AU2004220713A1

AU2004220713A1 - Method of blood collection

Info

Publication number: AU2004220713A1
Application number: AU2004220713A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Udo Schindler
Original assignee: Serana Wa Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Serana (wa) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-10-15
Filing date: 2004-10-15
Publication date: 2006-05-04

Description

54963 HKS:DIA:JO P/00/009 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INVENTION ENTITLED Name of Applicant: SERUMEX PTY LTD Name of inventor: UDO SCHINDLER Address for Service: COLLISON CO.

117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: METHOD OF BLOOD COLLECTION Details of Associated Provisional Applications: AU2003905636 Dated 15 th October, 2003 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 0 This invention relates to a method of recovering blood from a slaughtered animal.

The collection of blood from animals is a very important activity. Animal blood products, when appropriately processed, provide a vast range of products used in

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0many industries.

In particular, animal serum is used as nutrient solution for culturing animal and human cells "in vitro" in research laboratories. Additionally, nutrient solutions of animal serum is used as a growth factor.

One of the main products is nutrient blood agar gels, which are the recommended media for primary isolation purposes in clinical microbiology for specimens of chest, abdomen and pericardium fluids, faecal specimens, surgical tissue biopsies, genitourinary specimens, urine and blood specimens. As an example, a typical blood Agar composition contains approximately five per cent of sheep blood added to trypticase soy agar.

With the ever increasing requirement to perform medical diagnostic procedures as well as an increase in the testing of many biological components substantial quantities of blood agar will be required by various research laboratories and testing facilities in order to perform these clinical and diagnostic procedures and as such there will be an ever increasing demand for the various nutrient solutions and growth factors that are derived from animal blood.

Clearly, then as there is an ever-increasing demand for research laboratories and testing facilities to perform various clinical and diagnostic procedures, there will be an increasing demand for the various nutrients solutions and growth factors.

Traditionally, the blood from a freshly slaughtered animal is collected by simply placing a bowl or other suitable receptacle beneath the cut. However, this process is not always suitable for the collection of blood to be used in the production of diagnostic reagents in that it can result in the contamination of the collected blood from contact with the skin of the animal.

One of the main sources of animal blood is that collected from animal slaughter houses, in which the animal is slaughtered in a conventional manner by first stunning the animal

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)3 _with an electric shock or blow with a blunt instrument. Then, once the animal is dead, the blood is then removed, or allowed to drain from the body of the animal.

_This process works adequately in many slaughter houses, however, under less than ideal conditions, the slaughtered animal may be left to sit for some time resulting in C 5 pooling of the blood to a side of the carcass, which therefore creates a problem or increases the difficulties in removing the blood from the animal. Additionally, as the ablood has been allowed to remain still for some time this then increases the chances of the blood coagulating, which again may hamper removal of the blood as well as affecting the freshness of the blood itself.

There are yet other methods for the collection of animal blood, some of which involve using a hollow bladed knife, which is inserted directly into the main artery of the anesthetized or stunned animal from which blood is to be withdrawn. The hollow knife is typically inserted into the aorta or other major blood vessel, which then results in the debleeding of the animal. This debleeding is the cause of death to the animal.

In high volume slaughterhouses, often a sticking or debleeding carousel is used.

These devices, as described in US Patent No. 3649996 and US5250004, which are both merely considered paper references, are integrated in to the slaughtering production line and employ a "hollow knife" which is well adapted to withdraw blood from the animal under these particular conditions. In these known carousels, one of the drawbacks is that the arrangement cannot cope or be used efficiently when the animal to be slaughtered is lying down, the animal has to be positioned in a hanging arrangement, usually by at least one hind leg.

The "hollow knife" that is used in such operations is usually made from stainless steel and has a flat blade suitable for piercing the outer skin of the animal as well as longitudinally arranged ribs that are positioned over an opening through which blood is drawn in, typically by a substantial vacuum. The hollow knife is only ever inserted part way into the blood vessel of the stuck animal, enough so that the head of the hollow knife is completely inserted. The longitudinally arranged ribs are considered essential to the operation of the hollow knife, as they reduce the likelihood of the walls of the arteryvein from collapsing over the hole or aperture on the hollow-knife through which the blood is drawn in. This results in a rather complex and expensive manufacturing process to produce the hollow knife.

