The amazing use of your iPhone camera you never knew about… measuring SPERM COUNT
Scientists reckon it can all be done using a lens which costs just £5.30
MEN could soon be encouraged to masturbate and ejaculate onto their iPhone camera, in order to test how fertile they are.
A Japanese researcher, studying in Illinois, reckons he can create a iPhone microscope which will analyse semen samples for sperm count from the comfort of a bloke's own home – using a lens which costs just £5.30.
Yoshitomo Kobori travelled to Japan to find the lens, and an app to test for sperm is currently in development.
Speaking to ’ (UIC) news centre, Yoshitomo explained: “In Japan, fertility is a very big problem. Making babies is a national project.
“The lens is not made for a smart phone — it was made nine years ago.
“I’m improving the lens and thinking about how to attach it to a smart phone and analyse sperm.”
Yoshitomo thinks some men may feel nervous about going to a sexual health clinic, and feel more comfortable analysing their sperm from the comfort of their own home.
He added: “Men are thinking that semen analyses are an embarrassment, inconvenience, disgrace and waste of time. We need a semen test at home.”
Yoshitomo conducted the research during a two-year stay at UIC.
His former boss collaborates with UIC urology head Craig Niederberger, who helped arrange the visiting scholar position and described Yoshitomo’s research as ‘stunning’.
He said: “Imagine all of the amazing innovations that are just waiting — all of the technology that’s hidden away in different parts of the world, waiting for people to get together.
“When you can put pieces together in new ways to solve a problem — and when you can do that with something that’s inexpensive and readily available, then you’ve done something that’s really great.”
Yoshitomo and UIC researchers are also working to create better containers to collect and store semen samples.
The containers now used look smooth, “but to a sperm, there are a billion places to hide”, Niederberger said.
“Then the technician can’t get the sperm out when the time comes for in vitro and it’s very frustrating for everyone.”
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Yoshitomo’s containers use an antioxidant to help preserve the sperm when it’s frozen.
After his stay at UIC ends, Yoshitomo will return to Japan to focus on treating male infertility.
He said: “I want to absorb everything I can at the university.
“I’ve met people from over 30 countries in Chicago. Everyone has different cultures and different ways of thinking.
“I couldn’t have had these precious experience if I had stayed in Japan.”