US5753511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated fingerprint methods and chemistry for product authentication and monitoring
Assignee: Verification Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1996-05-06
•
Granted: 1998-05-19
•
Expires: 2016-05-06
Abstract
Abstract Highly efficient, low cost, methods and compounds to determine product authenticity, tampering, manufacturing compliance are provided. The methods and chemicals defined are capable of measuring the relative amounts of key materials in these products. The compounds are light-emitting and interact with key elements in products like, neutral spirits, vodka, tequila, soft drinks and infant formulas. After the interactions are complete, methods are employed to determine resulting key components by light emission.\!
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Selinfreund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:34
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for determining relatedness of a sample to a standard know to be authentic or known to have at least one selected characteristic of authentic material, the method comprising: a. combining a sample with at least one light-emissive compound to form a sample mixture; b. irradiating the sample mixture with an irradiating wavelength of light; c. monitoring at least one emitted wavelength of light, generated by the sample mixture in response to the irradiating wavelength of light, to establish a sample fingerprint; d. providing a standard fingerprint characteristic of a standard mixture, the standard mixture comprising the standard and the light-emissive compound and the standard fingerprint being generated by irradiating the standard mixture with the irradiating wavelength of light and monitoring the at least one emitted wavelength of light, generated by the standard mixture, in response thereto, wherein the light-emissive compound is selected so as to interact with the standard to provide a characteristic light emission; and e. comparing the sample fingerprint with the standard fingerprint to determine whether the sample is authentic.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for determining relatedness of a sample to a standard know to be authentic or known to have at least one selected characteristic of authentic material, the method comprising: a. combining a sample with at least one light-emissive compound to form a sample mixture; b. irradiating the sample mixture with an irradiating wavelength of light; c. monitoring at least one emitted wavelength of light, generated by the sample mixture in response to the irradiating wavelength of light, to establish a sample fingerprint; d. providing a standard fingerprint characteristic of a standard mixture, the standard mixture comprising the standard and the light-emissive compound and the standard fingerprint being generated by irradiating the standard mixture with the irradiating wavelength of light and monitoring the at least one emitted wavelength of light, generated by the standard mixture, in response thereto, wherein the light-emissive compound is selected so as to interact with the standard to provide a characteristic light emission; and e. comparing the sample fingerprint with the standard fingerprint to determine whether the sample is authentic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 in which the light-emissive compound is added to the sample by an automated pipette.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the sample mixture is dispensed by an automated pipette in a multiwell plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which the light-emissive compound is fluorescent, phosphorescent, or luminescent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 in which the light-emissive compound reacts with components of the sample or the standard or both to yield at least one fluorescent, phosphorescent, or luminescent component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 in which steps (b)-(c) are repeated at least three times using the same light-emissive emissive compounds and the same irradiating and emission wavelengths to establish a fingerprint emission profile for the sample.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, in which the standard is a caffeine-containing beverage, and the light-emissive compound is selected from the group consisting of 5-(2-carbohydrazinomethylthioacetyl)aminofluorescein, 5-(4,6-dichlorotriazinyl)aminofluorescein, Fluo-3 pentaammonium salt, 4-aminofluorescein, 5-aminofluorescein, sulfite blue coumarin, courmarin diacid cryptand (CD222), and Eosin Y.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, in which the standard is an infant formula, and the light-emissive compound is selected from the group consisting of 5-(2-carbohydrazinomethylthioacetyl)aminofluorescein, 5-(4,6-dichlorotriazinyl)aminofluorescein, Fluo-3 pentaammonium salt, and BTC-5N.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, in which the standard contains corn syrup, and the light-emissive compound is selected from the group consisting of 5-(2-carbohydrazinomethylthioacetyl)aminofluorescein, 5-(4,6-dichlorotriazinyl)aminofluorescein, Fluo-3 pentaammonium salt, 4-aminofluorescein, 5-aminofluorescein, sulfite blue coumarin, courmarin diacid cryptand (CD222), and Eosin Y.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, in which the standard is an ethanol-containing beverage and the light-emissive compound is selected from the group consisting of 5-(2-carbohydrazinomethylthioacetyl)aminofluorescein, 5-(4,6-dichlorotriazozinyl)aminofluorescein, Fluo-3 pentaamonium salt, proflavine hemisulfate, tetra(tetramethylammonium) salt, acridine orange hydrochloride hydrate, BTC-5N, acriflavine, 4-aminofluorescein, and 5-aminofluorescien.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, in which the standard is an aqueous mixture, and the light-emissive compound is a compound that interacts or reacts with heavy metals, the light-emissive compound being selected from the group consisting of Fluo-3 pentaammonium salt, or BTC-5N.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: providing a mixture comprising ethanol and water; and evaporating substantially all the ethanol from the mixture to form the standard.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the standard, the sample, or both inherently include a fluorescent, phosphorescent, or luminescent compound.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 in which the compound is caffeine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 comprising performing steps (b)-(d) at least two times.