Rotating tissue digestor system and method of use

Abstract

A tissue digestor system includes a container for housing a digestion chamber having an exterior vessel for holding digestor fluid and an interior vessel, the container extending from a first end to a second end, the interior vessel having perforations and having baffles extending from an interior surface of the interior vessel; a lid secured to the exterior vessel and to provide access to the digestion chamber; one or more heating elements positioned to apply heat to the digestion chamber; a motor engaged with the interior vessel and to create rotational movement of the interior vessel; a control system, having a temperature controller; and a movement controller; the control system is to rotate the interior vessel and heat the digestion chamber based on user commands; and the digestion chamber is to break down remains through application of the digestor fluid to the tissue remains.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tissue digestor system, comprising:
 a container for housing a digestion chamber comprising an exterior vessel, said exterior vessel comprising an exterior wall and an interior wall, the interior wall for holding a digestor fluid in said digestion chamber;   a lid secured to the exterior vessel and configured to provide access to the digestion chamber;   one or more heating elements positioned to apply heat to the digestion chamber;   a motor engaged with the tissue digestor system and configured to create rotational movement of the tissue digestor system;   a control system, having:
 a temperature control in communication with the one or more heating elements and configured to control temperature application to the digestion chamber; 
 a movement control configured to control speed, direction, and amount of rotation; 
   wherein the control system is operable to control temperature and movement based on predetermined process cycles;   wherein the digestion chamber is configured to break down tissue remains therein through application of the digestor fluid to the tissue remains; and   wherein the rotational movement manipulates the digestor fluid around the tissue remains during operation.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior wall comprises a plurality of baffles configured to manipulate the tissue remains as the digestion chamber rotates. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more vibration elements positioned to apply vibration to the tissue in the digestion chamber via the interior wall. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more vibration elements positioned to apply vibration to the tissue in the digestion chamber via at least one of the plurality of baffles. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 1  wherein the digestion chamber comprises one or more enclosures therein, said enclosures comprising apertures for passage of digestor fluid and for retaining undigested tissue within said enclosures. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 5  wherein the one or more enclosures comprise a non-digestible copolymer material, wherein the non-digestible copolymer material is flexible and resistant to the digestor fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 1 , wherein movement control is configured to control amount of rotation up to an angle of 90 degrees from parallel with a ground surface upon which the tissue digestor system stands. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue digestor system further comprises a rotational system, wherein the rotational system includes a pivot point that causes the digestion chamber to tilt back and forth. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the plurality of baffles comprise rod-shaped projections. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the plurality of baffles comprise angled projections. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue digestor system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to create rotational movement in different spin directions. 
     
     
         12 . A method of digesting tissue remains in a tissue digestor system, comprising steps of:
 providing the tissue digestor system having a digestion chamber with an exterior wall and an interior wall for holding digestor fluid, said tissue digestor system configured to rotate during operation;   inserting tissue remains within the interior wall of the tissue digestor system;   commencing a digestion cycle to digest the tissue remains; and   rotating the digestion system during the digestion cycle, wherein the rotational movement of the container manipulates the digestor fluid around the tissue remains during said digestion cycle.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tissue remains are manipulated during the rotating of the digestion chamber by one or more baffles, the one or more baffles configured to enhance agitation, abrasion and breakdown of tissue remains during rotation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein commencing the digestion cycle comprises controlling any one or more of temperature, application of digestor fluid, rotational speed, and rotational direction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of inserting tissue remains into the digestion chamber comprises inserting said tissue remains into one or more enclosures in said digestion chamber, said enclosures comprising apertures for passage of digestor fluid and for retaining undigested tissue within said enclosures. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more enclosures comprise a non-digestible copolymer material, wherein the non-digestible copolymer material is flexible and resistant to the digestor fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising disposing of undigested soft tissue remaining in said enclosures after said digestion cycle, and disposing of or otherwise processing said undigested tissue remains. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of rotating the digestion chamber is carried out by a movement control of a control system, said movement control configured to control an amount of rotation of said digestion chamber up to an angle of 90 degrees from parallel with a ground surface upon which the tissue digestor system stands. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of rotating the digestion chamber further comprises controlling rotation direction of rotation of said tissue digestion chamber between two or more angles.