METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY PROCESSING EGGS ACCORDING TO GENDER AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
Methods and apparatuses for processing eggs based upon a characteristic such as gender are provided. Sample material is extracted from each of a plurality of live eggs. The extracted sample material is deposited on a liquid-immobilizing assay template and then assayed to identify eggs having the characteristic. The eggs identified as having the characteristic are processed accordingly.
1 . A method of processing avian eggs having an identified characteristic, comprising:
conveying a plurality of eggs to a sampling apparatus;
automatically extracting a sample material from the eggs using the sampling apparatus;
automatically depositing the extracted sample material onto a liquid-immobilizing assay template;
transporting the deposited sample material absorbed into the liquid-immobilizing assay template to an assaying station; and
automatically assaying the extracted sample material using the assaying station to identify eggs having a characteristic.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein automatically depositing the extracted sample material onto a liquid-immobilizing assay template further comprises automatically depositing the extracted sample material onto an absorbent paper-based assay template formed of cellulosic material.
3 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein automatically depositing the extracted sample material onto an absorbent paper-based assay template further comprises automatically depositing the extracted sample material onto an absorbent paper-based assay template having a hydrophobic barrier pattern defining an array of assay locations.
4 . A method according to claim 3 , further comprising disposing the absorbent paper-based assay template on a carrier substrate configured to transport the extracted sample material for processing.
5 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein automatically depositing the extracted sample material onto an absorbent paper-based assay template further comprises automatically depositing the extracted sample material onto an absorbent paper-based assay template having a plurality of hydrophilic pads discretely arranged on a substrate to form an array of assay locations.
6 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising dispensing an assay medium onto the liquid-immobilizing assay template, the assay medium being an ionic liquid configured to retain moisture at the absorbent assay template.
7 . A method according to claim 6 , wherein dispensing an ionic liquid onto the liquid-immobilizing assay template further comprises dispensing a deep eutectic solvent onto the liquid-immobilizing assay template.
8 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein automatically assaying the extracted material using the assaying station to identify eggs having a characteristic further comprises:
denaturing the extracted sample material;
dispensing an assay reagent onto the liquid-immobilizing assay template such that the extracted sample material and assay reagent form an assay sample;
sealing the assay sample; and
incubating the assay sample.
9 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein automatically extracting a sample material from the eggs comprises extracting material selected from the group consisting of amnion, shell, tissue, membrane and blood.
10 . An egg processing system, comprising:
a sampling apparatus configured to extract sample material from a plurality of eggs;
a conveyor system configured to convey a plurality of eggs to the sampling apparatus;
a liquid-immobilizing assay template configured to receive and absorb the extracted sample material from the sampling apparatus;
an assay template handling system configured to position the liquid-immobilizing assay template proximate to the sampling apparatus for receiving the extracted sample material therefrom; and
an assaying station configured to assay the sample material extracted from the eggs so as to identify eggs having a characteristic.
11 . The egg processing system of claim 10 , wherein the liquid-immobilizing assay template comprises an absorbent paper-based assay template formed of cellulosic material.
12 . The egg processing system of claim 11 , wherein the absorbent paper-based assay template comprises a hydrophobic barrier pattern defining an array of assay locations.
13 . The egg processing system of claim 12 , wherein the assay template handling system comprises a carrier substrate, the absorbent paper-based assay template being disposed on the carrier substrate for transporting the extracted sample material during processing.
14 . The egg processing system of claim 11 , wherein the absorbent paper-based assay template comprises a plurality of hydrophilic pads discretely arranged on a substrate to form an array of assay locations.
15 . The egg processing system of claim 10 , further comprising a dispensing device configured to dispense an assay medium onto the liquid-immobilizing assay template, the assay medium being an ionic liquid configured to retain moisture at the liquid-immobilizing assay template.
16 . The egg processing system of claim 15 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises a deep eutectic solvent.
17 . The egg processing system of claim 10 , wherein the assay template handling system is further configured to transport the liquid-immobilizing assay template from the sampling apparatus to the assaying station.
18 . The egg processing system of claim 10 , further comprising a treatment station configured to treat the eggs based upon the identified characteristic.
19 . The egg processing system of claim 10 , further comprising a sorting station configured to sort the eggs based upon the identified characteristic.