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, in which steps (b)-(c) are performed using different light-emissive compounds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15, in which different irradiating and emission wavelengths are monitored in each performed step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: providing a mixture comprising ethanol and water; and evaporating substantially all the ethanol from the mixture to form the sample.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of: providing a mixture comprising ethanol and water; and evaporating substantially all the ethanol from the mixture to form the standard.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing a background control mixture which comprises the light-emissive compound without the sample or the standard; irradiating the background control mixture with the irradiating wavelength and monitoring the emitted wavelength in response thereto, to establish background emission; and determining the fingerprint of the sample based on at least one difference between the emission of the control mixture and the emission of the sample mixture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 20, in which the standard is a composition having a predetermined relative amount of a component characteristic of authentic material, the sample fingerprint is generated based on a first change in emission, determined by comparing the background emission and the emission from the sample mixture, and the standard fingerprint is generated based on a second change in emission, determined by comparing the background emission and the standard emission, and the comparing step comprises quantifying the relative amount of the component in the sample by comparing the first change in emission to the second change in emission.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 20, in which the standard is a composition having a predetermined relative amount of a component characteristic of authentic material, and the comparing step comprises quantifying the relative amounts of the component in the sample.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for determining relatedness of a first sample to a second sample, the method comprising: a. combining a first sample with at least one light-emissive compound to form a first sample mixture; b. irradiating the first sample mixture with an irradiating wavelength of light; c. monitoring at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the first sample mixture in response to the irradiating wavelength of light, to establish a first sample mixture fingerprint characteristic of the first sample mixture; d. providing a second sample fingerprint characteristic of a second sample mixture, the second sample mixture comprising the second sample and the light-emissive compound; and the second sample fingerprint being generated by irradiating the second sample mixture with the irradiating wavelength of light and monitoring the at least one emitted wavelength generated by the second sample mixture in response thereto wherein the light-emissive compound is as interact with the second sample mixture to provide a characteristic light emission; and e. comparing the first sample fingerprint with the second sample fingerprint to determine relatedness of the two samples.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for determining relatedness of a first sample to a second sample, the method comprising: a. combining a first sample with at least one light-emissive compound to form a first sample mixture; b. irradiating the first sample mixture with an irradiating wavelength of light; c. monitoring at least one emitted wavelength of light generated by the first sample mixture in response to the irradiating wavelength of light, to establish a first sample mixture fingerprint characteristic of the first sample mixture; d. providing a second sample fingerprint characteristic of a second sample mixture, the second sample mixture comprising the second sample and the light-emissive compound; and the second sample fingerprint being generated by irradiating the second sample mixture with the irradiating wavelength of light and monitoring the at least one emitted wavelength generated by the second sample mixture in response thereto wherein the light-emissive compound is as interact with the second sample mixture to provide a characteristic light emission; and e. comparing the first sample fingerprint with the second sample fingerprint to determine relatedness of the two samples.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 23, in which the first sample is identified as a specific product or as part of a homogeneous lot of a product by comparing the first sample mixture fingerprint to a library of fingerprint emission profiles of samples whose product composition or lot number are known.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 23, further comprising providing an additional fingerprint emission profile for each of at least two additional samples and comparing the first sample mixture fingerprint to each of the additional fingerprint emission profiles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: providing a mixture comprising ethanol and water; and evaporating substantially all the ethanol from the mixture to form the second sample.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of: providing a mixture comprising ethanol and water; and evaporating substantially all the ethanol from the mixture to form the first sample.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of: providing a mixture comprising ethanol and water; and evaporating substantially all the ethanol from the mixture to form the second sample.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 23 wherein the method is used to determine product authenticity, product tampering, or product manufacturing compliance.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 18 wherein the sample is a perfume, fragrance, flavor, food, or beverage product.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1822098A
Cited
US2265196A
Cited
US4387112A
Cited
US4439356A
Cited
US4966856A
Cited
US5049673A
Cited
US5429952A
Cited
US5128243A
Cited
US5279967A
Cited
US5272090A
Cited
US5545567A
Cited
US5525516A
Cited
US5525516B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-18 | 2001-11-17 | 2002-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-18 | 2005-11-17 | 2006-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-18 | 2009-11-17 | 2010-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |