The following is a summary of the “Optimal puncture position for ICSI can be detected by image analysis using Local Binary Pattern,” published in the January 2023 issue of Reproductive Biomedicine Online by Morimoto, et al.

There were a total of 709 ripe oocytes used. Images were taken during a conventional ICSI procedure and later analysed by IPD. Oocytes that had been inseminated were classified retrospectively into appropriate and non-appropriate groups based on IPD, regardless of where the oolemma had been punctured (appropriate group). 

Comparing the appropriate and non-appropriate groups, we find that the former has significantly lower rates of UMR (5.3%) and degeneration (2.5% vs. 8.7%), while the latter has significantly higher rates of fertilisation (87.1% vs. 69.7%). It was higher in the non-appropriate group (P<0.001.

Propensity score matching was used to account for potential differences in characteristics between the appropriate and non-appropriate groups, but the differences remained. The results of this research showed that the IPD is helpful in pinpointing the best place to puncture an oocyte during ICSI, thereby decreasing the likelihood of oocyte damage and increasing the number of viable embryos that can be transferred or frozen.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1472648322007040