Sperm cell processing and preservation systems
AssigneeXy, LLC
InventorsWilliam Maxwell Chisholm Maxwell, Fiona Kate Hollinshead, Justine Kellie O'Brien, Gareth Evans
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing sperm cells to accomplish preservation for future use while minimizing the adverse effects of such preservation. Sperm cells may be collected from a male animal and subjected to a first preservation step, including potentially a first cryopreservation step. Preserved sperm may then be revived, including potentially by thawing, and treated by any of various processing steps to mitigate the adverse effects of preservation. Treated sperm may then be subjected to a second preservation step, including potentially a second cryopreservation step, perhaps enabling a delayed use of the sperm at a future time.
Claims14
A method of sperm cell processing, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining sperm cells from a male of a mammalian species;
- cryopreserving said obtained sperm cells;
- thawing said cryopreserved sperm cells;
- sorting said thawed sperm cells into X chromosome-bearing sperm cells and Y chromosome-bearing sperm cells;
- and
- cryopreserving said sorted sperm cells to yield twice-cryopreserved sorted sperm cells;
- wherein an increased percentage of said twice-cryopreserved sorted sperm cells, when thawed, are motile, compared to said thawed sperm cells, and
- wherein said twice-cryopreserved sorted sperm cells, when thawed, yield blastocysts at an increased rate, compared to said thawed sperm cells, when used to fertilize eggs from a female of said mammalian species.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.