A baby has been born for the first time following fertilization through a fully automated Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) system, marking a breakthrough in assisted reproduction and fertility technology.
Automated system replaces delicate manual procedure
The birth followed a fertility treatment at Hope IVF Mexico in Guadalajara, where a robotic system, operated remotely, performed the intricate task of injecting a single sperm cell into an egg. The process, typically done by hand under a microscope, was completed entirely by machine, without direct human touch.
The achievement, published in Reproductive Biomedicine Online, represents what researchers describe as a key step toward fully automating one of the most complex procedures in the IVF lab.
Cross-border team developed and operated the system
The system was developed by experts at Conceivable Life Sciences, based in New York and Guadalajara. The team included embryologist Dr. Jacques Cohen, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alejandro Chavez-Badiola, and lead engineer Professor Gerardo Mendizabal-Ruiz.
The specialized workstation was designed to automate all 23 steps of the ICSI process. Each step was controlled either by artificial intelligence or by remote digital commands issued by operators located in Guadalajara and New York. A total of 115 steps were completed across five eggs in the automated trial.
AI selected, immobilized, and injected sperm with precision
Artificial intelligence played a critical role in sperm selection and injection. The system autonomously chose a sperm cell, then used a laser to gently immobilize it before positioning it into a microinjection pipette.
The injection itself was then carried out with high speed and precision. Prof. Mendizabal-Ruiz explained that this level of accuracy goes beyond what a human hand can achieve.
Patient had previously failed IVF before a successful birth
The recipient of the treatment was a 40-year-old woman who had previously undergone an unsuccessful IVF cycle that produced only one mature egg and no embryos. For the trial, she received donor eggs.
Five eggs were fertilized using the automated system. Three additional eggs were used as a control group and fertilized manually using standard ICSI. Of the five eggs treated with the robotic system, four achieved normal fertilization. All three control eggs also fertilized normally.
One embryo created by the automated system developed to the blastocyst stage. It had been fertilized entirely through remote operation from New York – over 3,700 kilometers away. The embryo was vitrified, later thawed, and transferred in a follow-up cycle. The pregnancy proceeded without complications, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby boy.
The automated fertilization procedure took an average of 9 minutes and 56 seconds per egg, slightly longer than traditional ICSI due to the system’s experimental nature. Researchers expect this time to decrease with further refinement.
Researchers see the future of automation in IVF
Dr. Chavez-Badiola explained that this is the first time every step of the microinjection procedure has been automated, including sperm selection using artificial intelligence.
He added that while the results are encouraging, broader studies are needed to ensure the system performs safely and consistently on a larger scale.
Automation is already used in many aspects of fertility care, including embryo monitoring, cryo-storage, and sperm preparation. Researchers say this advancement brings the field closer to fully automated IVF procedures that may improve consistency, reduce human error, and ease the workload on clinical staff.
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