US 12,193,451 B2 · Separating an intestine from a bowel package

Abstract

The invention provides a system (1) for separating an intestine (10) from a bowel package (19) comprising a package remainder (17) and a membrane (11) connecting the intestine (10) to the package remainder (17); the system (1) comprising (i) a retaining zone (2) comprising a retaining location (21), (ii) a separation zone (3), (iii) a sensing zone (5), (iv) a collecting zone (8), (v) a retaining element (20), (vi) a transporting element (41), (vii) a sensor (51), and (viii) a control system (6); wherein (i) the retaining element (20) is configured for holding at least a part of the package remainder (17) at the retaining location (21); (ii) the transporting element (41) is configured for engaging with a first intestine end (13) separated from the membrane (11) and for moving the intestine (10) in a direction from the retaining zone (2) to the collecting zone (8), wherein the intestine (10) is moved through the separation zone (3) via the sensing zone (5); (iii) the sensor (51) is configured for sensing a parameter of the intestine (10), relating to a connection location (15) connecting the intestine (10) to the membrane (11); (iv) the control system (6) is configured for controlling positioning of a mobile separation device (31), during moving the intestine (10) such that the mobile separation device (31) separates the intestine (10) in the separation zone (3) from the membrane (11) at a predetermined longitudinal intestine position (12) based on the connection location (15) determined from the parameter sensed in the sensing zone (5) at the predetermined longitudinal intestine position (12).

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system for separating an intestine from a bowel package, wherein the bowel package comprises a package remainder and a membrane connecting the intestine to the package remainder;

wherein the system comprises (i) a retaining zone comprising a retaining location, (ii) a separation zone, (iii) a sensing zone, (iv) a collecting zone, (v) a retaining element, (vi) a transporting element, (vii) a sensor, and (viii) a control system;
wherein
the retaining element is configured for holding at least a part of the package remainder at the retaining location, wherein a second intestine end is attached to the package remainder;
the transporting element is configured for engaging with a first intestine end separated from the membrane and for moving the intestine in a direction from the retaining zone to the collecting zone, wherein the intestine is moved through the separation zone via the sensing zone;
wherein the system is configured for straightening the membrane in the sensing zone and in the separation zone;
the sensor is configured for sensing in the sensing zone a parameter of the intestine, relating to a connection location connecting the intestine to the membrane;
the control system is configured for controlling positioning of a mobile separation device during moving the intestine such that the mobile separation device separates the intestine in the separation zone from the membrane at a predetermined longitudinal intestine position based on the connection location determined from the parameter sensed in the sensing zone at the predetermined longitudinal intestine position.

4 more elements

A method for separating an intestine from a bowel package, wherein the bowel package comprises a package remainder and a membrane connecting the intestine to the package remainder;

wherein the method comprises a preparation stage, an arranging stage and a separation stage;
wherein the preparation stage comprises:
manually separating a first intestine end from the membrane of a bowel package;
wherein the arranging stage comprises:
(i) providing the first intestine end to a transporting element and (ii) holding at least part of the package remainder of the bowel package comprising a second intestine end, at a retaining element in a retaining zone;
and
wherein the separation stage comprises:
moving the intestine in a direction from the retaining zone to a collecting zone, wherein the intestine is moved through a separation zone via a sensing zone, while straightening the membrane in the sensing zone and in the separation zone;
and while moving the intestine:
(i) sensing a parameter of the intestine in the sensing zone, wherein the parameter relates to a connection location connecting the intestine to the membrane, and determining the connection location based on the sensed parameter, and (ii) separating the intestine from the membrane with a mobile separation device, by controlling positioning of the mobile separation device such that the separation device separates the intestine in the separation zone from the membrane at a predetermined longitudinal intestine position based on the connection location determined from the parameter sensed in the sensing zone at the predetermined longitudinal intestine position.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Separating an intestine from a bowel package

Life of this patent

Separating an intestine from a bowel package

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18