AT414275B - Determining condition of biological material, particularly foodstuffs, involves measuring emission radiation directly to analyze product by using coherent beams - Google Patents

Abstract

Biological material determination involves measuring emission radiation directly to analyze product by using coherent beams. The measured values are then compared with a target or threshold value. Times and dates are saved for comparison of measurements. The determined tissue is blood or urine, particularly from the people. An independent claim is included for a device for performing process for determining condition of biological material, which includes a beam source for emitting coherent beams, a detector for determining the induced emission radiation and a control device.

Description

2

AT 414 275 B

The present invention relates to a method for contactless and sample-free determination of the Zusandes of biological material, in particular food, and an apparatus for performing this method. 5 It is known that microbiological processes can cause chemical transformations of substances that cause biological changes in the goods. This can lead to food spoilage or the like.

In connection with the problem of checking the spoiled foodstuffs io different methods are known. In CH 564 775 a method is disclosed in which the package to be examined is stored under uniform thermal conditions in a storage room. This must be done at a certain temperature and over a period of a few hours or days, after which the judgment is made. 15 AT 324.026 describes a complex process in which the testing is carried out in a laboratory with the aid of a thermal camera, whereby in this method not a composition of the examined good, but only an increased bacterial content is determined. The method described in AT 384.679 is concerned with the detection of yeast and molds, wherein in this method in a laboratory, the good to be examined is subjected to a cultivation process, which also requires a great deal of time, material and personnel. In EP 0 311 177 the examination is carried out with the aid of elastically scattered radiation, this investigation being carried out with highly technical devices for checking luggage or the like for undesired contents.

X-ray measurement methods are already known from US Pat. No. 3,973,128. 30

Likewise, the media has already reported a device for detecting dangerous bacteria, but in which work is done with the refraction intensity and diffraction angles.

So far, the laser measuring technique has been used only for detecting certain substances, 35 for example, to control at border crossings, to detect banned and dangerous goods (drugs or explosive materials and weapons). That is, the known measurement techniques (by measuring the emission of rays, such as lasers, atom lasers, alpha spectrometer measurements) only concern the verification of the presence of a particular well-known material, but not the detection of its biological state 40 or, if appropriate, its biological composition.

All known from the prior art method for checking the state of a biological material make an economically complex examination process necessary. With the help of highly skilled technical personnel, complex equipment 45 and well-equipped workstations, many process steps have often been necessary, the measurement result often being applicable only to a particular product (e.g., milk). Furthermore, the factors of time, temperature, and environment must not be disregarded in investigations that do not have to be carried out on site, but first in a laboratory. Due to the circumstances mentioned above, materials to be examined can undergo biological changes during transport in such a laboratory and then no longer correspond to the material removed.

The number of illnesses, which are constantly increasing due to the consumption of spoiled goods, shows the need to develop a rapid, simple test procedure, which also allows a layman to carry out a precise quality control. Usually in such cases often 3

AT 414 275 B affects a large number of people, for example, in tastings in schools, Hort, children's groups or nursing homes.

Many companies endeavor to provide consumers with certainty by purchasing certificates of origin and the like, but transporting and improper storage can prematurely spoil the best goods. It is therefore also in the interests of companies to provide the consumer with a security when purchasing perishable food, which can be done quickly, cost-effectively and on-site, with a connection to the known readers at cash registers is possible. 10

From DE 27 28 717 A1, a touch and sample free determination is known as known. In this known embodiment, the test objects to be examined are superficially, e.g. also scanned with a laser light, wherein the reflected or emitted radiation is measured. It is practically only the surface of the test object under-15 is not looking for the underlying layers.

According to the invention, the mentioned disadvantages are avoided by inducing an emission radiation in the material to be investigated by means of coherent beams and measuring directly, wherein the measured values are compared with a desired or limit value. Thus, 20 layers below the surface are examined, whereby the overall state of the material to be examined can be detected. The method according to the invention makes use of the circumstance that any change in the biological composition or the biological structure of a material or a microorganism attack causes a change in the induced radiation emission. Due to the aforementioned change 25 and the comparison with a setpoint or limit value, it can then be determined in a simple manner whether or not the material investigated meets the prescribed standards.

