Methods and apparatus for harvesting vaccine from eggs

• US 20030227613A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoetis Services LLC (Zoetis Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Embrex Incorporated (Zoetis Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hebrank, John H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,850,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/52
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2760/16011 Orthomyxoviridae
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 7/00 Viruses; Bacteriophages; Compositions thereof; Preparation or purification thereof preparing medicinal viral antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. virus vaccines, A61K39/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/085 by candling

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for producing vaccine within a plurality of eggs are provided. Each of a plurality of eggs is illuminated with light from one or more LEDs. A detector is positioned adjacent each egg and detects light passing therethrough. Each egg is then identified as containing a live embryo or as being a non-live egg. Each egg that is determined not to contain a live embryo may be removed, either automatically or by hand. A seed virus is injected into each egg identified as containing a live embryo. After a predetermined period of incubation each live embryo is euthanized and amniotic fluid containing a vaccine produced as a result of the presence of a seed virus is harvested from each euthanized egg.

Claims

1. A method of identifying whether an egg contains a live embryo, comprising:

illuminating the egg with light from a light source at wavelengths of between about 650 nm-850 nm;

receiving light passing through the egg at a detector positioned adjacent the egg; and

identifying the egg as containing a live embryo if detected light is less than a preset value, or identifying the egg as a non-live egg if detected light is greater than the preset value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the egg with light from a light source comprises directing one or more pulses of light at the egg at wavelengths of between about 650 nm-850 nm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the egg with light from a light source comprises directing a pulse of light having a peak wavelength of about 695 nm and a half-power spectral width of less than about 100 nm at the egg.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source and detector are positioned on respective opposite portions of the egg.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the light source and detector are positioned on respective opposite end portions of the egg.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the egg is in day eleven of incubation (day-11 egg).

8. A method of identifying whether an egg contains a live embryo, comprising:

illuminating the egg with light from a first light source at wavelengths selected from the wavelength bands consisting of 830 nm-1000 nm, 710 nm-800 nm, 880 nm-900 nm, and with light from a second light source at wavelengths selected from the wavelength bands consisting of 700 nm-830 nm, 700 nm-775 nm, 830 nm-880 nm;

receiving light passing through the egg by a detector positioned adjacent the egg; and

identifying the egg as containing a live embryo if detected light from the first light source is less than a first preset value and if detected light from the second light source is less than a second preset value, or identifying the egg as a non-live egg if detected light from the first light source is greater than the first preset value and if detected light from the second light source is greater than the second preset value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein illuminating the egg with light from a first light source comprises directing one ore more pulses of light at the egg at wavelengths selected from the wavelength bands consisting of 830 nm-1000 nm, 710 nm-800 nm, 880 nm-900 nm, and wherein illuminating the egg with light from a second light source comprises directing one or more pulses of light at the egg at wavelengths selected from the wavelength bands consisting of 700 nm-830 nm, 700 nm-775 nm, 830 nm-880 nm.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second light sources are positioned adjacent a portion of the egg and wherein the detector is positioned adjacent an opposite portion of the egg.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second light sources are positioned on one end of the egg and wherein the detector is positioned on a respective opposite end portion of the egg.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second light sources comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the eggs are in day eleven of incubation (day-11 egg).

14. A method of producing a vaccine within a plurality of eggs, comprising:

illuminating each egg with light from a light source at wavelengths of between about 650 nm-850 nm;

receiving light passing through each egg by a detector positioned adjacent each egg;

identifying a egg as containing a live embryo if detected light for the egg is less than a preset value, or identifying the egg as a non-live egg if detected light for the egg is greater than the preset value; and

injecting a virus into each egg identified as containing a live embryo.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising discarding each egg identified as a non-live egg.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein illuminating each egg with light from a light source comprises directing one or more pulses of light at each egg at wavelengths of between about 650 nm-850 nm.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein illuminating each egg with light from a light source comprises directing a pulse of light having a peak wavelength of about 695 nm and a half-power spectral width of less than about 100 nm at each egg.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the light source and detector are positioned on respective opposite portions of each egg.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the light source and detector are positioned on respective opposite end portions of each egg.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

euthanizing an embryo in each egg identified as containing a live embryo; and

harvesting amniotic fluid from each euthanized egg, wherein the amniotic fluid comprises vaccine.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the virus comprises human flu virus and wherein the harvested amniotic fluid comprises human flu vaccine.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the egg is in day eleven of incubation (day-11 egg).

24. A method of producing a vaccine within a plurality of eggs, comprising:

illuminating each egg with light from a first light source at wavelengths selected from the wavelength bands consisting of 830 nm-1000 nm, 710 nm-800 nm, 880 nm-900 nm, and with light from a second light source at wavelengths selected from the wavelength bands consisting of 700 nm-830 nm, 700 nm-775 nm, 830 nm-880 nm;

receiving light passing through each egg by a detector positioned adjacent each egg;

identifying a egg as containing a live embryo if detected light from the first light source is less than a first preset value and if detected light from the second light source is less than a second preset value, or identifying a egg as a non-live egg if detected light from the first light source is greater than the first preset value and if detected light from the second light source is greater than the second light source; and

injecting a virus into each egg identified as containing a live embryo.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising discarding each egg identified as a non-live egg.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein illuminating each egg with light from a first light source comprises directing one ore more pulses of light at each egg at wavelengths selected from the wavelength bands consisting of 830 nm-1000 nm, 710 nm-800 nm, 880 nm-900 nm, and wherein illuminating each egg with light from a second light source comprises directing one or more pulses of light at each egg at wavelengths selected from the wavelength bands consisting of 700 nm-830 nm, 700 nm-775 nm, 830 nm-880 nm.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and second light sources are positioned adjacent a first portion of each egg, and wherein the detector is positioned adjacent a second portion of each egg opposite from the first portion.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and second light sources are positioned adjacent a first end portion of each egg, and wherein the detector is positioned adjacent an opposite second end portion of each egg.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of the first and second light sources comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

euthanizing an embryo in each egg identified as containing a live embryo; and

harvesting amniotic fluid from each euthanized egg, wherein the amniotic fluid comprises vaccine.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the virus comprises human flu virus and wherein the harvested amniotic fluid comprises human flu vaccine.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the eggs are in day eleven of incubation (day-11 egg).

33. An apparatus for producing vaccine within a plurality of eggs, comprising:

a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source is configured to illuminate a respective egg with light at wavelengths of between about 650 nm-850 nm;

a plurality of light detectors, wherein each light detector receives light passing through a respective egg, wherein each light detector is configured to identify a respective egg as containing a live embryo if detected light is less than a preset value, and to identify each egg as a non-live egg if detected light is greater than the preset value; and

a plurality of injection devices configured to inject a virus into each egg identified as containing a live embryo.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising an egg removal apparatus that is configured to discard each egg identified as a non-live egg.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each light source is configured to direct one or more pulses of light at wavelengths of between about 650 nm-850 nm.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each light source is configured to direct a pulse of light having a peak wavelength of about 695 nm and a half-power spectral width of less than about 100 nm.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a light source and detector are positioned on respective opposite portions of each egg.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein a light source and detector are positioned on respective opposite end portions of each egg.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).