Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     In preparing meat products for consumption, the animal supplying the meat products needs to be put down. This is typically done by first stunning the animal and then bleeding the animal out. Electrical and carbon dioxide stunning systems are the two main systems used today for stunning pigs. Both of these systems have their advantages and disadvantages when compared to one another. Electrical stunning is very quick if applied correctly. Regarding its use on pigs, it places the pigs into a state of unconsciousness. In particular, into a grand mal seizure. Moreover, depending on how the electrodes are placed, it can also put the pig into cardiac arrest. After electrical stunning has been applied to the pig, the pig can be bled out and very quickly rendered dead. The cost is comparatively low from a capital cost standpoint as well as on an ongoing cost basis when compared to carbon dioxide. The disadvantages with electrical stunning includes the pig needs to be restrained and electrical wands need to be placed within a very tight area tolerance for it to be effective. Also a great deal of “blood splash” is created in some of the parts of the muscles. This is a very common occurrence in pigs that have been electrically stunned. Blood splash is unsightly and is visibly unattractive in meat products. Moreover electrical stunning can result in the pigs breaking their backs which can make it difficult for further processing. 
     Carbon dioxide stunning can be an effective way to stun pigs. One of the major advantages with this type of stunning is that allows pigs to be stunned in groups as opposed to having to go through a single file restrainer system. Some of the disadvantages are, however, it takes longer for the animal to be stunned with CO2. Moreover the capital cost for carbon dioxide science very expensive. The ongoing cost of carbon dioxide and equipment repairs are also expensive. 
     For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a humane, efficient and cost effective method of stunning animals. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention. 
     In one embodiment, a method of stunning an animal for slaughter is provided. The method includes directing a first portion of electromagnetic radiation in a first side of the animals head and directing a second portion of the electromagnetic radiation in a second side of the animals head such that the first portion and second portion of the electromagnetic radiation achieve constructive interfere at a focal point within the animals head. 
     In another embodiment, an electromagnetic animal stunning system is provided. The system includes a radiation generator, a power splitter, a first waveguide, a second waveguide and a positioning member. The radiation generator is configured to generate electromagnetic radiation at a select frequency. The power splitter is configured and arranged to split the generated electromagnetic radiation from the radiation generator into a first portion of electromagnetic radiation and a second portion of electromagnetic radiation. The first waveguide is configured and arranged to direct the first portion of electromagnetic radiation to a focal point. The second waveguide is configured and arranged to direct the second portion of electromagnetic radiation to the focal point. The first portion of electromagnetic radiation and the second portion of electromagnetic radiation are configured to produce constructive interference at the focal point. The positioning member is configured and arranged to position and animal&#39;s head so that the focal point is within the animal&#39;s brain. 
     In yet another embodiment, a stunning station is provided. The stunning station includes a holding compartment, a first waveguide and a second waveguide. The holding compartment is configured and arranged to hold an animal to be slaughtered. The first waveguide is configured to direct a first portion of electromagnetic radiation to a first side of a head of the animal. The second waveguide is configured to direct a second portion of electromagnetic radiation to a second side of the head of the animal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof will be more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an electromagnetic stunning system of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of the electromagnetic stunning system of  FIG. 1  in use; 
         FIG. 3  is a power to brain as a function of axial position around are graph; 
         FIG. 4  is a power to hypothalamus as a function of axial position around ear; and 
         FIG. 5  is a stunning station that implements the electromagnetic stunning system of  FIG. 1  of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide an electromagnetic radiation system that eliminates or minimizes blood splash, achieves stunning in a very short time (less than one second), with capital costs and operating costs being much more in line with the cost of electrical stunning. In embodiments, electromagnetic radiation (in the radio frequency (RF) or Microwave spectrum) is split into two paths with a power splitter. The paths direct the electromagnetic radiation to come together forming constructive interference (electric and magnetic waves in same phase) at a focal point within the animal&#39;s brain. The animal&#39;s brain is heated at the focal point by the constructive interference of the electromagnetic radiation stunning the animal. The process is further beneficial because the heating area of the brain is localized so that the surrounding tissue is not harmed therein providing less waist of the product. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an illustration of an electromagnetic stunning system  100  of one embodiment is illustrated. As illustrated, the system  100  includes a radiation generator  102 . The radiation generator in one embodiment generates electromagnetic radiation in the RF frequency range and in another embodiment generates electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range. The generated electromagnetic radiation  200  is directed to a power splitter  104 . The power splitter  104  splits electromagnetic radiation into two paths. In particular, a first portion  200   a  of the electromagnetic radiation is split into a first waveguide  106   a  and a second portion  200   b  of the electromagnetic radiation is split into a second waveguide  106   b . The first portion  200   a  and the second portion  200   b  will be “in phase.” The respective first and second waveguides  106   a  and  106   b  direct their respective first and second electromagnetic radiation portions  202   a  and  202   b  to paths that converge. Since the first portion  200   a  and the second portion  200   b  of the electromagnetic radiation are in phase, constructive interference will occur at their convergence point (focal point  108 ). Hence, at the focal point  108 , the magnitude of the first and second portions of the electromagnetic radiation  200   a  and  200   b  is the sum of the individual magnitudes of the first and second portions of electromagnetic radiation  200   a  and  200   b . The animal to be stunned is positioned so the focal point  108  is within the animal&#39;s brain at a select location. At the focal point  108 , the animal&#39;s brain will heat up therein stunning the animal. The desired temperature increase for stunning would be approximately 10-15° F. Hence, a pigs temperature prior to stunning is about 101-103° F., an increase of 15° F. would raise the temperature to 116-118° F. at the select location to accomplish stunning. 
       FIG. 2  provides an illustration of an animal head  250  that is positioned between the waveguides  106   a  and  106   b . Illustration includes ears  255   a  and  255   b . As discussed above the waveguides  106   a  and  106   b  direct their respective first and second portions of the electromagnetic radiation  202   a  and  202   b  to converge at a focal point  260 . At this focal point  260 , constructive interference of the radiation  202   a  and  202   b  signals takes place heating up the tissue. In one embodiment, the waveguides  106  and  106  direct their respective first and second portions of electromagnetic radiation  202  and  202  to the focal point  260  which is located at the brain stem of the animal. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the total power to the brain as a function of axial position around ear represented XY graph  300 . This graph  300  illustrates that by adjusting the axial location of the animal head relative to waveguides  106   a  and  106   b , the total power to the brain can be maximized.  FIG. 4  illustrates a power to the Hypothalamus part of the brain as a function of axial position around ear XY graph  400 . The graph  400  illustrates the optimum location of the head relative to waveguides  106   a  and  106   b  to maximize power absorbed by the hypothalamus. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A  stunning station  500  of one embodiment is illustrated. As illustrated, the stunning station includes a holding compartment  502  in which an animal would be restrained. The stunning station  500  includes a positioning portion  504  that is designed to position the animal head in a location in relation to the waveguides  106   a  and  106   b . The positioning portion in one embodiment, also acts as a shield to localize the electromagnetic radiation. As discussed above, the waveguides  106   a  and  106   b  deliver electromagnetic radiation that creates constructive interference at a focal point that is within the positioning portion  504 . The waveguides  106   a  and  106   b  would be coupled to receive electromagnetic radiation  200   a  and  200   b  from a power slitter  104  that splits electromagnetic radiation  200  from an electromagnetic generator  102 . 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: 1