Mechanical properties of cells are indicators of biological potential, quality and presumptive pathological status. Mammalian oocytes are particularly important cells from the point of view of testing their fertilizing potential and performing in vitro fertilization. However, only occasionally are their mechanical parameters measured.A new method for deformation measurement of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes has been developed and presented in this study. The method was used for multiparametric characterization of gametes using a MEMS-type microcytometer and a new methodology for determining cell deformability. The novel chip design, principle of operation, and fabrication processes are described in the study. Using original analysis of microscopic images with the usage of dedicated software and data analysis algorithms, deformation parameters were determined. Results indicate the relationships between parameters under the influence of cell compression and show that the behaviour of oocytes during measurements depends on the morphological quality of the cumulus-oocyte complexes they originated from.

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In this paper, an integrated microprism matrix for light coupling and optical sensing systems is presented. The matrix was fabricated by use of controlled negative pressure glass thermal reflow process by the use of monocrystalline mold. The single glass microprism had height of 250 µm or 350 µm with base width respectively 350 µm or 500 µm. The matrix was formed by 10 × 10 microprisms with distance between the microprisms from 150 µm to 400 µm. It corresponded to total area of the matrixes from 28 mm2 to 74 mm2. The controlled coupling of the beam into a substrate was obtained through determination of optimal geometric dimensions of microprisms and configuration of a measurement setup. Optimal position of the fluorescence induction light source in relation to the matrixes (0.5 cm to 4.5 cm distance, 30° angle of incidence) and microfluidic channel (4 mm) were determined. The fluorimetric tests (with excitation by 470 nm laser diode in all the experiments) carried out using fluorescein solution, microbeads and porcine oocyte indicated the possibility of using a microprism matrix for fluorimetric image-based 500 nm long-pass detection in lab-on-a-chip platforms.