Abstract:
Systems, computer instructions stored in non-transitory machine readable mediums, and methods are disclosed herein. A portable system for electrically stimulating meat is provided. The system includes a portable housing configured to house a battery power supply. The system further includes a first end connector configured to attach to a target of tenderization, and a second end connector configured to attach to the target of tenderization. The system additionally includes a circuitry electrically coupling the battery power supply to the first and the second end connectors, the circuitry disposed in the portable housing, wherein the circuitry comprises a microprocessor programmed to derive a first electrical condition and to electrically stimulate the target through the first and the second end connectors only when the first electrical condition is not met.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods relating to meat tendering, and more specifically, to portable meat tenderization and flavor improvement. 
         [0002]    A variety of systems, including mechanical, chemical systems, and electrical may be used to process an animal carcass to result in tenderized meat. For example, mechanical processing, such as pounding or piercing may be applied to meat to mechanically break down tissue. Chemicals, such as marinating compositions, may also be applied, for example, to break down the collagens in meat. Electrical stimulation of meat may additionally be used. In electrical stimulation, an electric current may be applied to the carcass and used to tenderize the meat. It would be beneficial to provide for improved devices and methods of electrical stimulation for the tenderization of meat. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed invention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below. 
         [0004]    In a first embodiment, a portable system for electrically stimulating meat is provided. The system includes a portable housing configured to house a battery power supply. The system further includes a first end connector configured to attach to a target of tenderization, and a second end connector configured to attach to the target of tenderization. The system additionally includes a circuitry electrically coupling the battery power supply to the first and the second end connectors, the circuitry disposed in the portable housing, wherein the circuitry comprises a microprocessor programmed to derive a first electrical condition and to electrically stimulate the target through the first and the second end connectors only when the first electrical condition is not met. 
         [0005]    In a second embodiment, non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions executable by portable electrical stimulator system are provided. The instructions are configured to charge at least one capacitor to a voltage between 10 and 30 volts, and to electrically couple the at least one capacitor to a first lead and to a second lead. The instructions are further configured to discharge a current incoming from the capacitor through the first and the second leads and to determine if the discharge took less than a first time, and if the discharge took less than the first time, to provide indications that a resistance is undesirably low. 
         [0006]    In a third embodiment, a portable system for electrically stimulating meat is provided. The system includes a power supply circuit configured to provide power and a microprocessor circuit coupled to the power supply circuit and programmed to derive a first electrical condition and to electrically stimulate a target only when the first electrical condition is not met. The system further includes an inverter circuit coupled to the microprocessor circuit and configured to charge at least one capacitor to a DC voltage of 20 volts or more, and a stimulator circuit coupled to the microprocessor circuit and configured to deliver a first plurality of electrical pulses having a first polarity to electrically stimulate the target. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a view of an embodiment of a portable electrical stimulation system operatively coupled to a game animal carcass; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the portable electrical stimulation system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the portable electrical stimulation system illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with a front housing removed; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view depicting an embodiment of a clamp useful for delivering electrical stimulation to a carcass; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a circuitry suitable for providing electrical stimulation of a carcass; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram depicting various embodiments of components of the circuitry of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process suitable for providing for the electrical stimulation of a carcass; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process suitable for providing for a start-up sequence for the portable electrical stimulation system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process suitable for providing for a check sequence for the portable electrical stimulation system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process suitable for providing for a waiting to stimulate sequence for the portable electrical stimulation system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process suitable for electrically stimulating a carcass for the portable electrical stimulation system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0020]    When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
         [0021]    The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for more efficiently tenderizing meat and improving flavor, such as a game carcass harvested during hunting activities. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments include a portable electrostimulation system suitable for field use. Because of its compactness and weight, a user may more easily transport the portable electrostimulation system into the field to provide for electrical stimulation of harvested game, such as by delivering a train of electrical pulses. The electrical pulses may cause contraction and subsequent relaxation of tissue, resulting in improved tenderization, blood removal, and enhanced taste of the meat. 
         [0022]    Advantageously, the portable electrostimulation system may include several enhanced features, such as automatic detection of certain operations conditions (e.g., shorts, high resistance) describe in more detail below, and clamps with blunt ends suitable for delivering electrical power while minimizing or eliminating the inadvertent puncturing of the game animal or of the user. The techniques described herein may provide electrical stimulation in a train of pulses, such as a pulse train having between 5-50 pulses, or more pulses. After a certain number of pulse trains, the electrical polarity may be switched, and one or more pulse train may then be provided. Switching the polarity may overcome tissue resistance built during the previous one or more pulse trains, and may increase meat tenderization, tissue contractions, and subsequent blood removal. Visual and/or audio indications, such as lights, LED panels, audio sounds/voices, may also be provided, suitable for more quickly indicating an operating status of the portable electrostimulation system, as well as a plurality of operations conditions (e.g., shorts, high resistance). 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , the figure is a view of depicting an embodiment of a portable electrostimulation system  10  operatively coupled to a harvested game animal or carcass  12 . The electrostimulation system  10  may be, for example, a Tenderbuck™ electrostimulation system available from Tenderbuck, LLC, of Houston, Tex. In use, the portable electrostimulation system  10  may deliver electrical stimulation to the game animal  12  through the clamps  14  and  16 , for example, by causing an electrical current flow between the clamps  14  and  16  suitable for contracting tissue. A power supply may deliver electrical current through electrically conductive, coiled or straight conduits  18  and  20  connected to the clamps  14  and  16  respectively. The electrical power may be applied as pulse trains, causing the relaxation and contraction of the carcass&#39;  12  tissue, thus improving the removal of blood from the carcass  12 , and breaking down tissue. For example, electrical stimulation of the tissue may lower the pH in muscle through anaerobic glycolysis, additionally shortening the time to reach rigor mortis, resulting in the stretching of sarcomeres in the tissue. Contractions may also disrupt myofibrils in the tissue, for example, by rupturing lysosomes and releasing cathepsins. Accordingly, the carcass  12  may become more tenderized, and the flavor improved. Further, as the tissues in the carcass  12  contract and relax, blood in the tissue may traverse through the vascular system to be expelled through an opening therein, thus additionally improving the taste. 
         [0024]    The techniques described herein enable a user, such as a hunter, to carry the portable electrostimulating system  10  into the field to process the game animal carcass  12  in situ. Indeed, the game animal carcass  12  may be processed quickly upon harvesting by making small incisions through the animal&#39;s  12  hide and applying the clamps  14  and  16  directly to the tissue through the incisions. Additionally or alternatively, the clamps  14  and/or  16  may be applied to the tongue or other exposed tissue. One clamp  14  or  16  may be attached to a head end (e.g., near the mouth) of the animal carcass  12  and another clamp may be attached to a posterior end (e.g., near the tail) of the animal carcass. Accordingly, electrical current may traverse through a substantial portion of the animal  12  tissue and/or central nervous system, causing contractions and relaxations of the tissue therein. 
         [0025]    Advantageously, the portable electrostimulating system  10  may include a variety of features enhancing electrostimulation activities. For example, the clamps  14  and  16 , as described in more detail below, may include blunt ends suitable for preventing or eliminating inadvertent injury, such as punctures. The portable electrostimulating system  10  may additionally include certain circuitry, described in more detail below, useful in detecting a variety of conditions, including electrical conditions, and react to the conditions to during operations. For example, the circuitry may detect electric shorts, such as when the clamps  14  and  16  are directly touching each other, or high resistance conditions, such when the user is touching metal in the clamps  14  and  16 . In the depicted embodiment, the electrostimulating system  10  provides visual indications of operations and certain conditions by using lights, such as light emitting diode (LED) lights  22 . 
         [0026]    In operation, the user may then power on the portable electrostimulating system  10  for example by using a momentary contact button  24 , and one or more of the lights  22  may turn on, for example, by showing a color red. The system may then derive certain operating conditions and turn on or off the LEDs  22  based on the derived conditions. For example, if the portable electrostimulating system  10  detects a short (e.g., clamps  14  and  16   t  touching), or an electrical resistance that is above a desired threshold, then the system  10  may derive that the conditions are contraindicatory to safe operations, and turn on one or more of the LEDs  22 , and may then not allow for electrical stimulation. The LEDs  22  may be pulsed or blinked into patterns indicative of the derived conditions, including low electrical power conditions. If certain conditions are met, as described in more detail below, then the when the user activates a button  26 , the portable electrostimulating system  10  may provide electrical stimulation of the carcass  12 . 
