The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1996
William C Pratt, Canyon, TX (US);
Micro Chemical, Inc., Amarillo, TX (US);
Abstract
An automated tissue analysis system is described comprising a conveyor for delivering a feed animal to a tissue analysis zone, an ultrasound transducer designed to conduct tissue analysis on feed animals, and a remotely actuated positioner for placing the transducer on the feed animal. The ultrasound transducer is coupled to the positioner. One embodiment of the positioner comprises a saddle, a longitudinal slide frame, a dorsal/ventral slide frame and a pivot frame for accurately positioning the transducer on the animal for conducting tissue analysis. A transducer housing is provided that includes a built-in fluid passage and dispenser for dispensing conductive fluid onto the animal from a remote fluid reservoir. A fluid pump is fluidly coupled to both the reservoir and the dispenser in the transducer housing so that fluid can be pumped from the reservoir to the dispenser. The tissue analysis systems also generally include a computer or computers operably coupled to individual components of the analysis system. This allows an operator to either control the components by inputting commands to the computer, or place the computer in control of the components. The computer also can store and analyze data generated by the transducer, and any other instruments that might be used in the analysis of feed animals that can be coupled to the positioner for remote actuation. By actuating joy-stick controls an operator can control all the components of the tissue analysis system. The apparatus can be used in combination with an overall animal management system such as might be found in a feedlot. The animal management system can sort animals, promote feed efficiency and optimize shipping dates for animals, either individually or in groups.