DualStation embryo imaging microscope debuts at the $8Bn Sidra Medicine Womens Hospital, Doha

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic issues and assist with the conception of a child. It involves a process of fertilisation where an egg is artificially combined with a sperm outside the body, and the subsequent re-implantation of that fertilized egg with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.a

Recently, detailed research (Mortimer et al.) has been undertaken that explores the importance of environmental conditions within operational areas of the IVF laboratory, especially those with the potential to cause physiochemical stress to the gametes and embryos during transfer procedures. 

Such environmental conditions include uniformly maintained temperature, humidity and CO2 levels, and in addition, the removal of harmful VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds). These findings are leading many users to adopt completely enclosed working environments for their labs, where highly optimised conditions can be locally maintained inside fully enclosed microscope chambers and where all these environmental conditions, including VOC removal can be automatically and precisely maintained over long periods.

Historically, two different types of microscope are utilised within the IVF procedure. Stereo microscopes are used for lower magnification tasks such as embryo assessment and collection, whilst at a separate location, inverted compound microscopes deliver the much higher magnifications (typically 200x & 400x) required for embryo morphology assessment and ICSI procedures. This often leads to separate microscope workstations being required, with multiple microscopes consuming valuable workspace and significantly increasing the overall cost of lab builds, in addition to increasing ongoing servicing and training requirements.

The Opto DualStation was conceived from an idea to simplify these needs, by condensing all the imaging systems and optical techniques used by the IVF process into one single, highly compact instrument that can be housed within a TekEvent CellTek 3000 enclosed embryo chamber. Such an instrument brings significant benefits to both the user, and ultimately, the patient: 

1. It eliminates the need for multiple microscopes within a lab, increasing floorspace and reducing cost;
2. It reduce the very real risks associated with moving embryos from workstation to workstation
3. It significantly enhances the imaging experience of the user, leading to a more informed decision making process during embryo selection.

For initial low power embryo assessment, the left side of the DualStation system is dedicated to 'classical' high-contrast stereo binocular imaging. In standard IVF stereo microscope setups, a manual tilting mirror is used that can be angled by the user to deliver strongly oblique illumination to the embryo in order to illuminate the sample with high contrast. DualStation takes this feature on a step by offering the user a directly proportional motorised tilt mirror mechanism that can be operated in coarse or fine modes for optimum mirror positioning accuracy.

The right side of the DualStation features a specially developed twin magnification, inverted high contrast imaging module that delivers a performance such as that normally associated with complex inverted microscopes. As part of the unique thought process behind DualStation, Opto has introduced a groundbreaking new feature within this inverted module - namely, the ability to see 2 completely different optical magnifications at the same time, and using just one fixed objective lens. Thanks to a highly innovative optical design, and 2 integrated onboard camera sensors, this module delivers 200x and 400x magnifications on screen simultaneously, in full high contrast, and with completely live refresh rates. 

This provides the user with a very pleasant experience of 'overview' image and 'detail' image simultaneously, not only providing the additional imaging benefits, but also enabling a very useful navigational aspect when moving the sample dish around using the unique integrated XY positioning disc.

Illumination for the high magnification side is provided by a unique fixed condenser illuminator, designed to deliver very high contrast to the sample. Moreover, this illuminator module can be rotated through 35 degrees away from the stereo side in order to maximise working area when needed, for example during embryo pick ups with large pipettes.