Methods and apparatus for selectively processing eggs having identified characteristics

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.

1 . A method of processing eggs having an identified characteristic, comprising: 
 extracting material from each of a plurality of eggs;    assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify eggs having a characteristic; and    selectively processing eggs identified as having the characteristic.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 identifying live eggs among the plurality of eggs prior to extracting material; and    extracting material from eggs identified as live eggs.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein identifying live eggs comprises candling the eggs.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein identifying live eggs comprises: 
 illuminating each egg with light from a light source, wherein the light includes light in both visible and infrared wavelengths;    receiving light passing through each egg at a detector positioned adjacent each egg;    determining intensity of the received light at selected ones of the visible and infrared wavelengths for each egg;    generating a spectrum for each egg that represents light intensity at the plurality of visible and infrared wavelengths; and    comparing the generated spectrum for each egg with a spectrum associated with a live egg to identify live eggs.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of illuminating each egg with light comprises illuminating each egg with light at wavelengths of between about three hundred nanometers and about eleven hundred nanometers (300 nm-1,100 nm).  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein identifying live eggs comprises: 
 measuring the opacities of the plurality of eggs;    measuring the temperatures of the plurality of eggs; and    identifying live eggs using the measured opacities and temperatures.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein extracting material from the eggs comprises extracting allantoic fluid, amnion, yolk, shell, albumen, tissue, membrane and/or blood from the eggs.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein extracting material from the eggs comprises: 
 positioning each of the eggs in a generally horizontal orientation;    inserting a probe into each egg through the shell of the egg; and    withdrawing a sample of allantoic fluid from the allantois of each egg via each probe.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein positioning each of the eggs in a generally horizontal orientation comprises positioning each of the eggs such that a long axis of each egg is oriented at an angle between about 10 degrees and about 180 degrees from vertical, wherein zero degrees vertical is defined by a large end of an egg in a vertically upward position.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 repositioning each of the eggs from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation after allantoic fluid is withdrawn therefrom; and    moving the generally vertically oriented eggs to another location.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify one or more characteristics of each egg comprises detecting a presence of an estrogenic compound in the extracted allantoic fluid.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein detecting a presence of an estrogenic compound comprises: 
 dispensing allantoic fluid extracted from the 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 signal of the allantoic fluid; and    detecting a color signal change of the allantoic fluid within the receptacles.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein detecting a presence of an estrogenic compound comprises: 
 dispensing allantoic fluid extracted from the eggs into respective receptacles, wherein each receptacle contains a biosensor configured to chemically react with an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and change a color signal of the allantoic fluid; and    detecting a color signal change of the allantoic fluid within the receptacles.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify one or more characteristics of each egg comprises identifying gender of each egg, and wherein selectively processing the live eggs comprises selectively injecting a vaccine into the eggs of gender.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising injecting a first vaccine into eggs identified as male, and injecting a second vaccine into eggs identified as female.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify one or more characteristics of each egg comprises identifying gender of each egg, and wherein processing the live eggs comprises removing eggs identified as having the same gender.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify one or more characteristics of each egg comprises identifying one or more pathogens within each egg, and wherein processing the live eggs comprises removing eggs identified as having one or more pathogens.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify one or more characteristics of each egg comprises performing genetic analysis on each egg.  
   
   
       19 . A method of processing eggs based on gender, comprising: 
 identifying live eggs among a plurality of eggs;    extracting material from the eggs identified as live eggs;    assaying the material extracted from each live egg to identify gender of each live egg; and    selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs according to gender.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising sorting the live eggs according to gender prior to selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising sorting the live eggs according to gender after selectively injecting a vaccine into the live eggs.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein identifying live eggs comprises candling the eggs.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein identifying live eggs comprises: 
 illuminating each egg with light from a light source, wherein the light includes light in both visible and infrared wavelengths;    receiving light passing through each egg at a detector positioned adjacent each egg;    determining intensity of the received light at selected ones of the visible and infrared wavelengths for each egg;    generating a spectrum for each egg that represents light intensity at the plurality of visible and infrared wavelengths; and    comparing the generated spectrum for each egg with a spectrum associated with a live egg to identify live eggs.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of illuminating each egg with light comprises illuminating each egg with light at wavelengths of between about three hundred nanometers and about eleven hundred nanometers (300 m-1,100 nm).  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein identifying live eggs comprises: 
 measuring the opacities of the plurality of eggs;    measuring the temperatures of the plurality of eggs; and    identifying live eggs using the measured opacities and temperatures.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein extracting material from the eggs comprises extracting allantoic fluid, amnion, yolk, shell, albumen, tissue, membrane and/or blood from the eggs.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein assaying the material extracted from each live egg to identify gender of each live egg comprises detecting the presence of an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid extracted from each live egg.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein extracting material from the eggs comprises: 
 positioning each of the live eggs in a generally horizontal orientation;    inserting a probe into each egg through the shell of the egg; and    withdrawing a sample of allantoic fluid from the allantois of each egg via each probe.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein positioning each of the live eggs in a generally horizontal orientation comprises positioning each of the live eggs such that a long axis of each egg is oriented at an angle between about 10 degrees and about 180 degrees from vertical, wherein zero degrees vertical is defined by a large end of an egg in a vertically upward position.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 repositioning each of the live eggs from a generally horizontal orientation to a generally vertical orientation after allantoic fluid is withdrawn therefrom; and    moving the generally vertically oriented live eggs to another location.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein detecting a presence of estrogen compounds comprises: 
 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 signal of the allantoic fluid; and    detecting a color signal change of the allantoic fluid within the receptacles.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein detecting a presence of estrogen compounds comprises: 
 dispensing allantoic fluid extracted from the eggs into respective receptacles, wherein each receptacle contains a biosensor configured to chemically react with an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and change a color signal of the allantoic fluid; and    detecting a color signal change of the allantoic fluid within the receptacles.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein detecting a presence of estrogen compounds comprises: 
 dispensing allantoic fluid extracted from the eggs into respective receptacles, wherein each receptacle contains a biosensor configured to chemically react with an estrogenic compound in the allantoic fluid and produce a detectable signal; and    detecting a signal produced within one or more of the receptacles.    
   
