Rotatable Tissue Digester Vessels for Controlled Caustic Introduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing alkaline hydrolysis systems face challenges in safely introducing caustic substances to digestion chambers, inefficient digestion of smaller tissue bodies, and difficulty in penetrating the cranium for brain tissue digestion, leading to potential hazards and labor-intensive remain retrieval.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable digestion vessel with a trough for safe caustic substance introduction, a system with secondary digestion vessels for separate digestion of smaller bodies, and a head encasing device to mechanically facilitate brain tissue digestion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If caustic substance is manually added to digestion chamber, then digestion process can be initiated, but safety hazards occur during substance introduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety in caustic substance handlingVSAvoidmanual addition process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the caustic substance storage and addition mechanism from the main digestion chamber. The substance is stored in a separate container and added through a controlled delivery system, segmenting the hazardous material handling from the operational chamber and reducing direct exposure risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A mechanical delivery system acts as an intermediary between the operator and the caustic substance. The system uses automated mechanisms to transfer and deposit the substance into the chamber, eliminating direct manual contact and reducing safety hazards during introduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple smaller animal bodies are processed in groups, then productivity increases, but remain retrieval becomes labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiency of multiple bodiesVSAvoidtime for remain collection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The digestion chamber is divided into multiple separate compartments or sections, each capable of holding individual animal bodies. This segmentation allows simultaneous processing of multiple bodies while enabling independent access to each compartment for efficient remain retrieval without requiring complete chamber disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates movable partitions or access mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of compartment access. Operators can selectively open or access specific compartments based on processing status, enabling efficient retrieval of remains from multiple bodies without manual collection from a single large chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional wire cage is used for cadaver enclosure, then simple construction is achieved, but digestion of less accessible tissues like brain tissue is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire cage constructionVSAvoiddigestion efficiency of protected tissues

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosures transition from simple wire cages to segmented, multi-chamber vessels with internal compartments. These segmented structures allow digestive fluid to access previously protected areas through multiple pathways and openings, improving penetration to brain tissue and other protected regions while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The enclosure design incorporates three-dimensional fluid circulation pathways and multi-level compartments that allow digestive fluid to reach protected tissues from multiple directions and angles, rather than relying on single-point contact. This dimensional approach improves access to brain tissue and other protected areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enhances safety in caustic substance handling, improves digestion efficiency of smaller bodies with separate retrieval, and effectively penetrates the cranium for complete tissue breakdown, reducing cycle times and maintaining remain sanctity.

Implementation Method 1

Rotational movement of the rotatable digestion vessel mixes the caustic substance with fluid in the digestion chamber to form or supplement a digestive fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing: Stirring

Implementation Method 2

the alkaline hydrolysis process involves the biochemical hydrolysis of biological tissue in a solution of water and alkaline chemicals (e.g. potassium hydroxide (KOH) and/or sodium hydroxide (NaOH))

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAlkaline hydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 3

A digestion cycle is then run, with increased temperature (and sometimes, pressure), for a period of anywhere between three to eighteen hours

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250222499A1Tissue digester devices, systems and methods of use

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 SOLACE HOLDING CO LTD

AI summary

Described are various embodiments of a tissue digester device, a method of introducing a caustic substance to a digestion chamber, a tissue digester system, a method of digesting small tissue bodies, a head encasing device which is operable to mechanically facilitate digestion of brain tissue of a deceased body and a method of facilitating digestion of brain tissue in a head of a deceased body.