Robotic sperm preparation in an intelligent automated in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection platform

1. A method of artificial-intelligence-based robotic pipetting for spermatozoa preparation, the method comprising:

positioning a vessel containing a semen sample on a staging mechanism, wherein the staging mechanism includes at least one motor to position the vessel at a specified orientation, using an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML system) system;

confirming a position of the vessel, using the AI/ML system;

directing a robotic pipettor to place a pipette tip within the semen sample at a position specified by the AI/ML system;

aspirating and mixing the semen sample using the robotic pipettor;

receiving an image object from an imaging system that includes a microscopy system, a camera system, and a lighting system;

determining a semen liquefaction state of the semen sample based at least in part on the image object, using the AI/ML system;

comparing the determined semen liquefaction state to a predetermined liquefaction threshold using the AI/ML system to confirm the adequacy of the determined semen liquefaction state for spermatozoa collection;

using the robotic pipettor to mix the semen sample in response to the determined semen liquefaction state assessment; and

using the robotic pipettor to obtain at least one sperm from the semen sample at a position specified by the AI/ML system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified orientation is a degree of tilt.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified orientation is a degree of rotation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified orientation is a speed of movement.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified orientation is determined algorithmically by the AI/ML system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the image object is a still image.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the image object is a time-lapse image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the image object is a video.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein aspirating and mixing the semen is performed iteratively using the AI/ML system and the imaging system to produce a plurality of image objects until the predetermined liquefaction threshold is met by at least one image object among the plurality of image objects.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing includes an addition of culture media including liquefaction-reducing agents.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixing does not include the addition of culture media including liquefaction-reducing agents.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the semen sample is placed within layered media within the vessel.

13. A method of artificial-intelligence-based robotic pipetting for spermatozoa preparation, comprising:

positioning a first vessel containing a semen sample within a staging mechanism;

receiving an image object depicting sperm within the semen sample from an imaging system that includes a microscopy system, a camera system, and a lighting system;

ranking a plurality of sperm within the image object according to a degree of correspondence of each sperm of the plurality to a sperm quality criterion, using an artificial intelligence system/machine learning (AI/ML system);

selecting a high-ranking sperm from the ranked plurality of sperm, using the AI/ML system;

collecting and isolating the high-ranking sperm in a second vessel, using a robotic pipettor;

moving the staging mechanism to place the second vessel in a specified position for viewing by the imaging system, using the AI/ML system;

instructing an immobilization device to interrupt a tail function of the high-ranking sperm, using the AI/ML system, wherein the interruption of the tail function reduces the mobility of the high-ranking sperm;

directing a robotic pipettor to place a pipette tip within the second vessel at a position specified by the AI/ML system to collect the high-ranking sperm; and

using the robotic pipettor to obtain the high-ranking sperm from the second vessel at a position specified by the AI/ML system.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first image object is at least one of a single image, a time-lapse image, or a video.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a reduction in the mobility of the high-ranking sperm is automatically measured by the AI/ML system.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the automatic measurement of the reduction in mobility is compared against a predetermined threshold to determine sufficient immobilization, using the AI/ML system.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the high-ranking sperm is a plurality of sperm.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the immobilization device is a laser.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the immobilization device is a pipette.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the immobilization device is a piezo actuator.