Systems and methods for chemical and biological authentication
Inventors
Levin, Ron • Beeland, R. Clinton • LOAR, James
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12234462-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
An interferometric system is provided that includes detects, authenticates and quantifies analytes such as taggants. Methods of using such systems as part of an authentication and material tracking processes are also provided.
Core Innovation
A portable interferometric system is used to authenticate at least one taggant in a test sample composition. The method collects a target sample suspected of containing the at least one taggant, introduces the target sample to a portable interferometric system, and mixes the target sample with a buffer solution to form the test sample composition.
The interferometric system includes a cartridge system with an interferometric chip and a flow cell wafer enclosed in a cartridge housing. The interferometric chip includes one or more waveguide channels having a sensing layer thereon, where the sensing layer is adapted to selectively bind or otherwise be selectively disturbed by the at least one taggant within the test sample composition.
Alignment means align the cartridge system within a cartridge recess in an optical assembly unit of the portable interferometric system upon insertion, providing optical and microfluidic alignment of the interferometric chip and flow cell wafer. Data resulting from the interferometry of the test sample composition is processed and transmitted to a user such that a positive or negative indication is given to indicate whether at least one suspected taggant is present or absent in the target sample.
In supply-chain tracking, at least one taggant is introduced to the material to be tracked, a target sample is collected from the material, and the same interferometry, processing, and transmitting are used to detect and authenticate the at least one taggant for end-user consumption.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three distinct inventive methods: authenticating a taggant in a test sample, tracking a tagged material in a supply chain from a supplier to an end user, and marking a material for authentication by introducing a taggant that is detected, authenticated and quantified by the interferometric system. The claims center on a portable interferometric system with an interferometric chip, a sensing layer on waveguide channels, a flow cell wafer, cartridge alignment within an optical assembly unit, and processing and transmitting interferometry data to a user.
Portable interferometric authentication of taggants in a test sample
Authenticating at least one taggant in a test sample composition by collecting a target sample suspected of containing the taggant, introducing it to a portable interferometric system, mixing it with a buffer solution, initiating interferometry, determining whether the sample includes the taggant, processing resulting data, and transmitting the data to a user to provide a positive or negative indication.
Cartridge-aligned portable interferometric system with sensing-layer waveguide channels
A cartridge system comprising an interferometric chip with one or more waveguide channels having a sensing layer adapted to selectively bind or otherwise be selectively disturbed by the taggant, a flow cell wafer, a cartridge housing, and alignment means for aligning the cartridge system within a cartridge recess in an optical assembly unit to provide optical and microfluidic alignment.
Supply-chain tracking using taggant introduction and interferometric detection
Tracking a material in a supply chain from a supplier to an end user by introducing at least one taggant to the material, collecting a target sample from the material, introducing the target sample to an interferometric system, mixing with a buffer solution, initiating interferometry to detect and authenticate the taggant, processing the data, and transmitting the data to the end user.
Marker-based authentication by interferometric detection and quantification
Marking a material for authentication by introducing at least one taggant to the material to be tracked, wherein the taggant is adapted to be detected, authenticated and quantified by an interferometric system including an interferometric chip with waveguide channels having a sensing layer, a flow cell wafer, a cartridge housing, and alignment means.
Across the independent claims, the portable interferometric cartridge system with sensing-layer waveguide channels and optical/microfluidic cartridge alignment is used to authenticate whether a suspected taggant is present or absent, authenticate taggants for supply-chain tracking by transmitting processed interferometry data to the end user, and mark materials for authentication by introducing taggants that are detected, authenticated and quantified by the interferometric system.
Stated Advantages
Provides positive or negative indications to indicate whether at least one suspected taggant is present or absent in the target sample.
Detects and authenticates at least one taggant for supply chain tracking, with data transmitted to an end user.
Enables detecting, authenticating and quantifying the taggant for marking a material for authentication.
Documented Applications
Counterfeit detection and authentication of products through tagging and portable interferometric detection, including prophetic examples such as counterfeit cosmetics, pesticides, genetic material, and produce tracking.
Tracking tagged materials in a supply chain from a supplier to an end user, using contextual data such as geolocation, temperature, humidity, and calendar date/time, and transmitting data to the end user.
Marking materials for authentication by introducing at least one taggant detectable, authenticated and quantified by the interferometric system.
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