying a presence or absence of an oocyte within the candidate COC.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein:
the lower imaging system includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system, and
the OCT imaging system is configured to determine if the candidate COC is a COC by identifying a presence or absence of an oocyte within the candidate COC.
6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the OCT imaging system is configured to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image of the biological sample.
7 . The system of claim 5 wherein:
the lower imaging system includes a microscopy system, and
in response to the OCT imaging system identifying the presence of the oocyte within the candidate COC, the microscopy system is configured to determine a maturity of the oocyte.
8 . The system of claim 2 wherein the lower imaging system is moveable along a first track in a first direction and along a second track in a second direction.
9 . The system of claim 2 wherein the upper imaging system includes a set of cameras.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the biological sample includes a plurality of candidate COCs.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the set of robotic arms is configured to receive a pipette.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the pipette is configured to collect the biological sample.
13 . The system of claim 1 wherein the control system includes an artificial intelligence/machine learning system (AI/ML system).
14 . The system of claim 1 wherein the set of robotic arms includes a grabber configured to move a culture container between the set of stations.
15 . The system of claim 14 wherein the biological sample is contained within the culture container.
16 . The system of claim 1 wherein the set of stations includes at least one of:
an incubation station, a viewing station, or a working station.
17 . The system of claim 16 wherein:
the set of stations includes the incubation station, and
the incubation station includes a first incubation station and a second incubation station.
18 . The system of claim 1 wherein the set of robotic arms includes a first robotic arm and a second robotic arm.
19 . The system of claim 1 wherein each robotic arm of the set of robotic arms is movable in six degrees of freedom.
20 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a transfer bay configured to receive the biological sample.