Patent ID: 7336348

Claim:
An apparatus for determining the viability of an egg, which apparatus comprises, an emitter and a detector, the arrangement being such that, in use, said emitter can emit electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the blunt end of the egg, and the detector is positioned to detect at least a part of said electromagnetic radiation that has passed through the egg, the apparatus further comprising electronic processing equipment for processing an output signal of the detector to determine whether there is a superimposed cyclical variation in the intensity of the radiation leaving the egg corresponding to action of a heart, the existence of said superimposed cyclical variation indicating that the egg is viable, characterised in that said emitter can emit electromagnetic radiation at infra-red wavelength(s) but not at optical wavelengths and said detector can detect infra-red radiation leaving said egg, whereby said superimposed cyclical variation is detectable up until the animal hatches from the egg.