Identification of consumed drugs and food by unique near infrared tag libraries

US10444144B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Hall Labs LLC · US

Inventors

• David R. Hall · Provo, US
• Dan Allen · Springville, US
• Daniel Hendricks · Provo, US
• Andrew Nguyen · Provo, US
• Conrad Rosenbrock · Provo, US
• Travis Niederhauser · Mapleton, US
• Joe Fox · Spanish Fork, US
• Terrece Pearman · Draper, US
• Steven J.M. Butala · Provo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 21, 2017
• Grant date: Oct 15, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 2, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2458/15
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

We disclose a method of tagging nutritional or drug compositions using chemical entities which are known to be safely consumed and which are detectable using known techniques, including near IR spectroscopy. The chemical entities used as tags may be detected in easily obtainable biological samples, including urine and feces. The biological sample may be deposited into a medical toilet which may analyze the biological sample using an analytical device associated with the medical toilet. The tag may be identified and quantified to then identify and quantify the nutritional or drug composition the subject consumed along with the tag. This system may be used to track the source of a food or drug, confirm compliance to a prescribed diet or drug treatment, confirm drug consumption in clinical trials, identify the source of contaminated food, and identify the food substances used to produce food products.