Prior art

Prior Art Analysis for U.S. Patent 10,912,321

This analysis details the most relevant prior art cited against U.S. Patent 10,912,321, focusing on potential anticipation of the patent's claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The core of the '321 patent's invention is a method to increase poultry weight by contacting carcasses with peracetic acid (PAA) containing water at an alkaline pH, specifically a range of about 6 to 9, and maintaining that pH.

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1. U.S. Patent No. 6,017,955: "Method for Cleaning and Disinfecting Poultry"

• Full Citation: US 6,017,955 A
• Publication Date: January 25, 2000
• Filing Date: June 17, 1998
• Brief Description: This patent, assigned to Alcide Corporation, describes a method for disinfecting poultry carcasses to reduce microbial contamination. It involves contacting the poultry with an acidic chlorite solution, which can be sprayed or used in a dip tank. The primary focus is on bactericidal efficacy.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is primarily concerned with disinfection using a different chemical agent (acidic sodium chlorite) and does not teach or suggest using peracetic acid at an alkaline pH for the purpose of increasing poultry weight. While it discloses contacting poultry with a solution in a chill tank, the chemical composition and the technical objective (disinfection vs. weight gain) are different. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the claims of the '321 patent.

2. U.S. Patent No. 6,113,962: "Poultry Treatment"

• Full Citation: US 6,113,962 A
• Publication Date: September 5, 2000
• Filing Date: October 29, 1997
• Brief Description: Assigned to Rhodia Inc., this patent discloses a method for reducing bacteria on poultry carcasses by treating them with an aqueous solution containing a phosphonic acid or its salt, and a source of peroxygen, such as peracetic acid. The described solutions have a pH between 2 and 9.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is highly relevant. It discloses the use of peracetic acid solutions for treating poultry in a pH range that substantially overlaps with the '321 patent's claimed range of "about 6 to about 9." Specifically, the '962 patent teaches a pH of 2 to 9. The key question for anticipation would be whether the '962 patent also discloses the purpose of increasing the weight of the poultry. The primary stated purpose in the '962 patent is bacterial reduction. However, if weight gain is an inherent result of applying a PAA solution at a pH of 6-9 as taught, an argument for inherent anticipation could be made against the claims of the '321 patent. The '962 patent discloses the key elements of the method—PAA treatment of poultry in an overlapping alkaline pH range.

3. U.S. Patent No. 6,559,111: "Antimicrobial Compositions and Methods of Use"

• Full Citation: US 6,559,111 B1
• Publication Date: May 6, 2003
• Filing Date: August 11, 2000
• Brief Description: This patent, assigned to Ecolab Inc., relates to antimicrobial compositions containing a peroxycarboxylic acid (like PAA), a carboxylic acid, and a specific anionic surfactant. The compositions are intended for use on various surfaces, including food products like poultry, to reduce microbial populations. The patent discusses compositions with a pH range from about 2 to 9.
• Potential Anticipation: Similar to the '962 patent, this reference discloses treating poultry with PAA solutions within a pH range (2 to 9) that overlaps with the '321 patent. The primary objective is antimicrobial efficacy. It does not explicitly mention increasing poultry weight. However, the disclosure of treating poultry with PAA at a potentially alkaline pH makes it a strong piece of prior art. It could potentially anticipate the claims of the '321 patent if the weight gain is an inherent, though unstated, outcome of the disclosed process.

4. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0082832: "Biosynthesis of Peracids"

• Full Citation: US 2007/0082832 A1
• Publication Date: April 12, 2007
• Filing Date: May 31, 2006
• Brief Description: This application describes methods for producing peracids using enzymes (perhydrolases) to catalyze the reaction between a substrate (like a carboxylic acid ester) and a peroxygen source. It mentions that the resulting peracid solutions can be used for various applications, including treating food products.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference focuses on the production of peracids rather than their specific application in poultry processing for weight gain. While it broadly mentions treating food, it does not provide specific parameters for poultry chill tanks, such as maintaining an alkaline pH for the purpose of increasing carcass weight. Therefore, it is less likely to directly anticipate the specific method claims of the '321 patent.

5. Bauermeister, L.J. et al., "The Effect of Various Antimicrobials on the Growth of Salmonella and Campylobacter during Poultry Chilling." Poultry Science, Vol. 84, 2005.

• Full Citation: Bauermeister, L.J., J.W. Bowers, J.C. Townsend, and S.F. Bilgili. "The effect of various antimicrobials on the growth of Salmonella and Campylobacter during poultry chilling." Poultry Science 84, no. 7 (2005): 1132-1137.
• Publication Date: July 2005
• Brief Description: This scientific article evaluates the effectiveness of different antimicrobial agents, including peracetic acid, in poultry chill water for controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter. The study mentions testing PAA at various concentrations.
• Potential Anticipation: This publication is relevant as it establishes the use of peracetic acid in poultry chillers, a key environment for the '321 patent's method. The critical factor for anticipation would be the pH conditions under which the PAA was tested. If this paper discloses or suggests using PAA in the chill tank water at a pH between 6 and 9, it would be highly material. Without this specific disclosure, it serves as context for the state of the art but may not directly anticipate the claims, which are distinguished by the specific alkaline pH range and the objective of weight gain.