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Table 5 Comparison of advantages and disadvantages between laser-assisted and mechanical immobilized sperm

From: Applications of laser technology in the manipulation of human spermatozoa

Procedures

Principle

Advantage

Disadvantage

References

Mechanical immobilization

Immobilization is performed by touching the tail of the sperm with ICSI pipette.

• No need for additional equipment

• Easy to standardize and adapt in clinical scenarios

• Resulting in sperm membrane damages

• Require PVP to facilitate sperm capture

[92,93,94,95,96,97]

Laser-assisted immobilization

Sperm is immobilized with 1.48 μm wavelength diode laser.

• Simple and time-saving

• Retaining membrane integrity

• Noncontact

• Avoiding the harmful effects of PVP on sperm and embryos

• Need for laser equipment

• Literature insufficiency on the percentage of live birth

[79, 97,98,99, 101, 102]

  1. ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection; PVP: polyvinylpyrrolidone