Tendon Extraction Device with Toothed Gripping and Cutting Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing tendons from raw meat, such as poultry tenderloins, are inefficient and require manual dexterity, leading to potential injury and incomplete tendon removal.
Innovation Solution
A tendon extraction device comprising a gripping portion with toothed regions to securely grip tendons and an extracting portion with cutting features to effectively separate tendons from surrounding meat tissue, allowing for easy and efficient tendon removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual methods are used to remove tendons from raw meat, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but efficiency is low and injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables the tendon to be extracted through self-contained mechanical actions. The gripping portion secures the tendon while the extracting portion with cutting features automatically separates it from surrounding tissue through leveraged mechanical motion, reducing reliance on operator skill
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual dexterity-based mechanical removal with a structured mechanical system featuring gripping portions, extracting portions, and cutting features that transform manual effort into precise tendon separation through mechanical advantage
2Reliability
If manual dexterity is required for tendon removal, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to potential injury and incomplete removal
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a gripping portion for securing the tendon, an extracting portion for removal, and cutting features for separation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function reliably while maintaining manageable overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting features act as intermediaries between the gripping portion and the tendon tissue. These features facilitate clean separation by inserting between the tendon and surrounding tissue, ensuring complete removal while protecting the operator from direct contact with potentially hazardous tissue
3Ease of operation
If simple manual removal is used, then device complexity is minimized, but manual effort and injury risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces direct manual manipulation with a mechanical system that uses cutting features to separate tendon from tissue. This substitution reduces manual effort by leveraging mechanical advantage while minimizing injury risk through controlled separation rather than direct hand contact
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting features serve as intermediaries that mediate between the operator and the tendon tissue. By using these intermediate cutting elements, the operator avoids direct contact with potentially hazardous tissue while still achieving effective tendon removal
Data Source
AI summary
A tendon extraction device is disclosed. The device may include a gripping portion and an extracting portion. The gripping portion may be configured, in accordance with some embodiments, to securely grip a tendon of a piece or cut of raw meat. The extracting portion may be configured, in accordance with some embodiments, to extract (e.g., by cutting or stripping away) the tendon from the raw meat. Thus, a user may use the device to remove tendon(s) prior to cooking the meat in an easy and efficient manner. In some embodiments, the gripping portion and the extracting portion optionally may be configured to interface with one another (e.g., for ease of storage and retrieval). To that end, the gripping portion and the extracting portion may be interfaced via a snap-fit connection, in accordance with some embodiments.