System and method of automated extraction

Abstract

The present invention is an improved system and method of automatic extraction. The system of automatic extraction includes a processing line, a pan, a bile source, an imaging system, a targeting system, and an extraction tool. The processing line moves one or more pans with one or more bile sources on each pan. An imaging system and targeting system coordinate to target bile sources with an extraction tool using a coordinate system. A method of automatic extraction includes locating a bile source on a coordinate system, targeting the bile source, puncturing the bile source with an extraction tool, extracting bile from a source, and storing the extracted bile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system of automated extraction of bile from a bile source comprising:
 an imaging system configured to produce a field of view for capturing an image of a bile source;   a targeting system configured to receive the image communicated from the imaging system; and   at least one extraction tool configured to puncture a bile source and extract bile by suction,   wherein the at least one extraction tool is configured to move towards a bile source based on the image communicated from the imaging system.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the imaging system is equipped with a timer to capture images according a cycle time. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a processing line configured to carry at least one bile source, wherein the processing line is equipped with a variable speed drive to operate continuously and by variable speed. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the imaging system is equipped with a timer to capture images according to a timing mechanism synchronized with movement of the processing line. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the extraction tool and the processing line share a single power shaft such that movement of the extraction tool is synchronized with movement of the processing line. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the targeting system is attached to the at least one extraction tool. 
     
     
         7 . A method of automated extraction of bile from a bile source, comprising:
 capturing an image of a bile source;   targeting the bile source with at least one extraction tool based on the captured image of the bile source;   puncturing the bile source with the at least one extraction tool; and   extracting bile from the bile source by suction with the at least one extraction tool.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein targeting the bile source comprises moving and aligning the at least one extraction tool with the bile source based on the image provided by the imaging system prior to puncturing. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising placing a bile source on a moveable processing line, wherein the imaging system captures an image of the bile source on the processing line. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein moving the extracting tool is synchronized with movement of the processing line. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for automated extraction of bile from a bile source comprising:
 an imaging system configured to produce a field of view for capturing an image of a bile source;   a targeting system configured to receive the image communicated from the imaging system; and   at least one extraction tool configured to puncture a bile source and extract bile by suction,   wherein the at least one extraction tool is configured to move towards a bile source based on the image communicated from the imaging system.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the imaging system is equipped with a timer to capture images according to a cycle time. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a processing line configure to carry at least one bile source, wherein the processing line is equipped with a variable speed drive to operate continuously and by variable speed. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the imaging system is equipped with a timer to capture images according to a timing mechanism synchronized with movement of the processing line. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the extraction tool and the processing line share a single power shaft such that movement of the extraction tool is synchronized with movement of the processing line. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the targeting system is attached to the at least one extraction tool. 
     
     
         17 . A computer implemented method of synchronized imaging, targeting, and puncturing a bile source and extracting bile therefrom, the method comprising:
 capturing an image of a bile source from an imaging system; and   communicating to the targeting system the image of the bile source for aligning the at least one extraction tool with the bile source, puncturing the bile source with the at least one aligned extraction tool, and suctioning bile from the bile source.