Contrario Medical’s single-use device uses a two-membrane design to prepare motile sperm from semen samples.
The US Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to Contrario Medical’s Cyperus, a sterile, single-use device that prepares motile sperm from semen for in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and intrauterine insemination, the Houston-based company announced.
Embryology and andrology lab staff use Cyperus to process semen samples with fewer steps than devices currently on the market, according to the company.
“FDA clearance of Cyperus is the culmination of a lot of creative and hard work by our talented team,” says Albert Huang, MD, CEO of Contrario Medical, in a release. “We built this technology to improve the experience for healthcare providers and for the patients who depend on them in the fertility space.”
How the Device Works
Cyperus is a closed system with a two-membrane design that generates active flow. Sperm instinctively swim against this flow, as they do in the female reproductive tract, which allows them to separate efficiently, according to the company. Contrario Medical also says studies have shown the flow minimizes the presence of microparticles, such as microplastics, in the separated sample.
The device is indicated for preparing motile sperm from semen for treating infertile couples through intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in vitro fertilization, and intrauterine insemination procedures.
Leading clinicians in reproductive medicine advised Contrario Medical as it brought Cyperus to market.
“Sperm preparation methods have barely evolved in years. Cyperus changes that with an innovative design that delivers a high-quality sperm sample with just a few simple steps,” says Anthony Anderson, DHSc, ELD (ABB), founder and CEO of IVF Academy USA and an advisor to Contrario Medical, in a release. “I believe it will set a new standard, and I can’t wait for embryology labs to experience the difference.”
Pricing was also a focus for another advisor. “At Pozitivf, our rule for innovation is simple: lower the price, never the bar,” says Francisco Arredondo, MD, MPH, co-founder and chief medical officer of Pozitivf Fertility and an advisor to Contrario Medical, in a release. “Most new fertility technology fails that test by adding cost. Cyperus passes it, giving labs a better way to select high-quality sperm at a competitive price. That matters, because parenthood is a universal human right, not a luxury.”
Labs interested in Cyperus can request a demonstration at contrariomedical.com.
