Elutable substance delivery devices

Abstract

Devices for delivering elutable substances to a water-containing foodstuff, for example, a beverage, are provided. More particularly, devices for delivering an elutable substance to a foodstuff having an elongate body having at least one surface, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the body is porous and the elutable substance releasably present on at least a portion of the porous surface. Also provided are methods of producing such devices.

1 . A device for delivering an elutable substance to a foodstuff comprising an elongate body comprising at least one surface, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the body is porous and the elutable substance affixed to at least a portion of the porous surface.  
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elutable substance is selected from the group consisting of a high intensity sweetener, a nutritive sweetener, a sugar alcohol, a flavor, a drug substance, a vitamin, a mineral, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the elutable substance is a high intensity sweetener.  
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 3 , wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of aspartame, acesulfame, alitame, brazzein, cyclamic acid, dihydrochalcones, extract of  Dioscorophyllum cumminsii , extract of the fruit of  Pentadiplandra brazzeana , glycyrrhizin, hemandulcin, monellin, mogroside, neotame, neohesperidin, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, thaumatin, salts, derivatives, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the amount of high intensity sweetener present on the porous surface of the body is sufficient to provide from about one-quarter to 4 teaspoons of sucrose equivalent sweetness.  
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the amount of high intensity sweetener present on the porous surface of the body is sufficient to provide about 3 teaspoons of sucrose equivalent sweetness.  
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the high intensity sweetener is sucralose.  
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the amount of sucralose present on the porous surface of the body is sufficient to provide from about one-quarter to 4 teaspoons of sucrose equivalent sweetness.  
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the amount of sucralose present on the porous surface of the body is sufficient to provide about 3 teaspoons of sucrose equivalent sweetness.  
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the body is made from a material selected from wood, a porous plastic, and a porous mineral material.  
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the body is made from wood.  
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first end and a second end and a plurality of surfaces, such that the body has a length (z) equal to the distance between the first and second ends, a width (x), and a depth (y).  
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the body provides a greater surface area per unit length than a cylindrical-shaped rod having similar dimensions.  
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the body provides greater mixing action than a cylindrical shaped rod having similar dimensions.  
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the length (z), width (x), and depth (y) of the body are defined by the following equations:  
           x   1   =a   1   ·y   1      x   2   =a   2   ·y   2      y   2   =c·y   1      z=b ·( y   1   +y   2 )  
       wherein 
 x 1  and y 1  are the width and depth, respectively, of the first end of the body;  
 x 2  and y 2  are the width and depth, respectively, of the second end of the body;  
 a 1  and a 2  are both from about 0.05 to about 20;  
 b is greater than about 10; and  
 c is not more than 100.  
 
     
     
         16 . A device according to clam  15 , wherein a 1  is from about 0.25 to about 4, a 2  is from about 0.25 to about 4, b is about 20, and c is about 1.  
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the body has a shape that is selected from the group consisting of a triangular prism, a rectangular prism, a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism, an heptagonal prism, an octagonal prism, a nonagonal prism, a decagonal prism, an elliptical cylinder, and a spoon.  
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the body is a rectangular prism.  
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises: 
 (1) first and second ends and a plurality of sides that separate the first and second ends by a length (L) and radiate out from a central axis running longitudinally through the center of the body, wherein adjacent sides meet in a point and form a star when viewed as a cross-section through a plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the length of the body is greater than a diameter of a circle whose center is bisected by the central axis and whose perimeter lies along the points of the star; or    (2) first and second ends and a plurality of sides that separate the first and second ends by a length (L), wherein a plurality of teeth extend out from a central axis running longitudinally through the center of the body, each tooth comprising at least three adjacent sides of the body that are configured to form at least first and second lateral faces rising from a trough and a forward face interconnecting the lateral faces, the teeth form a gear-like form when viewed as a cross-section through a plane perpendicular to the central axis, and wherein the length of the body is greater than a diameter of a circle whose center is bisected by the central axis and whose perimeter lies along the forward face of each tooth.    
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the length (L) and diameter (d) of the body are defined by the following equations:  
         0.01 <d   1   /d   2 <100    L /(( d   1   +d   2 )/2)>10  wherein d 1  is the diameter of a circle of a cross-section at the first end of the body and d 2  is the diameter of a circle of a cross-section at the second end of the body.    
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein d 1 /d 2  is about 1 and L/((d 1 +d 2 )/2) is about 20.  
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the dimensions of the body are defined by the following equations:  
           x   1   =a   1   ·y   1      x   2   =a   2   ·y   2      y   2   =c·Y   1      z=b ·( y   1   +y   2 )  wherein z is the distance between the first and second ends of the body;    x 1  and x 2  are the distances between two adjacent points of the cross-sectional stars formed by cross-sections taken at the first and second ends, respectively in (a) or the distance between the apexes of two adjacent teeth of the cross-sectional gear at a cross-section taken at the first and second ends, respectively in (b);    y 1  and y 2 , respectively represent the distance between two points on adjacent sides that form an apex of the star in cross-sectional form with respect to the first and second ends, wherein the two points are equidistant between the apex of the star and the central axis of the body in (a) or the distance from the bottom of a trough to the apex of a tooth of a gear in a cross-section taken at the first and second ends of the body, respectively;    a 1  and a 2  each equal from about 0.05 to about 20;    b is greater than about 10; and    c is up to about 100.    
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 22 , wherein a 1  is from about 0.25 to about 4, a 2  is from about 0.25 to about 4, b is about 20, and c is about 1.  
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein a cross-section of the body forms a star having from 1 to 25 points.  
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 24 , wherein a cross-section of the body forms a star having from 1 to 6 points.  
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 25 , wherein a cross-section of the body forms a star having 3 points.  
     