         [0027]    The electrical stimulation, for example, may be provided through delivery of electrical current to clamp  14  or  16  in pulses. The electrical current may flow through the carcass  12 , causing contraction and relaxation of tissue corresponding to each applied pulse. As mentioned above, such contractions and relaxations of the tissue may enable may enable a faster discharge of blood and increase meat tenderization, thus improving the flavor of the meat. After delivery of a train of pulses, the portable electrostimulating system  10  may then reverse polarity and delivery a second train of pulses. Likewise, after delivery of the second train of pulses, the polarity may be reversed again and a third train of pulses may be delivered. By reversing polarity, any resistance built up in the tissue may be more easily overcome, thus more efficiently contracting and relaxing the tissue. 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the figure is a perspective view of the portable electrostimulating system  10  showing further details of a front panel  28  and the clamps  14  and  16 . As illustrated, the portable electrostimulating system  10  may be more easily carried into the field by virtue of its compact size and weight. For example, the portable electrostimulating system  10  may include a length L1 of between approximately 4 to 16 inches, a height H1 of between approximately 5 to 20 inches, and a width W1 of approximately between 1 and 8 inches. Likewise, a weight of the portable electro stimulator system  10  may be of approximately between 0.5 lbs and 10 lbs. By providing for a compact, portable electro stimulator system  10 , the user, such as a hunter, may more easily transport the system  10  into the field and apply electrical stimulations suitable for tenderizing the game carcass  12 . 
         [0029]    The portable electrostimulating system  10  may include a housing  34 , which may be provided in a variety of materials, including plastics, lightweight metals (e.g., aluminum, chromoly), carbon fiber, or a combination thereof. In one plastic manufacturing example, the housing  34  may be manufactured by using injection molding of two shells  34   a  and  34   b , and the shells  34   a  and  34   b  may be fastened together, for example via screws, nuts and bolts, plastic fasteners, and so on, into the housing  34 . The housing  34  may be provided in a variety of colors, such as green, red, or yellow for high visibility, or in color patters such as camouflage patterns useful for field hunting. 
         [0030]    Also depicted are details of the indicator LEDs  22  disposed onto the panel  28 . In one embodiment the LEDs  22  may be provided in three colors such as the colors red, green, and orange, or in LEDs  22  having multiple colors. During use, the colors may correspond to certain operating conditions. For example, the color green may be indicative of ongoing stimulation operations. The color orange may be indicative of an in-progress status, such as the charging of the portable electrostimulating system  10  prior to electrical stimulation. The color red may be indicative of shorted leads and/or high resistance conditions. Accordingly, the user may more easily glance at the panel  28  and see a visual indication of the status of the unit. Also disposed on the panel  28  are the buttons  24  and  26 . Both of the buttons  24  and  26  may be momentary contact buttons covered in a protective film, which may be suitable for withstanding outdoor conditions. The button  24  may be used as an on/off button, while the button  26  may be used to deliver the corresponding electrical stimulation once the units&#39; status is visualized as ready for use. It is to be noted, that, in other embodiments, the panel  28  may additionally or alternatively include other visual indicators such as an LED screen suitable for displaying text, images, and/or animation. For example, the LED screen may be visually displaying a message describing the current status of the unit such as, charging, ready for use, undesirable operation detected (e.g., shorts, high resistance), and so on. Likewise, audio indicators may also be provided, such as beeps, voice, and similar audio descriptive of operating status of the portable electrostimulating system  10 . Power for running the portable electrostimulating system  10  may be provided, for example, by a rechargeable battery  37 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the portable electrostimulating system  10  having the rear shell  34   b  of the housing  34  removed to view details of a circuitry  36  and the rechargeable battery  37  enclosed within the housing  34 . The rechargeable battery  37  may be a lead acid battery, a gel battery, or similar power source, suitable for delivering voltage between 6 to 24 volts. In the depicted embodiment, the battery  37  is a lead acid 12 volt rechargeable battery. The circuitry  36  may be a printed onto a board  38 , such as a printed circuit board  38  attached to the shell  34   b . In use, the battery  37  may provide electric power, and the circuitry  38  may then transform the electric power into suitable pulsed voltages that may be conducted through the conduits  18 ,  20  and delivered into the game animal carcass  12  via the clamps  14  and  16  as described above. 
