Beverage immersate with detection capability

• US 8,810,417 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hood, Leroy E., Jung, Edward K. Y., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US12/584,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20110053283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 340/618, 340/573.3, 340/539, 340/603, 340/620, 702/22, 422/68.1, 73/614.3, 734/26, 436/104, 992/79, 992/85
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/14 Beverages
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/163333 Organic [e.g., chemical warfare agents, insecticides, etc.]

Abstract

Methods and systems described herein include beverage immersates and methods of their use. Systems include: at least one beverage immersate, wherein the at least one beverage immersate includes at least one sensor configured to detect at least one analyte in a fluid within a personal use beverage container; and at least one signal transmitter configured to transmit a signal responsive to the at least one beverage immersate. Methods include: detecting one or more analyte in fluid within a personal use beverage container with at least one sensor integral to at least one beverage immersate; and communicating data from the at least one beverage immersate to at least one device external to the beverage immersate.

Claims

1. A beverage immersate comprising:

an immersate body defining at least one beverage immersate, wherein the immersate body defining the at least one beverage immersate includes,

an outer wall sized for immersion in a personal-use beverage container;

at least one sensor on or within the outer wall, the at least one sensor positioned and configured to detect and identify at least one substance in a fluid within a personal use beverage container and generate a signal that the identification has been made;

a reservoir internal to the outer wall of the immersate body, the reservoir positioned and configured to release at least one agent into the fluid within the personal use beverage container; and

at least one signal transmitter positioned and configured to transmit the signal responsive to the at least one sensor.

2. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

at least one chemical sensor.

3. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

at least one acoustic sensor.

4. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

at least one selective medium.

5. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

at least one gel.

6. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

at least one recognition element configured to identify and bind the at least one substance.

7. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein the at least one substance comprises:

an indicator of a physiological state.

8. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein the at least one substance comprises:

a metabolite.

9. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to be indirectly responsive to an analyte.

10. The beverage immersate of claim 1, comprising:

at least one light emitter.

11. The beverage immersate of claim 1, comprising:

at least one signal emitter.

12. The beverage immersate of claim 1, comprising:

at least one reservoir configured for release of at least one medical agent.

13. The beverage immersate of claim 1, comprising:

one or more taggant.

14. The beverage immersate of claim 6, comprising:

an encapsulating material encapsulating the at least one recognition element.

15. The beverage immersate of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least one beverage immersate is dehydrated prior to contact with the fluid.

16. The beverage immersate of claim 1, comprising:

one or more display configured to be responsive to the at least one sensor.

17. A system, comprising:

at least one beverage immersate including,

an immersate body defining the at least one beverage immersate, the immersate body including,

an outer wall sized for immersion in a personal-use beverage container;

at least one sensor on or within the outer wall, the at least one sensor positioned and configured to detect at least one substance in a fluid within a personal use beverage container;

a reservoir internal to the outer wall of the immersate body, the reservoir positioned and configured to release at least one agent into the fluid within the personal use beverage container; and

at least one detection device including at least one port positioned and configured to communicate with the at least one beverage immersate.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one beverage immersate comprises:

at least one selective medium.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one beverage immersate comprises:

at least one gel.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the reservoir is configured to passively release the at least one agent into the fluid over time.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the reservoir is configured to actively release the at least one agent.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the at least one beverage immersate is dehydrated prior to contact with the fluid.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

at least one signaling element configured to signal contact with the fluid relative to at least one of time, presence of a target material, or presence of an amount of a target material.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the reservoir is configured to actively release the at least one agent in response to a signal from the at least one sensor.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

at least one sensor configured to detect at least one substance in beverage fluid.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one substance comprises:

an indicator of a physiological state.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one substance comprises:

a metabolite.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor recognizes one or more substance.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

at least one recognition element.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to respond to one or more taggant.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to be indirectly responsive to an analyte.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one detection device is configured to communicate with at least one network.

33. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one detection device comprises:

a fitment.

34. The system of claim 17, comprising:

at least one light emitter.

35. The system of claim 17, comprising:

at least one vibration emitter.

36. The system of claim 17, comprising:

at least one signal emitter.

37. The system of claim 17, comprising:

at least one user interface.

38. The system of claim 17, comprising:

at least one sensing device.

39. The system of claim 17, comprising:

at least one medicinal agent.

40. A method of detecting one or more substance in fluid comprising:

detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container with at least one sensor integral to at least one beverage immersate including a reservoir,

wherein the at least one beverage immersate is disposed in the fluid;

communicating data from the at least one beverage immersate to at least one device external to the at least one beverage immersate; and

releasing at least one agent into the fluid from the reservoir in response to detecting the one or more substance.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container comprises:

contacting beverage fluid with the at least one sensor.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container comprises:

binding one or more substance with a recognition element.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container comprises:

detecting at least one metabolite.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container comprises:

detecting the one or more substance within the fluid with at least one chemical sensor.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container comprises:

detecting the one or more substance directly.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container comprises:

detecting one or more metabolite of an analyte.

47. The method of claim 40, wherein detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container comprises:

detecting one or more taggant.

48. The method of claim 40, wherein detecting one or more substance in fluid within a personal use beverage container comprises:

detecting one or more substance with at least one sensor in the at least one device external to the at least one beverage immersate.

49. The method of claim 40, comprising:

providing, with the beverage immersate, at least one provided agent; and

detecting one or more metabolite of the provided agent with the at least one sensor.

50. The method of claim 40, comprising:

communicating at least one detection result to at least one system user.

51. The method of claim 40, comprising:

communicating at least one sensor result to at least one system user.

52. The method of claim 40, comprising:

storing at least one detection result in digital memory.

53. The method of claim 40, comprising:

storing at least one sensor result in digital memory.

54. The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one agent includes at least one expectorant, bronchodilator, cough suppressant, vasodilator, analgesic, or antiseptic.