   
       34 - 180  (Cancelled).  
   
   
       181 . A method of processing avian eggs, comprising: 
 extracting material from each of a plurality of eggs;    assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify eggs having one or more pathogens therewithin; and    removing eggs identified as having one or more pathogens.    
   
   
       182 . The method of  claim 181 , further comprising: 
 identifying live eggs among the plurality of eggs prior to extracting material; and    extracting material from eggs identified as live eggs.    
   
   
       183 . A method of processing avian eggs, comprising: 
 extracting material from each of a plurality of eggs;    assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify gender of each egg;    assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify eggs having one or more pathogens therewithin; and    removing eggs identified as having one or more pathogens.    
   
   
       184 . The method of  claim 183 , further comprising: 
 identifying live eggs among the plurality of eggs prior to extracting material; and    extracting material from eggs identified as live eggs.    
   
   
       185 . The method of  claim 183 , further comprising selectively injecting a vaccine into the eggs based on gender.  
   
   
       186 . The method of  claim 185 , further comprising injecting a first vaccine into eggs identified as male, and injecting a second vaccine into eggs identified as female.  
   
   
       187 . The method of  claim 183 , further comprising removing eggs identified as having the same gender.  
   
   
       188 . A method of processing avian eggs, comprising: 
 extracting material from each of a plurality of eggs;    performing genetic analysis on the material extracted from each egg;    assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify gender of each egg;    assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify eggs having one or more pathogens therewithin; and    removing eggs identified as having one or more pathogens.    
   
   
       189 . The method of  claim 188 , further comprising: 
 identifying live eggs among the plurality of eggs prior to extracting material; and    extracting material from eggs identified as live eggs.    
   
   
       190 . The method of  claim 188 , further comprising selectively injecting a vaccine into the eggs based on gender.  
   
   
       191 . The method of  claim 190 , further comprising injecting a first vaccine into eggs identified as male, and injecting a second vaccine into eggs identified as female.  
   
   
       192 . The method of  claim 188 , further comprising removing eggs identified as having the same gender.  
   
   
       193 . A method of processing avian eggs, comprising: 
 extracting material from each of a plurality of eggs;    performing genetic analysis on the material extracted from each egg;    assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify eggs having one or more pathogens therewithin; and    removing eggs identified as having one or more pathogens.    
   
   
       194 . The method of  claim 193 , further comprising: 
 identifying live eggs among the plurality of eggs prior to extracting material; and    extracting material from eggs identified as live eggs.    
   
   
       195 . A method of processing avian eggs, comprising: 
 extracting material from each of a plurality of eggs;    performing genetic analysis on the material extracted from each egg; and    assaying the material extracted from each egg to identify gender of each egg.    
   
   
       196 . The method of  claim 195 , further comprising: 
 identifying live eggs among the plurality of eggs prior to extracting material; and    extracting material from eggs identified as live eggs.    
   
   
       197 . The method of  claim 195 , further comprising selectively injecting a vaccine into the eggs based on gender.  
   
   
       198 . The method of  claim 197 , further comprising injecting a first vaccine into eggs identified as male, and injecting a second vaccine into eggs identified as female.  
   
   
       199 . The method of  claim 197 , further comprising removing eggs identified as having the same gender.  
   
   
       200 . A method of processing avian eggs, comprising: 
 identifying live eggs among a plurality of eggs;    extracting material from eggs identified as live eggs; and    performing genetic analysis on the material extracted from each egg.