Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 couples worldwide, with in vitro fertilization (IVF) being an effective but underutilized treatment. Only 2% of clinically infertile couples globally have access to IVF, with many in the UK unable to access it due to high costs and limited public funding. Most UK patients must pay out-of-pocket, and the success rate is around 33%. The proposed project, a collaboration between King’s College London and Conceivable Life Sciences, aims to revolutionize IVF by automating the IVF lab through robotics and artificial intelligence. The PhD project focuses on advanced micro-manipulation of sperm and oocytes for robotic intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Key areas of research include: 1) Sperm Identification and Manipulation: using computer vision and AI to detect and track motile sperm, the project will focus on selecting the best sperm based on tail motion characteristics. A laser head will immobilize sperm before aspiration into a robotically actuated micropipette. Fluid dynamics and reinforcement learning-based control will optimize sperm loading. 2) Oocyte Identification and Manipulation: oocytes need to be aligned before insemination, requiring an understanding of their morphology. Deep learning approaches will analyze oocyte images for alignment, and non-contact microfluidic methods or micro-suction cups will manipulate them. 3) Insemination: miniaturized Gripe-needle technology will be used for oocyte manipulation and sperm injection, with micro/nano sensors providing data for safe insemination. The project will explore various techniques and approaches, including 3D OCT imaging and model-predictive control.
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Robotics and AI to Improve In Vitro Fertilisation Outcomes