         [0032]    Also depicted is an external power source  39  that may be electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery  37 . The external power source  39  may be a powered transformer attached to a wall outlet (e.g., 110 volt AC outlet), or a 12 volt adapter attached to a car battery, for example, by using a 12 volt port included in a car dash. In other embodiments, one or more solar panels may be provided for use as the external power source  39 , which may then charge the battery  37  through solar power in the field. Once the battery  37  reaches a desired voltage charge, the circuitry  36  may then deliver electric current pulse trains through the clamps  14  and/or  16 . The clamps  14  and  16  may be clamps having certain features suitable for enhancing operations, such as rounded edges or blunt ends (e.g., round or square ends), as depicted in  FIG. 4 . For example, as depicted in  FIG. 4 , the clamp  14  may include a proximal grip head  40  having rounded edges. By providing for the rounded edges, the grip head  40  may minimize or eliminate inadvertent punctures such as when using electro probes with needle points instead of the clamps  14  and  16 . The spring clamps  14  and  16  may include a spring (not shown) biasing the rounded edges normally closed. In other embodiments, the spring may bias the rounded edges normally open, and a mechanical lock may be operated to close the edges in place. In the depicted embodiment, the clamp  14  includes two handles  42  suitable for opening the spring clamp  14  by using a single hand. For example, the user may grasp the handles  42  and then compress the handles  42  inwardly towards each other, thus opening the distal head  40 . The spring clamp may then be inserted into, for example an incision cut into the animal carcass  12 , and the handles  42  may then be released. Upon release, the spring bias may close the distal ends  40  thus providing for a mechanical engagement of the spring clamp  14  and a secure attachment of the spring clamp  14  onto the animal carcass  12 . Once the spring clamps  14  and  16  are securely coupled onto the game animal carcass  12 , the power supply  36  may deliver electro stimulation through the circuitry  36 , as described below in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the circuitry  36  powered by the battery  37  and suitable for providing electrical stimulation into the animal carcass  12 . As illustrated, the circuitry  36  may be further subdivided into sub circuitry  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60 . In the embodiment shown, the power supply circuitry  50  includes electronic components suitable for converting power delivered via the battery  37  into electrical power useful in powering the microprocessor circuitry  52 , such as 5 volt DC power or any other suitable power. Thus powered, microprocessor circuitry  52  may then verify derive certain conditions  54  (e.g., suitable power provided by the battery  37 , shorts, high resistance, and so on), and use a status indication circuit  56  to visually display the conditions and status of the portable electrostimulating system  10 . The status indication circuit  56  includes the LEDs  22  and may use the LEDs  22  to provide for blinking patterns and/or colors indicative of each of the conditions and derivations  54 . The microprocessor circuitry  52  may include an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and in an exemplary example, the IC chip is an ATtiny48 chip available from Atmel Corporation, of San Jose, Calif. A variety of microprocessor chips and/or microcontrollers may be used, such as Arduino based chips, Basic Stamp microcontrollers, and the like. 
         [0034]    The microprocessor circuitry  52  may include a processor  62  and memory  64 . In the depicted embodiment, the memory  64  is shown included in the microprocessor  64 , but may also be included in a separate IC and/or storage device (e.g., secure digital card). The processor  62  may be suitable for executing instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as the memory  64 , the instructions configured to provide for several electrical stimulation processes as described in more detail below. The microprocessor circuitry  52  may also be communicatively coupled to the inverter circuit  58 , suitable for providing higher voltages, for example, through the use of one or more capacitors. 
