Kitazato Corporation  

Fuji,  Shizuoka 
Japan
http://www.kitazato-ivf.com

• Booth: 2023

Kitazato Corporation is a global company based in Japan, dedicated to extensive research, develop, manufacture and market medical devices and media to support a wide range of fertility treatments, from IUI to PGT. We aim to contribute to the happiness and health of society by providing high quality products and services that help couples fulfil the dream of having a baby. This goal encourages us to develop new technologies and deliver the best quality products for the entire IVF Lifecycle.

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 Press Releases

• Kitazato’s wide Range of Products for Oocyte Retrieval and Embryo Transfer (Aug 06, 2021)

  Kitazato offers a broad selection of quality products that maximize success at every step of the IVF cycle.

  Our oocyte retrieval needles and ET catheters allow gynaecologists to more easily fulfil their IVF needs during oocyte retrieval and embryo-transfer.

  KITAZATO OOCYTE RETRIEVAL NEEDLES

  

  Kitazato’s single and double lumen Oocyte Retrieval Needles allow an efficinte and safe oocyte pick-up.

  An efficient aspiration pressure will maximize the oocyte recovery rate and reduce the risks of drastic temperature changes and mechanical stress to the oocyte.

  Less tissue injuries, faster pacient recovery

  Thanks to the quality of their steel and their original triple cut blade, Kitazato OPU Needle minimize trauma and tissue injuries, allowing a fast recovery of the patient after the ovarian puncture.

  Kitazato offers a full range of “Thin Wall” needles from 16G to 21G.

  Smaller external diameters reduces the possibility of bleeding and the risk of injuries in the uterine lining whilst minimizing stress in the oocyte during the aspiration.

  Laser made echogenic tip

  Kitazato OPU Needles have an echogenic tip marking that guarantees high visibility to the very tip for the correct approach to the follicle.

  Handle with positioning marking

  The ergonomic handle is provided with positioning marking that helps to control the needle blade’s position throughout the puncture process.

  Learn more about our Oocyte Retrieval Needles here.

  KITAZATO CATHETERS

  

  Embryo Transfer is a quick and simple procedure but also one of the most important steps in the IVF cycle. Choosing the appropriate ET catheter is crucial for a successful implantation.

  Kitazato offers different types of catheters to suit different doctor preferences and needs.

  EC-PRO ET Catheters offer control, visibility and smoothness to minimize trauma to the patient and maximize embryo implantation:

  • Malleable guide with memory to maintain its shape for a long period of time.
  • Smooth tip and friction-free materials to ensure an atraumatic insertion and better comfort of the patient.
  • Guide with a wide opening allowing the inner catheter to be inserted easily.
  • The approximation mark on the catheter helps to monitor the insertion in the uterine cavity.

  Precurved ET Catheters with 30º curvature and high flexibility ensure an easy navigation through the cervix in all kinds of anatomies.

  • Tip with a rounded bulb to reduce trauma during insertion.
  • Approximation marks on the guide and catheter to allow great precision in the maneuver.
  • Great visibility under ultrasound guide that improves positioning and precision inside the uterus during the embryo transfer.

  In addition to its wide range of catheters for embryo transfer and insemination, Kitazato offers the Towako® Method to perform a transvaginal ultrasound guided embryo transfer to the endometrium by piercing the myometrium.

  Discover Kitazato complete range of Catheters here.

• Importance of Aspiration Pressure for an Efficient Oocyte Pick-Up (Aug 06, 2021)

  ​Ultrasound-guided oocyte pick-up (OPU) is a well-established procedure during which ovarian follicles are aspirated with a needle connected to a suction pump. The suction pump creates negative pressure for aspirating the ovarian follicles.

  
  Kitazato OPU needles are manufactured with different sizes (ranging from 16G to 21G), allowing to choose a smaller diameter to provoke less pain and discomfort to the patient.

  The aspiration pressure required for an efficient oocyte pick-up varies according to different factors, such as the needle diameter, needle length and tubing length. Kitazato recommends using aspiration pressures between 100 and 225 Hgmm depending on the needle’s diameter. The thinner the needle, the higher aspiration pressure is required to maintain the same flow rate. An efficient aspiration pressure will maximize the oocyte recovery rate and reduce the risks of drastic temperature changes and mechanical stress to the oocyte. Therefore, it is important to notice that a higher aspiration pressure is not necessarily associated with any damage to the oocytes, especially if the the flow rate is stable and has been set according to the needle size and the manufacturer’s recommendations.

  Continuous vacuum suction should be used just before penetrating the follicle. The positive pressure inside the follicle is dependent on the size, shape and the intraovarian position of the follicle. As the follicle matures it produces more follicular fluid. This increases the intrafollicular pressure causing the bulging of the external surface, especially when the follicle has reached maturity. The pressure of the fluid in the follicle at the moment of needle penetration might be significantly higher than the normal follicular pressure. As the needle tip is forced into the wall, the deformation of the follicular surface will cause the pressure to rise even further. The blunter the needle, the higher this pressure rise will become, increasing the risk of the follicular fluid spurting out when the follicle is punctured. Some of this fluid will flow up the needle, but a significant amount could be lost between the needle and the follicular wall. If continuous aspiration pressure has already been applied before the needle punctures the follicle, only little follicular fluid is expected to be lost.

  A stable flow rate should be maintained during the entire procedure, because changes can induce turbulence. If turbulent flow is present, the oocyte may be tossed around, which could result in the cumulus cells being stripped off or the cracking of the zona pellucida. An intact cumulus layer is an important factor contributing to the resistance of oocytes to mechanical damage. Provided the aspiration pressure is maintained constant, the fluid velocity is the same throughout the needle and tubing line, if their diameters are also constant. Any diameter changes in the aspiration system (at the needle or in tubing line) will lead to sudden changes in flow rate, creating unwanted pressure changes and the presence of turbulent flow leading to mechanical stress of the oocyte.

  As the follicular fluid volume is aspirated, the follicle collapses which should be continuously monitored by the ultrasound in order not to lose any oocytes. If complete follicle emptying cannot be verified, the oocyte can remain trapped inside the cavity). At this point, the needle should be gently withdrawn without applying any negative aspiration pressure to avoid a sudden forward flow of the follicular fluid towards the collection tube.

  In conclusion, some of the most important practical considerations for an efficient and successful egg retrieval are:

  1. Setting the right aspiration pressure depending on the the thickness of the utilized needle (gauge).
  2. Applying continuous vacuum suction before penetrating the follicle.
  3. Maintaining a stable pressure throughout the entire procedure
  4. Avoiding applying negative aspiration pressure when withdrawing the needle from the follicle.

  Discover Kitazato Oocyte Retrieval Needles here.

• “Evaluation of Hypure™ Oil Heavy” a Study Released by Embryotools (Aug 06, 2021)

  Making changes in the laboratory may be sometimes challenging for embryologists. However, the implementation of new components that may improve the embryo culture system is certainly worth a try.

  When switching from a light to a heavy oil, there is a small learning curve. Manipulation of a heavy oil may result different at first until the operator gets used to it. However, this change will bring several advantages in the routine practice and outcomes. The increased viscosity of Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy allows to be poured directly into the dishes, avoiding the need to use plastic serological pipettes.

  
  Furthermore, the preparation of medium droplets underneath the oil can be easily performed to reduce evaporation during dish set-up. Both the movement of the micro-droplets and the probability of oil spillage are reduced with Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy, due to its higher viscosity.

  In addition, the level of peroxides found in Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy is very low and ensures a safe in vitro culture of gametes or embryos. Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy is a paraffin oil with complete hydrocarbon saturation that remains inert, whilst unsaturated hydrocarbon chains could become reactive and produce peroxides in the oil, which would result embryo-toxic during culture.

  
  In a recent study, Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy has been compared with some competitors’ oils. The “Evaluation of Hypure™ Oil Heavy” released by Embryotools SL has concluded that Hypure™ Oil Heavy improves embryo development rates and cellular count and offers better pH stability and lower osmolality than other commercial oils.

  

  Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy has the highest capacity to prevent evaporation, yielding significantly lower evaporation rates than other oils when cultured in dry incubator. Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy reaches the lowest osmolality (273.0 ± 5.7 mmol/kg) after seven days of culture compared to the rest of oils.

  

  The daily evaporation rate was significantly lower for Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy (+2.224 mmol/kg/day) than for other oils.

  

  The potential embryo-toxicity of each of the studied oils was assessed by performing Mouse Embryo Assays (MEA). Each group comprised an initial n of 21 embryos, and five replicates were performed per group (105 total embryos per oil). A 96.2% of the mouse embryos cultured under Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy reached the expanded blastocyst stage by the 120h end-point. Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy resulted in the highest number of blastocysts produced, compared to the rest of groups.

  

  

  The mouse blastocysts obtained after culture with Hypure™ Oil Heavy showed the highest mean number of cells compared to the rest of groups. The total cell number per embryo is a quantitative measure of embryo quality.

  

  

  Scientific evidence is key to determine the preferred choice.

  Choose science, choose Kitazato.

• Benefits of Kitazato Oocyte Retrieval Needles with Small Gauge (Aug 06, 2021)

  Smaller gauge needles are becoming the trend for oocyte pick-up as they reduce the risk of bleeding and trauma to the patient. And although the gauge of the needle is a determining factor for a good puncture, there are also other aspects that should be taken into consideration to ensure a successful procedure without damage to the oocytes.

  Kitazato offers a full range of “Thin Wall” needles with single lumen (from 16G to 21G) and double lumen (from 16G to 18G).

  Kitazato’s “Thin Wall” design provides a wider inner diameter in comparison to competitors’ needles with the same outer diameter. This allows oocyte retrieval to be carried out with a smaller gauge needle minimizing the harm to the patient. Thinner needles are ideal for patients with low response rates and natural cycles or working without anesthesia during the ovarian puncture.

  Another important feature is their uniform inner diameter which is essential to guarantee a continuous aspiration flow with constant pressure and speed resulting in less stress for the oocyte.

  The smaller outer diameter and the original triple cut blade of Kitazato OPU Needles contribute to a smooth and clean puncture that reduces the bleeding and the risk of injuries in the uterine lining and improves patient recovery after the ovarian puncture.

  The smooth echogenic marking that extends to the very tip of the needle provides high ultrasound visibility and a safer approach to the follicle. In addition, the ergonomic handle with positioning marker helps to control the position of the needle blade throughout the puncture process.

  Discover more about Kitazato OPU Needles

• Oil Overlay: Extremely Important But Often Ignored (Aug 06, 2021)

  An oil overlay plays an important role by stabilizing in vitro culture conditions of gametes and embryos in terms of temperature, pH and osmolality. Without the overlay, the medium evaporates quickly, even when growing in humid incubators.

  Mineral and paraffin oils are commonly used to overlay IVF media to maintain their stability throughout embryo culture, but their quality can vary greatly. Toxic elements present in crude oil such as unsaturated/aromatics hydrocarbons, short volatile carbon chains, peroxides and other undefined compounds could contaminate oils used in IVF laboratories. Furthermore, the polycarbonate lipid tail in mineral oil contains more unsaturated bonds than paraffin oil, a mineral product being therefore more sensitive to photooxidation and peroxidation.

  An oil overlay used to cover drops of media provides a microenvironment for embryo growth and serves as protection from external contaminants. However, the oil can also act both as a sink for toxins and as a source of toxins if its manufacture processes do not follow strict quality controls.

  It is well known that high levels of peroxides in oils may cause a detrimental effect on fertilization and embryo development. Bacterial endotoxins can also inhibit blastocysts formation and have been linked to decreased pregnancy rates.

  

  Washing the oil with ultra-pure water helps to reduce its toxicity by eliminating these contaminants and strongly increasing blastocyst developmental rates. Furthermore, washing and saturating the oils with ultra-pure water avoids critical components of the media getting absorbed into the oil and this affecting the concentration of the media.

  

  Kitazato Hypure™ Oils undergo stringent quality controls for sterility, peroxide value, endotoxins and MEA testing. Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Heavy is washed during its manufacture process and Kitazato Hypure™ Oil Light is double washed to ensure oxidation products are not present within our product and the endotoxin levels are kept under < 0.1 EU/ml before batch release to market. In addition, Kitazato Hypure™ Oils are subjected to a double MEA test to guarantee successful growth of more than 80% of mice blastocysts after 120 hours in culture.

  Kitazato is committed to provide you with top-quality products to give you the best choice for your patients and enhance your clinical outcomes in your daily reproductive practice.

  Discover Kitazato Hypure™ Oils here

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