Apparatus and methods for sperm separation

US9663755B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Governing Council of the University of Toronto · CA
• The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University · CA

Inventors

• Reza Nosrati · Toronto, CA
• Lise Marie Eamer · York, CA
• Marion Vollmer · Munich, DE
• David Sinton · Toronto, CA
• Armand Zini · Winnipeg, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 19, 2014
• Grant date: May 30, 2017
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12M21/06
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Various embodiments of methods and apparatuses for separating sperm, including apparatus having an inlet and an outlet reservoir, and either: i) a radial array of microchannels disposed between the inlet and outlet reservoirs to provide fluid communication therebetween and to direct motile sperm inwardly from the inlet reservoir to the outlet reservoir; or ii) at least one microchannel path disposed between the inlet and outlet reservoirs to provide fluid communication therebetween, the at least one microchannel path having a path inlet adjacent the inlet reservoir, a path outlet adjacent the outlet reservoir, and a junction located between the path inlet and the path outlet for directing a portion of sperm that enter the path inlet towards the outlet reservoir based on wall-swimming behavior of sperm. Methods include filling an apparatus with buffer fluid, introducing semen into an inlet reservoir, and retrieving sperm separated from the semen from the outlet reservoir.