         [0035]    The microprocessor circuitry  52  may also be communicatively coupled to the stimulator circuit  60 , suitable for delivering trains of electrical pulses, such as a pulse train having between 5-50 pulses. After a certain number of pulse trains, the electrical polarity may be switched, and one or more pulse train may then be provided by the stimulator circuit  60 . Switching the polarity may overcome tissue resistance built during the previous one or more pulse trains, and may increase meat tenderization and improve taste. It is to be noted that the circuitry  36  depicted in  FIG. 5  may be provided in a variety of implementations, including a combination of analog and digital circuitry implementations. One exemplary implementation is described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the circuitry  36  showing further details of components of the circuits  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60 . In use, the battery  37  may deliver 6 volts, 12 volts, or other voltage for example through terminal  70  included in the power supply circuit  50 , which may then be stepped down and provided, for example as a 5 volt supply useful in powering the microprocessor  62 . When powered, the microprocessor  62  may derive operating conditions and indications  54 , as mentioned before, and use the status indication circuit  56  to turn off or on the LEDs  22 . Certain of the derivations  54  may result in the microprocessor  62  shutting down operations. For example, low voltage for the battery  37 , shorts across leads  80 , high resistance across the leads  80 , improper charging (e.g., insufficient voltage) for the capacitor C5, and so on, may result in the microprocessor  62  turning on certain colors and/or patterns in the LEDs  22  to indicate the undesired condition, and subsequently shutting off. 
         [0037]    When ready to provide electrical stimulation, the microprocessor  62  may signal the inverter circuit  58  via terminal  74  to ramp up one or more capacitors, such as the capacitor C5, to a desired voltage. The desired voltage may be of between 10 to 150 volts. Once the microprocessor  62  derives that the conditions  54  are suitable for electrical stimulation, one or more of the LEDs  22  may be turned on to indicate that the portable electrostimulating system  10  is now ready for electrical stimulation. The user may then press, for example, the button  26 , and the microprocessor  62  may begin providing electrical stimulation through the stimulator circuit  60 . For example, terminals  76  and  78  labeled PA1 and PA0 respectively, may be used by the microprocessor  62  to signal the stimulator circuit  60  to deliver the aforementioned pulsed train of voltages such as a train of pulses having between 5 and 50 pulses over a desired time period such as a period of between 5 and 10 seconds, 5 and 30 seconds, 5 seconds and 1 minute, 5 seconds and 2 minutes. The electrical current incoming from the capacitor C5 may then flow through terminals  80 , which may be communicatively coupled to the clamps  14  and  16 . When coupled to the carcass  12 , the clamps  14  and  16  may thus electrical stimulate tissue. 
         [0038]    As depicted, relays  82  may be used to switch between positive and negative polarities during the stimulation activities. The microprocessor  62  may wait a desired time and/or number of pulses, and then switch polarity. Polarity may be switched between positive and negative, until a desired number of cycles of positive and negative current have been delivered and/or a certain time period has elapsed. The user may also press on a button, such as the button  24 , and stop electrical stimulation. By providing for improved reliability and operations, the techniques described herein may result in a more reliable, and easy to operate portable electrostimulating system  10 . 
         [0039]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , the figure is a flow chart of an embodiment of a process  90  suitable for providing enhanced operations during electrical stimulation of the animal carcass  12 . The process  90  may be implemented as machine executable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as the memory  64  associated with the microprocessor  62 . The process  90  may first charge certain of the capacitors, such as the capacitor C5, of the inverter circuitry  58  to a desired voltage, such as 24 volts (block  92 ). The process  90  may then connect the charge capacitor or capacitors to leads (e.g., leads  80 ) and discharge across a load (block  94 ). If the discharge takes less than a desired time, for example, less than 0.05 seconds (decision  96 ), the process  90  may determine that resistance is too low (block  98 ). The resistance may be too low, for example, if the leads delivering the discharge across the load have been shorted (e.g., clamps  14  and  16  are touching). Accordingly, the process  90  may turn off the portable electrostimulating system  10  (block  100 ). 