Advantageously, the target values (optimum state) or limit values for the radiation emission can be determined as guideline values and then stored. This is best done by simulating in a laboratory artificially different states which may occur in practice, e.g. Contamination or infection of food with microorganisms, pathogens, viruses or other disease triggers. The deviations occurring in comparison with the already measured and stored setpoint or limit value are then used to assess the condition of the examined good. The determined data can advantageously also be stored along with times and dates for comparison measurements. The output power of the emitted radiation may be just below the permissible power limit. This permissible or legally permitted power limit of the laser serves to ensure that other persons who are in the vicinity of the measuring instrument are not injured by untrained persons during use. In addition, it prevents 40 that the food being examined is undesirably changed if the performance is too high. Furthermore, in the case of packaged foodstuffs, the output power of the emitted jets can be selected taking into account the packaging, in particular the type of packaging material, which ensures that the determined induced radiation values are not distorted by the packaging. Likewise, the output power of the emitted radiation may be matched to the distance between the radiation source and the material to be inspected, thereby permitting a more accurate measurement.

In a device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention, which has a radiation source for emitting coherent beams, a detector for detecting the induced emission radiation and a control device, the blasting device contains a micro-coring unit for comparing the determined emission data with the setpoint and limit value stored in the memory , Advantageously, the device can also be specialized for the detection of special microbiological processes (for example when traveling) by extension (additional chips, additional cards). In particular, it may be suitable for the detection of bacteria, yeasts and molds, optionally also 4

AT 414 275 B characteristic properties such as germ content, gas formation, fermentation activity, acid formation and the like can be determined side by side. For certain applications, special parameters may be stored in the memory, detailing specific bacteria, e.g. Salmonella in food, mold fungi in milk, or certain pathogens in liquids can be examined. Furthermore, the device may be set to provide control of the spraying and / or fertilizers used in fruits and vegetables and / or admixtures of possibly prohibited preservatives. The radiation can be regulated so that by controlling the emitted radiation, the food, regardless of the temperature, i. Frozen food, on its enjoyability is verifiable. The memory may be provided with data which additionally allows checking the composition and / or resistance of packaging materials and / or the delivery of certain substances. Finally, the device can be connected to cash registers with known reading methods, wherein the result can be evaluated on the cash register. 15

In the drawing, schematic structures are shown, namely in Fig. 1, the structure of a basic unit, in Fig. 2 a preferred embodiment, with which a more precise diagnosis of the content of the material to be examined is made possible, and Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention Contraption. 20

In this case, according to FIG. 1, the laser beam 1a, which is emitted by the laser 1, hits the material 2 to be examined and induces an emission beam 2a, which is stored by a central micro-unit 3. Preferably, in the device, a switch W is installed, which is called short selector switch below. By this switching to the stored on the 25 memory 4 subgroups 4 'and 4 " allows the setpoints, in this case defined thresholds of the desired overrides, e.g. Milk or meat or similar, which are at least two subgroups. On the central micro unit 3, the measurement result is compared with the stored setpoint value. The determined result is displayed on the display device 5 in analog or digital form, and it may be assisted by acoustic and / or optical signals, and the result is limited only to a positive or negative result, e.g. is the milk edible-yes / no, without definition of the content.

2 shows the schematic structure of a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, wherein, as stated, a more precise diagnosis of the content of the material to be examined is made possible. This is achieved by comparing the induced emission radiation 2a on the central micro-unit 3 with stored set and limit values of the independent memories, for example one of the memories for the food sector, the other for medical purposes, as already described above in the text mentioned, is used (hereinafter referred to as reference memory 4a and 4b) which can be switched by a function switch F between at least two reference memories 4a and 4b. The determined result is shown on the display device 5 analog or digital, wherein it may be supported by acoustic and / or optical signals. There is also the possibility of supplementing the result with date and time information 6 and / or storing by means of memory chip 7 and / or printing the result via an interface 8 by means of a writing device 9.

Fig. 3 explains the schematic structure of a further form of the device according to the invention, wherein the central micro-unit 3 'with a multi-data memory for a serial diagnostic or analysis, on the one hand the detection of e.g. Salmonella and on the other hand a medical analysis is possible, is supplemented, in which as much information of the induced emission beam 2a stored as actual values and with as many set values from the reference memory 4 '" whereby the possibility of specific detection of certain bacteria, yeasts and / or molds, salmonella or the like. 55 is enabled. Again, the result determined, as already described in Fig. 2, on 5

AT 414 275 B of the display device 5 analogously represented digitally, wherein it may be supported by acoustic and / or optical signals. There is also the possibility of supplementing the result with date and time information 6 and / or storage by means of memory chip 7 and / or printing of the result via an interface 8 by means of a writing device 9. 5

Constant components are not described again in FIGS. 2 and 3, they are apparent from the drawings and have been designated by the same reference numerals of the preceding figure. Since the device according to the invention, in particular the portable variants, are small-sized devices with low power consumption, the power supply can be readily established by means of conventional batteries, e.g. Long-term batteries, done, but it is also a direct power supply by means of power supply possible. The elements required for this purpose are not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. 15

Other embodiments not detailed herein are readily derivable by those skilled in the art.

