Patent ID: 11942220
Assignee: VITROLIFE A/S
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 18:
19. A computer apparatus for processing a time series of images of an embryo to determine estimated timings for a plurality of developmental events for the embryo, wherein the computer apparatus comprises a processor element configured to:
determine feature information for each of the images, the feature information for each image representing the content of the image;
establish machine learned classifiers for associating each of the images with a respective likelihood of the image being associated with one or more of the plurality of developmental events based on the feature information for the image;
apply the machine learned classifiers to the feature information for each of the images to determine a respective likelihood of the image being associated with one or more of the plurality of developmental events; and
determine estimated timings for the plurality of developmental events for the embryo from the respective likelihoods of the respective images being associated with respective ones of the plurality of developmental events,

wherein the plurality of developmental events for the embryo comprise one or more developmental events selected from the group comprising:
(i) any cleavage event
(ii) cleavage to a 2-blastomere embryo;
(iii) cleavage to a 3-blastomere embryo;
(iv) cleavage to a 4-blastomere embryo;
(v) cleavage to a 5-blastomere embryo;
(vi) cleavage to a 6-blastomere embryo;
(vii) cleavage to a 7-blastomere embryo;
(viii) cleavage to an 8-blastomere embryo;
(ix) cleavage to an 9 or more blastomere embryo;
(x) fading of pronuclei;
(xi) start of compaction;
(xii) formation of morula;
(xiii) initial differentiation of trophectoderm;
(xiv) start of blastulation;
(xv) formation of a blastocyst;
(xvi) initial differentiation of inner cell mass;
(xvii) onset of expansion of a blastocyst;
(xviii) hatching of a blastocyst;
(xix) appearance of first polar body;
(xx) appearance of second polar body;
(xxi) appearance of first pronuclei;
(xxii) appearance of second pronuclei;
(xxiii) time of pronuclei alignment;
(xiv) start of blastocyst collapse; and
(xv) start of blastocyst re-expansion.