Patent ID: 7289196
Filing Date: 2007-10-30
Classification: A01K,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of determining the viability of an egg, which method comprises the steps of: (a) causing electromagnetic radiation to impinge upon the egg, the electromagnetic radiation having one or more wavelengths in the infra-red part of the spectrum; (b) receiving at least a part of the infra-red radiation that has passed through the egg and generating an output signal representative of the received infra-red radiation; (c) processing said output signal to determine whether there is a cyclical variation in the intensity of the infra-red radiation leaving the egg corresponding to action of a heart, the existence of said cyclical variation indicating that the egg is viable; and (d) providing an output result of the viability of the egg as determined by step (c); wherein step (a) is performed by directing infra-red radiation so that it passes through the shell for reflection from the allanto-chorion adjacent an inner surface of said shell, and step (b) is performed by receiving any infra-red radiation so reflected.