SpermView: the AI-powered at-home fertility test

Ce qu'il fait

Today, sperm analysis stays inaccessible and expensive. We are developing a compact and simple medical device, allowing for accessible at-home sperm analysis — a miniaturized microscope, coupled with an AI-powered algorithm integrated into a smartphone app.

Votre source d'inspiration

The contraceptive burden falls mainly on women, despite health risks of hormonal methods. The project was born after two engineering students discovered the promising research on thermal male contraception from the Toulouse University Hospital. With them, we reimagined a reliable set of products for safe contraception for men. The at-home fertility test is part of our product range, and emerged from the urge expressed by the current users of male contraception for accessible and affordable spermograms. With two other students, we created a solution that works like an at-home mini-diagnostic laboratory, fully guided by our mobile app.

Comment ça marche

To monitor effectiveness of male contraceptive methods, users have to do sperm analysis to ensure the count of moving sperm cells falls under the WHO defined contraceptive threshold (1 million sperm/mL). A small sample is collected on a slide and inserted into our optical device. The smartphone camera is placed on top to capture a video of the spermatozoids, and our AI software analyzes sperm concentration and mobility. Results are displayed in the app. The hardware uses simple optics : two lenses and a near-monochromatic LED for illumination, as reducing the device cost was the goal. The testing kit includes standard sample collection materials, along with a calibrated sample tray to ensure a known observation volume, enabling accurate concentration calculations. After processing the video of the moving spermatozoids, the software gives sperm concentration and motility using an algorithm trained on laboratory data.

Processus de conception

While testing user interest in male contraception, we identified regular sperm analysis as a key barrier to adoption. In October 2023, Julie and Eleonore began researching AI-based methods for cell detection, alongside low-cost optical microscopy, integrating the project in an Erasmus biomedical exchange program at TU Wien. Until February, teaming up with Jack, we trained an initial algorithm in Python using public datasets, and achieved preliminary results for sperm concentration, mean squared error of 0.62M spz/mL. From April to August 2024, with Mika, specialized in conception, we tested three 3D-printed in PLA optical prototypes, with 10mm and 12,5mm focal length lenses. Using cornflour as a sperm analog, we observed first images, but chromatic dispersion remained. Since January, a new version with integrated phone holder and appropriate illumination has been tested. In February, we gained access to samples through a diagnostic laboratory in Paris, to test on real samples and build our own dataset to further train our algorithm. Meanwhile, we’ve developed and are currently testing a male contraception mobile app for users of thermal contraception, to start growing a community. We're planning to add SpermView as a premium feature in the app when the product will be completed.

En quoi est-il différent ?

Unlike current fertility tests, our device is designed specifically for the needs of male contraception — repeated tests, affordable, and full-range of sperm concentration. Today’s market offers two main alternatives: laboratory sperm analysis, which is time-consuming and difficult to access in some areas; and at-home sperm tests, which are usually expensive single-use kits with limited sensitivity below 1 million sperm/mL — so inadequate for contraceptive use. The only existing competitor that allows repeated at-home use strictly does not provide data below 5 million sperm/mL and is not built for sustained use — the device failed after four uses in our testing. Our device is built for repeat use at home, optimized to reduce cost of the optical system with an AI-based correction. It covers the full range of sperm parameters, relevant for male contraception. The combination of accessibility, affordability, and medical relevance is not available on the market.

Plans pour l'avenir

SpermView is part of Cobalt Contraception, a startup we founded in 2023 to develop a full contraceptive solution for men. We aim to launch SpermView by 2027. Now, we'll finalize the lab-trained algorithm and build a labeled dataset with our own device images. We are connected with AI research institutes to enhance our algorithm, jointly applying for funding. By 2026 we’ll prepare industrialization, designing injection molds, sourcing components, and medical validation. The target is men using contraception who need regular fertility monitoring, but also people tracking fertility, and healthcare professionals in areas with limited lab access.

Récompenses

Spermogram: - Prêt d’honneur from the IMT Numérique Foundation Full solution for male contraception, including a contraceptive underwear: - Prix Coup de Pouce - National Grand Prix Pépite- French Ministry of Higher Education and Research - Prix Éco-Visionnaire - French Tech Deeptech Grant- French Public Investment Bank