Tissue Digester with Adjustable Compartments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Veterinary offices and other institutions face challenges in efficiently and safely disposing of smaller animal carcasses due to the high cost and large size of existing tissue disposal systems, which often require external services for cremation or burial.
Innovation Solution
A tissue digester with adjustable internal compartments and alkaline digestive fluid levels, featuring a fluid vessel, pump intake plenum, and horizontal platforms for efficient tissue digestion, allowing for customizable fluid flow and temperature control to facilitate safe and complete tissue breakdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tissue disposal systems (cremation, burial) are used, then tissue disposal is achieved, but the system size and cost become prohibitively large for veterinary offices
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue digester is divided into multiple compartments including a tissue compartment for holding carcasses, a pump intake plenum for fluid circulation, and a fluid vessel for containing digestive fluid. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall system compact and suitable for veterinary office environments.
2Reliability
If high-temperature incineration is used for tissue disposal, then complete digestion is achieved, but energy consumption and operational cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters from high-temperature incineration to low-temperature alkaline hydrolysis. By using aqueous ammonia and other alkaline solutions at temperatures below 100°C, the system achieves complete tissue digestion through chemical hydrolysis rather than thermal combustion, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining digestion effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal system of incineration with a chemical system of alkaline hydrolysis. Instead of relying on high heat to break down tissue, the system uses chemical reactions with alkaline solutions to dissolve organic matter, converting a thermally-driven process into a chemically-driven one that is more energy-efficient.
3Productivity
If adjustable internal compartments and fluid levels are implemented, then digestion efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates adjustable internal compartments and variable fluid levels that can be dynamically configured based on the size and type of tissue being processed. The pump intake plenum and fluid vessel allow for flexible adjustment of digestive fluid quantities, enabling the system to adapt to different processing requirements and maintain high digestion efficiency across various应用场景.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-compartment design with adjustable fluid levels provides universal functionality for processing different types and sizes of animal carcasses. The same basic structure can handle everything from small pets to larger animals by simply adjusting the fluid volume and compartment configuration, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices.
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 and safe digestion of animal tissue at lower temperatures, reducing waste volume and producing sterile ash that can be used as a soil additive, addressing the cost and size limitations of traditional disposal methods.
Implementation Method 1
Alkaline hydrolysis, which exposes the tissue to a strong alkaline (or base) solution, is a process used in many tissue digesters. Most, if not all, of the tissue is digested (dissolved) in the tissue digesters
Implementation Method 2
an apparatus comprising a housing containing a fluid vessel for holding digestive fluid; a wall positioned within the fluid vessel, the wall partially separating the fluid vessel into a pump intake plenum and a tissue compartment
Implementation Method 3
the disclosed apparatus further comprises a heater operatively coupled to the housing, the heater including a heating element disposed in fluid vessel
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this disclosure relate to tissue digestion and, more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for varying the number, size, and/or location of one or more tissue compartments within a digestive fluid vessel. Some examples include partitions that may be selectively positioned within a vessel (and may be selectively removable from the vessel) to create one or more tissue compartments. The partitions may be positioned, repositioned and rearranged within the vessel to form one or more tissue compartments. The partitions may be solid or include apertures, and may be oriented in horizontally and/or vertically. Alternate embodiments include one or more selectively closeable apertures that permit digestive fluid to circulate along alternate pathways, which can permit tissue digestion with reduced digestive fluid levels. Still further embodiments include baskets that are selectively positionable within the tissue digester. The baskets may also include one or more selectively positionable and/or repositionable partitions.