Patent US4847066A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4847066A
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US
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Method of treating a consumable product and packaging for consumable products to indicate the presence of contamination
Assignee: University of Washington
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Filing: 1987-02-02
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2007-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A method is described for treating consumable products, such as foods, drugs or dietary supplements, for example drugs enclosed in capsules, to detect contamination. A colorimetric indicator, which can react with a contaminating substance such as cyanide, is incorporated into the consumable product or the packaging for the product. When the indicator comes in contact with the contaminating substance, a readily detectable color signal is produced.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Honigs
- 👤 Jonathan H. Perkins
- 👤 Bradley J. Tenge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N31/00; G01N31/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of treating an ingestible product intended for human consumption to indicate the presence of a toxicant comprising: incorporating into said product a colorimetric indicator in an amount that is non-toxic and capable of reacting with said toxicant to generate a detectable signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of treating an ingestible product intended for human consumption to indicate the presence of a toxicant comprising: incorporating into said product a colorimetric indicator in an amount that is non-toxic and capable of reacting with said toxicant to generate a detectable signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said toxicant contains a reactive group selected from the group consisting of cyanate (--CN - ), ammonium (--NH 3 + ), amine (--NH 2 ), oxo (--O -2 ), acetate (--CH 3 COO - ), carbonate (--CO 3 - ), citrate (--C 6 H 6 O 7 -2 , --C 6 H 5 O 7 3 ), formate (--HCO 2 ), fumarate (--C 4 H 2 O 4 - 2), gluconate (--C 6 H 11 O 7 - ), nitrate (--NO 3 - ), sulfate (--SO 4 -2 ), arsenic (As), and alkaloids.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a compound containing a metal element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein said metal element is selected from the group consisting of Fe II, Fe III, Fe°, Zn°, Ag + , Mn +7 , Mo +6 , and Cu°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains an organic dye compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains a ninhydrin compound.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains an azo dye compound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said toxicant comprises a cyanide compound selected from the group consisting of KCN, HCN, and NaCN.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said toxicant is KCN.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said product intended for human consumption is selected from the group consisting of drugs, drug complexes, foods, food ingredients and dietary supplements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein said product intended for human consumption is a drug-containing capsule.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim II, wherein the capsule is composed essentially of gelatin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of incorporating comprises physically adsorbing said colorimetric indicator onto the capsule by soaking the capsule in a solution of said colorimetric indicator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of incorporating comprises mixing said colorimetric indicator with the components of the capsule during preparation of the capsule, to produce a capsule containing said colorimetric indicator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said product is a food, and the step of incorporating comprises mixing said colorimetric indicator with components of the food, during preparation of the food.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said product is a food and the step of incorporating comprises coating the food with said colorimetric indicactor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said product is a liquid and the step of incorporating comprises mixing said colorimetric indicator into the liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains an iron-containing compound.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains one or more reactive groups selected from the group consisting of FeCl 3 , FeSO 4 , and mixtures thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a mixture of compounds containing Fe (III) and Fe (II).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein glycerin is added to a solution of said colorimetric indicator capable of reacting with the contaminating substance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said detectable signal comprises a color generated by the reaction between the contaminating substance and said colorimetric indicator capable of reacting with the contaminating substance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 22, wherein the color is detectable using ultraviolet irradiation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 22, wherein the color is detectable by visual observation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein said toxicant is KCN and said colorimetric indicator is a mixture of FeCl 3 and FeSO 4 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 24, wherein said toxicant is KCN and said colorimetric indicator is FeSO 4 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a zinc-containing compound and said toxicant contains an alkaloid compound.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 27, wherein said toxicant is strychnine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a manganese-containing compound and said toxicant contains an alkaloid compound.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 29, wherein said toxicant is strychnine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a copper-containing compound and said toxicant is arsenic.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a molybdenum-containing compound and said toxicant is arsenic.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
A product intended for human consumption, comprising an ingestible product containing a colorimetric indicator in an amount that is ingestible, nontoxic and capable of reacting with a toxicant to generate a detectable signal indicating the presence of said toxicant.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A product intended for human consumption, comprising an ingestible product containing a colorimetric indicator in an amount that is ingestible, nontoxic and capable of reacting with a toxicant to generate a detectable signal indicating the presence of said toxicant.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
10 words
The product according to claim 33, comprising a drug-containing capsule.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The product according to claim 33, comprising a capsule containing a dietary supplement.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The product according to claim 33, wherein said detectable signal is a color detectable by visual observation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The product according to claim 33, wherein said detectable signal is a color detectable by using ultraviolet irradiation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The product according to claim 33, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains an iron-containing compound, and said toxicant is a cyanide compound.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The product according to claim 38, wherein said colorimetric indicator comprises a mixture of FeCl 3 and FeSO 4 and said cyanide compound is KCN.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The product according to claim 38, wherein said colorimetric indicator is FeSO 4 and said cyanide compound is KCN.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
101 words
The product according to claim 33, wherein said toxicant contains a reactive group selected from the group consisting of cyanate (--CN - ), ammonium (--NH 3 + ), amine (--NH 2 ), oxo (--O - 2), acetate (--CH 3 COO - ), carbonate (--CO 3 - ), citrate (--C 6 H 6 O 7 -2 , --C 6 H 5 O 7 -3 ), formate (--HCO 2 - ), fumarate (--C 4 H 2 O 4 -2 ), gluconate (--C 6 H 11 O 7 - ), nitrate (--NO 3 - ), sulfate (--SO 4 -2 ), arsenic (As), and alkaloids.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The product according to claim 41, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a compound containing a metal element.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
34 words
The product according to claim 42, wherein said metal element is selected from the group consisting of Fe II, Fe III, Fe°, Zn°, Ag + , Mn + 7, Mo + 6 and Cu°.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
15 words
The product according to claim 41, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains an organic dye compound.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The product according to claim 44, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains a ninhydrin compound.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The product according to claim 44, wherein said colorimetric indicator contains an azo dye compound.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
The product according to claim 33, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a zinc-containing compound and said toxicant contains an alkaloid compound.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
The product according to claim 47, wherein said contaminating substance is strychnine.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
The product according to claim 33, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a manganese-containing compound and said contaminating substance contains an alkaloid compound.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
12 words
The product according to claim 49, wherein said contaminating substance is strychnine.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
The product according to claim 33, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a copper-containing compound and said contaminating substance is arsenic.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
The product according to claim 33, wherein said colorimetric indicator is a molybdenum-containing compound and said contamination substance is arsenic.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for treating an ingestible product intended for human comsumption to indicate the presence of a toxicant, comprising: incorporating into said product a colorimetric indicator in an amount that is nontoxic and capable of reacting with said toxicant to generate a detectable signal is a substantially dry environment.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for treating an ingestible product intended for human comsumption to indicate the presence of a toxicant, comprising: incorporating into said product a colorimetric indicator in an amount that is nontoxic and capable of reacting with said toxicant to generate a detectable signal is a substantially dry environment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-10 | 1993-01-09 | 1993-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-10 | 1997-01-09 | 1997-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-01-09 | 2001-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |