Portable allergen detection system

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, devices and methods for detecting the presence and/or absence of one or more allergens in a sample particularly a food sample. The detection system includes a separate sample pickup, one or more disposables for receiving and processing a test sample and a detection device that can execute an allergen detection testing in minutes. The present detection system and device is compact and portable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable allergen detection system comprising:
 a cup body;   a cup lid assembly having a plurality of reaction chambers, at least one port opening into the cup body, and a flow tube with a distal end extending into the cup body;   a sampler; and   a housing, having a detection device.   
     
     
         2 . The portable allergen detection system in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one port further comprises a food corer port and a rotor port; the food corer port for receiving the sample and the rotor port for receiving a rotor. 
     
     
         3 . The portable allergen detection system in  claim 1 , wherein the cup body is in fluid communication with the detection device. 
     
     
         4 . The portable allergen detection system in  claim 2 , wherein the flow tube is in fluid communication with and between the cup body and the detection device. 
     
     
         5 . The portable allergen detection system in  claim 4 , wherein the flow tube is connected distally to a filter assembly, which is in fluid communication with the detection device. 
     
     
         6 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one port includes three ports; the three ports comprising a rotor port, a food corer port, and a test cup port. 
     
     
         7 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 6  further comprising a flow controlling component, and wherein the test cup port connects the cup body to the flow controlling component. 
     
     
         8 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the flow controlling component is within the detection device, and wherein the flow controlling component is capable of moving a test sample through a filter assembly proximally connected to the flow tube and into the detection device. 
     
     
         9 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of reaction chambers is in fluid communication with the cup body via the flow tube. 
     
     
         10 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of reaction chambers is an analytical chamber comprising detection molecules, and wherein another of the plurality of reaction chambers is a control chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 9 , wherein the detection molecules in the analytical chamber are specific to an allergen and are capable of detecting presence of the allergen, and wherein the control chamber is capable of determining total proteins in the test sample. 
     
     
         12 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of reaction chambers is arranged in parallel and capable of receiving a test sample simultaneously. 
     
     
         13 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 2 , wherein the lid further comprises a stator connected to the rotor port, allowing the rotor to pass through the rotor port and the stator and into the cup body. 
     
     
         14 . A portable allergen detection system comprising:
 a cup body;   a cup lid assembly having a plurality of reaction chambers, at least one port opening into the cup body, and a flow tube with a distal end extending into the cup body;   a sampler;   a housing, having a detection device;   wherein the housing is configured for providing support for the components of the detection device; and a chamber openable for insertion of the cup body;   wherein the components of the detection device includes:   a flow controlling component capable of moving a test sample from the cup body through a filter assembly proximally into the detection device;   an optical assembly for providing fluorescence excitation and for filtering of fluorescence emission; and providing light sources for protein absorbance at certain wavelength;   a means for detecting fluorescence emissions from the detection reaction between said one or more allergens and the detection molecules, and for collecting the protein absorbance; and digitizing detected signals; and   a display window for receiving the detected signals and indicating the presence and/or absence of the allergen in the test sample.   
     
     
         15 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one port includes three ports; the three ports comprising a rotor port, a food corer port, and a test cup port. 
     
     
         16 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 15 , further comprising a stator fixedly attached to the rotor port and a rotor, the rotor passable through the rotor port and the stator and into the cup body to homogenize the test sample. 
     
     
         17 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 16 , wherein the rotor is further connected to a means for driving and controlling the homogenization of the test sample. 
     
     
         18 . A portable allergen detection system comprising:
 a cup body;   a cup lid assembly having an analytical chamber and a protein control chamber, at least one port opening into the cup body, and a filter assembly with a distal flow tube extending into the cup body;   a sampler;   a housing, having a detection device;   wherein the housing is configured for providing support for the components of the detection device; and a chamber openable for insertion of the cup body;   wherein the components of the detection device includes:   a flow controlling component capable of moving a test sample from the cup body through a filter assembly proximally into the detection device;   an optical assembly for providing fluorescence excitation and for filtering of fluorescence emission; and providing light sources for protein absorbance at certain wavelength; wherein the optical assembly is connected to the analytical chamber and the protein control chamber and provides a fluorescent light, the optical assembly further collects light emissions from an allergen detection reaction in the analytical chamber and the protein absorbance in the protein control chamber, and comprises an excitation filter, an emission filter, a photodiode or a photomultiplier tube (PMT), a dichroic part and one or more LEDs;   a means for detecting fluorescence emissions from the detection reaction between said one or more allergens and the detection molecules, and for collecting the protein absorbance; and digitizing detected signals; and   a display window for receiving the detected signals and indicating the presence and/or absence of the allergen in the test sample.   
     
     
         19 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one port includes three ports; the three ports comprising a rotor port, a food corer port, and a test cup port. 
     
     
         20 . The portable allergen detection system of  claim 19 , further comprising a stator fixedly attached to the rotor port and a rotor, the rotor passable through the rotor port and the stator and into the cup body to homogenize the test sample.