143results about "Investigating time/temperature history" patented technology

An apparatus and non-invasive method of measuring oxygen by exciting a luminescent compound disposed in a container and then measuring the intensity of the light emitted by the excited luminescent compound as it relaxes to the ground state. A plot of emission intensity as a function of time results in an exponential decay curve the area of which is inversely proportional to the oxygen concentration. The oxygen concentration can be determined over a wide temperature range by measuring the temperature of the container and the emission intensity and then applying the following equation:[O2]=(ATa(T)2+BTa(T)+CTa)(tau)2+(ATb(T)2+BTb(T)+CTb)(tau)+(ATc(T)2+BTc(T)+CTc)T is the measured temperature;tau is the area of the exponential decay curve; andATa, BTa, CTa, ATb, BTb, CTb, ATc, BTc, and CTc are coefficients that are specific to the luminescent compound being examined.

A device and method for monitoring the expiration of goods includes a substrate, a coating of polydiacetylene, said coating having properties of (1) changing from a first color irreversibly to a second color immediately upon being subjected to a specified temperature and (2), upon activation upon contact by an activating agent, changing from said first color to said second color at a temperature lower than said specified temperature after a time delay of at least one hour and an activating agent on a portion but not all of said coating.

A thermochromic polymer-based temperature indicator composition which comprises a polythiophene and a carrier medium. The composition is characterized in that the polythiophene is present in the medium in an amount of about 0.05 to about 5.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The structure of the compound is designed such that when the composition is placed in a heat-exchange relationship with an article, the composition will exhibit a color change when a design temperature or a temperature beyond the design temperature is reached in the article.

A product shelf life monitoring system comprising an active substituted diacetylenic monomer component indicator composition is responsive to an integral of varying temperature over time to effect a solid state polymerization in the active monomer which results in a visible change in color density or the like at a rate designed to closely approximate the degradation, or shelf life, of an associated foodstuff or medicament product. The reactivity of the monomer component upon which the time-temperature integral of the indicator composition, and thus the represented shelf life, primarily depends may be readily varied by refluxing a solution of the monomer in a selected solvent for a predetermined time prior to recrystallization of the monomer for incorporation into the indicator composition.

A biological sample containment system and method are provided that include a container for storing the biological sample and an indicator affixed to the container for displaying at least one measured characteristics of the container or sample, wherein measurement of the characteristic is commenced by activation of the indicator. In another embodiment of the invention, a biological sample containment system and method are provided that include a container for storing the biological sample and a colored scale affixed to the container, wherein the colored scale facilitates identification of at least one characteristic of the biological sample. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a biological sample containment system and method are provided that include a container for collecting a biological sample and a label affixed to the container, wherein information relating to the biological sample or container is situated on the label.

The present invention relates to time-temperature integrating indicators, also known as TTI indicators, which are easily printable on substrates, such as packaging materials, and to a method for the manufacture of packaging materials comprising printed TTI indicators. The printed TTI indicator is selectively activated at the time of packaging of a perishable product or alternatively at the time of opening of the package of a perishable product.