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US5270650A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Non-destructive detection of spoilage using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
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Filing: 1992-06-11
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Granted: 1993-12-14
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Expires: 2012-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A non-destructive spoilage detection method of detecting spoilage of a nutritional product having a water activity of at least 0.9 has the steps of: subjecting a nutritional product in a non-metallic sealed container to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy followed by recording the peak free induction decay value associated with an initial nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nutritional product. Subsequently the nutritional product is subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and at least one other peak free induction decay value associated with the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nutritional product is recorded. Over time, at least two of the peak free induction decay values are compared from which a determination is made whether spoilage of the nutritional product is indicated. Preferably subjection of the nutritional product to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy occurs on a regular basis and at approximately the same temperature of the nutritional. Ideally, the nutritional product has been packaged using aseptic processing.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy W. Schenz
- 👤 Kecia L. Courtney
- 👤 Braden R. Israel
- 👤 Lisa A. Reaves
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sealed non-metallic container which contains a nutritional product having a water activity of at least 0.9; (b) subjecting the nutritional product in the sealed container to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and determining a peak free induction decay value associated with the nutritional product; (c) thereafter subjecting said nutritional product to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at least one more time and determining at least one other peak free induction decay value associated with the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nutritional product; and (d) determining based on a comparison of the peak free induction decay values determined in steps (b) and (c) whether spoilage of the nutritional product is indicated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sealed non-metallic container which contains a nutritional product having a water activity of at least 0.9; (b) subjecting the nutritional product in the sealed container to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and determining a peak free induction decay value associated with the nutritional product; (c) thereafter subjecting said nutritional product to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at least one more time and determining at least one other peak free induction decay value associated with the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nutritional product; and (d) determining based on a comparison of the peak free induction decay values determined in steps (b) and (c) whether spoilage of the nutritional product is indicated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 1 wherein the nutritional product is selected from the group consisting of pediatric and medical nutritional products.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 1 wherein said spoilage of the nutritional product is indicated by a trend towards a decline in the peak free induction decay values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 1 wherein said nutritional product has been packaged in said container using aseptic processing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product having a water activity of at least 0.9, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sealed non-metallic container which contains said product having a water activity of at least 0.9; (b) subjecting said nutritional product in the sealed container to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and determining a peak free induction decay value associated with said nutritional product; (c) comparing the peak free induction decay value determined in step (b) with the peak free induction decay value associated with at least one control sample of the nutritional product which is know to be free of microbial contamination; and (d) determining based on the comparison of the peak free induction decay values whether spoilage of said nutritional product is indicated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product having a water activity of at least 0.9, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sealed non-metallic container which contains said product having a water activity of at least 0.9; (b) subjecting said nutritional product in the sealed container to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and determining a peak free induction decay value associated with said nutritional product; (c) comparing the peak free induction decay value determined in step (b) with the peak free induction decay value associated with at least one control sample of the nutritional product which is know to be free of microbial contamination; and (d) determining based on the comparison of the peak free induction decay values whether spoilage of said nutritional product is indicated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 5 wherein the nutritional product is subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at regular intervals, wherein said spoilage of the nutritional product is indicated by a trend towards an increase in the relaxation rate of the protons associated with the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nutritional product, and wherein said relaxation rate is quantified by the free induction decay signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 5 wherein said nutritional product has been packaged in said container using an aseptic process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 5 wherein said spoilage of the nutritional product is indicated by an increase in the magnitude of the change in the peak free induction decay values, wherein said peak free induction decay measurements exhibit a trend towards smaller values with an increasing degree of microbial spoilage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sealed non-metallic container which contains said nutritional product having a water activity of at least 0.9; (b) subjecting said nutritional product in the sealed container to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and measuring the relaxation rate of the protons associated with said nutritional product; (c) comparing the proton relaxation rates determined in step (b) with proton relaxation rates for at least one control sample of the nutritional product which is known to be free of microbial contamination; and (d) determining based on the comparison of proton relaxation rates whether spoilage of said nutritional product is indicated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sealed non-metallic container which contains said nutritional product having a water activity of at least 0.9; (b) subjecting said nutritional product in the sealed container to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and measuring the relaxation rate of the protons associated with said nutritional product; (c) comparing the proton relaxation rates determined in step (b) with proton relaxation rates for at least one control sample of the nutritional product which is known to be free of microbial contamination; and (d) determining based on the comparison of proton relaxation rates whether spoilage of said nutritional product is indicated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 9 wherein said spoilage of the nutritional product is indicated by an increase in the relaxation rate of the protons associated with the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the nutritional product.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 9 wherein said nutritional product has been packaged in said container using an aseptic process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A non-destructive method of detecting microbial growth resulting in spoilage of a nutritional product according to claim 9 wherein said relaxation rate is quantified by the free induction decay signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-13 | 1997-06-14 | 1997-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-13 | 2001-06-14 | 2001-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-13 | 2005-06-14 | 2005-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |