Development and validation of deep learning based embryo selection across multiple days of transfer

• Published in: Scientific reports 2023-03, Vol.13 (1), p.4235-4235, Article 4235
• Main Authors: Theilgaard Lassen, Jacob, Fly Kragh, Mikkel, Rimestad, Jens, Nygård Johansen, Martin, Berntsen, Jørgen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/114; 631/114/1305; 639/166/985; Blastocyst; Deep Learning; Embryo Culture Techniques; Embryo Implantation; Embryos; Fertilization in Vitro; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; multidisciplinary; Retrospective Studies; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Time-Lapse Imaging
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31136-3

This work describes the development and validation of a fully automated deep learning model, iDAScore v2.0, for the evaluation of human embryos incubated for 2, 3, and 5 or more days. We trained and evaluated the model on an extensive and diverse dataset including 181,428 embryos from 22 IVF clinics across the world. To discriminate the transferred embryos with known outcome, we show areas under the receiver operating curve ranging from 0.621 to 0.707 depending on the day of transfer. Predictive performance increased over time and showed a strong correlation with morphokinetic parameters. The model’s performance is equivalent to the KIDScore D3 model on day 3 embryos while it significantly surpasses the performance of KIDScore D5 v3 on day 5+ embryos. This model provides an analysis of time-lapse sequences without the need for user input, and provides a reliable method for ranking embryos for their likelihood of implantation, at both cleavage and blastocyst stages. This greatly improves embryo grading consistency and saves time compared to traditional embryo evaluation methods.