Time-lapse imaging
Also written as EmbryoScope
An incubator system with a built-in camera that takes continuous images of developing embryos without removing them from the incubator.
In plain English
It's a special incubator that takes photos of your embryos as they grow, without disturbing them by taking them out to check under a microscope.
Why it matters
The HFEA rates this as an add-on with no evidence it improves live birth rates for most patients, even though it can offer useful extra detail on embryo development.
Related terms
Guides that cover this
Sources
- Treatment add-ons with limited evidence, HFEA. Link checked 17 September 2026.
Written by patients, not clinicians. This page has not yet been reviewed by a named fertility professional, so it explains published guidance and points you to the original source instead of giving medical advice. It is not medical advice. Decisions about your treatment belong with your own clinic. Read our editorial policy and corrections policy.