4 0 _One of the problems of this particular arrangement is that due to the location of the hollow knife in the blood vessel and the size of the surrounding blood vessel, the blood can only be withdrawn at moderate speeds and in order to increase the Refficiency of the debleeding, a relatively strong pump is required. This often results in the frothing of the blood, which can cause complications in its collection. Additionally, c-i anti-coagulants are also used in order to facilitate the withdrawal of the blood without Sclotting occurring.

One of the problems of this procedure is that the hollow knife is inserted through the skin of the animal and debris may then contaminate the blade of the knife and the blood as it is collected. As such it is a requirement of the prior that the skin of the animal be wiped or sprayed with a suitable disinfectant or anti-bacterial solution.

When collecting the blood under strict hygienic conditions, such as when the blood is intended to be a food product, it is a requirement that the hollow knife be connected to a closed system, such that it feeds directly into a container. It is a drawback of this type of collection that often the animal may regain consciousness before dying resulting in distress to both the animal and workers. Additionally, the distress to the animal is said to change the quality of the meet to its detriment.

Furthermore, this process of collection of blood as described above from a dead animal is not compatible with many religious practices. In particular, this method of collection of blood is not suitable for animals slaughtered in the Halal fashion.

An object of this invention is to propose an improved method for the collection or recovery of the blood from a freshly slaughtered animal and in particular, a method of collection of blood that is compatible with the Halal procedures.

A further object of the current invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for the collection or recovery of blood from a freshly slaughtered animal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that facilitates the removal of blood from a freshly slaughtered animal that does not require the use of a hollow knife.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

0 In accordance with one aspect of this invention, although this need not necessarily be the broadest or indeed the only form of this, there has proposed a method of recovery of blood from an animal or at least a substantial quantity of blood from a just killed animal in which the method of killing has opened veins or arteries in the neck of 0 5 the animal to allow for the escape of blood, the method including the steps of inserting N a tube down the neck so as to reach and be kept in the heart of the animal and effecting 0 a withdrawal of the blood through the tube when in this position.

By positioning the tube in the heart of the animal this then provides an increased body of blood which can be accessed for removal. Due to the size of the various chambers of the heart, there is no requirement to protect the opening of the tube as it is very unlikely that the heart will collapse to cover the opening of the tube and prevent the ingress of blood, which would occur in the instance where a hollow knife was used in a blood vessel due to the relatively small diameter of the vessels.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for removal of blood from a slaughtered animal, the apparatus includes a needle section adapted to be inserted into an opened vein or artery of the animal the needle being adapted to substantially reduce the likelihood of penetration of animal tissue, a collection device suitable for the collection of blood and a conduit that allows for fluid communication between the needle and the collection device. So that when is use the needle is inserted into an open vein or artery of the animal to a point that a tip of the needle is located with in a chamber of a heart of the animal such that when suction is applied to the collection device the animals blood is collected.

In preference, the tube may be inserted directly down an open vein or artery.

In preference, the tube is attached to a collection vessel.

In preference, the collection vessel has a volume of approximately 5 liters.

In preference, the collection vessel is a bag of surgical grade material In preference, the bag is sterilized.

In preference, the animal is a sheep, goat, or cow.

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_In preference, the method is further characterised in that the animal is killed by transversely severing a front of the animals neck.

In preference, the method is further characterised in that the insertion of the tube is effected directly after the severing has occurred.

In preference, the tube carries indicia reflecting the approximate length of tube required 0to reach from the point of entry on the animal's neck to the inner chambers of the heart N muscle.

In preference, the method is further characterised in that the method of killing of the animal is in accordance with halal procedures.

In preference, the blood is removed from the animal by suction.

In preference, the tube is of a circular cross section shape and is of substantially the same day diameter throughout its length with at taper at its further end and where the internal diameter of the tube is within the range of from to 2 20 mm.

In preference, the method is for the characterised in that the animal is maintained hanging in a position during the method with the head and neck are uppermost with respect to way we remaining portion of the body of the animal.

