Importance

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Abstract

An oesophagus seal for sealing the oesophagus in a slaughtered animal comprises a plug (10) for insertion into the oesophagus (40) and a retainer in the form of a clamp (20) which internally engages and clamps to tissues of the oesophagus (40) to resist disengagement of the plug. The plug (10) has an outer peripheral clamp surface (13) and the clamp (20) is in the form of a clamp ring (21) which clamps the internal mucosa (41) of the oesophagus (40) between the clamp ring (21) and the outside clamp surface (13). The plug (10) has a reduced diameter neck (15) and a conical ramped outer surface (16) leading to the clamp surface. The clamp ring (21) is initially located beyond the neck (15) and is advanceable so that tissues (41) surrounding and projecting into the neck portion (15), e.g. by application of a vacuum, will be pinched between the advancing clamp ring (21) and the surface (16) and, upon further advance of the clamp ring (21), the tissues (41) are pinched between the clamp ring (21) and the outer clamp surface (13). There is also provided an oesophagus sealing system comprising an applicator rod (30) having an end for mounting of the oesophagus seal, and having an associated actuator (35) which is selectively moveable axially to move the clamp (20) so as to engage and clamp the tissues (41) of the oesophagus (40) between the clamp (20) and the plug (10).

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First Claim