Sonography Guided Embryo Transfer For In Vitro Fertilization

Abstract

The present provides novel systems and methods to facilitate embryo transfer, to maximize implantation rates and to improve pregnancy rates resulting from In Vitro fertilization.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of increasing pregnancy rates during in vitro fertilization, comprising determining the MIP point and guiding an implant catheter to said MIP point. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said MIP point is the intersection of two lines extending from the fallopian tubes in the uterine cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said MIP point is located where the endometrial lining is the thickest. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an ultrasound machine is used to determine said MIP point and to guide the implant catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said MIP point is determined by an integrated system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said integrated system comprises an ultrasound machine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said integrated system comprises a 4D ultrasound machine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said integrated system comprises a 3D ultrasound machine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said integrated system comprises a General Electric Voluson 730 sonography machine. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said integrated system determines and displays the MIP point by calculating the intersection of the lines extending from the fallopian tubes and identifying the area of thickest endometrial lining. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising (a) expanding the bladder an appropriate amount to shift the uterus from an anteflexed position to lessen the angle between the cervix and the uterine cavity, (b) locating the MIP point using three dimensional sonography and (c) implanting the embryo in the uterus with the aid of four dimensional sonography. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said angle may be viewed using two dimensional sonography. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said angle is approximately 30 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . An integrated system for calculating and displaying the MIP point comprising an ultrasound machine. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said ultrasound machine is a 4D ultrasound machine. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said ultrasound machine is a 3D ultrasound machine. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said ultrasound machine is a General Electric Voluson 730 sonography machine. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said system determines and displays the MIP point by calculating the intersection of the lines extending from the fallopian tubes and identifying the area of thickest endometrial lining.