C:EGG

Egg Finding

This element identifies COCs, decants aspirates of follicular fluid into dishes, and automatically indicates the presence and position of COCs in the dish fluid. Dishes are manually placed in shallow receptacles on a transparent, body-temperature-warmed plate. The Egg Finder automatically indicates the position of COCs in the Petri dishes. The precise positions of all COCs in dishes allow for a six-axis robotic system to carefully pick and aspirate the COCs and then employ a 1 mL sterile pipette, pre-load it with pre-equilibrated culture medium to clear the area around the COC. It then moves the COC to a dish containing culture medium for further washing. Further optimization is achieved by using high-definition cameras and OCT microscopes, which visualize and confirm oocyte presence inside the corona cells with great precision.

Holding Area for Prepared Petri Dishes and Temporary Incubation

This area consists of small incubator units that house one universal carrier at a time, with or without pre-prepared dishes. The units may have a simple single cover or smaller covers to protect individual dishes. The temporary incubator is unique, featuring a wavered tubing channel system that keeps the temperature and pH of the dishes stable for more than an hour. The incubator’s bottom sits on warming plates. (Conceivable developed the incubator to function across many steps of the AURA process that require immediate availability of dishes, gametes, and embryos.)

COC Washing, Preincubation, and Denudation

The heart of the C:EGG system, this egg-handling station is equipped with a six-axis industrial robotic arm and is located close to the temporary holding incubators. The station features a heated transparent plate that can hold Petri dishes, allowing visibility from a camera system below the platform. Illumination is provided by a condenser system above the work area. A COC washing dish is prepared in C:EGG and held in a warmed temporary incubator until use. The robotic arm is programmed to pick up a sterile pipette connected to an aspirator held by the robotic arm. A small volume of buffered culture medium is aspirated and gently deposited around the COC, as indicated by the Egg Finder station in the aspirated follicular fluid dish containing one or more COCs. The COC is picked up with minimal follicular fluid and moved to a washing dish containing pre-equilibrated culture medium. Multiple COCs can be aspirated and washed simultaneously. The COCs may be washed multiple times to remove granulosa and blood cells. The robotic system will move the washed COCs to a clean droplet of culture medium beneath oil. This egg culture dish is prepared by the C:DISH workstation. Several AIs are involved in dish recognition and handling. These AIs not only provide instructions but also safety measures, such as ceasing activity once a desired state of denudation has been achieved. After pre-incubation of COCs and before ICSI, cumulus and most corona cells are removed to allow pick-up of the zona pellucida by the holding pipette attached to a C:EGG micromanipulator.