CZ2009746A3 - Apparatus to measure bioimpedance in raw meat - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for measuring bioimpedance in raw meat, characterized in that its at least one tip electrode (1) (7) connected to the housing (2) is spatially adaptable, is provided with an external spring (3), withdrawing the electrode ( 1) from the holder (6), wherein the housing (2) of the electrode (1) is caught by the nut (4) and has a socket (5) therein. The housing (2) also acts as a stop for the penetration depth of the electrode (1) into the raw meat and has holes (8) for accommodating the other adaptable electrodes (1). This device can be used to measure bioimpedance, but also other variables such as conductivity in both live and dead animals and plants.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a device for measuring bioimpedance in raw meat using adaptable electrodes that copy the shape of the meat and eliminate the problem of unevenly stabbed electrodes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Intramuscular fat has an important dietary and sensory role in human nutrition. The content of intramuscular fat affects the taste and consistency of the meat. Muscle tissue with a sufficient fat content of 2 to 3 wt. it tastes tender and juicy, while the low-fat muscle tastes dry and stiff. Conversely, excessive intramuscular fat content is associated with health risks for consumers. It is therefore important in the interest of consumers and producers to determine the intramuscular fat content and thus to guarantee the taste and health characteristics of the meat.

However, routine determinations have not yet been performed. Precise but time-consuming chemical determinations are not possible for these measurements directly in processing plants. Therefore, it seems ideal to use bioimpedance, ultrasound or infrared spectroscopy methods, of which impedance measurement seems to be most suitable for determining fat (eg Swantek et al., 1992 PM Swantek, JJ Crenshaw, MJ Marchello and HC Lukaski, Bioelectrical impedance: A nondestructive method to determine the fat-free mass of live market swine and pork carcasses, Journal of Animal Science 70 (1992), pp. 169-177.)

Determination of fat content in meat by bioimpedance measurement has previously been described (e.g. Slanger and Marchello, 1994 WD Slanger and MJ Marchello, Bioelectrical impedance can predict skeletal muscle and fat-free skeletal muscle of beef cows primal cuts, Journal of Animal Science 72 (1994) , pp. 3124-3130). Bioimpedance describes passive electrical properties of biological systems and is used for indirect determination of the content of substances (water, fat, etc.) or for determination of physiological phenomena such as blood flow, cardiac output, nervous activity and others.

Measurements are usually made by stabbing 4 electrodes into the muscle. Two electrodes are connected to an AC generator with a frequency of 25 to 100000 Hz, usually 50 kHz. Other electrodes are connected to the circuit measuring the voltage and phase shift relative to the generator phase. Impedance consists of a real and an imaginary component that corresponds to a phase shift. The meat impedance is determined on the basis of the measurement, which correlates with the fat content and thus it is possible to determine the fat content in a specific piece of meat.

Patented instruments for measuring bioimpedance, eg according to WO9901754A1 Apparatus and method for measuring the content of intramuscular fat in carcasses or parts thereof; W02006070169 Multi-electrode sensor for measuring maturation of meat / fish, comprising measurement electrodes for measuring electrical impedance of meat / fish, electronic instrument to measure electrical impedance of electrodes; EP0187392 Method and apparatus for determining the degree of freshness of pieces of food; EP 1253423 consists of two, three or more pairs of 25 to 150 mm needle-shaped electrodes with pointed ends 5 to 20 mm in diameter and are either fully exposed or are provided with surface insulation where only the measuring portion of the electrode in the distal portion is exposed. The electrodes are provided with a stop to ensure constant stabbing into the tissue. The electrodes are usually located in one straight line, but their spatial arrangement may also be different.

Such an arrangement of measuring electrodes is well usable in areas of the body with a large amount of muscles, where the electrode is sufficiently pierced, but if it is necessary to measure impedance on samples of irregularly shaped meats, respectively. Fixed electrodes do not allow for sufficient stabbing and the results of bioimpedance may be biased or biased. not measurable at all.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned disadvantages are overcome by the raw meat bioimpedance measuring device according to the invention, characterized in that its at least one spike electrode connected to the housing is spatially adaptable, is provided with an external spring pulling the electrode away from the holder, the electrode housing being captured by a nut and it has a socket.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that the electrode housing is non-conductive and the needle electrode.

The device according to the invention is further characterized in that there are holes in the holder for receiving further of these electrodes.

The inventor has proposed a solution that utilizes adaptable electrodes that follow the shape of the meat, which eliminates problems with unevenly stabbed electrodes. The device according to the invention consists of the electrode body itself, which is pushed out of the holder by means of a spring and thus allows, when pressed against the measured meat, to adapt flexibly to its surface, thereby allowing optimal electrode stabbing and uniform measurement.

The advantage of the proposed solution lies in particular in the possibility of measuring impedance on samples of irregularly shaped meat or in the form of meat. bone patterns (cutlets, ribs, etc.). The proposed device according to the invention can be used in routine analysis of intramuscular fat directly at the slaughtering sites as part of the process line or can be used in manual measurements. The entire measuring device is manufactured in the usual locksmithing manner, its operation is easy and provides accurate measurement results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section of a device according to the invention with 1 electrode in the holder.

The following examples illustrate, but do not limit, the device according to the invention.

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Examples

Example 1

The device consists of the body of the electrode 1 with the tip 7, the non-conductive electrode casing 2 acting also as a stop, which prevents deeper stabbing of the electrode 1 into the examined raw meat. Furthermore, an outer spring 3 permitting the flexibility of the electrode 1, a nut 4 defining the movement of the electrode 1 and a socket 5 for connection to an external measuring system. Several electrodes 1 may be placed in the holder 6 as required, which may be attached to the measuring part of the production line or used for manual measurement. On the holder 6, holes 8 are indicated for accommodating further electrodes L

The device according to the invention has been successfully verified during practical measurements in Agrovýzkum Rapotín, s.r.o., CZ. A four-pole connection was selected for the measurement, with 4 needle electrodes 1 (diameter 1 mm and length 30 mm) mounted on the holder 6 and connected to the measuring device. A 100 ohm 1% resistor was used as the reference resistor. Two accurate multi-meters were used for measurements.

24 beef samples were measured (after four measurements), measurement parameters were evaluated (repeatability, reproducibility of measurements, etc.). Furthermore, measurements were performed using advanced sensing and evaluation systems (measurements at six sample locations; data collection frequency 10kHz). The results were compared with laboratory determination of fat content. The achieved results show that the proposed device can be used in routine analysis of intramuscular fat directly at the slaughtering sites as part of the process line.

Industrial applicability

The new device for measuring bioimpedance in raw meat can be used for routine analysis of intramuscular fat directly at slaughtering sites as part of the technological line or even for manual laboratory measurements.

Claims (3)

NAROKY A device for measuring bioimpedance in raw meat, characterized in that its at least one electrode (1) with a spike (7) connected to the housing (2) is spatially adaptable, is provided with an external spring (3) withdrawing the electrode (1) from the holder (6), wherein the electrode housing (2) is engaged by the nut (4) and has a socket (5) therein. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2) of the electrode (1) is non-conductive and the electrode (1) is a needle. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that there are holes (8) in the holder (6) for accommodating further adaptable electrodes.