Apparatus and method of preparing a body for burial

Abstract

A steamatory is used to prepare a body for burial. A chamber has a door for accepting the body. A tray is partially removable from the chamber through the door. A plurality of steam ports are connected to an interior surface of the chamber. A steam generator provides steam to the plurality of steam ports within the chamber. The steam injected into the chamber causes tissue of the body to separate from bone structure. The tray is made with a wire mesh having openings through which the tissue of body falls after separation from the bone structure. A funnel connected to a lower portion of the chamber channels the tissue after falling through the wire mesh of the tray to a container. The steam injected into the chamber maintains moisture content of the bone structure.

1 . A steamatory for preparing a body for burial, comprising: 
 a chamber having an access panel;    a tray at least partially removable from the chamber through the access panel;    a plurality of steam ports disposed within the chamber; and    a steam generator for providing steam to the plurality of steam ports within the chamber, wherein the steam injected into the chamber causes tissue of the body to separate from bone structure.    
   
   
       2 . The steamatory of  claim 1  wherein the tray includes multiple stacked trays.  
   
   
       3 . The steamatory of  claim 2  wherein the tray is made with a wire mesh having openings through which the tissue of body falls after separation from the bone structure.  
   
   
       4 . The steamatory of  claim 3  further including: 
 a funnel portion of the chamber for channeling the tissue after falling through the wire mesh of the tray; and    a container coupled to the funnel portion for collecting the tissue of the body.    
   
   
       5 . The steamatory of  claim 1  wherein the steam injected into the chamber maintains moisture content of the bone structure.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for preparing a body for burial, comprising: 
 a vessel adapted for accepting the body;    a support structure disposed within the vessel for supporting the body; and    a plurality of steam ports disposed within the vessel, wherein steam injected into the vessel causes tissue of the body to separate from bone structure.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further including a steam generator for providing steam to the plurality of steam ports within the vessel.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further including an access panel coupled to the vessel for opening the vessel to accept the body.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the vessel includes: 
 a pan; and    a lid detachable from the pan for opening the vessel to accept the body.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the support structure includes a tray which is partially removable from the vessel.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the support structure includes multiple stacked trays.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the tray is made with a wire mesh having openings through which the tissue of body falls after separation from the bone structure.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further including: 
 a funnel portion of the vessel for channeling the tissue after falling through the wire mesh of the tray; and    a container coupled to the funnel portion for collecting the tissue of the body.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the steam injected into the vessel maintains moisture content of the bone structure.  
   
   
       15 . A method of preparing a body for burial, comprising: 
 providing a vessel adapted for accepting the body;    placing the body on a support structure disposed within the vessel; and    injecting steam through a plurality of steam ports disposed within the vessel to cause tissue of the body to separate from bone structure.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further including the steps of: 
 generating steam; and    routing the steam to the plurality of steam ports within the vessel.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the support structure includes a tray which is partially removable from the vessel.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the tray is made with a wire mesh having openings through which the tissue of body falls after separation from the bone structure.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further including the steps of: 
 channeling the tissue through a funnel after falling through the wire mesh of the tray; and    collecting the tissue of the body in a container.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the steam injected into the vessel maintains moisture content of the bone structure.