Methods of marking products using natural materials having genetically controlled micromorphological structures as markers
First Claim
1. A method of marking products, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a natural material having a unique genetically controlled micromorphological structure that can be identified using an enhanced visualization technique; and
adding said natural material to a product unrelated to said natural material at a sufficiently low level so as not to have any significant effect on the product other than to serve as a marker for the product.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of marking products and of determining the origin or authenticity of marked products are provided that use a variety of natural materials as markers. The natural materials have unique genetically controlled micromorphological structures that can be identified using enhanced visualization techniques. For example, cellulosic plant materials, sporopollenin and diatoms can be used as the natural materials. The natural materials are added to products at sufficiently low levels so as not to have any significant effect on the products other than serving as markers. Dyes and reactants can be added to the natural materials to provide secondary markers. The secondary markers can be vacuum infused into hollow interior spaces of the materials, or placed in surface voids of the materials to remain secured in the marker structures until examined. Sub-cellular particles or heat sensitive molecules can also be used to provide a molecular thermometer for the markers.
27 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method of marking products, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a natural material having a unique genetically controlled micromorphological structure that can be identified using an enhanced visualization technique; and
adding said natural material to a product unrelated to said natural material at a sufficiently low level so as not to have any significant effect on the product other than to serve as a marker for the product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of providing a plurality of different markers for food products, comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one natural material having a unique genetically controlled micromorphological structure;
providing at least one secondary marker selected from the group consisting of dyes and reactants; and
making a plurality of different combinations of said at least one natural material and said at least one secondary marker to provide a plurality of different markers for food products. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of determining an origin or authenticity of a marked product, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a sample of the marked product;
determining by use of enhanced visualization whether the sample contains a particular natural material having a unique genetically controlled micromorphological structure at a sufficiently low level so as not to have any significant effect on the marked product other than to serve as a marker for the product; and
comparing the detected natural material with known markers to determine the origin or authenticity of the marked product. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification