Non-invasive device and method for grading meat

• Main Authors: DAVID LEE PETRICOLA, THOMAS EDWARD MICHEL, JAMES THOMAS COHITEHEAD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.04.1993
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; BUTCHERING; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; FORESTRY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; MEAT TREATMENT; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS; PHYSICS; PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SLAUGHTERING; TESTING; TRAPPING

A non-invasive apparatus and method for measuring fat thickness or content and muscle depth or area parameters grading meat and animals are disclosed. The device includes an ultrasonic transducer and analyzer device which provides A scan information in digitized form. A separate controller moves the ultrasonic transducer along a predetermined path adjacent an animal or carcass while A scans are obtained at predetermined locations along the path. The A scans are digitized and analyzed to determine the tissue interface boundaries. Equations are implemented to determined the area of the longissimus muscle and fat tissue thicknesses and a lean content rating for the animal may be determined therefrom. Modeling techniques are also used to estimate certain portions of the area of the longissimus muscle of the animal or carcass based upon data gathered during the ultrasound scanning of the carcass.