DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTION OF COUNTERFEIT PHARMACEUTICALS AND/OR DRUG PACKAGING

• US 20150310454A1
• Filed: 12/06/2013
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Department Of Health And Human Services
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Ranieri, Nicola, Witkowski, Mark R., Green, Mike D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,007,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9508 Capsules; Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/15 Medicinal preparations ; Physical properties thereof, e.g. dissolubility drug screening with animal cells G01N33/5008
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

One aspect of the invention provides a device for detecting a counterfeit product. The device includes: a plurality of light sources configured to emit light at a plurality of different wavelengths onto an object potentially including a suspect product; at least one image acquisition device adapted and configured to acquire image data; and a communications interface adapted and configured to transmit the image data to a computing device selected from the group consisting of: a tablet computer and a smartphone.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a counterfeit product, comprising:

a plurality of light sources configured to emit light at a plurality of different wavelengths onto an object potentially including a suspect product;

at least one image acquisition device adapted and configured to acquire image data; and

a communications interface adapted and configured to transmit the image data to a computing device selected from the group consisting of;

a tablet computer and a smartphone.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device does not include a display device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications interface is a wireless interface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications interface is a wired interface.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing, wherein the plurality of light sources and the at least one image acquisition device are coupled to the housing so that the plurality of light sources and the at least one image acquisition device are maintained in fixed relation to each other while the object is being illuminated.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a control device adapted and configured to control operation of the plurality of light sources and the at least one image acquisition device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises two image acquisition devices.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more filters adapted and configured to selectively condition light entering the at least one image acquisition device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one image acquisition device includes one or more CCD arrays.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured so as to emit light having an infrared wavelength.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured so as to emit light having a visible wavelength.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is configured so as to emit light having an ultraviolet wavelength.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said light sources are LED light sources.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said light sources are tungsten light sources.

15. A method for detecting a counterfeit product, comprising the steps of:

providing a device according to claim 1;

establishing a communications link with a tablet computer or a smartphone;

using the device to image one or more products; and

using the tablet computer or smartphone to view or analyze images or data from the device.