Systems and methods for detecting materials in food products

Abstract

A device, method and system for measuring analytes in a solution or suspension. The device includes a housing, a sample chamber, one or more pumps, one or more detectors, one or more stirrers, electrical contacts, a magnetic manipulator and a lid. A sample cartridge for a device that measures analytes, the cartridge comprising a first outer compartment, a second outer compartment, and a middle compartment, wherein the first outer compartment and the second outer compartment are interconnected to the middle compartment by channels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for detecting unwanted materials in a consumer product, comprising:
 (a) a product sample cartridge comprising a product sample reservoir and detection port in communication with the product sample reservoir; and   (b) a detection apparatus comprising a receptacle for the cartridge, a detection device operable to communicate with the detection port of the sample cartridge, and a user interface operable to display results of the analysis of the consumer product.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , additionally comprising an analytical element operable to detect the unwanted material and produce a signal regarding the presence of the unwanted material. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the analytical element is contained within the product sample cartridge, the detection device, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection device comprises a housing, a sample chamber, one or more pumps, one or more detectors, a stirrer, electrical contacts, a magnetic manipulator and a lid. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the sample cartridge comprises three chambers and electrodes, and is inserted into the sample chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more detectors measure pH, conductivity, current, potential, capacitance, resistance, charge, photons, temperature, viscosity, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more detector is a potentiostat, galvanostat, multimeter, electrochemical impedance analyzer, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometer, near infrared spectrometer, Fourrier transform infrared spectrometer, photomultiplier tube, photodiode, charge-coupled device (CCD), thermocouple, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the photomultiplier tube and/or photodiode are connected to a mobile platform, whereby the mobile platform allows for controlled movement of the photomultiplier tube and/or photodiode for measurement through various points in a sample cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the lid comprises seals, actuators and injectors, and wherein the actuators are functional to move the seals to produce a hermetic seal at an opening of a sample cartridge when a sample cartridge is inserted into the sample chamber and the lid is in a closed conformation. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 4 , further comprising data transfer and communication modules. 
     
     
         11 . A sample cartridge for a device that measures analytes, the cartridge comprising a first outer compartment, a second outer compartment, and a middle compartment, wherein the first outer compartment and the second outer compartment are interconnected to the middle compartment by channels. 
     
     
         12 . The sample cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein the two outer compartments are capable of accepting solutions or suspensions, and transfer of the solutions or suspensions from the outer solution chambers to the middle compartment does not occur without an increase in pressure, and wherein at least one of the two outer solution chambers further comprises a filter. 
     
     
         13 . The sample cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein the two outer solution chambers and the middle detection chamber comprise a front face and a back face, both faces composed of an optically clear material through which a detectable signal can pass. 
     
     
         14 . A method for measuring analytes in a sample, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining a sample cartridge comprising a first outer compartment, a second outer compartment, a middle compartment, and integrated electrodes and/or screen printed electrodes, wherein the first outer compartment and the second outer compartment are interconnected to the middle compartment by channels;   (b) obtaining a measuring device comprising a sample chamber, one or more pumps, one or more detectors, a stirrer, electrical contacts, a magnetic manipulator and a closable lid, wherein the closable lid comprises seals, actuators and injectors;   (c) transferring a solvent into the first outer compartment of the sample cartridge;   (d) transferring a sample into the second outer compartment of the sample cartridge;   (e) inserting the sample cartridge into the sample chamber of the measuring device;   (f) pneumatically transferring a preselected amount of the sample and of the solvent into the middle compartment of the sample cartridge; and   (g) detecting a presence of an analyte in the sample.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising closing the lid of the measuring device after inserting the sample cartridge into the sample chamber, whereby the actuators are functional to move the seals to produce a hermetic seal on the outer compartments and the middle compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the measuring device does not contact the sample or the solvent, thereby allowing for contactless, and cross-contamination free transferring of sample and solvent in the sample cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein detecting is performed by a potentiostat, galvanostat, multimeter, electrochemical impedance analyzer, UV-Vis spectrometer, near infrared spectrometer, Fourrier transform infrared spectrometer, photomultiplier tube, photodiode, CCD, thermocouple, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising transferring magnetic nanoparticles modified with a detection active material into the sample in the first outer compartment of the sample cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the detection active material is an antibody, aptamer, enzyme, or a molecularly imprinted polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the magnetic manipulator is coupled to a mobile platform and wherein the magnetic manipulator induces a magnetic field capable of dragging the magnetic nanoparticles from the first outer compartment of the sample cartridge to the middle compartment.