PROCESS FOR PRODUCING PEARLS IN ABALONE AND OTHER SHELL-BEARING MOLLUSKA AND NUCLEUS USED THEREWITH

摘要

The process includes the step of forming an opening in theshellof a host mollusk, such as an abalone, at a locationcovering a soft tissue thereof, such as the mantle-coveredgonadal tissue. A pearl nucleus is then inserted into theopening. The pearl nucleus comprises a nucleating portion,typically semispherical in configuration, and a nut portion.The pearl nucleus is either threaded or configured toprovide a tight frictional fit with the peripheral edge ofthe opening. The pearl nucleus is inserted into the openingand then turned by means of the nut portion to provide avery tight fit in the opening . In another embodiment, apearl nucleus is drawn into the abalone in the vicinity ofthe head region, or through an opening formed in the abaloneshell, by means of a probe which is introduced into theabalone through another smaller opening. The pearl nucleusis pulled into the abalone until it is seated adjacent thesmaller opening, where it is held by tissue pressure andglue. The larger opening drilled in the abalone shell maybe closed with an elongate pearl nucleus having a size andshape sufficient to pass through the opening in a firstorientation and capable of substantially occluding theopening in a second orientation. In a further alternativeembodiment, a pearl nucleus and piece of graft tissue aresecured to one end of a curved, elongate probe and threadedthrough a soft tissue of the abalone to an implantedposition. The same procedure may be employed for implantinggraft tissue absent a pearl nucleus to form non-nucleatedpearls. In a further alternative embodiment of the process,a pearl nucleus may be formed in a soft tissue of anabalone, such as the aductor muscle, by using a hypodermicsyringe to inject a fast-setting resin into a cavity formedin the muscle tissue.