Toshiba Exploravision

980N “Health and Nutrition System”

Abstract

For years pharmaceutical companies have sold diet pills and other health products

claiming to help those in need. In the future, only raw data about thepassive monitoring of the

food you eat, and the activity you in which you partake participatein will be all that is needed to

help those who want to lose weight and become healthy. Through the use of multiple

nanosensors throughout the body, anyone people will be able to seamlessly track their health

without any direct involvement. Those who deal with medical conditions related with to food

will also be able to reap the benefits of a health system based purely on data. Through the use of

nanoscale infrared spectroscopy, anyone people will be able to track know exactly what they eat,

and how they can improve their health. Diet scams and useless health products are soon to be a

thing of the past with _____ with what?

I don’t love this abstract, though I do like it. You capture the excitement (great) but not the

technology. You want to do both so I can quickly get a sense of what you are proposing

technologically. You dance around it a bit.


Present Technology

In recent years, a molecular food sensor has been named the “the sixth sense” of the

human body. Engineers have developed molecular sensors at the microscale level. Molecular

sensor technology has been tested in devices to monitor glucose levels for diabetics, to detect

mercury contamination, to monitor potassium levels, to detect melamine contamination, and to

sense airborne contaminants such as viruses and nerve gas. They can also determine the food that

is on someone’s dinner plate.

Photo: Pocket size Molecular Sensors

Compared to the traditional large molecular sensors, this pocket size molecular sensor

technology seems like science-fiction, but it’s not. This device is actually built around a method

of materials analysis known as near-infrared spectroscopy. The physical basis for this material


analysis method is that each type of molecule vibrates in its own unique way, and these

vibrations interact with light to create theirits own unique optical signature. The device includes

a light source that illuminates the sample and an optical sensor called a spectrometer that collects

the light reflected from the sample. The spectrometer breaks down the light to its spectrum,

which includes all the information required to detect the result of this interaction between the

illuminated light and the molecules in the sample. Spectrometers, which are normally

traditionally used for these high-end near-infrared spectroscopy applications, are very big and

expensive. They can be the size of a laptop and cost tens of thousands of dollars. But, these

pocket-sized molecular sensor devices are based on a tiny spectrometer, designed to be mass-

produced at low cost, with minimal compromise on the available application. Compared to the

traditional spectrometers and molecular sensors, these pocket size molecular sensors are really

cheap ($200- $400). The price if within a range of two-hundred to four-hundred dollars due to

the years of research and development conducted by engineers.

Photo: 1.Light from the device hit the molecules of the object 2.Optical Sensor: breaking

light into spectrum. The visible light spectrum is shown here for illustrative purposes.

The present pocket molecular sensors also come with smartphone apps. These applications

allow for the data of the sensor to be analyzed. To deliver scan analysis information in real time,


the device communicates the spectrum to your a device via Bluetooth, which it then forwards to

a cloud-based service. From there, advanced algorithms analyze the spectrum, and deliver

information regarding the analyzed sample back to your the smartphone within seconds.

Photo: Molecular sensor Apps

When it comes to the different models, prototypes, and performance, SCIO is the most

technologically advanced. It is the world's first affordable molecular sensor that fits in the palm

of the hand. Every time people use SICiO, they are helping to build a database of knowledge

about the stuff around us.

SCiO Prototypes

Dave, 01/29/15,

Why is the SCIO backwards in this and the next two pictures. It’s strange!


Some of the challenges that this device faces include scanning deep into an object, giving

accurate quantified information, and turning this innovative prototype into mass production.

Most of all the biggest challenge is that the device is not completely autonomous. A person must

stop and use the device, rather than have it automatically and seamlessly monitor a person’s diet.

Another technology that is potentially beneficial and promisingcurrently under development

is the bloodstream molecular sensor. It involves is a tiny sensor at the nanoscale level which that

can be injected in the blood, putting d that puts the blood under continuous surveillance. That

sensor also contains wireless capabilities that can be relayted to a smartphone. This sensor can

pick up specific genomic signals. If we set up a sensor to pick up that signal, we can pick up an

event potentially picking up an event such as a coronary artery rupture, before it happens. It

wouldn’t necessarily be restricted to the coronary artery. It could also be the cerebral arteries.

This application of a hardware nanosensor, coupled with a smartphone, wouldis not just be for

cardiovascular diagnosis. It is also predicted for use in the immune system and cancer detection.,

to track autoimmune disease. It is also potentially useful for cancer. This sensor has a chip that is

90 microns in size and is promising for the future to be able to quantify the amount of food we

eat. The biggest challenge would be to accurately pick up signals.

HISTORY

Include some older milestones too, such as development of spectrometer, etc.

Molecular sensor:

Sep 11, 1990: Molecular sieve sensors are patent for selective detection at the nanogram

level

September 16, 1992: Sensor are patented for ultra-low concentration molecular recognition.


2005: American chemical society develops Sensor Molecules that Display FeIII-amplified

Fluorescence.

2011: Designer Junhyuan Kim develops “elephant nose” which can identify genetically

modifies organism.

