Automated Insect Egg Sorting and Imaging for High-Throughput Bioassays

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for high-throughput methods and systems to control or eradicate insect pests of agricultural significance, as well as to screen candidate compositions effectively.

Innovation Solution

The development of methods and systems for sorting and imaging insects, including egg and larval life stages, using automated systems for high-throughput bioassays, involving rinsing, sterilizing, and sorting insects or eggs, and using automated systems for assaying insecticidal compounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual sorting methods are used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but productivity and throughput are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical sorting operations with an automated flow cytometry-based sorting system. The system uses optical detection and electronic control to automatically identify and sort insect eggs based on their optical properties, eliminating the need for manual picking and sorting operations while significantly increasing throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The sorting system is designed to automatically perform the sorting function without human intervention. The flow cytometer detects optical properties of individual eggs, the computer analyzes the data, and the sorting mechanism automatically directs eggs to appropriate wells, making the system self-sufficient and high-throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If high-throughput automated sorting is implemented, then productivity increases, but measurement precision and sorting accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidsorting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces imprecise manual visual assessment with flow cytometry-based optical detection. The system measures multiple optical parameters (forward scatter, side scatter, fluorescence) of each egg with high precision, enabling accurate differentiation between viable and non-viable eggs even at high throughput rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates real-time feedback through flow cytometric analysis. Optical properties of each egg are measured, analyzed by computer algorithms, and used to immediately determine sortability. This feedback loop ensures high accuracy in distinguishing viable from non-viable eggs while maintaining high throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If insects are sorted by viability, then assay reliability improves, but the complexity of sorting criteria increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassay reliabilityVSAvoidsorting criteria complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex multi-parameter manual assessment with automated flow cytometry. The system measures multiple optical parameters simultaneously (forward scatter for size, side scatter for texture, fluorescence for viability markers) and uses computer algorithms to integrate these into a single viability determination, simplifying the sorting criteria while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The flow cytometry system serves multiple functions: it measures size, texture, fluorescence, and viability simultaneously in a single pass. This multi-parameter detection capability simplifies the sorting process by consolidating multiple assessment criteria into one automated system, improving assay reliability without proportionally increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient sorting and imaging of insects with high hatch rates and accurate assessment of insecticidal compound activity, reducing variability and increasing throughput in bioassays.

Implementation Method 1

viable eggs sink and non-viable eggs float in a rinse solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity separation: Density Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The COPAS® system uses light scattering properties to sort individual eggs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS20250380676A1Methods And Systems For Sorting And Imaging Insects

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for sorting and imaging insects, including egg and larval life stages, useful for automated high throughput bioassays.