Apparatus and method for isolating tissue from the intestine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tissue separating device for separating intestines from organs removed from an animal, particularly a pig, sheep, or cow, where the intestines are connected to the remainder of the organs via connective tissue. The tissue separating device comprises a guide device having at least one guide surface configured to contact the intestines, and a tissue cutting device configured to separate the connective tissue adjacent to the intestines. The guide device comprises first and second guide members movable relative to each other to form a gap configured to accommodate the connective tissue. The gap has a variable width. The tissue cutting device is configured to operate in the gap, and the tissue separating device comprises an elastic member configured to apply a force to at least one of the first and second guide members, the force of the elastic member driving the first and second guide members toward each other.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of intestine extraction from animal organs and tissues, more specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for separating tissue from an animal intestine in the intestine extraction process. [Background technology]

[0002] The intestines of animals, and in particular the small intestine which connects the stomach to the large intestine, are a valuable and highly valued natural product, since, if properly processed, they can be used, for example, as casings, containers or skins for sausages, and for other purposes. This is especially true for the intestines of pigs, sheep or cattle.

[0003] During the animal slaughter process, organs are removed from the animal's body cavity. The organs and tissues are then separated from the organs to be further processed.

[0004] In one of these separation steps, at least a part of the group comprising the intestine and at least one other organ, such as a stomach or tissue, is transferred to a gut separation station for separating the intestine from the remaining parts of the group or parts of the organ. The organs or parts of the group are suspended from supports of a mechanical transport device, such as a conveyor. The conveyor, such as an endless conveyor, comprises a series of supports, each of which carries the organs or parts of the group. By continuously or intermittently moving the supports, one organ or part of the group is presented to the gut separation station at the same time. The gut separation station is part of a so-called gut room for processing the intestines.

[0005] Traditionally, the intestines are separated manually at the separation station by an operator who holds a knife with a handle and a single edge, such as a razor blade, connected to the handle, and the knife and the intestines are moved relative to each other while remaining connected to the organ group or part of the organ group, so that the knife moves in close proximity along the length of the intestine, near the outer surface of the intestine.

[0006] In the intestine separation process, the intestine must be separated from the deformable fatty tissue that contains embedded blood vessels that extend towards and away from the intestine. These blood vessels are called "whiskers". In the removal of the intestine, it is necessary to ensure that the separation or cut is performed as close to the intestine as possible in order to remove as much fatty tissue as possible without damaging the intestine and to obtain an intestine with as short a whisker length as possible.

[0007] A knife handler or operator requires substantial training and experience to perform this task, which can take a relatively long time.

[0008] The working position required for the operator's hands to hold the knife is very unnatural and uncomfortable and can cause symptoms in the operator's hands, arms and associated body parts.

[0009] Patent Document 1 discloses an intestine separating device for separating fatty tissue from an intestine extracted from an animal. The intestine separating device includes a guide device for forming a gap together with a tissue cutting device operating in the gap. Fatty tissue connected to the intestine is received in the gap and stretched by the guide device. The tissue cutting device cuts the fatty tissue from the intestine while leaving hairs of a minimum length.

[0010] The guide device comprises two guide elements or two fingers, the distance between which is controlled by the operator via the manual control device. The manual control device is biased towards a fully open start position by a biasing force generated by a spring element. The guide elements are moved closer to each other by moving the manual control devices towards each other. The operator controls the distance between the guide elements by manually pushing the manual control devices towards each other against the biasing force. In use, the operator decreases the distance between the guide elements from the distance corresponding to the fully open start position to the desired distance based on tactile feedback from the device generated by the interaction of the device with the intestine to be processed. This allows the operator to process intestines of slightly different sizes, but the quality of the extracted intestine is operator dependent and the operator's hands become fatigued. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Dutch Patent No. 2015948 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] It would be desirable to provide a tissue separation device and method for separating tissue from intestines that reduces the dependency on personnel and reduces the burden on the personnel. Reducing the dependency on personnel allows less skilled personnel to produce high quality and consistent results, while reducing the burden on the personnel allows for faster work, fewer mistakes that lead to lost product, and / or longer work intervals between breaks. Reducing the dependency on personnel may also require integrating the tissue separation device into an automated system, where the tissue separation device is connected to a mechanical handling device, such as a robotic arm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to address one or more of these concerns, a first embodiment of the present invention provides a tissue separation device for separating intestines from organs extracted from an animal, in particular a pig, sheep or cow, wherein the intestines are connected to the remainder of the organs via a connective tissue, the tissue separation device comprising: a guide device having at least one guide surface configured to contact the intestine; a tissue cutting device configured to separate connective tissue adjacent the intestine; A tissue separation device comprising: the guide device comprises a first guide member and a second guide member movable relative to one another to form a gap configured to receive the connective tissue, the gap having a variable width; a tissue cutting device configured to operate in the gap; The tissue separation device is characterized in that the tissue separation device includes an elastic member configured to apply a force from the elastic member to at least one of the first guiding member and the second guiding member, the force from the elastic member driving the first guiding member and the second guiding member toward each other.