         [0040]    If the process  90  determines that discharge took less than the desired time (decision  96 ), then the process  90  may determine if the discharge is taking longer than a desired time, such as longer than  0 . 5  seconds (decision  102 ). If it is determined that discharge is taking longer than a desired time (decision  102 ), then the process  90  may derive that a resistance is unsuitably high (block  104 ). For example, the resistance may be undesirably high (block  104 ) because there may be an improper connection between leads  80 . Accordingly, the process  90  may turn off the portable electrostimulating system  10  (block  106 ). If the process  90  determines that discharge is not taking longer than a desired time (decision  102 ), then the process  90  may derive that there is a suitable resistance and that stimulation is safer (block  108 ). Accordingly, certain capacitors, e.g., C5 shown in  FIG. 6 , may be charged for example to 100 volts or more (block  110 ). The process  90  may then provide for on-demand electrical stimulation of the carcass  12  (block  112 ). By enabling a derivation of certain conditions (e.g., blocks  98  and  104 ), the process  90  may electrically stimulate (block  112 ) when it is determined that operations may be provided with enhanced operations. It is to be noted that the times, e.g., 0.05 seconds and 0.5 seconds, depicted in  FIG. 7  are examples only, and during implementation may be changed to values between plus or minus 100%, between plus or minus 200%, between plus or minus 500% of the depicted values. Likewise, the voltage of 24 volts depicted in block  92  may be, in certain embodiments, between 10 to 150 volts. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 8-11  are flowcharts of various embodiments of processes that the portable electrostimulating system  10  may execute to electrically stimulate the animal carcass  12 . Each of the depicted processes may be implemented as executable computer instructions stored in the non-transitory memory  64  suitable for execution by the processor  62 . Turning now to  FIG. 8 , the figure is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process  114  suitable for providing a startup sequence for the portable electrostimulating system  10 . In the depicted embodiment, the process  114  may first initialize (block  116 ) various program variables and environment. For example, the process  114  may define certain macros, set ports, and so on to initialize a program environment (block  116 ). The process  114  may then turn on a latching relay (block  118 ). The latching relay may be useful for example in providing power through the battery or power supply  37 . The process  114  may then set a visual status light  22  to a desired color, such as the color red indicative of a power on status (block  120 ). The process  114  may then pause for a desired time (block  122 ), for example, for 1 second. The process  114  may then derive a voltage of certain capacitor or capacitors useful in delivering stimulation voltage, such as the capacitor labeled C5 in  FIG. 6  above. If it is determined that the capacitor or capacitors are less than a desired voltage (e.g., 24 volts) (decision  124 ), then the process  114  may turn on a charging circuit such as the inverter circuit or portions of the inverter circuit  58  (block  126 ). 
         [0042]    If the process  114  determines (decision  128 ) that the start button  24  has been activated, (decision  128 ) then the process  114  may pause for 1 second or other desired time interval (block  130 ) and power to the circuitry  36  may then be turned off (block  132 ). The process  114  may then terminate execution at block  134 . If the process  114  determines (decision  128 ) that the start button  24  was not activated, then the process  114  may read a battery voltage, such as the battery  37  voltage (block  136 ) and may also read a capacitor voltage, such as the capacitor C5 voltage (block  138 ). The process  114  may then determine (decision  140 ) if the battery  37  is at an undesired voltage, for example, at a voltage less than 10 volts when the desired voltage is over 10 volts. If it is determined that the battery  37  is at an undesired voltage, such as a voltage less than 10 volts (decision  140 ), the process  114  may flash the lights  22  with a certain pattern indicative of a low battery condition (block  142 ). The process  114  may then turn off power to the circuitry  36  (block  144 ), and may then terminate execution (block  146 ). However, if the process  114  determines (decision  124 ) that the capacitor, e.g., C5, is not at an undesired voltage, the process  114  may then turn off the charging circuit portions, such as portions of the inverter circuit  58  or the entire inverter circuit  58  (block  148 ). At block  148 , the process  114  may have realized a voltage useful in electrically stimulating the carcass  12 , and may then execute a check sequence process  150 , described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 9 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  is an embodiment of a process  150  useful in providing for a check sequence during electrical stimulation activities. In the depicted embodiment, the process  150  may begin execution, as mentioned before with respect to  FIG. 8 , following execution of block  148  of the process  114  (block  152 ). The process  150  may then turn on a stimulation voltage (block  154 ). The process  150  may then pause for a desired time for example, 0.01 seconds (block  156 ). The process  150  may then increment a timer variable (block  158 ) and may then read, for example, the capacitor C5 voltage (block  160 ). If it is determined (decision  162 ) that the start button  24  was pressed, then the process  150  may pause for 1 second (block  164 ), for example, because the user wishes to terminate electrical stimulation activities. The process  150  may then turn off power to the circuitry  36  (block  166 ), and may subsequently terminate execution (block  168 ). 
