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US 11,388,888 B2Granted
Cultured quahog pearls and methods of preparation therefor
OwnerBrendan Michael Breeninventor
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Abstract
The invention relates to a cultured bivalve mollusk (particularly quahog) pearl and a method of preparation thereof. The method includes implanting a nucleus material and a donor bivalve mollusk mantle tissue in the gonad or gut area of an anesthetized bivalve mollusk. An ideal bivalve mollusk or a quahog is four-years old or younger for rapid pearl production. The cultured pearl is harvested after a period ranging from six months to three years. Such cultured bivalve mollusk pearl is identical in appearance to the natural pearls.
Claims7
A method of producing a cultured quahog non-nacreous pearl, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a nucleus bead material;
- b) providing a quahog mantle donor tissue;
- c) anesthetizing a quahog to provide an anesthetized quahog;
- d) creating an opening in a shell of the anesthetized quahog, comprising:
- cutting through a mantle;
- and
- making an incision between a gap in the intestinal tract to provide access to a gonad of the anesthetized quahog;
- e) implanting the nucleus bead material and the quahog mantle donor tissue through the incision in an area within the gonad in the anesthetized quahog;
- f) allowing growth of the cultured quahog non-nacreous pearl for a pre-determined period of time;
- and
- g) harvesting the cultured quahog non-nacreous pearl from the quahog.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.