Several companies have expressed interest in turning smartphones and tablets into medical devices or in creating new health accessories based on that concept. We've also seen things like dosimeters and thermal imaging systems… but I must admit I never imagined a sperm analyzer. Well, the iSperm from Taiwanese company Aidmics is exactly that, and its application doesn't only target humans—it also has enormous potential in the livestock market.
Most laboratory tests are time-consuming, too expensive, or both. There are good reasons for that, since a home doesn't have the right resources or meet the necessary parameters to obtain correct results—but notice I said 'most'. Some processes are simple enough to set aside the severity of the lab, and according to Taiwanese company Aidmics, one such process is sperm analysis. Imagine for a moment the millions of couples desperately trying to have their first child, or the huge livestock market that has largely adopted artificial insemination to improve genetic quality and performance. In both contexts, sperm counting should be simple, and that's the goal of the iSperm device.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/bOmwDEnPuDc
How iSperm Works
iSperm delivers all the necessary elements for the analysis, which takes just a couple of minutes. Once the sample is prepared, the container held by the light connects to a special lens, previously mounted on the camera of an iPad mini. The iSperm app will capture a seven-second video, then take ten more seconds to analyze it. The two main results are the sperm count and its motility percentage. The company hopes to launch the iSperm on the Western market at a price between $100 and $200, a fraction of what traditional commercial solutions cost.
Approvals and Market Impact
Obviously, to be used on human sperm, it needs approval from health agencies like the US FDA, but Aidmics reports having sold more than 200 sets to farmers around the world. According to one Sam Wang, manager of a pig farm near Taiwan, their insemination results improved by 20 percent since they started studying samples with the iSperm. This gadget may be too specialized, but if it really works, I'm sure we'll hear more about it.