[0014] The gap is open (opened) when the first guiding member is spaced apart from the second guiding member, and the intestine separating device can close or substantially close the gap when the first guiding member abuts or substantially abuts the second guiding member, while leaving a minimal distance between the first guiding member and the second guiding member.

[0015] In use, the intestine is moved along the intestine separating device to move the tissue into the gap toward a tissue separation location located within the gap where the tissue cutting device operates, where friction between the first and second guide members and the tissue draws the tissue proximate the separation location for reliable and easy separation.

[0016] By varying the width of the gap, the actual gap width can be adjusted to the actual thickness of the tissue moving along the intestine towards the tissue separation location. The thickness direction extends in the width direction of the gap. The thickness of the tissue varies not only from one intestine of one animal to another intestine of another animal, but also when processing one intestine where the tissue has different thicknesses at different positions along the intestine. The width of the gap is determined by the interaction of the tissue and the force exerted by the elastic member on the at least one guide member. The elastic member is a spring, such as a torsion spring, which generates a force that forces the guide members towards each other to reduce the width of the gap. The force exerted by the elastic member is adjustable. If the elastic member is a spring, the force exerted by the elastic member is adjusted by changing the pretension of the spring.

[0017] The relative movement of the first and second guide members relative to each other allows the tissue to reach the separation position without clogging, which occurs in a gap with a constant width that is too narrow for some parts of the tissue to pass through, preventing the tissue from reaching the separation position. The variable width of the gap also allows the tissue to reach the separation position while generating sufficient friction between the tissue and the first and second guide members without excessively low or zero friction in the gap. Excessively low friction may occur in a gap with a constant width that is wider than the thickness of at least a portion of the tissue.

[0018] In contrast to the device disclosed in the patent application WO 2005 / 023336, the elastic members urge the guide members towards each other, rather than away from each other. As a result, the width of the gap in use is determined by the interaction of the force of the elastic members and the force exerted by the intestine alone, and not by the squeezing action of the operator. As the width of the gap can be determined by a quantity independent of the operator, the role of the operator is reduced and a consistent result is ensured. Thus, the dependency on the operator, especially on the strength of the operator's hands and arms, is reduced.

[0019] In one embodiment of the tissue separating device, the first and second guide members are rotatable relative to one another to vary the width of the gap, thereby allowing a reliable positioning of the guide members. In a further embodiment of the tissue separating device, the first guide member is fixed relative to the tissue cutting device and the second guide member is movable relative to the tissue cutting device, thereby allowing a relatively simple construction, in particular of the first guide member. In a further embodiment of the tissue separating device, the second guide member is rotatable about a guide member rotation axis. In a further embodiment of the tissue separating device, the elastic member is configured to exert a force on the second guide member such that the second guide member is biased towards the first guide member.

[0020] In one embodiment of the tissue separating device, the gap formed by the first and second guiding members comprises a tapered tissue entrance region. In a further embodiment of the tissue separating device, the first and second guiding members each comprise a rounded end portion at the tissue entrance region of the gap.

[0021] A tapered tissue entrance region, i.e., a tapered portion in the region for allowing tissue to enter the gap, facilitates tissue capture and promotes smooth movement of the tissue toward the interior of the gap, even when the tissue jostle as a result of the tissue movement. A similar effect can be achieved by configuring the first and second guide members to have rounded end portions.

[0022] In one embodiment of the tissue separation device, the first guiding member comprises a first guiding surface and the second guiding member comprises a second guiding surface, the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface configured to at least partially contact the intestine.

[0023] The first and second guide surfaces have the function of providing a predetermined distance between the tissue separation location obtained by the tissue separation device and the intestine surface, so as to ensure that the tissue is separated from the intestine at a short distance from the intestine without damaging the intestine. The first and second guide surfaces reliably provide their function even with different gap widths.

