Abstract: Disclosed herein is a low cost and rapid microfluidic based method and test device for quantifying male fertility potential. The device can simultaneously measure three critical semen parameters rapidly, namely live sperm concentration, motile sperm concentration, and sperm motility. The device includes a transparent substrate and a top sheet with two holes therethrough and an intermediate sheet sandwiched between the substrate and the top sheet. The wells formed by holes form a concentration measuring well (C) and a motility well (M) formed by the top sheet with these two holes bonded to the intermediate sheet. A colorimetric agent is located on the top surface of the intermediate sheet at the bottom of each well which changes color when in contact with sperm. In the motility well a porous membrane is located on top of the colorimetric agent and a liquid buffer may be placed on the top surface of the porous membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a low cost and rapid microfluidic based method and test device for quantifying male fertility potential. The device can simultaneously measure three critical semen parameters rapidly, namely live sperm concentration, motile sperm concentration, and sperm motility. The device includes a transparent substrate and a top sheet with two holes therethrough and an intermediate sheet sandwiched between the substrate and the top sheet. The wells formed by holes form a concentration measuring well (C) and a motility well (M) formed by the top sheet with these two holes bonded to the intermediate sheet. A colorimetric agent is located on the top surface of the intermediate sheet at the bottom of each well which changes color when in contact with sperm. In the motility well a porous membrane is located on top of the colorimetric agent and a liquid buffer may be placed on the top surface of the porous membrane.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and apparatuses for separating sperm, including apparatus having an inlet and an outlet reservoir, and either: i) a radial array of microchannels disposed between the inlet and outlet reservoirs to provide fluid communication therebetween and to direct motile sperm inwardly from the inlet reservoir to the outlet reservoir; or ii) at least one microchannel path disposed between the inlet and outlet reservoirs to provide fluid communication therebetween, the at least one microchannel path having a path inlet adjacent the inlet reservoir, a path outlet adjacent the outlet reservoir, and a junction located between the path inlet and the path outlet for directing a portion of sperm that enter the path inlet towards the outlet reservoir based on wall-swimming behavior of sperm. Methods include filling an apparatus with buffer fluid, introducing semen into an inlet reservoir, and retrieving sperm separated from the semen from the outlet reservoir.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and apparatuses for separating sperm, including apparatus having an inlet and an outlet reservoir, and either: i) a radial array of microchannels disposed between the inlet and outlet reservoirs to provide fluid communication therebetween and to direct motile sperm inwardly from the inlet reservoir to the outlet reservoir; or ii) at least one microchannel path disposed between the inlet and outlet reservoirs to provide fluid communication therebetween, the at least one microchannel path having a path inlet adjacent the inlet reservoir, a path outlet adjacent the outlet reservoir, and a junction located between the path inlet and the path outlet for directing a portion of sperm that enter the path inlet towards the outlet reservoir based on wall-swimming behaviour of sperm. Methods include filling an apparatus with buffer fluid, introducing semen into an inlet reservoir, and retrieving sperm separated from the semen from the outlet reservoir.