Method and apparatus for counting somatic cells or fat droplets in milk
US7681523B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 17, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2015/1497
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for counting somatic cells or fat droplets in milk on-line during milking by an automated or semi-automated milking system comprising the steps of: flowing milk as milked by the milking system through a measuring chamber (59); illuminating milk that flows through the measuring chamber; and recording multiple two-dimensional digital images of illuminated milk that flows through the measuring chamber, wherein the images are recorded through a lens system (49) to preferably obtain a spatial resolution better than about 5 microns in the images. Finally, a somatic cell or fat droplet count score of the milk is determined from the images by means of digital image processing, preferably including the use of neural networks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.