High Pressure Processing Pressure Sensor

• US 20180120275A1
• Filed: 09/21/2017
• Published: 05/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChromaticTechnologies lncoporated
• Original Assignee: ChromaticTechnologies lncoporated
• Inventors: Wang, Ruizheng, Owen, Timothy J., Small, Lyle D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,345,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/015 by treatment with pressure variation, shock, acceleration or shear stress or cavitation
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/40 Colouring or decolouring of foods
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 11/002 by thermal means, e.g. hypsometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 11/02 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 7/00 Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements G01L11/004 takes precedence; transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements by electric , e.g., photoelectric or magnetic means G01L9/00; measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/226 for investigating the degree of sterilisation

Abstract

A pressure sensor and its use for visually determining whether a preselected pressure threshold has been achieved, for example during high pressure processing treatment of a foodstuff The pressure sensor includes a contained color-changing system having a dye, a developer, and a solvent; upon achievement of the preselected pressure threshold, the dye and the developer interact, resulting in a visible color change. Further, the visible color change can be retained upon a decrease in pressure and upon an increase in temperature, thereby effectively recording the achievement of the preselected pressure threshold during the high pressure processing treatment.

Claims

1. A pressure sensor for visually determining whether a pressure threshold has been achieved, said pressure sensor comprising:

a contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising;

a dye;

a developer; and

a solvent;

wherein said developer variably interacts with said dye according to the pressure of said color-changing system; and

wherein upon achievement of said pressure threshold, said dye and said developer interact, resulting in a visible color change;

wherein said reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said visible color change upon a decrease in pressure from said pressure threshold to record said achievement of said pressure threshold; and

wherein said reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprises;

a freezing point; and

a melting point;

wherein said freezing point differs from said melting point.

6. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein said dye comprises a leuco dye.

7. The pressure sensor of claim 6, wherein said leuco dye reversibly changes between a substantially colorless state and a visibly colored state.

8. The pressure sensor of claim 7, wherein upon achievement of said pressure threshold, said leuco dye reversibly changes from said substantially colorless state to said visibly colored state.

9. The pressure sensor of claim 8, wherein said visibly colored state is retained upon said decrease in pressure from said pressure threshold.

11. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein said reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprises:

a coloration temperature at which said reversible thermochromic color-changing system changes to said visibly colored state;

a decoloration temperature at which said reversible thermochromic color-changing system changes from said visibly colored state;

wherein said coloration temperature differs from said decoloration temperature.

12. The pressure sensor of claim 11, wherein said coloration temperature is less than said decoloration temperature.

13. The pressure sensor of claim 12, wherein said color-memory property facilitates retention of said visible color change upon an increase in temperature from said coloration temperature.

14. The pressure sensor of claim 13, wherein said color-memory property facilitates retention of said visibly colored state upon an increase in temperature from said coloration temperature.

15. The pressure sensor of claim 14, wherein said coloration temperature differs from said decoloration temperature by at least about 10 Celsius degrees.

17. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein said color-memory property facilitates retention of said visible color change upon an increase in temperature from said freezing point.

18. The pressure sensor of claim 17, wherein said color-memory property facilitates retention of said visibly colored state upon an increase in temperature from said freezing point.

19. The pressure sensor of claim 18, wherein said freezing point differs from said melting point by at least about 10 Celsius degrees.

20. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein said color-changing system is encapsulated within a capsule to provide an encapsulated color-changing system.

21. The pressure sensor of claim 20, wherein said color-changing system is encapsulated within a microcapsule to provide a microencapsulated color-changing system.

22. The pressure sensor of claim 21, wherein upon achievement of said selected pressure threshold, said microcapsule need not rupture to produce said visible color change.

23. The pressure sensor of claim 21, wherein upon achievement of said selected pressure threshold, said visible color change occurs within said microcapsule.

24. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein said contained color-changing system is incorporated into a coating.

25. The pressure sensor of claim 24, wherein said contained color-changing system is incorporated into an ink.

2-5. -5. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

26. A method for visually determining whether a pressure threshold has been achieved during high pressure processing treatment of a foodstuff, comprising:

reliably associating a pressure sensor with said foodstuff, said pressure sensor comprising;

a contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising;

a dye;

a developer; and

a solvent;

wherein said developer variably interacts with said dye according to the pressure of said color-changing system; and

wherein upon achievement of said pressure threshold, said dye and said developer interact, resulting in a visible color change;

wherein said reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said visible color change upon a decrease in pressure from said pressure threshold to record said achievement of said pressure threshold; and

wherein said reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprises;

a freezing point; and

a melting point;

wherein said freezing point differs from said melting point.

27-54. -54. (canceled)

55. A method for indicating achievement of a pressure threshold during high pressure processing treatment of a foodstuff, comprising:

reliably associating a pressure sensor with said foodstuff, said pressure sensor comprising;

a contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising;

a dye;

a developer; and

a solvent;

wherein said developer variably interacts with said dye according to the pressure of said color-changing system;

wherein upon achievement of said pressure threshold, said dye and said developer interact, resulting in a visible color change;

wherein said reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said visible color change upon a decrease in pressure from said pressure threshold to record said achievement of said pressure threshold; and

wherein said reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprises;

a freezing point; and

a melting point;

wherein said freezing point differs from said melting point.

56-125. -125. (canceled)