Noninvasive vasculature detection using laser speckle imaging in avian embryos through intact egg in early incubation stage

Monitoring the vital signs of a developing embryo is very useful in avian breeding programs, especially during early days of incubation, so that dead or unfertilized eggs can be timely removed from incubator and new eggs can be placed in. A noninvasive system for detecting the vital signs of avian embryo through intact egg in early stage of incubation has been developed using laser speckle imaging (LSI). The system was based on the measurement of intensity fluctuations of speckle caused by the embryo's blood flow in the intact egg under laser light illumination. This system was found to be feasible in imaging the vasculature in the egg as well as confirming its fertilization or survival from the second day to fifth day of incubation while other reported noninvasive methods cannot detect vital signs of the embryo until the sixth day of incubation.