     
         27 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein a cross-section of the body forms a gear having 2 to 25 teeth.  
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 27 , wherein a cross-section of the body forms a gear having from 2 to 15 teeth.  
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 28 , wherein a cross-section of the body forms a gear having 3 teeth.  
     
     
         30 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the points of the cross-sectional star or apexes of the teeth of the cross-sectional gear are of the same length.  
     
     
         31 . A device according to  claim 19 , wherein the points of the cross-sectional star or apexes of the teeth of the cross-sectional gear are of different lengths.  
     
     
         32 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises first and second ends, a central axis running longitudinally through the center of the body, and two or more blades that are integrally connected to one of the ends of the body, each blade having a first and second surface and an apex.  
     
     
         33 . A device according to  claim 32 , wherein the dimensions of the body are defined by the following equations:  
       
         
        
         x=a·y  
        
         
        
         z=b·y  
        
       
       wherein 
 x is the distance between apexes of two adjacent blades;  
 y is the distance between the first and second surfaces of the blades at a point equidistant from the central axis and the apex of the blade;  
 z is the distance from the first end of the body portion to the second end;  
 a is from about 1 to about 100; and  
 b is greater than about 10.  
 
     
     
         34 . A device according to  claim 33 , wherein a is about 10 and b is about 20.  
     
     
         35 . A device according to  claim 32 , wherein the body has from 2 to 8 blades.  
     
     
         36 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein the body has 3 blades.  
     
     
         37 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is in the shape of a spiral.  
     
     
         38 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the body is hollow along at least a portion of its length.  
     
     
         39 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the body is hollow along about one-half of its length.  
     
     
         40 . A device for delivering an elutable substance to a foodstuff comprising a wooden body in the shape of a rectangular-prism, the body having first and second ends wherein the distance between the first and second ends is about 6 inches, the body furthering having a width of about one-quarter inch and a depth of about one-thirty-second of an inch, wherein sucralose is disposed on a surface of the body in an amount sufficient to deliver about 3 teaspoons of sucrose-equivalent sweetness to a foodstuff.  
     
     
         41 . A method of producing a device for delivering a sweetener comprising: 
 (a) providing a body having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a part of the body is porous;    (b) contacting at least a portion of the porous part of the body with a solution or slurry comprising an elutable substance dissolved or dispersed in a solvent; and    (c) allowing the solution or slurry to dry to a surface of the body of the device, wherein upon contacting a surface of the body of the device with a foodstuff, the sweetener composition is dispersed into the foodstuff.    
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the solution or slurry comprises from about 0.1% to about 30% of the elutable substance by weight.  
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 42 , wherein the solution or slurry comprises from about 5% to about 30% of the elutable substance by weight.  
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the solution or slurry comprises from about 15% to about 30% of the elutable substance by weight.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein at least a portion of the porous part of the body is contacted with the solution or slurry for about 1 minute to about 30 minutes.  
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein at least a portion of the porous part of the body is contacted with the solution or slurry for about 5 minutes.  
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein at least a portion of the porous part of the body is allowed to dry for about 1 minute to about 30 minutes at a temperature from about 100° F. to about 300° F.  
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 47 , wherein at least a portion of the porous part of the body is allowed to dry for about 10 minutes at a temperature of about 160° F.  
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the elutable substance is selected from the group consisting of a high intensity sweetener, a nutritive sweetener, a sugar alcohol, a flavor, a drug substance, a vitamin, a mineral, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the elutable substance is a high intensity sweetener.  
     
     
         51 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of aspartame, acesulfame, alitame, brazzein, cyclamic acid, dihydrochalcones, extract of  Dioscorophyllum cumminsii , extract of the fruit of  Pentadiplandra brazzeana , glycyrrhizin, hernandulcin, monellin, mogroside, neotame, neohesperidin, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, thaumatin, salts, derivatives, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein the amount of high intensity sweetener present on a surface of the body is sufficient to provide from about one-quarter to 4 teaspoons of sucrose equivalent sweetness.  
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the amount of high intensity sweetener present on a surface of the body is sufficient to provide about 3 teaspoons of sucrose equivalent sweetness.  
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein the high intensity sweetener is sucralose.  
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 54 , wherein the solution or slurry comprises about 20% by weight of sucralose.  
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 54 , wherein the amount of sucralose present on a surface of the body is sufficient to provide from about one-quarter to 4 teaspoons of sucrose equivalent sweetness.  
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein the amount of sucralose present on a surface of the body is sufficient to provide about 3 teaspoons of sucrose equivalent sweetness.  
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 41 , wherein the body is made from a material selected from wood, a porous plastic, and a porous mineral material.  
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein the body is made from wood.  
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 41 , further comprising carrying out step (b) under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.