         [0044]    If it is determined that the start button  24  was not activated, the process  150  may then determine (decision  165 ) if the timer is greater than a desired time, for example, greater than 0.5 seconds. If it is determined (decision  165 ) that the timer is greater than a desired time, such as greater than 0.5 seconds, the process  150  may derive that unwanted resistance is present. Accordingly, the process  150  may utilize the lights  22  to flash a high resistance warning by using certain light patterns (block  170 ), and the process  150  may then turn off power to the circuitry  36  (block  172 ) and subsequently terminate execution (block  174 ). 
         [0045]    If the process  150  determines (decision  165 ) that the timer is not greater than the desired time (e.g., 0.5 seconds), the process  150  may then determine (decision  176 ) if the timer is greater than a second desired time, such as a time of 0.05 seconds. If the timer is not greater than the second desired time (e.g., 0.05 seconds) (decision  176 ), the process  150  may then determine if a voltage, such as the stimulation voltage, is less than a desired voltage, such as 1 volt (decision  178 ). If the voltage, e.g., stimulation voltage, is not less than 1 volt (decision  178 ), the process  150  may continue execution at block  156 . If it is determined (decision  178 ) that the voltage of the capacitor, e.g., capacitor C5, is less than a desired voltage, e.g., 1 volt, then the process  150  may derive that there is a short, for example, in between the clamps  14  and  16  and/or the terminals  80 . Accordingly, the process  150  may then utilize the lights  22  to flash a set of patterns corresponding to shorted leads warning (block  180 ). The process  150  may then turn off power of the circuitry  36  (block 182 ) and subsequently terminate execution (block  184 ). 
         [0046]    If the process  150  determines (decision  186 ) that the voltage, e.g., stimulation voltage, is less than 1 volt, the process  150  may set the lights  22  to a color, such as a color orange (block  188 ), to denote that checks are complete and that electrical charging is now starting, and then turn off the stimulate voltage (block  190 ). At block  190  the process  150  may have reached a state suitable for charging to a voltage useful in electrical stimulation, and may then proceed onto a process  192  as described in more detail with respect to  FIG. 10  below. 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process  192  suitable for execution by the microprocessor  62  when waiting for the user to electrically stimulate the animal carcass  12 . As illustrated, the process  192  may begin execution, as mentioned before with respect to  FIG. 9 , following execution of block  190  of the process  150  (block  194 ). The process  192  may determine (decision  196 ) if the start button  24  was activated. If the start button  24  was activated, then the user may wish to stop electro stimulation activities and the process  192  may first pause for a desired time, such as 1 second (block  198 ), and then turn off power (block  200 ). The process  192  may then subsequently stop execution (block  202 ). If the start button  24  was not activated (decision  196 ), the process  192  may then determine (decision  204 ) if the capacitor, e.g., capacitor C5, has a voltage exceeding a desired voltage, such as 100 volts. If the capacitor does not have the voltage exceeding a desired voltage (decision  204 ), then the process  192  may turn on the charging circuit (block  206 ), read the battery  37  voltage (block  208 ), and then read the capacitor C5 voltage (block  210 ). 
         [0048]    The process  192  may then determine (decision  212 ) if the battery  37  voltage is less than a desired amount, such as 10 volts. If the battery voltage is less than a desired amount (decision  212 ), then the battery may have insufficient voltage for stimulation. Accordingly, the process  192  may flash a set of patterns indicative of low battery (block  214 ) and then turn off power (block  216 ) to the circuitry  36 . The process  192  may subsequently terminate execution (block  218 ). If the process  192  determines (decision  212 ) that the battery voltage is equal to or exceeds a desired voltage, the process  192  may continue execution at decision  196 . 
