# US 8,539,713 B2 · Automated contamination-free seed sampler and methods of sampling, testing and bulking seeds > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,713 B2 - Document ID: US8539713B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/210,212 - Filed: 2011-08-15 - Published: 2011-12-08 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-02 - Assignees: Monsanto Technology LLC - Applicants: Kevin L. Deppermann; Jennifer Listello; Phillip Rahn; Angela Koestel - Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann; Jennifer Listello; Phillip Rahn; Angela Koestel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539713B2 ## CPC - G01N 1/08: involving an extracting tool, e.g. core bit - A01C 1/00: Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting - A01C 1/06: Coating or dressing seed - A01G 7/00: Botany in general - B26D 1/04: having a linearly-movable cutting member (B26D1/46, B26D1/547 take precedence) - G01N 1/04: in the solid state, e.g. by cutting - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) ## Abstract A method is provided for removing tissue samples from seeds. The method generally includes orienting the seeds in a desired orientation and removing tissue samples from the oriented seeds. The method may also include orienting the seeds in the desired orientation using an actuator, where the actuator is configured to position the seed in a desired orientation. In addition, the method may include orienting the seeds together in a seed transport and removing tissue samples from the oriented seeds while the oriented seeds are in the seed transport. Further, various operations of the method may be automated as desired, for example, to permit greater sampling throughput than was previously practical. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for removing tissue samples from seeds, the method comprising: orienting seeds in a desired orientation; transporting the oriented seeds to a sampling station; removing tissue samples from the oriented seeds at the sampling station; and correlating the tissue samples and the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed so that a one-to-one correspondence exists between the tissue samples and the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein orienting the seeds includes orienting the seeds using an actuator configured to position the seeds in the desired orientation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of an air-operated actuator and a mechanical actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising imaging the seeds; and wherein orienting the seeds includes orienting the seeds based on images of the seeds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing the oriented seeds in a seed transport; and wherein transporting the oriented seeds includes transporting the oriented seeds to the sampling station in the seed transport. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operations of orienting the seeds, transporting the oriented seeds, and removing the tissue samples from the oriented seeds comprise automated operations. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting the tissue samples and collecting the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed so that the one-to-one correspondence exists between each of the tissue samples and each of the seeds from which each of the tissue samples is removed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing the tissue samples in collection tubes and delivering liquid to the collection tubes to mix with the captured tissue samples. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein removing the tissue samples from the oriented seeds includes removing the tissue samples from a crown portion of the oriented seeds. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the tissue samples for one or more characteristics indicative of at least one genetic and/or chemical trait. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising isolating the seeds from a plurality of seeds; and wherein orienting seeds in a desired orientation includes orienting the isolated seeds in the desired orientation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising loading the seeds in a seed transport; and wherein transporting the oriented seeds to a sampling station includes transporting the oriented seeds to the sampling station in the seed transport. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein loading the seeds in a seed transport includes loading the oriented seeds in the seed transport in the desired orientation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein removing tissue samples from the oriented seeds at the sampling station includes removing the tissue samples from the oriented seeds at the sampling station while the seeds are in the seed transport. ### Claim 15 A method for removing tissue samples from seeds, the method comprising: orienting seeds in a desired orientation; transporting the oriented seeds to a sampling station; removing tissue samples from the oriented seeds at the sampling station; and collecting the tissue samples and collecting the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed so that a one-to-one correspondence exists between the tissue samples and the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein orienting the seeds includes orienting the seeds using an actuator configured to position the seeds in the desired orientation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising imaging the seeds; and wherein orienting the seeds includes orienting the seeds based on images of the seeds. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising disposing the seeds in a seed transport; and wherein transporting the oriented seeds to a sampling station includes transporting the oriented seeds to the sampling station in the seed transport. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein disposing the seeds in a seed transport includes loading the oriented seeds in the seed transport in the desired orientation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein removing tissue samples from the oriented seeds at the sampling station includes removing the tissue samples from the oriented seeds at the sampling station while the seeds are in the seed transport. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the operations of orienting the seeds, transporting the oriented seeds, removing the tissue samples from the oriented seeds, collecting the tissue samples, and collecting the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed comprise automated operations. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein collecting the tissue samples includes capturing the tissue samples in collection tubes and delivering liquid to the collection tubes to mix with the captured tissue samples. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising analyzing the tissue samples for one or more characteristics indicative of at least one genetic and/or chemical trait. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein collecting the tissue samples includes receiving the tissue samples in at least one sample tray and/or wherein collecting the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed includes receiving the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed in at least one seed tray.