In preference, the invention may then also reside in the blood resulting from the method of collection as described in any of the above paragraphs.

In a further embodiment, the invention may reside in the combination of a recently killed animal with a blood extraction tube inserted into its heart though the exposed neck region where the transverse cut has been made.

In preference, the tube has a needle located the end that is inserted in the animal.

In preference, the needle is constructed from high grade steel.

In preference, the needle is approximately 500mm long.

In preference, the needle is a surgical needle.

In preference, the needle section has a tip that is adapted not to pierce animal tissue 7 0 _In preference, the tip of the needle section is rounded.

In preference, the tip of the needle is protected by means to prevent the chance of the tip becoming blocked by the tip pressing up against a wall of the heart.

In preference, the means is a cage-like structure, which substantially covers or protects the tip of the needle.

In preference, the protective means is suitably shaped so as to pass along an artery or vein without damaging the artery or vein In preference, the tube is surgical silicon tubing, or silicon tubing suitable for use with food products.

For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment which shall be described with the assistance of drawings, it being understood however that it is not intended that the invention should necessarily be limited to any of the single features now described.

Fig 1 is a cross sectional view of a heart with the needle of an embodiment of the present invention; Fig 2 is a view of an embodiment of the invention inserted into a slaughtered animal; Fig 3 is a side view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is freshly killed animal that has been killed in accordance with Halal procedures. A hollow surgical grade needle section 20 attached to a length of silicon tubing, to allow for the blood to flow from the animal into a collection device, is then thrust toward the heart 10 through the wound hole on the exposed neck region that has resulted from the slaughtering process.

Once the needle section 20 is in the appropriate position, ideally in one of the major chambers of the heart muscle such as the right atrium 25 or the right ventricle 30 or the left ventricle 35 or the left atrium 40, the blood is then removed.

A sterile bagl30 or other suitable collection device is attached to the end of the tubing in order to store the collected blood.

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A slight vacuum is then applied to an end of the tube 15 so as to facilitate the removal of the blood. The vacuum can be applied in any number of ways known to those skilled in the art, but by way of example, simple water aspiration is found to be Reffective.

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Although we have found that applying a slight vacuum quicken the removal of blood from the animal, it is recognized that collection of the blood would still be effective Sunder the pull of gravity.

As shown in Figure 2 there is a freshly killed animal 100, with an open cut 105 exposing a major artery or vein leading to the heart 10. The needle 45 is then inserted down through the artery or vein and into one of the chambers of the heart 10. Blood is then drawn through 115 the needle 45 and into the sterile container 130 by way of the conduit 65. A slight negative pressure may be applied to the container 130 by way of conduit 125 to assist in the removal of the blood from the animal 100.

A benefit of this method is that as the needle is inserted in a chamber of the heart it is not required for the animal to be hung by the hindquarters to effect efficient removal of at least a substantial volume of the blood as with the use of 'hollow-knife' techniques, which only puncture a vein or artery.

A surgical needle 20 may not always be required to insert the tube into the animal body, indeed a relatively resilient portion of plastics material attached to the conduit 65appropriately shaped to provide a tapered end would also be suitable to perform the function of penetrating the heart.

Additionally, the conduit 65, when manufactured from flexibly resilient material such as PET, or other such polymers, may be have an end portion shaped so as to replicate the shape of the needle 45 shown at 65, thus providing a relatively inexpensive piece of equipment.

A further example of a type of needle that can be used in this method is shown at figure 3. The needle 46 has a shaft 70 with an end 60 that is rounded to avoid passing through either the wall of the artery -vein or puncturing through the heart 10. The needle 45 has another end 55 that is opposite to end 60 that is adapted to be attached to a conduit 65. This attachment can be either by force-fitting the conduit to the

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C) 9 end 55 or by use of a commercially available threaded fitting similar to that used in health services.

The needle end 60 may also have a caged structure covering the tip so as to reduce the chance that the tip will be blocked when pressed up against the side of the heart.