         [0049]    If the process  192  determines (decision  204 ) that the capacitor voltage exceeds a desired voltage amount, the process  192  may then turn off the charging circuit (block  220 ). The process  192  may then set the visual indication lights  22  to a color such as green to denote that the portable electrostimulating system  10  is now charged and ready to provide electrical stimulation (block  222 ). The process  192  may then read the battery  37  voltage (block  224 ) and additionally read the capacitor C5 voltage (block  226 ). The process  192  may then determine (decision  228 ) if the stimulate button  26  was activated. If the stimulate button  26  was not activated (decision  228 ) the process  192  may continue execution at decision  196 . If the process  192  determines (decision  228 ) that the stimulate button  26  was activated, the process  192  may then execute a process  230  suitable for delivering electrical stimulation, described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 11 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart of an embodiment of a process  230  suitable for delivering electrical stimulation into the animal carcass  12 . In the depicted embodiment, the process  230  may begin execution, as mentioned before with respect to  FIG. 10 , following execution of decision  228  of the process  192  (block  232 ). The process  230  may determine if the start button  24  was activated (decision  234 ). If the start button  24  was activated (decision  234 ), then the user may desire to stop electrical stimulation activities. Accordingly, the process  230  may pause for a desired time, such as 1 second, (block  236 ), and turn off power to the circuitry  36  (block  238 ). The process  230  may subsequently terminate execution (block  240 ). If the process  230  determines (decision  234 ) that the start button  24  was not activated, the process  230  may then determine (decision  242 ) if a cycle count has exceeded a desired number, such as 30. By monitoring the cycle count, the process  230  may deliver a set of pulses as part of a cycle and then stop electrical stimulation activity. For example 10 pulses may first be delivered, followed by a reversing of the polarity and the delivery of 10 additional pulses, all of these constituting one cycle and at 30 cycles power may then be stopped. If the process  230  determines that the cycle count has exceeded a desired number (decision  242 ) the process  230  may also pause for 1 second (block  236 ), turn off power (block  238 ), and terminate execution (block  240 ). 
         [0051]    If the process  230  determines that the cycle count has not exceeded a desired cycle number (decision  242 ) the process  230  may then determine (decision  244 ) if a number of pulses has not exceeded a desired pulse count. If the number of pulses delivered into the animal carcass  12  has note exceeded a desired pulse count (decision  244 ), then the process  230  may turn on stimulation voltage (block  246 ) to deliver a desired voltage, for example a voltage of between 18 and 25 volts as a pulse, and may then pause for a desired time, such as 0.005 seconds (block  248 ). If the process  230  determines that the pulse count has exceeded a desired number (decision  244 ), the process  230  may then reverse the output polarity of the electrical stimulation (block  256 ). The process  230  may then determine (decision  258 ) if the capacitor, e.g., capacitor C5, includes a voltage exceeding a desired amount, such as 100 volts. If the capacitor does not exceed the desired voltage amount (decision  258 ) the process  230  may then turn on the charging circuit (block  260 ). 
         [0052]    The process  230  may then read the battery  37  voltage (block  262 ) and read the capacitor C5 voltage (block  264 ). The process  230  may then determine (decision  266 ) if the power supply  36  voltage is below a desired amount, such as 10 volts. If it is determined (decision  266 ) that the power supply voltage is below a desired amount, the process  230  may continue execution at block  236 . If it is determined (decision  266 ) that the power supply  36  voltage is not under a desired amount, the process  230  may continue execution at decision  258 . If the process  230  determines (decision  258 ) that the capacitor exceeds a desired amount, the process  230  may then turn off the charging circuit (block  268 ) pause for a desired amount, such as 1 second (block  270 ), set the pulse count to zero (block  272 ), and increment the cycle count by 1 (block  274 ). It is to be noted that the all the times, e.g., 0.05 seconds and 0.5 seconds, depicted in  FIGS. 8-11  are examples only, and during implementation may be changed to time values between plus or minus 100%, between plus or minus 200%, between plus or minus 500% of the depicted values. Likewise, all the voltage values depicted in  FIGS. 8-11  may be, in certain embodiments, between 10 to 150 volts. The process may then continue at decision  234 . By providing for the processes  90 ,  114 ,  150 ,  192 ,  230 , the techniques described herein may more efficiently tenderize meat, such as the tissue of the game carcass  12 . 
         [0053]    Technical effects of the invention include a portable electrostimulating system suitable for field use with enhanced operating features. The portable electrostimulating system may detect conditions such as shorts and high resistance, and stop electrical stimulation activities if such conditions are detected. The portable electrostimulating system may include clamps suitable for more easily attaching to a carcass while minimizing or eliminating inadvertent punctures of the carcass or of the user. 
         [0054]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.