2014: A company using the crowd funding site Indigogo attempted to develop pocket

molecular sensors, but were unsuccessful.

2014: MIT develops chip sensor that can tell smartphone when food goes bad by detecting

specific gases with the help of Carbon Nanotubes.

2014: Tel Aviv Based company consumer physics. Inc. develops Scio pocket molecular

sensor which can successfully detects molecules from food.

Future

The “HANT”, short for Health and Nutrition Tracker, is a 2025 device that keeps track of

your food and drink intake making dieting and diabetic control easier than ever possible before.

What is it?

The HANT is a three-part system that allows individuals to track exactly what they consume

using a three part system:

1) Two small brackets fitted to a molar used to attach a spectrometer sensor. This sensor

determines what food the user consumes.

2) A pill that is swallowed weekly that creates a small ring sensor on the walls of the esophagus.

This nanoscale mechanism measures the expansion of the esophagus. With the use of

algorithms, this device will be able to measure the volume of food eaten.


[3)] A smart accessory device like the watch seen today is used to measure activity. Thisese

technology records calories burned. This is also the mechanism that all of the data is from

part one and two are sent to.calories burned, and also aggregates all the data form the other

two parts. The watch like mechanism shows charts and organized graphs of what was eaten,

what it was made of,. And This mechanism shows how many calories you a person hasave

left to eat and what you have eaten and worked off.left to eat that day, based on health goals.

Part one is a sensor, snapped into a bracket, embedded onto an individual’s back molars,

scanning samples of food and liquids in theone’s mouth. The sensor consists of a nanoscale

spectrometer and Bluetooth. The spectrometer uses near-infrared waves that are able to “see”

how different molecules vibrate and interact with light. Each sample or food source has its own

unique identity because its contents emit different wavelengths. This is compared to a database in

the accessory device or cloud service, giving identification information to the user

instantaneously. The database will be equipped with a series of algorithms, making sense of the

data collected. With the data from the chips, the smart accessory will show what was eaten, the

its different ingredients, and nutritional value. Two sensors will each be placed on the lower

most posterior molars to achieve the best reading possible. Movement of the mouth will

generate power for the sensors so there is no need to worry about charging. The quantity of food

being eaten can be measured due to a mechanism in the esophagus.

Part two, an expanding sensor with Bluetooth technology, attaches onto the walls of the

esophagus just above the lower esophageal sphincter. This mechanism is nanoscale, andit is

placed in the esophagus by the action of swallowing a pill. The pill contains a nanoscale plastic

ring that is made of programmable material. This ring is coated in a molecule that is attracted to

mucus and the specific molecular makeup of the inner esophagus. The ring is embedded with the


sensors that measure the expansion and contraction of the ring. The pill is coated in an inert

matrix sugar that is measured to dissolve at the right momentdissolve quickly so that the

mechanism can be placed in thewill be exposed and ready to attach when it reaches the right

location. The programmable material responds to a liquid and the ring unfolds. This

programmable material is based off of the current ability of technology at MIT. Once the sugar

inert matrix is dissolved, the mechanism will attach to the walls and stick into place. The

molecules are strong enough to hold up the plastic expansion ring for a week. The mixture of

molecules holding the device will have to resist mucus and lubricants normally forcing all

objects into the stomach. After a week all of the nanoscale ring will detach and go through the

digestive system, like another other specimen. A new pill will have to be swallowed to if the

person chooses to continue with the diet or healthy lifestyle. The ring mechanism’s power is

generated from the movement of the esophagus and food. The mechanism expands with the

esophagus around the bolus; this expansion measurement is sent to the watch using Bluetooth.

Using advanced calculations and algorithms the accessory device dtermines; the volume of food

is determined by how much the ring expands and for how long it expands for with programs on

the accessory device. Sorry, but this paragraph still needs work. You are closer, but if I didn’t

know what you were talking about, I would have trouble picturing what you are saying. Just say

it….The person digests a pill that dissolves before it leaves the esophagus. Inside the pill is a

safe, miniscule, self-expanding structure, that when exposed to mucous unfolds into a ring. The

ring is coated with proteins, that use poly valency to attract to specific molecules found only in

the membranes of cells on the esophageal sphincter. The polyvalency is designed to create

attractions strong enough to withstand mucous and esophageal motion, but weak enough that it

will stay attached only for a limited time, perhaps 24 hours to a week. The ring contains a

Dave, 01/29/15,

This statement means nothing to you reader. Sorry.


sensor that measures…..It is approximately ____, so it can in no way lodge in the esophagus or

cause any health hazards. If for some reason it doesn’t attach, properly, it easily passes into the

stomach and out the digestive system.

The accessory device, part three, has to be worn all day. It is made up of sensors such as

accelerometers recording body movement. Wrist worn mechanisms can record the amount and

type of arm movement, allowing for the amount of exercise to be determined. This accessory is

worn to sense movement and record sleep and exercise also recorded in the app. Most

importantly this accessory is a computer; it receives Bluetooth waves from the chip and the

expanding ring to compile all of this information into data that can be placed into algorithms and

then show actual numbers of calorie intake, and burn. In the future, this accessory does not have

to be a watch. It would be whatever the prevalent personal smart technology device is a the time

(glasses, watch, contact lenses, etc.)

