Food Sampler With Grinding, Frangible Chambers, and Sensor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers are often unaware of harmful ingredients in their food, as not all foods are labeled or labeled appropriately, posing serious health risks.
Innovation Solution
A device with a cap and collar system that pierces frangible barriers to mix a food sample with a buffer solution, using a sensor to detect allergens, pathogens, or toxins, integrated with an analysis unit for rapid detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If food samples are analyzed using traditional laboratory methods, then detection accuracy is improved, but analysis time is excessively long and portability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core detection function from complex laboratory equipment and implements it in a simplified portable device. The sensor array and analysis unit are miniaturized to fit within a handheld sampler unit, enabling accurate ingredient detection without requiring full laboratory infrastructure. This extraction allows the device to achieve laboratory-grade detection accuracy while eliminating the time-consuming sample preparation and analysis procedures of traditional labs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical and chemical laboratory analysis methods with electronic sensing and digital signal processing. Instead of using complex chemical reagents and manual analysis procedures, the device employs an array of sensors that electronically detect and identify food ingredients. This substitution dramatically reduces analysis time while maintaining detection accuracy, as electronic sensing occurs instantaneously compared to traditional wet chemistry methods.
2Measurement precision
If food samples are analyzed using traditional laboratory methods, then detection accuracy is improved, but portability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the food sampling and analysis system into a portable modular unit that can be easily transported and operated outside the laboratory. The sampler unit is divided into distinct functional components (receptacle, frangible barrier, grinding assembly, sensor array) that are integrated into a handheld form factor. This segmentation enables the device to maintain detection accuracy while providing the portability and ease of operation needed for field use, eliminating the need to transport samples to centralized laboratories.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal portable device that can detect multiple food ingredients and allergens through a single integrated system. The sensor array is designed to identify various substances (allergens, pathogens, toxins) using the same hardware platform, making the device universally applicable for different food safety scenarios. This multi-functionality maintains detection accuracy across different analytes while preserving portability, as users do not need separate specialized equipment for each type of analysis.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If frangible barriers are used to seal chambers, then sample contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses frangible barriers that are pre-positioned to seal the chambers before sample introduction. These barriers are designed to break automatically when the cap is coupled to the collar, allowing the buffer solution to mix with the food sample. The preliminary sealing action prevents contamination during storage and transport, while the automated breakage mechanism eliminates the need for complex active sealing systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple chambers with frangible barriers are used, then sample mixing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sample introduction chamber and the mixing chamber into a single integrated collar structure with frangible barriers separating functional zones. The grinding assembly is integrated directly into the collar, and the sensor array is positioned to detect the mixed sample in the same chamber. This merging of functions into a compact multi-zone structure improves sample mixing efficiency while avoiding the complexity of separate discrete chambers, as the frangible barriers create distinct functional areas within a unified component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast and portable detection of allergens, pathogens, or toxins in food samples, providing users with immediate safety information through visual, audio, or haptic feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor disposed below the second frangible barrier... the food sample received by the collar passes through each of the first chamber and the second chamber to be received by the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A device for detecting an ingredient in a food sample includes a cap having a first piercer member and a collar that receives the food sample and couples to the cap. The collar includes a first frangible barrier and a grinding assembly, which includes a second piercer member, disposed between the first frangible barrier and a second frangible barrier spaced therefrom. The collar further includes a sensor disposed below the second frangible barrier. The first and second frangible barriers form a first chamber containing a buffer solution, and the second frangible barrier and the sensor form a second chamber. Responsive to coupling the cap and collar, the first piercer member pierces the first frangible barrier and the second piercer member pierces the second frangible barrier. After the first and second frangible barriers are pierced, the food sample passes through the first and second chambers to be received by the sensor.