AI analysis of static images of embryos taken immediately prior to transfer may be a more reliable predictor of pregnancy outcome than using time-lapse videos
AI Healthcare company Presagen presented its recent study of the Life Whisperer Viability AI at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 2021 Scientific Congress, June 2021.
Life Whisperer Viability uses AI to analyze static images of embryos at a single time-point to predict viability based on the likelihood of leading to clinical pregnancy, with the aim of improving pregnancy outcomes for IVF patients. A small proportion (approx. 10%) of IVF clinics globally utilize advanced and expensive time-lapse camera systems which can capture both static and video time series images of embryos. It has been suggested that AI assessment of time lapse videos of developing embryos can provide additional useful information over and above single static embryo images for predicting embryo viability, and may therefore improve accuracy.
Presagen’s study, however, shows that embryo viability is highly dynamic and changes over time, and therefore AI assessment of single static images, taken immediately prior to the embryo being transferred back to the patient, is likely to be just as effective as video for evaluating embryo viability. When the AI was used to assess viability of static images of embryos directly prior to uterine transfer, the accuracy for predicting a positive pregnancy outcome was high, ranging from ~85% to 88%. However, when the embryo was transferred to the patient many hours after AI assessment of viability (~8-24 hours), the accuracy of the AI for predicting positive pregnancy outcome dropped significantly, consistent with altered viability potential between the time of assessment and the time of transfer to the patient. These findings suggest that past events are not necessarily a good predictor of future outcome when it comes to evaluating the likelihood of pregnancy for any particular embryo.
If embryo viability does indeed change over time, it implies that prediction of pregnancy using historical data from time-lapse videos would provide limited additional value over that obtained from single static images taken immediately prior to transfer. This dynamic viability could potentially confuse AI training or evaluation if not correctly handled. The results of this study suggest that the quality of the embryo at the point of transfer is critical to a successful pregnancy outcome, which is consistent with current standard practice of using end-point morphological evaluation to assess embryos directly prior to transfer.
These findings overall indicate that static endpoint AI assessment is sufficient for predicting the likelihood of clinical pregnancy for any given embryo. However, results of this study do suggest there may be benefit in using time-lapse systems in combination with continual assessment of embryo viability over time by AI analysis of static images. The time-point at which the embryo should be transferred to maximize pregnancy outcome would in this case be when the embryo shows the greatest likelihood of viability as determined by the AI. Continual AI monitoring of embryos could potentially allow optimization of which embryo to transfer and when, to ultimately improve pregnancy outcomes for patients, prevent embryo discard, and further reduce time to pregnancy
Additionally, one of the key advantages of Life Whisperer Viability is that it does not require any specific hardware. Life Whisperer Viability is camera agnostic and can be used for images taken on both standard microscope-mounted camera systems and the more advanced time-lapse systems. The implementation of advanced time-lapse camera systems requires substantial investment that is not possible for all clinics. This makes Life Whisperer more scalable, accessible, affordable, and equitable, for IVF clinics and their patients globally.
Presagen
Presagen is an AI healthcare company that is changing the way clinics, patients, and medical data from around the world are connected through AI. Its platform, The Social Network for Healthcare, connects clinics and patients globally, and enables collaboration and data sharing to create scalable AI healthcare products that are affordable and accessible for all. The decentralized network democratizes the creation of AI products, promotes collaboration through incentives, and protects data privacy and ownership. With a focus on improving Women’s Health outcomes globally, Presagen’s first product, Life Whisperer, is being used by IVF clinics globally to improve pregnancy outcomes for couples struggling with fertility. With a vision of creating the largest network of clinics, patients, and medical data from around the world, Presagen is driving the future of AI Enhanced Healthcare.
Life Whisperer
Life Whisperer is a world-leader in the application of AI in IVF. The Life Whisperer AI embryo Viability and Genetics assessment tools are the first to be commercialized in a series of applications that encompass the complete IVF journey. Life Whisperer aims to improve IVF success rates at every point and, as a result, reduce time-to-pregnancy, making IVF more affordable and accessible to patients globally. Life Whisperer is being used in IVF clinics around the world.