CZ22000U1 - Kit for sterile measuring bioimpedance in raw meat - Google Patents

Description

Kit for sterile bioimpedance measurement in raw meat

Technical field

The invention relates to a kit for measuring bioimpedance in raw meat using interchangeable electrodes, which eliminates the problem of maintaining sterility.

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% by weight is perceived by consumers as tasteful and juicy, while excessive content of intramuscular fat is associated with health risks for consumers. It is therefore important, in the interests of both 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 P. M.

Swantek, J. D. Crenshaw, M.J. Marchello and H. C. Lukaski, Bioelectrical Impedance: A nondestructive method to determine 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 20 Marchello, 1994 WD Slanger and MJ Marchello, Bioelectrical impedance can predict skeletal muscle and fat-like 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 substances (water, fat, etc.) or for determination of physiological phenomena such as blood flow, cardiac output, nervous activity and others.

The measurement is usually performed by stabbing 4 electrodes into the muscle of the slaughtered animal. Two electrodes are connected to an AC generator with a frequency of 25 to 100,000 Hz, but 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 fixed electrodes with pointed ends 5 to 20 mm in diameter and are either entirely exposed or surface insulated 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. The electrodes are attached to a holder for handling the device.

In order to reduce meat contamination, which is very susceptible to the development of pathogenic microflora, it is most appropriate to disinfect or use new electrodes prior to each electrode injection, which is currently difficult to implement.

-1 CZ 22000 Ul

The essence of the technical solution

These disadvantages are overcome by a kit for sterile measurement of bioimpedance in raw meat, according to a technical solution which consists of a non-conductive electrode carrier with conical conductor pins and of conductors which are connected to an external measuring system.

The tapered electrode conductor pins are fitted with replaceable tips, which are provided with a socket for connection with the conductor pin, whereby the individual electrode tips are provided with a collar which, when inserted into the cut-out strip, enables easy disconnection of the conductor pins with sockets. The electrodes are threaded and locked.

The kit according to the invention is characterized in that the electrode carrier is mounted on the measuring part of the production line and / or is used for manual bioimpedance measurement in raw meat.

The essence of the kit according to the invention is therefore that the electrode tips are replaceable - disposable or repeatedly autoclavable, since the kit consists of an electrode carrier with conical pins of circular conductors on which the individual individual electrode tips are provided with a socket for connection with pin. The individual elek15 trod tips are fitted with a collar for easier disconnection of the entire set, which, when inserted into the cut-out bar, enables easy disconnection of the pins with the socket and disconnection of the electrodes.

The inventor of the present invention has proposed a solution that uses disposable electrodes that eliminate the sterility problems of the electrodes, as is the case with conventional types of measurement kits. The kit according to the invention consists of an own electrode holder with conductor pins on which the individual, individual electrode tips are used, which are used once, allowing the sterility to be maintained throughout the use of the device and the kit is completed with a separate rail with cutouts to facilitate disconnection electrodes.

The advantage of the proposed solution lies mainly in the maintenance of sterility throughout the measurement and the possibility to measure impedance without the need for tip disinfection. The proposed device according to the technical solution can be used in routine analysis of intramuscular fat directly at the slaughtering sites as part of the technological line or it can be used in manual measurement. The entire measuring device is manufactured in the usual locksmithing manner, its operation is easy and provides accurate measurement results. Overview of the figure in the drawing

In the attached drawing, FIG. schematic section of a device according to the invention with 1 elek30 rod in the holder and with a cut-out strip.

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

Examples

Example 1

The kit according to the invention consists of a non-conductive carrier 6 of the electrodes 5 with pins

4 conductors connected to own conductors 9 for connection to the external measuring system, a stop for fixing the electrode pins 4 in the carrier 6, thread 7 for the locking nut 8, further electrode tips 1 with a conical socket 2, collar 3 for easier disconnection the sliding rail 10 with slots H is inserted below to facilitate disconnection of the electrodes 5 and which also serves to protect the electrode pins 4 from contamination. The carrier 6 may be attached to the measuring portion of the production line and / or may be used to manually measure bioimpedance in raw meat.

The device according to the technical solution was successfully verified during practical measurements in the premises of the Research Institute for Cattle Breeding, s ro, Rapotín, CZ, where the parameters of ease of change of tips i, changes of electrical resistance in pin 4 - socket 2 and sufficient stiffness were observed. To facilitate the insertion of the electrodes 5, a carrier 6 was used, with the electrodes 5 spaced 45 to match the spacing of the pins 4 so that the insertion could be performed in one movement. Achieved

The results indicate that the kit can be used in routine analysis of intramuscular fat directly at the slaughter points as part of the process line. This kit can be used to measure bioimpedance, but also other variables such as conductivity in live and dead animals and plants.

Claims (2)

1. A kit for the sterile measurement of bioimpedance in raw meat, characterized in that it comprises a non-conductive electrode carrier (6) with conical electrode pins (4) and conductors (9) which are connected to an external of the measuring system, wherein replaceable tips (1) are provided on the conical pins (4) of the electrodes (5), which are provided with a socket (2) for connection with the electrode pin (4), the individual electrode tips (1) ) are provided with a collar (3) which, when inserted into the rail (10) with the slots (11), makes it possible to easily disconnect the pins (4) of the wires with the sockets (2), the electrodes (5) are threaded (7) and 8). Kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode carrier (6) is mounted on the measuring part of the production line and / or is used for manual bioimpedance measurement in raw meat.