Deal could advance AI’s role in fertility services

AI firm Alife Health has agreed a partnership with the largest fertility services provider in North America to expand access to the use of AI tech for in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Inception Fertility is to pilot Alife’s recently launched IVF tool, which is designed to help patients better understand their chances of success with IVF and have more productive family planning conversations with their healthcare providers.

Its software will be used in laboratories around the country to enable embryologists to create digital records of every embryo, also using Alife’s ‘clinical decision support’ algorithm to determine the best embryo for transfer.

Inception CEO T.J. Farnsworth says: “We strive to stay at the forefront of cutting edge technology and utilise the most scientifically advanced products to enhance the patient experience. We are excited to partner with Alife and leverage the various ways that AI technology can improve standards of fertility care for all aspiring parents.”

Alife’s Success Predictor tool uses AI technology to generate personalised patient reports, outlining a patient’s chances of having a baby with IVF.

The tool also provides patients with personalised predictions for each stage of the IVF journey, including their expected number of eggs retrieved, fertilized eggs, embryos that will grow to blastocyst, and embryos that will be euploid.

“We see the potential for so much value in the way that this tool can improve the fertility planning conversation between HCPs & patients and help patients set expectations before starting their IVF journeys,” says Kat Stillman, chief product officer of Inception.

The Embryo Assist software is a microscope-integrated tool, allowing embryologists to easily capture embryo images and data to elevate laboratory quality-control measures.

It also has an AI embryo ranking feature, which harnesses machine learning to help embryologists determine which embryos have the highest likelihood of success.

Melissa Teran, CEO of Alife, says:  “We are thrilled to partner with Inception and push our aligned mission of using technology to enhance the patient experience forward.”