The feature of the invention is that, for the first time, a diagnostic procedure independently allows packaging 20. The material to be examined no longer has to be removed from the packaging, although the type of packaging (plastic, glass, metal or mixed materials such as tetra-pack or in a vacuum or the like) does not affect the result. It only needs to be taken to ensure that the level of the emitted laser beam of the device according to the invention is chosen so that an emission is made possible. 25 In order to obtain the measurement result, it must be ensured that an energetically higher level is also more heavily occupied. Then the rate of induced emission by a light radiation is higher than the absorption of the light radiation; It is not weakened when passing through the material, but reinforced. In order to obtain values as reliable as possible, account must be taken of the relationship between the minimum and maximum distances to the material to be measured and the strength of the emission beam (the measuring beam emitted by the apparatus).

As already known, laser technology is already used in medicine, among other things, in 35 eye examinations or treatments. It must be ensured in the method according to the invention or the device according to the invention that the maximum output power radiated by the device according to the invention (energy intensity of the emitted beam) is just below the permissible power limit. This ensures that even in unintentional handling with the device according to the invention, the risk of Ge-40 health is minimized. A corresponding warning on the device, for example, children or the like. To warn against careless handling is recommended.

A particularly economical embodiment of the device provides that the device according to the invention can examine the product to be examined in detail for defined bacteria. In this case, however, the device must be characterized by its special operational capability.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention detection of both bacteria, yeast and molds is possible, it is also simultaneously side by side characteristic properties such as microbial content, gas formation, fermentation, so acid formation and the like can be determined. This is particularly advantageous in the detection of Salmonella or fungal poisoning, since in these cases the symptoms, in Salmonella after 8 to 14 hours, with mushroom poisoning after up to 18 hours occur. A widespread problem is the mycotoxins produced by mold. They can be present in all foods, are odorless and tasteless and can cause severe liver damage. Until now, the detection of mycotoxins has been difficult and tedious. 6

AT 414 275 B

A known subgroup of mycotoxins are the aflatoxins, which occur, for example, in pistachios.

With the device according to the invention, the enjoyment of liquids, e.g. Milk in known packaging (eg Tetra-Pack) to be checked. The device is based on studies in which sealed aseptic packs are stored under uniform thermal conditions in a storage room at temperatures between + 2 ° and + 60 °, preferably about + 15 ° to + 25 ° C over a few hours or days. The results obtained in this way can be stored as limit values in the io device.

It can also be detected by detecting certain spoilage products, e.g. the adenosine triphosphate, such as hypoxanthine, inosine and inosine acid and / or their composition depending on the action sensitivity by means of certain enzymes; found the 15, i.

Hypoxanthine - xanthine oxidase,

Inosine - nucleoside phosphorylase,

Inosine-acid-alkaline phosphatase nucleoside phosphorylase and xantin oxidase = 20 Xantin (C5H4N4O2)

The device produced according to the invention makes it possible to detect the sprayed or fertilized fruit and vegetables used and / or the existence and / or addition of possibly prohibited preservatives even in processed foods, e.g. in jams or ketchup.

Furthermore, the method according to the invention or the device according to the invention offers the possibility of keeping foodstuffs independent of the temperature, i. also to check frozen food for its enjoyment. A barely noticed fact is that microorganisms are not killed by cooling. Some enzymes also work at temperatures of - 40 ° C. Frozen food, which has recently become more and more on the shelves, is particularly susceptible to the delicate problem of transport (danger of breaking the cold chain). 35 The device according to the invention can be made so that it is specialized by extensions (additional chips, additional cards) for the detection of special microbiological processes or for the detection of microorganisms. This is very effective, especially when traveling, where other conditions of hygiene or high temperatures lead to rapid spoilage of food. 40

It is also possible to check the composition and / or durability of packaging materials and / or the delivery of certain substances (e.g., delivery of carcinogenic parts from some packaging materials) to foods. In order to provide the consumer with the greatest possible information about the above-mentioned packaged or unpackaged liquid, solid, raw or processed food, it is also possible to combine the device according to the invention with the known reading methods in cash registers. In the case of foodstuffs in which the measured values of the induced radiation emission do not correspond to the nominal values and whose enjoyability is impaired, the determined result can be printed out on the receipt.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention or the method according to the invention for the determination of the state of biological material, which is characterized essentially by the fact that the with a radiation source, e.g. Laser, irradiated emitted emission radiation emitted to be examined material is measured directly so that it 7

