title: Electrothermal branding for embryo labeling.
abstract: A novel embryo labeling technique based on electrothermal branding is developed. Two types of micro branding irons are fabricated and tested. One utilizes 25 microns tungsten wire as the heating element. The other utilizes surface micromachining techniques to fabricate polysilicon branding irons. The thermal behavior of the branding irons and the heat distributions in the embryos are analytically modeled. Micron-scale labels on unfertilized bovine embryos are achieved.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Easley
mesh_terms: D000823:Animal Identification Systems / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000379:methods; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*