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US 7,041,439 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for selectively processing eggs having identified characteristics
AssigneeEmbrex, Inc.
InventorsPatricia V. Phelps, B. Alan Chalker, II, William Hayes Ferrell, III, John H. Hebrank, Benjamin Charles McDow, Edward Atkinson Pomeroy, III, Jonathan Robertson, Johnny Mark Townsend
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for processing eggs based upon a characteristic such as gender are provided. Material is extracted from each of a plurality of live eggs, the extracted material is assayed to identify eggs having the characteristic, and then eggs identified as having the characteristic are processed accordingly.
Claims5
A method of processing avian eggs according to gender, comprising:
- identifying live eggs among a plurality of eggs;
- extracting allantoic fluid from the eggs identified as live eggs, comprising:
- positioning each of the live eggs in an orientation whereby an allantois of each egg is caused to pool and enlarge an allantoic sac under an upper portion of each egg shell;
- inserting a probe into each egg through the shell of the egg and directly into the enlarged allantoic sac;
- and
- withdrawing a sample of allantoic fluid from the allantois of each egg via each probe;
- detecting a presence of an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid extracted from each live egg to identify a gender of each live egg, comprising:
- dispensing allantoic fluid extracted from the live eggs into respective receptacles;
- dispensing a biosensor into the receptacles, wherein the biosensor is configured to chemically react with an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and change a color of the allantoic fluid;
- and
- detecting a color change of the allantoic fluid within the receptacles;
- and
- selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs according to gender.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.