Butchering – Modelling – Visceral cavity closure
Patent
1997-01-02
1998-11-03
Little, Willis
Butchering
Modelling
Visceral cavity closure
138 89, A22B 514
Patent
active
058300538
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to sealing of the oesophagus in a slaughtered animal.
The sealing of the oesophagus in a slaughtered animal is needed to contain the contents of the rumen and prevent contamination of the surfaces of edible organs and tissues during the dressing process. Of particular concern is the tongue and head meat and also preventing cross contamination of other carcasses.
Presently used techniques or apparatus used for sealing or closing the oesophagus include: piece of string to prevent escape of the contents of the paunch; up the oesophagus to the rumen leaving the clip at the junction of the oesophagus and the rumen where it constricts and closes the oesophagus; and by severing the oesophagus, the severed end being inserted through the end of the rodding tool and through the rubber ring, after which the rod with the ring on the end is pushed up the oesophagus to the paunch where the elastrator ring is released to clamp and seal the oesophagus.
All of these prior systems require the making of incisions through the animal's hide in the neck area so as to gain access to the oesophagus. The possibility of contamination of the sterile surfaces of the carcass is greatest during such hide opening operations.
There have been proposals to seal the oesophagus by insertion of a plug having a shape and size to fit tightly in the oesophagus and resist dislodgment. Patent specification Nos. AU-46231/79 and WO-94/17669 show such systems, however such plugs are not widely accepted and used because they are believed to be unreliable in effectively sealing the oesophagus or remaining in position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an effective oesophagus seal and a sealing system which can eliminate the need for knife work on the carcass.
According to the present invention there is provided an oesophagus seal for sealing the oesophagus in a slaughtered animal, the oesophagus seal comprising a plug for insertion into the oesophagus to a point where sealing of the oesophagus is desired, and a retainer associated with the plug for internally engaging tissues of the oesophagus to resist disengagement of the plug by holding or retaining the plug in position to seal the oesophagus, the retainer comprising a clamp which is operative to clamp internal tissues of the oesophagus.
By providing an oesophagus seal according to the present invention, it is possible to insert and apply the sealing device internally in the oesophagus, e.g. through the animal's oral cavity, thereby eliminating the need for knife work on the neck to gain access to the oesophagus as required in the past for the externally applied closures. The clamp enables the oesophagus to be reliably sealed and to remain sealed during handling and processing of the carcass.
Preferably the clamp is operative to clamp tissues of the oesophagus by pinching the tissues. The oesophagus of the animal comprises the tunica muscularis and its associated internal lining mucosa, the clamp being operative to clamp the mucosa by pinching internally so that the mucosa separate from the tunica muscularis in the region where the clamp pinches but without the mucosa being pierced or perforated.
The realisation that the mucosa readily separate from the tunica muscularis if pinched internally has led to the development of a preferred design of the seal in which the plug has an outer clamp surface extending completely around the periphery of the plug and adjacent the internal tissues and the clamp is operative to clamp the internal tissues against the outer clamp surface throughout its circumference so that passage of a fluid between the internal tissues and the plug at any part of the circumference of the clamp surface is prevented. Preferably the clamp is in the form of a clamp ring which is operative to clamp the internal tissues of the oesophagus between the clamp ring and the outside clamp surface of the plug. Preferably the clamp ring is operative to clamp the tissues by pinching the tissues between the clamp ring and the outside clamp surface of the plu
REFERENCES:
patent: 4320557 (1982-03-01), Speedie
patent: 4343066 (1982-08-01), Lance
patent: 5120266 (1992-06-01), Aubert
patent: 5643076 (1997-07-01), Heurman et al.
Brett Denis
Owen Jeffrey
Schulz Harry
Stapleton Paul
Vick Albert James
Kamrath Alan
Little Willis
Meat Research Corporation
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