A device for detecting a presence or concentration of an analyte on an egg shell or in an egg, the device comprising an emitter, wherein the emitter is configured to emit light into the egg, a detector, wherein the detector is configured to receive light emitted from an indicator molecule within the egg, a controller configured to analyze a change in a detectable quality of the indicator molecule based on the presence or concentration of the analyte.

A method for detecting a state of an egg, the method comprising: illuminating an egg with a plurality of light pulses, each one of said plurality of light pulses having: a wavelength between about 400 nanometer (nm) and about 1500 nm, a width between about 0.5 picoseconds (ps) and about 500 ps, and an intensity between about 0.1 milliJoule (mJ) and about 100 mJ; capturing a reflection of at least a portion of the plurality of light pulses at a time delay corresponding to light reflected from within said egg in an interval of between about 1 mm and about 20 mm; analyzing the captured reflection to determine at least one spectrum of each of said plurality of light pulses; and classifying at least one of a gender and a fertility state of said egg according to said at least one spectrum.

An egg identification system for determining viability of an avian egg is provided. Such a system includes an emitter assembly configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined wavelength toward an egg. A detector assembly is spaced-apart from the emitter assembly and configured to detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the egg. A light controlling assembly is positioned proximate to the emitter assembly. The light controlling assembly includes an absorbing layer configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation at the predetermined wavelength. The absorbing layer defines an opening through which electromagnetic radiation emitted from the emitter assembly is capable of passing therethrough toward the egg. A processor is configured to process an output signal of the detector assembly to determine viability of the egg. An associated method is also provided.

A method and system are presented for use in examining an egg by monitoring radiation response from the egg during an incubation period. The monitoring comprises analyzing measured data indicative of the radiation response from the egg being detected at different time intervals of an incubation period, identifying predetermined dynamics in intensity variations of said radiation response during the different time intervals, and identifying in different time intervals presence of an alive embryo in said egg, and development stages and age of the embryo being developed.

Disclosed is a device for contactless measuring of an embryo's heart rate in an egg whereby infrared light is sent in the egg by one light source, and the reflection of that light is detected by one or more light sensors and converted into a signal representative for the heart rate, whereby a shield is provided to avoid light that is reflected on the egg shell interfering with the light sensors. The shield is provided at the light source and not at the light sensors, whereby a light tube is provided between the light source and the egg and the light tube is internally dimensioned and positioned such that a focused light spot is directed on the egg, and the light tube is dimensioned and positioned such that light reflected on the surface of the egg on the level of the light spot cannot directly reach the light sensors.

An egg identification system for determining viability of an avian egg is provided. Such a system includes an emitter assembly configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined wavelength toward an egg. A detector assembly is spaced-apart from the emitter assembly and configured to detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the egg. A light controlling assembly is positioned proximate to the emitter assembly. The light controlling assembly includes an absorbing layer configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation at the predetermined wavelength. The absorbing layer defines an opening through which electromagnetic radiation emitted from the emitter assembly is capable of passing therethrough toward the egg. A processor is configured to process an output signal of the detector assembly to determine viability of the egg. An associated method is also provided.

A method for detecting a state of an egg, the method comprising: illuminating an egg with a plurality of light pulses, each one of said plurality of light pulses having: a wavelength between about 400 nanometer (nm) and about 1500 nm, a width between about 0.5 picoseconds (ps) and about 500 ps, and an intensity between about 0.1 milliJoule (mJ) and about 100 mJ; capturing a reflection of at least a portion of the plurality of light pulses at a time delay corresponding to light reflected from within said egg in an interval of between about 1 mm and about 20 mm; analyzing the captured reflection to determine at least one spectrum of each of said plurality of light pulses; and classifying at least one of a gender and a fertility state of said egg according to said at least one spectrum.

Described is a non-invasive method of determining one or more properties of an avian egg, in particular a chicken egg, and/or one or more properties of an avian embryo, in particular a chicken embryo, inside the egg, using near IR spectroscopy. More specifically, it is described herein a non-invasive method of determining the sex of an avian embryo, in particular a chicken embryo, inside the egg. Furthermore described herein is a system for non-invasively determining one or more properties of an avian egg, in particular a chicken egg, and/or one or more properties of an avian embryo, in particular a chicken embryo, inside the egg, as well as the use of a spectrometer selected from a Multi Channel Spectrometer, a Compact Grating Spectrometer and a Monolithic Miniature Spectrometer, in a system described herein.

A method and system are presented for use in examining an egg by monitoring radiation response from the egg during an incubation period. The monitoring comprises analyzing measured data indicative of the radiation response from the egg being detected at different time intervals of an incubation period, identifying predetermined dynamics in intensity variations of said radiation response during the different time intervals, and identifying in different time intervals presence of an alive embryo in said egg, and development stages and age of the embryo being developed.

An optical method of examining the liquid content of an egg by illuminating the egg, which results in illumination intensity distribution to appear on the eggshell of the egg, the illumination intensity distribution is dependent on both the structure of the eggshell and the nature of the egg's contents, the method comprising obtaining at various intervals of time images of the eggshell surface with illumination intensity distribution, wherein at each time interval a force acting on the egg is changed in such a way that the force change does not have any observable effect on the eggshell, but causes a change in the liquid contents of the egg, either in the position of the contents as a whole or in the position of particles within the liquid contents, thus changing the illumination intensity distribution appearing on the eggshell, comparing the obtained images of the eggshell and identifying differences in illumination intensity distributions, thus allowing optical examination of egg's liquid content with minimal optical interference from illumination intensity distribution of the eggshell.