METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EGG CANDLING BY DETECTING EMBRYO HEART BEAT Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC G01N33/08 

FIELD: biotechnology.

SUBSTANCE: apparatus for egg candling contains: frame with free end; at least one light source; photo detector located on the free end of frame; cup mounted on the free end of frame with the possibility of contact with egg; processor. Photo detector is shielded from ambient light and direct light from the light sources. The cup determines the apertures through which the light is radiated and the aperture through which the light is received by light detector. The egg candling method includes: contacting an egg with a cup on the free end of the detector; illumination of the egg through said free end with visible light with the wavelength 600 nm to 740 nm; measurement of the intensity of the light coming out of egg using photo detector; generating an output signal that corresponds to detected light intensity; processing the output signal to identify cyclical and non-cyclical variations in light intensity. The cyclical variations in light intensity indicate the existence of an embryo pulse, wherein non-cyclical variations in light intensity indicate embryo movement.

EFFECT: tighter integration of sensor massive for interaction with multitude of eggs in the tray as well as operation of apparatus in conditions of increased humidity.

20 cl, 6 dwg