Automated injection system for avian embryos with advanced fluid delivery system

An apparatus for automatically injecting eggs with a desired fluid such as a medical vaccine or a therapeutic preparation and which eliminates the pumping of fluids through conventional fluid handling systems and thereby increases the accuracy and precision of a volume delivery while eliminating much of the possibility of contamination of the fluid and the system, the apparatus comprising:

• a first horizontally disposed and vertically movable plate having a plurality of downwardly vertically disposed injection syringes fixed thereto so that the movement of said syringes follows the vertical movement of said first plate, each syringe comprising an injection needle, a fluid holding barrel, and a plunger for being moved within said barrel for drawing fluids into and forcing fluids out of said barrel through said injection needle;
• a second horizontally disposed and vertically moveable plate positioned above said first plate and connected to the plungers so that the movement of said plungers follows the movement of said second plate to thereby draw fluid into or force fluid out of said barrel through said injection needle as said second plate moves in a vertical fashion;
• a third horizontally disposed and vertically moveable plate positioned below said first plate and carrying a plurality of punches, each of which respectively surrounds one of said injection needles depending from said first plate for forming a small opening in the shell of an egg so that the vertical movement of said punches follows the vertical movement of said third plate;
• a fourth horizontally disposed and vertically moveable plate positioned below said third plate and carrying a plurality of flexible suction cups, with each of said suction cups respectively surrounding one of said punches which respectively surrounds one of said injection needles, and for being received in seated sealing relation against upwardly facing shell portions of an egg;
• a reservoir for containing fluid therein positioned underneath said injection needles;
• means for aligning said injection needles with said fluid-containing reservoir so that said needles can draw fluid directly from said reservoir;
• means for aligning a plurality of eggs with said injection needles so that each needle, surrounding punch, and surrounding suction cup is aligned with one respective egg;
• and
• means for moving each of said first, second, third, and fourth plates in vertical relationship with one another so that said injection needles can draw fluid directly from said reservoir, said suction cups can engage a respective plurality of eggs, said punches can form an opening in each respective egg, and each of said injection needles can extend into an egg and deliver fluid thereinto.

A method of automatically injecting eggs with fluids which eliminates manual handling of eggs and which eliminates the pumping of the fluids through conventional fluid handling systems and thereby increases the accuracy and precision of volume delivery while eliminating much of the possibility of contamination of the fluid and the system, the method comprising:

• (a) aligning the delivery tip of a syringe with a fluid containing reservoir;
• (b) inserting the delivery tip of the syringe into the fluid-containing reservoir;
• (c) drawing fluid from the reservoir through the delivery tip and into the syringe;
• (d) aligning an egg with the syringe;
• (e) forming a small opening in a selected portion of the egg aligned with the delivery tip of the syringe;
• (f) thereafter inserting the delivery tip of the syringe through the aligned opening in the egg;
• and then
• (g) delivering the fluid from the syringe into the egg.

A method of automatically injecting eggs with fluids which eliminates manual handling of egg and which eliminates the pumping of the fluids through conventional fluid handling systems and thereby increases the accuracy and precision of volume delivery while eliminating much of the possibility of contamination of the fluid and the system, the method comprising:

• (a) aspirating a predetermined amount of fluid into each of a plurality of syringes aligned with respect to one another by aspirating the fluid through the delivery tip of each syringe;
• (b) aligning a plurality of eggs under the plurality of syringes so that one syringe is aligned with each egg;
• (c) lifting the eggs while maintaining their alignment with respect to the syringes;
• (d) punching an opening in each lifted egg using a plurality of punches, each one of which is aligned with one syringe and one egg;
• (e) moving the delivery tip of each syringe downwardly into each respective egg through the punched opening;
• and
• (f) delivering a predetermined amount of fluid from the delivery tip of each syringe into each egg.

A method of automatically injecting eggs with fluids which eliminates manual handling of eggs and which eliminates the pumping of the fluids through conventional fluid handling systems and thereby increases the accuracy and precision of volume delivery while eliminating much of the possibility of contamination of the fluid and the system, the method comprising:

• (a) aspirating a predetermined amount of fluid into each of a plurality of syringes aligned with respect to one another by aspirating the fluid through the delivery tip of each syringe;
• (b) moving a setting tray containing a plurality of eggs under the plurality of syringes so that one syringe is aligned with each egg;
• (c) lifting the eggs out of the setting tray while maintaining their alignment with respect to the syringes;
• (d) punching an opening in each egg using a plurality of punches, each one of which is aligned with one syringe and one egg;
• (e) moving the delivery tip of each syringe downwardly into each respective egg through the punched opening;
• (f) delivering a predetermined amount of fluid from the delivery tip of each syringe into each egg;
• (g) removing the setting tray from beneath the lifted eggs and replacing it with a hatching tray;
• and
• (h) releasing the eggs into the hatching tray.