Optical coherence tomography based sperm detection method and devices and systems for performing the same
AssigneesLundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, The Regents of the University of California
InventorsYanhe Lue, Boris Hyle Park, Ronald Swerdloff, Jacob Rajfer, Christina Wang, Junze Liu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects of the methods include volumetrically imaging testicular tissue by optical coherence tomography to identify a testicular tissue location that is likely to contain sperm; and m-mode scanning using optical coherence tomography the identified testicular location to determine whether sperm are at least likely to be present at the location. Methods may further include harvesting sperm from the location, e.g., for use in in vitro fertilization. Also provided are devices and systems for practicing the methods.
Claims18
A method of identifying sperm in testicular tissue, the method comprising:
- volumetrically imaging testicular tissue by optical coherence tomography to identify one or more tubule locations that are likely to contain sperm;
- and
- M-mode scanning the identified testicular location using optical coherence tomography to determine whether sperm are at least likely to be present at the tubule location,
- wherein the M-mode scanning is employed to identify phase variance at the tubule locations that are likely to contain sperm.
A method of identifying sperm in testicular tissue, the method comprising:
- volumetrically imaging testicular tissue by optical coherence tomography to identify one or more tubule locations that are likely to contain sperm;
- and
- M-mode scanning the identified testicular location using optical coherence tomography to determine whether sperm are at least likely to be present at the tubule location,
- wherein the method further comprises motion tracking of and within the testicular tissue.
A method of identifying sperm in testicular tissue, the method comprising:
- volumetrically imaging testicular tissue by optical coherence tomography to identify one or more tubule locations that are likely to contain sperm;
- M-mode scanning the identified testicular location using optical coherence tomography to determine whether sperm are at least likely to be present at the tubule location;
- and
- harvesting sperm from the identified tubule locations determined to be at least likely to contain sperm.
A method of identifying sperm in testicular tissue, the method comprising:
- volumetrically imaging testicular tissue by optical coherence tomography to identify one or more tubule locations that are likely to contain sperm;
- and
- M-mode scanning the identified testicular location using optical coherence tomography to determine whether sperm are at least likely to be present at the tubule location,
- wherein the optical coherence tomography comprises irradiating the testicular tissue with an imaging light beam and a visible light beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.