Non-Destructive Fish Red Muscle Estimation for Quality Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The proportions of red muscle and pyloric caeca in fish meat can only be accurately determined after processing, making it difficult to adjust these factors artificially and maintain high market value in marine fish products.

Innovation Solution

A non-destructive inspection method and device are used to estimate the amount of red muscle and pyloric caeca in marine fish, allowing for selective breeding and processing to meet consumer preferences and maintain high market value.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the fish body is processed into fillet, loin, or block to expose the red muscle, then the proportion of red muscle can be visually observed and determined, but the red muscle is exposed and its color tone changes faster, reducing commodity value

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetermination accuracy of red muscle proportionVSAvoidcolor tone change of red muscle

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical processing (cutting fish into fillet/loin to expose red muscle) with non-destructive inspection methods (ultrasonic inspection, MRI, CT) to determine red muscle proportion without physically exposing or damaging the red muscle, thus preventing color tone changes while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces non-destructive inspection technologies as intermediary means to indirectly measure red muscle proportion without directly contacting or exposing the red muscle to external factors that would cause color changes, serving as a mediator between measurement need and muscle preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the fish body is processed to expose the pyloric caeca, then the amount of pyloric caeca can be visually observed, but the pyloric caeca is exposed and cannot be maintained in a living state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetermination accuracy of pyloric caeca amountVSAvoidmaintenance of living state

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical processing (gutting and processing fish to expose pyloric caeca) with non-destructive inspection methods (ultrasonic inspection, MRI, CT) to determine pyloric caeca amount without physically exposing or damaging the organ, thus maintaining the fish in a living state while achieving accurate measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If non-destructive inspection is used to estimate red muscle amount, then the red muscle is not exposed and color tone is maintained, but the estimation accuracy must be verified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor tone change of red muscleVSAvoidestimation accuracy of red muscle amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where non-destructive inspection results are used to select and raise fish with desired red muscle proportions, and the estimation accuracy is verified through controlled comparisons and statistical analysis of inspection data against known characteristics, ensuring both color tone maintenance and measurement reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameters from direct visual observation (requiring exposure) to non-destructive inspection parameters (ultrasonic, MRI, CT signals), allowing accurate estimation without physical contact that would cause color tone changes or damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient production of marine fish products with consistent red muscle and pyloric caeca content, meeting consumer preferences and increasing market value through accurate estimation without exposing the muscles or organs.

Implementation Method 1

an information acquisition step of acquiring information on a red muscle in a fish body of a marine fish by non-destructive inspection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNon-destructive inspection:

Data Source

PatentEP4711756A1Method for estimating amount red muscle, method for estimating amount of pyloric caecum, method for producing processed product of saltwater fish, method for farming saltwater fish, analysis device, identified product of saltwater fish, and processed product group of saltwater fish

Publication Date: 2026.03.18 NISSUI CORPORATION

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AI summary

A method for estimating an amount of a red muscle includes: an information acquisition step of acquiring information on a red muscle in a fish body of a marine fish by non-destructive inspection; and an estimation step of estimating an amount of the red muscle included in the fish body based on the information. An analysis device includes: a non-destructive inspection unit that acquires information on a red muscle in a fish body of a marine fish by non-destructive inspection; and a red muscle estimation unit that estimates an amount of the red muscle included in the fish body based on the information.