AT 414 275 B is compared with at least one target or limit value, particularly efficient in research, thereby shortening lengthy testing procedures, and e.g. the development of vaccines and the like could be accelerated. With the method according to the invention or the device according to the invention, a determination and diagnosis of all biological materials is therefore possible in a particularly simple manner. Since blood and other bodily substances are also composed of biological materials in which microbiological changes take place, it is logical to recognize these microbiological changes with the method according to the invention or the device according to the invention.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that it enables microbiological changes found in other organic substances, e.g. Blood and the like, to discover with a single device by means of a control switch, for example, every 15 germ emits its own induced emission beam, taking the investigation on the spot and without physical contact with the examined material (ie without blood, etc.) ), as well as by anyone without expertise can be carried out with little effort on the spot. Inflammation or other organic changes such as cancer can be detected quickly and easily. 20

In a particularly simple manner, an elevated level of glucose, which emits another induced emission radiation, can be detected in the blood (hyperglycemia), which is the most important laboratory chemical indicator for the detection of diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus). So far, regular blood glucose tests have been performed in patients using test sticks. Another characteristic feature of this metabolic disease is the excretion of glucose in urine.

So healthy patients show a fasting glucose of 30 capillary blood 55-100 mg / dl

Venous blood 55-100 mg / dl.

In patients with diabetes, the following values 35 in the capillary blood over 200 mg / dl in the venous blood over 180 mg / dl occur one hour after eating.

These already known values can also be used as setpoints or actual values. 40 Measurements (men: 3.5 - 7.1 mg / dl and women: 2.5 - 5.9 mg / dl) are also already known for uric acid. Urobilinogens (upper limit of normal urobilinogen excretion 1 mg / 100 ml) are increasingly being detected in patients with acute and chronic liver inflammation, or to detect toxic liver damage or liver tumors. Here, too, the invention begins, the task of which is to enable a diagnosis that is as simple and as painless as possible for the patient without the need for mandatory removal of the organic substance to be examined.

It is also conceivable to set the device according to the invention for determining the blood group. This is particularly advantageous when rapid diagnostics are required after accidents or emergency operations.

In a preferred and simple embodiment of the invention, the detection of addictive and intoxicant (s), even on chemically produced forms of addictive 55 and smoke poisons, in the body, e.g. in the blood, to allow.

Claims (16)

8 AT 414 275 B Depending on the legal regulations in the country of manufacture, it is also possible to combine the device with the starter of a vehicle in order to check the driving ability of the driver before start-up and, if necessary, to prevent the vehicle from starting. 5 Furthermore, a combination of the device according to the invention with cameras, mobile phones, watches and the like is possible, which greatly facilitates the preservation of evidence in case of doubt, in addition, a time and date can be stored with. The device equipped according to the invention can display the determined measured values analog or digitally readable and / or can be equipped with acoustically and / or optically perceptible signals. 1. A method for contact and sample free determination of the state of biological material, in particular food, characterized in that induced in the material to be examined by means of coherent radiation emission radiation and 20 is measured directly, wherein the measured values with a desired or Threshold compared who the. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the setpoint values (optimum state) or limit values for the radiation emission are determined as guideline values and then stored. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that additionally time information and dates for comparative measurements are also stored. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the output power of the emitted radiation is just below the permitted power limit. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the output power of 35 emitted radiation is selected taking into account the packaging, in particular the nature of the packaging material. 6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the output power of the emitted radiation of the distance between the radiation source and to investigate- 40 is adapted to the good. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the good to be examined tissue, blood or urine, especially of humans, is. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the material to be examined is determined on site without removal and physical contact. 9. A device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a radiation source for emitting coherent radiation, a detector for determining the emission radiation thus induced and a control device, characterized in that the control unit a Mikrorecheneinheit (3) for comparing the determined Emission radiation with the stored in the memory (4) setpoint (4 ') and limits (4 ") contains. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that it is specialized by extensions 55 (additional chips, additional cards) for the detection of special microbiological processes g ΑΤ 414 275 B (for example when traveling). 11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it is suitable for the detection of both bacteria, yeast and molds, optionally also 5 simultaneously characteristic properties such as germ content, gas formation, fermentation, acid formation and the like. be determined. 12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that in the memory (4) special parameters are stored, through which in detail according to defined bacteri o, e. Salmonella in food, mold fungi in milk or certain pathogens in liquids, can be examined. 13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it provides a control of the spraying and / or fertilizers used in fruits and vegetables and / or 15 admixture of possibly banned preservatives. 14. Device according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that by controlling the emitted radiation, the food regardless of the temperature, i. Frozen food, on its enjoyability is verifiable. 20 15. Device according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the memory (4) is provided with data, which additionally allow checking the composition and / or resistance of packaging materials and / or the delivery of certain substances. 25 16. Device according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that it is connected to known reading methods at cash registers, wherein the result on the receipt is appreciable. 30 of which 3 sheets drawings 35 40 45 50 55