Needleless Spray Bar Injection for Food Tenderization and Decontamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current food treatment methods for tenderization and decontamination often result in undesirable appearance, texture, and incomplete decontamination, with needles potentially causing contamination and damage to food products.

Innovation Solution

A system and method using a needleless spray nozzle system that injects an injectate into food products without direct contact, utilizing a nozzle head with multiple nozzles, a pump, filter, and a valve to control the injection process, along with a multi-stage filtration system to ensure consistent and controlled application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If needles are used to inject tenderizing agents into food, then the food becomes tenderized, but the food becomes contaminated and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetenderizationVSAvoidcontamination and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical needle injection system with a pneumatic spray system. Instead of using physical needles to penetrate and inject tenderizing agents, the invention uses compressed gas to deliver the injectate through a needleless spray nozzle, eliminating the mechanical penetration that causes contamination and damage to the food product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs pneumatic principles by using compressed gas (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide) to force the injectate through the spray nozzle and into the food product. This pneumatic delivery mechanism allows the tenderizing agent to be injected without physical contact from needles, thereby avoiding contamination and structural damage while achieving effective tenderization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If needles are stabbed into food for injection, then injectate can be delivered, but the needles break off bone pieces and become plugged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjectate deliveryVSAvoidbone fragmentation and nozzle plugging

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the mechanical needle component entirely and replaces it with a pneumatic spray delivery system. This substitution prevents needles from breaking off bone pieces and becoming plugged, as there are no penetrating needles in contact with the food or bones. The pneumatic system delivers injectate through a non-contact spray mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces compressed gas as an intermediary medium to deliver the injectate. Instead of needles directly contacting and penetrating the food and bones, the compressed gas acts as a mediator that forces the injectate through the nozzle and into the food product, eliminating the direct mechanical interaction that causes bone fragmentation and nozzle plugging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If current food treatment methods are used, then decontamination is achieved, but the food appearance and texture are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedecontaminationVSAvoidappearance and texture

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical needle injection with a pneumatic spray system that delivers decontaminating agents without physical penetration. This non-contact delivery method allows the food surface to be treated and decontaminated while preserving the natural appearance and texture, as there is no mechanical damage from needles puncturing or damaging the food structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The system effectively tenderizes and decontaminates food products while maintaining their appearance and integrity, ensuring thorough treatment without visible damage or contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a pump configured to force the injectate from the injectate reservoir through the filter and to the spray nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a spray nozzle that is configured to inject the injectate into a food product without requiring the spray nozzle to contact the food product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 3

a filter configured to filter the injectate prior to the pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250380713A1Systems and methods for providing food intervention and tenderization

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 S2I LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a needleless spray nozzle head that injects injectate into food without requiring the head to contact the food. In some cases, the head comprises an elongated needleless spray bar that defines multiple internal fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the head comprises a manifold system with a first manifold portion at the first end and a second manifold portion at the second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the first manifold portion directs the injectate towards the second end, and the second manifold portion directs the injectate towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar. Other implementations are described.