Charity thanked for donating £33,000 'fertility laser' to hospital trust
A Shropshire charity has been thanked after donating a £33,000 laser to the county's fertility centre.
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The fertility laser, which is set to improve the survival rate of frozen embryos and improve the chance of patients getting pregnant, has been donated to the Shropshire and Mid Wales Fertility Centre from The League of Friends of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (LoF).
The £33,000 device is used to maximise the survival rate of frozen embryos and subsequently improve the chances of patients getting pregnant.
It shoots a laser beam at sperm tails to watch for a reaction to see if the sperm is viable. It can also be used to make a tiny hole in the outer shell of embryos, to ensure they freeze correctly.
The fertility centre, which is part of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), was gifted the Saturn 5 systems laser by the LoF after a successful bidding process.
Professor Jason Kasraie, consultant clinical cmbryologist and cndrologist, said: “We are extremely grateful to the League of Friends. The laser makes a tiny hole in the outer shell ofthe five-day old embryos, which are known as a blastocysts, ensuring they all fully absorb the freezing fluid.
“This allows the control and consistency that we hope will improve the survival rate of frozen embryos and further improve pregnancy rates for our patients.”
Amy Henderson, senior clinic cmbryologist, added: “We will also be able to use the laser for sperm samples with low motility. We can fire the laser at the sperm tail and watch for a certain reaction to see if that sperm is viable. This may help to increase the chances of a viable, healthy embryo.”
Paula Gardner, SaTH's interim chief nursing officer, said: “The work that the Fertility Team is doing to give our patients the best chance of conceiving is incredible. The laser offers us increased opportunities to improve the rates of conception, which will then hopefully lead to healthy successful pregnancies.
"Thank you to the League of Friends for supporting our hospital in finding new and innovative ways to improve the care we can give to our patients.”
The LoF fundraising chairman, Sue Skinner, said: “It was a unanimous decision by the LoF to provide the funds for the laser for the Fertility Unit. This is important and innovative work and we are very proud to support it.
“The laser was entirely funded through monies raised by the League of Friends fundraising committee over the year.”
