DETECTION OF SPOILED BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

摘要

To detect spoilage of biological material, particularly fish or other animal matter used as food, an inspection system (10) for inspection of biological material includes a sampling probe (12) and a detection system (14). In operation, a user positions the sample probe (12) in the gills (22) or elsewhere on a fish (24) as the fish (24) moves along a conveyor line (26). A sample acquisition switch (30) is then depressed on the sample probe (12) to cause a vapor sample to be drawn from the gills (22) of the fish (24) to the detection system (14). The detection system (14) analyzes the vapor sample to determine whether the fish (24) is unacceptable due to spoilage or hydrocarbon contamination, or both. If the fish (24) is unacceptable, the detection system (14) activates an indicator light (32) on the sample probe (12) and sounds a horn (33) that is mounted on the detection system (14).