[0024] In one embodiment of the tissue separation device, a first guide member has a first surface facing a second surface of a second guide member, the first surface and the second surface together forming a gap.

[0025] The first and second surfaces are generally flat surfaces that extend generally parallel to each other when tissue is not guided between the first and second surfaces in use, or extend at an angle of up to 20° to each other when viewed perpendicular to the direction of movement of the tissue through the gap when tissue is guided between the first and second planes in use. Thus, at least a portion of the first and second surfaces contacts the tissue during use of the intestine separating device to generate a frictional force, which contributes to optimal separation of the tissue by the tissue separating device.

[0026] In one embodiment of the tissue separating device, the tissue separating device comprises a stop member for limiting the movement of the first and second guiding members towards each other. Additionally or alternatively, the tissue separating device comprises a stop member for limiting the movement of the first and second guiding members away from each other. Such a stop member limits the range of relative movement of the guiding members and sets a minimum and / or maximum gap width. This prevents damage to tissue and / or intestine due to tissue getting stuck in the gap in the case of an excessively small gap width.

[0027] In one embodiment of the tissue separator, said tissue separator comprises a rotationally driven cutting member.

[0028] When using a device to separate intestines from organ groups taken from animals, several 20 meters of intestine must be processed in less than about 10 seconds. Assuming continuous operation, the cutting length of the tissue separator will be more than 57 km if the intestine separator is used for 8 hours. By providing a rotating driven cutting edge, the tissue separator can achieve a relatively long operating time as opposed to using a fixed cutting element such as a razor.

[0029] In a further embodiment of the tissue separation device, the cutting member comprises a circle knife having a peripheral cutting edge, in particular a flat (i.e. non-serrated) cutting edge, but is not limited to such a cutting edge.

[0030] In particular, such a circle knife must have high performance in terms of long operating time, low wear, easy replacement, etc.

[0031] In yet a further embodiment of the tissue separator, a portion of the cutting edge extends across the gap, allowing for tissue to be cut adjacent the intestine and minimizing barb length.

[0032] In yet a further embodiment of the tissue separating device the cutting members extend in a plane extending at an angle between 20° and 60°, in particular at an angle of approximately 45°, relative to the guiding surface of the guiding device.

[0033] Positioning the plane of the rotatable cutting member obliquely relative to the guide surface of the guide means that during the separation process, the tissue separated from the intestine diverges from the intestine, thereby drawing the intestine in close contact with the guide surface(s) of the guide device, obtaining a constant and small distance between the surface of the intestine and the actual separation position in the tissue. This allows the length of the whiskers to be constant and small.

[0034] In one embodiment of the tissue separating device, the tissue separating device comprises a fluid supply duct configured to supply fluid to the tissue cutting device.

[0035] The supply of fluid to the tissue cutting device, particularly hot water with a temperature between 20°C and 60°C, particularly 40°C, has a cleaning effect on the tissue cutting device, removing tissue residues from the tissue cutting device. The relatively high temperature of the water prevents tissue residues from solidifying and adhering to the tissue cutting device, thus preserving the function of the tissue cutting device. Furthermore, water is supplied to at least a portion of the area of ​​the gap, particularly in the area of ​​the gap where the tissue cutting device acts on the tissue, to provide a lubricating effect for good tissue passage and cutting action of the tissue cutting device. The fluid may also comprise lubricant, detergent or germicide additives that enhance the effectiveness of the fluid. The fluid may also be utilized to cool the motor or drive train for driving the cutting edge. The fluid may comprise additives to improve the cooling effect of the fluid. Alternatively, the tissue separation device is provided with a separate supply of cooling fluid. Such a fluid may be a liquid, such as water, with or without additives or gases, such as air. If gas is utilized, the gas is provided at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure so that the motor or drivetrain operates in a pressurized environment, reducing the likelihood of fluid reaching the motor or drivetrain.

[0036] In one embodiment of the tissue separator, the cutting member is driven by an electric motor, which is integrated into the tissue separator and directly connected to the cutting member. This allows for efficient force transmission to the cutting member and reduces the complexity of the drive train. Furthermore, the weight and complexity of the tissue separator and the piping connected to the tissue separator are reduced, as the need for drive cables, pressurized hydraulic piping, and pressurized air piping to the tissue separator is eliminated, and the stiffness of the piping connected to the tissue separator is also reduced. Alternatively, the motor is located externally. Thus, the cutting member is driven by utilizing a drive cable or by utilizing air, water, or other fluids to drive an internal turbine connected to the cutting member.

