Embrex, Inc.

Eric A. Paul

Robert L. Ilich

Eric A Paul

Robert L Ilich

A sterilizing fluid passageway is defined by the annular space between a cylindrical injection needle and a surrounding cylindrical punch. A sterilizing fluid entry fitting allows the sterilizing fluid to be added to the passageway. In this manner, it will be understood that sterilizing fluid entering a fitting will travel through the passageway to clean the interior of a punch and an exterior of the needle. As an additional feature, however, the invention further comprises fluid exit openings that are adjacent to and partially above the lowermost portions of the punch, i.e., those portions that are most likely to enter an egg during injection. The openings permit a sterilizing fluid to travel from the entry fitting through the passageway and then to the exterior surface of the punch so that the sterilizing fluid sterilizes the passageway, the needle and both the interior and exterior portions of the punch that are most likely to enter an egg during injection.

Modular injection system for avian embryos

An injection apparatus that is particularly suitable for accurate and precise injection of eggs of varying sizes and that may be presented to the injection apparatus in somewhat different orientations. The injection apparatus comprises a generally horizontally oriented tooling plate with an opening therethrough, an injector resting generally vertically in the opening in the tooling plate with a lower portion of the injector depending downwardly below the tooling plate and an upper portion of the injector resting at or above the tooling plate. Means are included for raising and lowering the tooling plate and the injector therewith so that when the plate is lowered and the lower portion of the resting injector strikes an egg to be injected, the resting injector stops while the tooling plate proceeds downwardly until the injector disengages from the tooling plate and is free to move in a translational direction independent of said tooling plate. When the tooling plate is raised it reengages the injector and carries it upwardly and away from the egg.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Eric A Paul