Microfluidic automation improves oocyte recovery from follicular fluid of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization

Infertility is a global health challenge affecting millions worldwide, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains the main treatment option. The increasing demand for IVF necessitates innovations that improve access, efficiency and outcomes. To address this need, we developed a microfluidic device (FIND-Chip) that automates the isolation and denudation of oocytes from follicular fluid (FF), a critical step in IVF workflow. In a clinical study involving 582 patients from four IVF centers, FIND-Chip was utilized to perform automated oocyte recovery from FF and revealed that in more than 50% of the cases functional and mature oocytes are inadvertently discarded under current clinical practice. These undetected oocytes successfully developed into high-quality blastocysts, thereby substantially expanding the embryo pool available for patients’ treatment. Notably, an oocyte that was retrieved by FIND-Chip from a clinically screened and discarded FF sample led to a live birth, highlighting the potential of microfluidic automation to enhance IVF success rates. The authors developed a microfluidic device, FIND-Chip, designed to automate and enhance oocyte recovery from follicular fluid, a process traditionally done manually. When used in clinical settings, the device recovered additional oocytes missed during manual screening, substantially increasing the number of viable oocytes available for in vitro fertilization.