[0037] Another independent embodiment of the present invention is a method for isolating an intestine from an organ mass removed from an animal, in particular a pig, sheep or cow, in which the intestine is connected to the remainder of the organ mass via a connective tissue, the method comprising: moving the intestine longitudinally relative to the guide device; guiding the connective tissue into a gap of a guide device, the guide device comprising a first guide member and a second guide member forming a gap, the first guide member and the second guide member being movable toward or away from each other to vary a width of the gap, the first guide member and the second guide member being elastically urged toward each other by a force from an elastic member, and at least one guiding surface of the guide device contacting the intestine; a connecting tissue exerting a force on at least one of the first and second guiding members, the width of the gap being determined by an interaction between the force of the elastic member and the force exerted by the connecting tissue; Separating connective tissue adjacent the intestine at the gap; The present invention provides a method for detecting a smeared portion of ... the smeared portion.

[0038] In a further embodiment of the method, a first guiding member is rigidly attached to the tissue separating device and a second guiding member is movably attached to the tissue separating device, and the elastic member force is generated by an elastic member acting on the second guiding member.

[0039] These and other embodiments of the present invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tissue separation device according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the tissue separation device depicted in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a portion of a tissue separating device according to the present invention with a gap formed between the first and second guide members closed; [Figure 4A] 1 is a top view of a portion of a tissue separation device according to the present invention with a gap formed between the first and second guide members closed; FIG. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a top view of a portion of the tissue separator device depicted in FIG. 4A with the gap open. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a rear view of one embodiment of a tissue separation device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a schematic of a method of utilizing a tissue separation device to separate intestine from tissue. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] The figures represent a tissue dissociation device 1 according to the invention. The tissue dissociation device 1 comprises a guiding device 6 configured to guide tissue 5 (see FIG. 6) to a tissue cutting device 8. The tissue cutting device 8 is configured to separate the tissue 5 from the intestine 2, whereby the intestine 2 is separated from the organ group 3 to which it is attached via the tissue 5. The intestine may be the intestine of any animal, in particular a pig, a sheep or a cow.

[0042] The guide device includes a first guide member 9 and a second guide member 10, between which a gap 11 having a variable width is provided. The width of the gap 11 varies due to the relative movement of the first guide member 9 and the second guide member 10. Such movement is controlled by an elastic member 12, specifically a spring. The elastic member 12 exerts a force tending to drive the first guide member 9 and the second guide member 10 towards each other. The tissue 5 is guided by the guide device 6 through the gap 11 to the tissue cutting device 8. The guide device 6 includes a tapered tissue entrance region 14 with rounded end portions 15 of the first guide member 9 and the second guide member 10 so that the tissue 5 can smoothly enter between the first guide member 9 and the second guide member 10.

[0043] The tissue separator 1 comprises an internal fluid channel 110 configured to transport fluid from the fluid supply duct 25 to the rotary driven cutting member 22. The fluid cleans, lubricates and / or sterilizes the rotary driven cutting member 22 during use of the tissue separator 1.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a top view of the tissue separation device 1. The tissue cutting device 8 is a rotary driven cutting member 22, more specifically a circle knife 23. The circle knife 23 is driven by an electric motor. The electric motor may be a three-phase electric motor powered via three power lines 102 of a cable 101. The electric motor may be directly coupled to the rotary driven cutting member 22. The electric motor is controlled via an electric control line 103. The power transmitted to the electric motor through the power lines 102 is controlled via the electric control line 103, for example on / off controlled. The rotary driven cutting member 22 extends in a plane extending at an angle of 20° to 60°, in particular about 45°, relative to the guide surfaces 16, 17 of the guide device 6.

[0045] 3-4B are detailed top views of the tissue separator 1 with the gap 11 closed (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A) and with the gap 11 open (see FIG. 4B). In the illustrated embodiment, the second guide member 10 is rotatable about the guide member rotation axis 10A and is biased toward the first guide member 9 by a spring 107. The force that the spring 107 exerts on the second guide member 10 is adjustable by changing the pretension of the spring 107 by a spring pretension adjuster 108 having predetermined pretension settings marked "1" to "8". Other adjustment means may be provided if another type of elastic member 12 is used instead of the spring 107. The properties of the intestine 2 and the connective tissue 5 of different animals may differ, for example, between different species or between different families within a species. Thus, by adjusting the force exerted by the elastic member, the tissue separation device 1 can be adjusted to be usable for different types of intestines, for example intestines from different species of animals or different families of the same species.