Clearly the shape of such a structure would be suitable to smoothly pass along the artery/vein so as to reduce the likelihood of the structure from being caught on the wall Sof the artery/vein.

The needle-conduit arrangement also has a stop member 140 that is securely placed along the length of conduit 65, or the needle 45 if the needle is long enough to accommodate it, at a position such that when the member 140 abuts or is close to the entry wound 105, that the that the tip of the needle 45 is in at least within the heart.

This then would provide a way of teaching those unskilled in the technique the appropriate depth of penetration required.

Of course the actual placement of the stop memberl 40 can be adjusted to suit the appropriate weight or size of the animal to provide the relevant indication. For example, when the method and apparatus is used to extract blood from mature bovine, the measurement lengthwise would be greater than that when blood was being extracted from a juvenile bovine.

In addition, an indicator is provided on the silicon tubing that is suggestive of the approximate length of tubing required to reach the heart of the slaughtered animal from the site of entry on the animal, that being the region of neck exposed from the slaughtering process. The stop member 140 can then be adjusted to a pre-measured mark to so that when it use it would clearly indicate to the operator that the tip of the needle had reached a useable depth within the heart.

While such an indicator may not be necessary to the skilled worker, the presence of such clearly may serve as an aid to those less experienced operators.

After all of, or at least a substantial volume of the animal's blood has been removed the needle 45 is then withdrawn. When the next animal has been prepared for blood removal, a new needle 45 and conduit 65 can be quickly attached to the container 130 by way of either press-fit or threaded engagement. Alternatively, if required a new 0 o compete system may be used for each slaughtered animal as the manufacture of the components required to effect blood removal are relatively cheap when compared to q that used in the prior art systems.

The collected blood may then be stored in a suitable environment for processing at a later stage.

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SThroughout this specification the purpose has been to illustrate the invention and not to 1 limit this. Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction and parameters of operation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of recovery of blood or at least a substantial quantity of blood from a slaughtered an animal that includes the steps of opening at least one vein or artery in the neck of the animal to allow for the escape of blood; inserting a tube with a needle section down the neck so as to reach and be kept in the heart of the animal; effecting a withdrawal of the blood through the tube, the tube being attached to sterile collection vessel.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the tube is inserted directly down an open vein or artery.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the tube carries indicia reflecting the approximate length of tube required to reach the inner chambers of the heart muscle from the point of entry on the animals neck, being the opened vein or artery.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein suction is applied to facilitate the collection of blood. The method of claim 4, wherein the needle section has a tip that is rounded so as not to puncture animal tissue

6. The method of claim 5, further characterised in that the method of killing of the animal is in accordance with halal procedures.

7. An apparatus for removal of blood from a slaughtered animal including: a needle section adapted to be inserted into an opened vein or artery of the animal the needle being adapted to substantially reduce the likelihood of penetration of animal tissue; a collection device; O 12 0 a conduit providing communication between the needle and the collection device; such that when in use the needle is inserted into an open vein or artery of the animal to a point that a tip of the needle is located with in a chamber of a heart of the animal such that when suction is applied to the collection device the animals blood is collected. 1 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the conduit is a tube having indicia thereon reflecting the approximate length of tube required to reach from the point of entry on the animals neck to the inner chambers of the heart muscle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the needle section has a tip that is adapted not to pierce animal tissue The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tip is rounded.

11. the apparatus of claim 10, wherein the tip is protected by means to prevent the tip from contacting a side of the heart

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the protective means is a cage structure that substantially covers the tip of the needle section.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the protective means is suitably shaped so as to pass along an artery or vein without damaging the artery or vein.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein suction is applied to facilitate removal of blood from the animal. The apparatus of claim 13, further characterised in that the needle section is approximately 500cm in length.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the tube is constructed from surgical silicon tubing suitable for use with food products.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the is of a circular cross section shape and is of substantially the same day diameter throughout its length with at taper at its 013 0 further end that is inserted into the animal and where the internal diameter of the tube is within the range of from to 2 20 mm. o 14 O

18. An apparatus for the removal of blood from a slaughtered animal, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 1 5 th day of October 2004 SSERUMEX PTY LTD c 5 By their Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO.