Laser-assisted hatching improves clinical outcomes of vitrified–warmed blastocysts developed from low-grade cleavage-stage embryos: a prospective randomized study Cai-Yun Wan, Cheng Song, Liang-Hui Diao, Guan-Gui Li, Zhong-Jian Bao, Xiao-Dong Hu, Hong-Zhan Zhang, Yong Zeng Reproductive BioMedicine Online Volume 28, Issue 5, Pages 582-589 (May 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2014.01.006 Copyright © 2014 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Terms and Conditions
Figure 1 The developmental time points and the procedure of quarter zona-pellucida opening by laser-assisted hatching. (A) Low-grade cleavage-stage embryo. (B) Compact embryo. (C) Discarded low-grade cleavage-embryo-derived blastocyst (poor quality, score of CC). (D) Vitrified low-grade cleavage-embryo-derived blastocyst (high-quality and fair-quality, score >CC). (E) Creation of small hole (arrow) in the intercellular junction of the trophectoderm opposite to the inner cell mass by laser before vitrification. (F) Warmed blastocyst stabilized with a holding pipette at the 9 o’clock position. (G) Convex periphery of zona pellucida was treated with a lazer from the outside to the inside until 25% (between arrows) was open. (H) Re-expanded blastocyst. Bars=50μm. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2014 28, 582-589DOI: (10.1016/j.rbmo.2014.01.006) Copyright © 2014 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Terms and Conditions
Figure 2 Flow chart of the study. QLAH=quarter zona-pellucida opening by laser-assisted hatching. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2014 28, 582-589DOI: (10.1016/j.rbmo.2014.01.006) Copyright © 2014 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Terms and Conditions