Abstract: A data processor used in the overall process of determining meat tenderness which receives, analyses and graphically displays in a dynamic format collected fluorescence emitted by connective tissue as a meat probe passes by such tissue during either insertion or removal of the meat probe from the meat. The data processor also collects and calculates feature variables based on the data collected during the insertion and removal of the meat probe, and through the use of artificial intelligence and artificial neural network processing can be taught to recognize patterns in the meat probe data indicative of tenderness. The data processor also performs an analysis of probe data to make a prediction of meat tenderness.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for assessing meat quality, comprises: a hand-held instrument comprising a main body having at one end a hollow meat probe for penetrating meat, an optic fibre extending through the main body and terminating at a window at the distal end of the probe. The main body has a probe position sensing device for sensing position as the probe enters and exits the meat. A carrier pack is adapted for mounting on an operator. The pack comprises a fluorimetry unit having a source of ultraviolet radiation, a power source and a microcontroller/processing unit. A user interactive communications device is on the main body and a cable interconnects the main body and the carrier pack. The cable transmits electronic data between the interactive communication device and the microcontroller/processor unit and ultraviolet radiation output and fluorescent light input between the probe window and the fluorimetry unit.

Abstract: A data processor for processing a signal representative of fluorescence generated by a meat probe used in determining meat tenderness comprises: I) a format for correlating signal intensity with depth of penetration of a meat probe in a meat sample, the correlating step determining a signal intensity value at an interval in the fluorescent signal which is representative of a unit of penetration in the sample when the correlating format receives a signal from a meat probe indicating that the probe has penetrated the meat sample another unit of penetration, the signal being representative of a series of spaced-apart peaks and valleys for a single pass of a meat probe through a meat sample; II) the signal is dynamically scaled for graphical representation of amplitude of the signal relative to depth of penetration where the scaling is achieved by determining a maximum amplitude value and a minimum amplitude value for the spaced-apart peaks and valleys, the maximum and minimum amplitude values determining an ampl