Sperm analysis system
US6426213B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 30, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S435/808
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sperm analysis system has a sperm sample carrier (20) and “reader” module. The sperm sample carrier includes: 1) a shank (24) defining a chamber (26) with an opening for ingress and egress of a sperm sample; a manually operated pump (28) for aspirating a sample of sperm into the chamber (26), and a plurality of distinct photon paths (34) intersecting and passing through the chamber (26). The module includes: a processor responsive to an actuation signal from an operator, a photon source, e.g. a light source, energized by the processor in response to the actuation signal, for sending respective beams of photons through each of the photon paths, a plurality of photosensors, one for each photon path, each for producing a signal indicative of the occurrence and frequency of perturbations in the beam of photons passing through said each's respective photon path and communicating the signal to the processor, and an algorithm run by the processor for processing the plurality of photosensors signals to produce a quantified figure of merit indicative of the motility of sperm within the chamber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.