Multi-well systems and methods for sorting sperm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025388859-A1
Application number	US-202318880080-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2023
Priority date	Jul 1, 2022
Publication date	Dec 25, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for sorting sperm that in illustrative embodiments include two or more separation channels each connected to a collection chamber. In some embodiments, at least one of the separation channels is attached to a filter chamber, which is also connected to an introduction channel. Some embodiments include a plurality of separation channels and connected collection chambers. Furthermore, in some embodiments the separation channels and connected collection chambers are arranged in parallel, in serial, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments herein include a pre-filter zone that can be a straight channel, or can be other than a straight channel, including a number of different disclosed configurations.

First claim

1 - 76 . (canceled)

77 . A system for sorting sperm, the system comprising:
a) a housing including a lower component and an upper component coupled together; b) a fluidic system supported by the housing; c) an inlet providing access to the fluidic system to deliver a sample comprising sperm to the fluidic system; d) a filter chamber comprising a filter comprising a plurality of pores, a lower portion, and an upper portion positioned above the lower portion; e) at least one introduction channel extending from the inlet to the lower portion of the filter chamber to allow sperm delivered to the fluidic system through the inlet to progress along a fluidic path toward the filter chamber; and f) a post-filter zone comprising a set of separation channels and a set of collection chambers, the post-filter zone comprising:
i) a first separation channel of the set of separation channels connecting the upper portion to a first collection chamber of the set of collection chambers, the first collection chamber being configured to facilitate harvesting some motile sperm therein; and
ii) a second separation channel of the set of separation channels connected to a second collection chamber of the set of collection chambers, the second collection chamber being configured to facilitate harvesting some motile sperm therein, wherein the second separation channel is connected to the upper portion or the first collection chamber.

78 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the first separation channel has a length of less than 5 mm, wherein the second separation channel has a length between 5 and 20 mm, and wherein the length of the second separation channel is at least 1.5 times the length of the first separation channel.

79 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the post-filter zone comprises a third separation channel of the set of separation channels, and wherein each of the second separation channel and the third separation channel is connected to two of the first collection chamber, the second collection chamber, and a third collection chamber of the set of collection chambers.

80 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the second separation channel is connected to the first collection chamber.

81 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the filter is arranged horizontally within the filter chamber, and wherein at least some motile sperm from the sample are configured pass through the filter against gravity.

82 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the introduction channel is a straight channel.

83 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the introduction channel and/or the first separation channel is curved or comprises a curved section; and/or wherein the introduction channel and/or the first separation channel comprises one or more 45 to 135 degree bends.

84 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the set of separation channels comprises a set of parallel channels.

85 . The system of claim 84 , wherein the set of parallel channels comprise a single inlet and/or a single outlet.

86 . The system of claim 77 , wherein a surface of one collection chamber of the set of collection chambers and/or one separation channel of the set of separation channels comprises a sperm chemoattractant.

87 . The system of claim 86 , wherein the sperm chemoattractant is present on the surface in a concentration gradient.

88 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the housing comprises a support disposed under the lower component and forming a lower surface of the at least one introduction channel.

89 . The system of claim 77 , comprising a dam configured to block sperm from traveling past the dam, and wherein sperm are concentrated at one or more collection chamber of the set of collection chambers before the dam.

90 . The system of claim 77 , wherein the lower portion of the filter chamber extends through lower component, the upper portion for the filter chamber extends through the upper component, or both the lower portion of the filter chamber extends through the lower component and the upper portion of the filter chamber extends through the upper component.

91 . A method for sorting sperm, the method comprising:
a) delivering a sample of sperm into an inlet of a fluidic system; b) allowing sperm in the sample of sperm to traverse a fluidic path through the fluidic system from the inlet through at least one introduction channel into a filter chamber, wherein the filter chamber includes a lower portion, an upper portion positioned above the lower portion, and a filter between the lower portion and the upper portion, wherein the filter comprises pores sized to permit a head of the sperm to pass therethrough; c) without an application of an external force, allowing at least some motile sperm from the sample of sperm that have entered the lower portion of the filter chamber to selectively pass through the filter against gravity, so as to traverse the fluidic path into the upper portion of the filter chamber, and then to traverse the fluidic path through a first separation channel into a first collection chamber such that a percentage of motile sperm present within the first collection chamber is greater than a percentage of motile sperm within the sample of sperm; either
d1) allowing at least one of the motile sperm in the first collection chamber to further traverse through a second separation channel into a second collection chamber without the application of an external force; or
d2) allowing at least one of the motile sperm from the upper portion to traverse through a second separation channel connected directly to the upper portion of the filter chamber, into a second collection chamber without the application of an external force, wherein the second separation channel has a length that is at least 1.5 times a length of the first separation channel;
and e) harvesting at least some of the motile sperm that have passed into one or both the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber, wherein a higher percentage of motile sperm are present within the one or both the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber than in the sample of sperm.

92 . The method of claim 91 , wherein a surface of one or both of the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber comprises a sperm chemoattractant so as to provide one or more sperm chemoattractant-coated surfaces, the method comprising:
allowing the at least one of the motile sperm in one or both the first collection chamber and the second collection chamber to bind the one or more sperm chemoattractant-coated surfaces, and wherein harvesting comprises collecting at least one of the motile sperm bound to the sperm chemoattractant-coated surfaces.

93 . The method of claim 91 , wherein harvesting comprises collecting the at least some of the motile sperm from one or more of an open outlet of the upper portion of the filter chamber, an open outlet of the first collection chamber, and an open outlet of the second collection chamber.

94 . A system for sorting sperm, the system comprising:
a) a filter chamber comprising a lower portion, an upper portion positioned above the lower portion, and a filter arranged between the lower portion and the upper portion, the filter comprising a plurality of pores; and b) a post filter zone comprising a set of separation channels comprising a first separation channel directly connected to an upper portion and a first collection chamber, a second separation channel, and a third separation channel, wherein each separation channel of the set of separation channels, other t

Assignees

• Coopersurgical Inc

Inventors

• Sharp William Thomas
• Demirci Utkan

Classifications

• C12N5/061

  Sperm cells, spermatogonia · CPC title

• C12M47/04

  Cell isolation or sorting (purging biological preparations of unwanted cells C12N5/0081, determining the presence or kind of microorganism C12Q1/04) · CPC title

• C12M33/14

  with filters, sieves or membranes · CPC title

• C12M23/16

  Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes (integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093) · CPC title

• C12M21/06 Primary

  for in vitro fertilization · CPC title