[0046] As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 3, 4A and 4B, due to the rotation of the second guide member 10 relative to the first guide member 9 when opening the gap 11, the first side 18 and the second side 19 of the gap 11 each extend at an angle relative to one another, such that the gap 11 has a tapered shape that narrows toward the peripheral edge 24 of the circle knife 23. The angle increases with the width of the gap, i.e., as the width of the gap increases, the angle also increases.

[0047] The tissue separating device 1 includes a stop member 20 for limiting the extent to which the first and second guiding members 9, 10 can move away from each other, thereby limiting the extent to which the gap 11 can be opened. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop member 20 limits the movement of the second guiding member 10. This sets an upper limit on the width of the gap 11 such that there is no or very low probability of the user of the tissue separating device 1 or any other body part coming into contact with the peripheral edge 24 of the circle knife 23, thereby reducing the risk of injury to the user.

[0048] Additionally, the tissue separation device 1 may include a separate stop member for limiting the movement of the first guiding member 9 and the second guiding member 10 towards each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the first guiding member 9 and the second guiding member 10 contact each other, so no separate stop member is needed for limiting the movement of the first guiding member 9 and the second guiding member 10 towards each other.

[0049] 4B, the cutting action of the circle knife 23 is performed within the gap 11, since the peripheral cutting edge 24 extends partially across the gap 11. The circle knife 23 has a flat peripheral cutting edge 24.

[0050] Figure 5 is a rear view of the tissue separation device 1. Figure 5 shows the connection of an electrical cable 101 to three power supply wires 102 and two electrical control wires 103, together with the fluid supply duct 25. In alternative embodiments of the invention, more or fewer power supply and electrical control wires are used, for example when the electric motor is a single phase AC motor, or a DC motor, for example a brushless DC motor.

[0051] Figure 6 represents a method for isolating tissue 5 from an intestine 2 of an animal, in particular a pig, sheep or cow. The intestine 2 is connected via the tissue 5 to a group of organs 3 which is connected to a table or other support structure and which is suspended by hooks, rails or other suspension devices, possibly even a portable suspension device.

[0052] The intestine 2 is moved relative to the guide device 6 in the longitudinal direction of the intestine 2 such that tissue 5 attached to the intestine 2 is guided into the gap 11 of the guide device 6. The guide device is part of the tissue separation device 1 as described elsewhere in this disclosure. The longitudinal movement of the intestine 3 relative to the guide device 6 is achieved by pulling the intestine 2.

[0053] At least one guide surface 16, 17 of the guide device 6 is in contact with the intestine 2. The gap 11 is formed by the first guide member 9 and the second guide member 10, which are movable toward and away from each other to vary the width of the gap 11. The first guide member 9 and the second guide member 10 are elastically biased toward each other. The tissue 5 exerts a force on at least one of the first guide member 9 and the second guide member 10. The width of the gap 11 is therefore determined by the interaction of the force of the elastic member and the force of the tissue 5 on at least one of the first guide member 9 and the second guide member 10. In the gap, the tissue 5 is separated from the intestine 2 in the vicinity of the intestine 2, so that almost no tissue 5 remains on the intestine 2 and the length of the whiskers can be minimized. In the embodiment shown, the first guiding member 9 is fixedly attached to the tissue separating device 1 and the second guiding member 10 is movably attached to the tissue separating device 1. The resilient member force acting on the second guiding member 10 is generated by a resilient member 12.

[0054] A tissue separating device for separating intestines from organs removed from an animal, in particular a pig, sheep or cow, where the intestines are connected to the rest of the organs via tissue, has been described. The tissue separating device comprises a guide device with at least one guide surface adapted to contact the intestines and a tissue cutting device adapted to separate tissue adjacent to the intestines. The guide device further comprises a first guide member and a second guide member movable relative to each other to form a gap adapted to receive the tissue. The width of the gap is variable. The tissue cutting device is adapted to operate within the gap, and the tissue separating device comprises an elastic member adapted to exert a force on at least one of the first guide member and the second guide member, the force of the elastic member forcing the first guide member and the second guide member towards each other.

[0055] In accordance with the specification, detailed embodiments of the present invention are described herein. However, it should be noted that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and the present invention can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims, or as a representative basis to suggest to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be variously utilized in substantially any suitable specific structure. Furthermore, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the present invention.

[0056] The term "a" / "an", as used herein, is defined as one or more than one. The term "plurality", as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term "another", as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms "including" and / or "having", as used herein, are defined as "comprising" (i.e., broad terms that do not exclude other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the present invention.

[0057] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0058] The term "coupled," as used herein, is defined as connected, and not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1 Tissue separation device 2. Intestine 3 Organ Groups 5 Organization 6 Guidance device 8 Tissue cutting device 9 First guide member 10 Second guide member 10A Guide member rotating shaft 11 Gap 12 Elastic member 14 Tissue entry area 15 (of the first guiding member 9 and the second guiding member 10) rounded end portions 16 (guide surface of guide device 6) 17 (guide surface of guide device 6) 18 (of gap 11) first side 19 (of gap 11) second side 20 Stopper member 22 Rotary drive cutting member 23 Circle Knife 24 (circle knife 23) peripheral edge 24 25 Fluid supply duct 101 Electrical Cable 102 Power line 103 Electrical control line 107 Spring 108 Spring pretension adjuster 110 Internal Fluid Channel

Claims

1. A tissue separation device for separating intestines from organs removed from an animal, in particular a pig, sheep or cow, said intestines being connected to the remainder of said organs via a connecting tissue, said tissue separation device comprising: a guide device having at least one guide surface configured to contact the intestine; a tissue cutting device configured to separate the connective tissue adjacent the intestine; The tissue separation device, the guide device comprises a first guide member and a second guide member movable relative to one another to form a gap configured to receive the connective tissue, the gap having a variable width; the tissue cutting device is configured to operate in the gap; The tissue separation device comprises an elastic member configured to apply a force to at least one of the first and second guide members, the force of the elastic member driving the first and second guide members toward each other.

2. 2. The tissue separating device of claim 1, wherein the first and second guide members are rotatable relative to one another to vary the width of the gap.

3. the first guide member is fixed relative to the tissue cutting device; 3. The tissue separating device according to claim 1, wherein the second guide member is movable relative to the tissue cutting device.

4. 4. The tissue separating device according to claim 1, wherein the second guide member is rotatable about a guide member rotation axis.

5. 5. The tissue separating device of claim 3, wherein the elastic member is configured to exert a force on the second guiding member to urge the second guiding member toward the first guiding member, thereby minimizing the width of the gap.

6. The tissue separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the force exerted by the elastic member is adjustable.

7. the elastic member is a spring, 6. The tissue separating device according to claim 1, wherein the force exerted by the elastic member by the spring is adjusted by changing the pretension of the spring.

8. the gap formed by the first and second guide members comprises a tapered tissue entrance region; 8. The tissue separation device of claim 1, wherein the first and second guiding members each include a rounded end portion at the tissue entrance region of the gap.

9. the first guide member includes a first guide surface; the second guide member includes a second guide surface; The tissue separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first guide surface and the second guide surface are configured to at least partially contact the intestine.

10. the first guide member has a first surface facing a second surface of the second guide member; The tissue separating device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first surface and the second surface together form the gap.

11. The tissue cutting device includes a cutting member that is rotatably driven, the cutting member comprises a circle knife having a peripheral cutting edge; a portion of the peripheral cutting edge extends across the gap; 11. The tissue separation device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting members extend in a plane extending at an angle of 20° to 60°, in particular at an angle of about 45°, relative to the guide surface of the guide device.

12. 12. The tissue separating device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tissue separating device comprises a fluid supply duct arranged to supply fluid to the tissue cutting device.

13. The cutting member is driven by an electric motor; 13. The tissue separating device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the electric motor is directly connected to the cutting member.

14. 1. A method for isolating an intestine from an organ mass removed from an animal, in particular a pig, sheep or cow, wherein the intestine is connected to the remainder of the organ mass via a connective tissue, comprising: moving the intestine longitudinally relative to a guide device; guiding the connective tissue into a gap of the guide device, the guide device comprising a first guide member and a second guide member forming the gap, the first guide member and the second guide member being movable toward or away from each other to vary a width of the gap, the first guide member and the second guide member being elastically urged toward each other by a force of an elastic member, and at least one guiding surface of the guide device contacting the intestine; a step of the connecting tissue exerting a force on at least one of the first and second guiding members, the width of the gap being determined by an interaction between a force by the elastic member and a force exerted by the connecting tissue; separating the connective tissue adjacent the intestine at the gap; A method comprising:

15. the first guide member being rigidly attached to the tissue separation device; the second guide member is movably attached to the tissue separation device; 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the resilient force is generated by a resilient member acting on the second guide member.

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