Australian IVF innovation achieves early pregnancy milestone in world-first study
Australian scientists from Melbourne IVF have achieved the first pregnancies using a pioneering 3D-printed IVF device, marking an important milestone for a world-first Australian innovation that will be presented this week at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), being held in London from 5–8 July 2026, the world's largest fertility conference.
The technology, known as microICSI, has been developed by Australian scientists to modernise ICSI, a widely used IVF procedure that has remained largely unchanged for more than 40 years, using a tiny 3D-printed device to gently support an egg during fertilisation.
ICSI is the gold-standard IVF treatment for severe male infertility. It involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg, helping couples conceive when sperm count, movement or function make natural fertilisation difficult. During the procedure, the egg is traditionally stabilised using a tiny suction pipette while the sperm is injected.
The new Australian-designed technology, developed by Australian company Fertilis, uses a microscopic 3D-printed "egg cup" that gently supports the egg without the need for suction, thereby creating a more supportive environment while reducing the number of movements required during the procedure.
Lead researcher Professor David Gardner, Scientific Director of Melbourne IVF and Virtus Health’s Group Director of ART, Scientific Innovation & Research said the technology emerged from advances in ultra-high-resolution 3D printing.
"The engineering achievement behind this technology really cannot be overstated. What we've been able to achieve at Melbourne IVF is something I'm incredibly proud of, and importantly, this is an Australian-led innovation," Professor Gardner said.
"ICSI remains the gold standard treatment for severe male factor infertility and has helped millions of people achieve pregnancy worldwide. While the technique is almost completely unchanged for decades, advances in manufacturing technology have given us an opportunity to explore whether we can further refine parts of the process."
While the study remains ongoing, researchers say the findings provide encouraging early evidence that the technology can be successfully integrated into IVF treatment.
"The current clinical study has now resulted in six pregnancies, which is a very encouraging early milestone for the research," Professor Gardner said.
"While these are still early results and the study remains ongoing, they provide important evidence that the technology can be successfully integrated into clinical practice."
Using a specialised form of 3D printing, researchers were able to create structures smaller than the width of a human hair, enabling them to manufacture a tiny device designed to gently cradle an egg during one of the most delicate steps in IVF treatment.
The microICSI device consists of a series of tiny individual cups that provide a supportive resting place for eggs during the procedure.
Before being tested in patients, the technology underwent extensive laboratory research and pre-clinical studies, where researchers observed less egg distortion, fewer manual adjustments and promising fertilisation outcomes compared with conventional techniques.
The current clinical study is evaluating whether the new technology can support fertilisation, embryo development and pregnancy outcomes comparable to standard ICSI.
To ensure a fair comparison, eggs collected during IVF treatment were randomly allocated to either conventional ICSI or microICSI. Neither patients nor treating clinicians knew which method had been used when embryos were selected for transfer.
The first ongoing pregnancy achieved using microICSI occurred in a patient who had previously undergone five unsuccessful IVF cycles. In this treatment cycle, embryos created using microICSI resulted in three embryos suitable for transfer or freezing, while the standard ICSI group produced none.
Across the study to date, both approaches have produced comparable pregnancy outcomes, with six pregnancies achieved from embryos created using the new device and six pregnancies from embryos created using standard ICSI.
Researchers hope to complete the study later this year.
Professor Gardner said: "The current clinical study has now resulted in six pregnancies, which is a very encouraging early milestone for the research. While the study remains ongoing, these findings show the technology can be successfully integrated into IVF treatment and warrant further investigation.
“Driving innovation and research is central to what we do at Melbourne IVF, and we're continually looking for ways to refine treatment and improve outcomes for future patients," said Professor Gardner,” said Professor Gardner.
About the study
The study is evaluating whether a novel 3D-printed egg-support device can achieve fertilisation, embryo development and pregnancy outcomes comparable to standard ICSI.
Early findings show pregnancy rates equivalent to conventional ICSI, supporting the feasibility of the technology as a suction-free alternative for egg stabilisation during fertilisation. The study remains ongoing.
ENDS