Multimode Optical Inspection for Food Contaminant Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for food inspection, such as molecular/biochemical/biophysical techniques, are too slow for real-time analysis, and optical imaging methods face limitations like low penetration depth and lack of contrast, especially for low biomarker concentrations, making them inadequate for quickly and accurately assessing food composition, quality, identity, spoilage, parasites, disease, adulteration, and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A multimode biological sample inspection apparatus that combines fluorescence, reflectance, scattering, and Raman imaging modes with processing hardware to analyze biological samples, allowing for multiple inspection configurations and adjusting protocols based on scan results to enhance detection accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If molecular/biochemical/biophysical methods (PCR, chromatography, mass spectrometry) are used for food inspection, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to slow analysis time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inspection process into multiple optical measurement modes (reflectance, fluorescence, Raman, scattering) that can be performed simultaneously or sequentially on the same sample, eliminating the need for sequential use of multiple different analytical instruments and enabling rapid comprehensive analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal inspection platform that performs multiple analytical functions (composition analysis, contamination detection, quality assessment, species identification) using a single multimode optical device, replacing multiple specialized instruments and enabling real-time analysis across diverse food safety applications
2Productivity
If optical imaging methods are used for food inspection, then productivity is improved with fast analysis, but measurement precision deteriorates due to low penetration depth and lack of contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges four distinct optical measurement modes (reflectance imaging, fluorescence imaging, Raman imaging, and scattering imaging) into a single integrated system, where each mode compensates for the limitations of others and collectively provides enhanced detection accuracy for low biomarker concentrations while maintaining real-time analysis capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite analytical approach that combines multiple optical techniques with complementary detection mechanisms, creating a synergistic system that overcomes the individual limitations of each optical method and achieves both high sensitivity and rapid analysis
3Device complexity
If single-mode optical systems are used for food inspection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to limited detection capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal inspection platform that integrates multiple optical measurement modes within a single device, enabling comprehensive food safety analysis (composition, quality, identity, spoilage, parasites, disease, adulteration, contamination) that exceeds the capabilities of single-mode systems while maintaining practical device complexity through shared hardware components
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
This approach significantly reduces the time required for contaminant detection, provides non-destructive evaluation, and offers fast acquisition times with high specificity, enabling the visualization of spatial distribution and chemical constituents in food samples, thereby improving food safety and quality assessment.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination hardware arrangement configured to inspect a biological sample using at least two modes from a group comprising a fluorescence imaging mode
Implementation Method 2
a reflectance imaging mode
Implementation Method 3
a scattering imaging mode
Implementation Method 4
a Raman imaging mode
Data Source
AI summary
A multimode biological sample inspection apparatus and method is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination hardware arrangement comprising transmission and sensing hardware configured to inspect a biological sample using at least two modes from a group comprising a fluorescence imaging mode, a reflectance imaging mode, a scattering imaging mode, and a Raman imaging mode, and processing hardware configured to operate the illumination hardware arrangement according to a protocol comprising inspection settings of the at least two modes. The processing hardware receives scan results from the illumination hardware arrangement and identifies attributes of the biological sample by constructing a multidimensional dataset comprising at least one spatial dimension and at least one spectral dimension from the scan results and analyzing the multidimensional dataset. The processing hardware is configured to employ the attributes of at least one biological sample and alter the protocol.