Somatic cell analyser
AssigneeAgricultural Instruments Canada, Ltd.
InventorSteve L. Mangan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An on-line somatic cell analyser and a method for measuring a somatic cell count (SCC) are provided. A flow cell is connected to a milking hose and admits a constant volume of sampled milk into the flow chamber. A probe with two electrodes is positioned in a zone of optimal sensing inside the flow chamber, and provides a modulated signal according to the number of sodium ions present in the sample. A control unit receives the modulated signal, generates an ion count, and compares same with a plurality of SCC thresholds for classifying the sample in a quality category. A set of parameters characterizing the respective quality category, as well as the presence of mastitis in the animal, are finally displayed.
Claims18
A somatic cell analyser for on-line somatic cell count (SCC), comprising:
- a flow cell for receiving a sample of milk;
- detection means for providing an indication of the number of sodium ions in said sample and generating an ion count signal whenever the number of sodium ions is higher than a reference assumed to indicate absence of somatic cells in said sample;
- control means for receiving said ion count signal, comparing same with a plurality of quality thresholds corresponding to a plurality of quality categories, and classifying said sample in a quality category;
- and
- means for indicating a set of parameters characterizing said quality category;
- wherein said detection means comprises:
- means for generating an ac signal;
- a probe with two electrodes placed in said flow cell for modulating said ac signal according to the number of sodium ions in said sample and providing a modulated signal;
- a comparator for comparing said modulated signal with said reference to produce a ion detection signal;
- and
- a counter for converting said ion detection signal into said count signal.
A method for on-line measurement of somatic cell count (SCC) using a somatic cell analyser, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a SCC-ion count graph by measuring a multitude of milk samples under laboratory conditions;
- modifying said graph to a step graph comprising a plurality of SCC thresholds, each SCC threshold corresponding to a range of sodium ion counts and defining a quality category of milk;
- storing said step graph into a memory of said analyser;
- inserting a flow cell in the flow of milk for receiving a sample of milk;
- measuring a ion count signal representing the number of sodium ions in said sample;
- converting said ion count signal into a real time SCC;
- and
- identifying the position of said real time SCC on said graph for classifying the milk in one of said quality categories.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.