Assisted hatching using a 1.48‐µm diode laser: Evaluation of zona opening and zona thinning techniques in human embryos

Aim: We assessed the effectiveness of assisted hatching using a 1.48‐µm diode laser in human embryos, comparing zona opening and zona thinning techniques. Methods: A total of 56 day 3 embryos were assigned randomly to a zona opening group, a zona thinning group, or a control group. We then carried out assisted hatching using the OCTAX Laser Shot system (MTG Medical Technology, Altdorf, Germany) in the first two groups. In the zona opening group, the inner membrane of the zona pellucida was broken to create a full‐thickness opening. In the zona thinning group, the inner membrane of the zona pellucida was not breached. After the laser procedure, embryos were cultured to the hatched blastocyst stage. Results: Blastocyst development rates did not differ significantly between the three groups. In the zona opening group, blastocysts were significantly more likely to hatch than those in the control group (P ≤ 0.05) and no arrested hatching of blastocysts was observed. Conclusions: Assisted hatching using a 1.48‐µm diode laser in the zona opening technique increases the likelihood of blastocyst hatching in human embryos and does not adversely effect subsequent embryo development. (Reprod Med Biol 2006; 5: 221–226)