Infertility is viewed as a problem that has social, psychological, and economic impacts to the afflicted individuals and couples. It is a global concern that knows no race or creed. It has been estimated that 1 in 6 couples would struggle with infertility at least once in their lifetime.In the last decades, scientists and physicians worldwide strived to understand the long-term health effects of in vitro fertilization and how the safety profile as well as success rates can be improved. Remarkably, the technique of assisted reproduction has meanwhile become so normalized and widespread that the stigma of being conceived in a petri dish has been eliminated. More than 3 to 6% of the children worldwide are conceived this way. Several years ago, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) was a speculative field of research surrounded with skepticism and opposition. However, over the last two decades, it has arguably been one of the most-well studied fields in medicine. Novel developments in the culture platform have emerged since and act as driving forces to further improve assisted reproductive technologies.
In natural conditions the oocyte and embryo are subjected to ever-changing dynamic processes. An embryo that develops naturally in vivo is known to be exposed to constant vibrations of around 6 Hz to 20 Hz when the cilia mechanically agitate the oviducal fluid (Paltieli et al., 1995). However, the routine assisted reproductive technologies today involve the use of static in vitro culture systems.
Viboviduct® works on the same principle as natural complex movements in the fallopian tube and significantly increases IVF success rates. The high efficiency and advanced technology of Viboviduct® allows a dynamic execution of defined vibrations, especially designed to be used in an incubator. Furthermore, it is designed to withstand extreme conditions, dust, foreign bodies, temperature and moisture. Moreover, the keypad is equipped with an anti-microbial membrane with sterilizable surface.Viboduct® uses micro vibrations with defined time intervals, strength and frequency in order to stimulate the vibrations and natural complex movements in the fallopian tube. Optionally, the user can manually define and change these parameters. The device has integrated the most advanced technology that allows long-term execution of specific protocols in the incubator without loss of performance. Additionally, the embryos are mechanically stimulated in the surrounding fluid, amplifying the cell-to-cell communication, subsequently leading to a positive impact on the development of the embryo. Last but certainly not least, the medium surrounding the embryo is continuously refreshed.
Free calcium (Ca2+) is pivotal for oocyte fertilization and development. It has been shown that mechanical stimulation of ciliated epithelial cells in culture induces a wave of increasing Ca2+ that spreads from the stimulated cells to neighboring ones. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+ these mechanically stimulated cells showed no change or a decrease in Ca2+, whereas Ca2+ increase in neighboring cells.
Free calcium (Ca2+) plays a crucial role in oocyte fertilization and development. The mechanical stimulation of ciliated epithelial cells in culture induces a wave of increasing Ca2+ that spreads from the stimulated cells to neighboring ones. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, these mechanically stimulated cells show no change or decrease in Ca2+, whereas Ca2+ increases in neighboring cells. The in vitro culture of human embryos in a medium subjected to regular short intervals of mechanical agitation leads to increased development rates. This type of treatment mimics conditions in nature whereby oviductal fluid is mechanically agitated by the epithelial cilia.
Mechanical stimulation of embryos in surrounding culture fluid induces and amplifies the cell to cell communication and leads to positive effects on embryo development and quality. An additional effect of micro-vibrations can be found in the continuous refreshment of the medium surrounding the embryo.
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Induces and Amplifies: The cell-to-cell communication leading to a significantly better blastocyst count.
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Stimulates: Mechanical stimulation of embryos in surrounding culture fluid.
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Refreshes: Reduces toxic substances in culture fluid without removing beneficial autocrine growth factors.
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Embryo Quality: Leads to a positive effect on embryo development and quality at all maturity stages.