Breakthroughs

Two major breakthroughs are necessary to develop the vision of a fully automated health

and nutrition system. First, the near infrared spectroscopy method needs to be shrunk from

handheld to the size of a tooth. Second, the esophageal ring needs to have a way of attaching to

the esophagus.

Since nanosensors are presently used for various purposes, the challenge is sizing down

the spectrometer to fit comfortably atop a tooth. The actual size would not be much of an issue

because the techniques used to make nanosensors could be applied to the spectroscope elements,

making them smaller. Structural integrity of the spectroscope sensors needs to be taken into


account as well, as to no break when chewing food. The technology doesn’t currently exist at this

size because there is currently no practical application for it.

Moving down a ways into the throat, the challenge is to find a molecular or protein

structure that can attach the esophageal ring to the esophagus for a pre-determined amount of

time. There already exist “Velcro” like proteins, such as polyvalent molecules, but they would

need to be applied to the ring. A molecular structure would need to be found that could stick to

the esophagus and withstand the continual flow of mucus as well as natural muscle contractions.

Testing cells from the esophagus or even the mucus itself could lead to an answer. When target

cells are discovered, ligands would be developed to bind to the cells and initiate a cell response.

In this scenario the response would be to attach the ring to the esophagus. This cell response

would be on a time release, by the molecule breaking down, or the bonds weakening with time.

This combination of current technologies is what would bring the esophageal ring together as a

complete idea.

Design Process

The design process for the idea for the food scanning nanosensor began as an overall idea

of food and health technology. With current technology being a great way to track fitness and

calories burned, there is less of a focus placed on how people track their different nutritional

intake throughout the day.

At first the idea of a collection of multiple sensors recording different data points that

would all be condensed into one documenting system. This would have included sensors in the

soles of shoes, or directly attached to the feet to record weight and changes of weight during

eating, and throughout the day. This would work in unison with the sensor in the mouth to help


calculate a rough prediction of the type of food ingested as well as its quantity. Theses sensors

would then work together with a smartphone, or similar device, to show the user what was in the

food they ate, as well as how much they ate and the overall caloric intake from the meal. This

idea was simply too complicated, mainly because it is inconvenient to the user. If the user wasn’t

standing before and after eating, there would be no weight measurements to calculate the amount

of food eaten. Also, the user would have to wear some type of footwear with the sensors for them

to calculate the weight changes if they were to be standing.

Thinking in terms of convenience we thought about a portable sensor that could be used

to measure food and describe its chemical make up as well as nutritional value. With this concept

there isn’t a way to tell how much food there was, so it would have to be manually entered for a

full caloric value to be calculated. The most attractive part of this idea is the fact that the only

requirement is to keep the device with you when you want to scan the food you eat. It lacks the

value of being useable in a seamless fashion. After a bit more research we came upon the idea of

a way to sense food intake by mouth movements. This was severely lacking because it would

require the user to figure out the caloric value of their food without the help of the device. The

device would only be able to roughly calculate the amount of food that was ingested, but no way

to calculate the caloric intake.

To make a fully interactive and touchless system, multiple measurement points were

required. This led to the final decision of the spectroscope tooth sensors to determine the makeup

of the food and other nutritional intake as well as the esophageal ring to determine the quantity

of food being eaten. This design works well as it communicates information back wirelessly to

the users personal device, allowing for most of the work to be done behind the scenes, and not

have to be done with the sensors themselves, or by the user.


Consequences

As with any great technology there are drawbacks that come along with it. No matter how

careful and what safety approvals are earned, Iimplanting this sensor in a mouth may could

eventually lead to unforeseen health problems in the future. It is known that implanting foreign

substances in the body can have adverse and unexpected reactions. With government

intervention such as the FDA and regular testing in labs and experimentation, the risk of a

malfunction would be low, but would still exist. Risk of the sensor moving off the tooth, and a

having a person choke or shallow the device is a very bad possibilitywould be a tiny risk. This

can be prevented on a large scale by using concrete to attach it, just like braces, but with all

things in life, there are accidents and bizarre things that will and do go wrong. Another thing to

worry about is to make the device waterproof and durable to withstand everyday use. The sensor

itself would have to be able to be brushed and hit. With years of practice and working on ways

to establish the best possible outcome the risk of bad consequences will dropbe minimized.

This device used with other applicants can help people lose weight or to maintain a

healthy life still, resulting in longer life expectancy, and decreasing obesity. This new technology

will revolutionize dieting and diabetes control. This technology prevents people from cheating,

or quitting a healthy lifestyle because the device is so easy to use and it is harder to cheat and

think you’re not cheating. The implant sensor doesn’t require you to carry anything around

besides a smart accessory. It is a simple way to count calories. It’s accurate, and precise you

cannot just guess how much of a food you ate; and you can also see what ingredients you are

eating. If you find that you are eating a small amount of mushrooms, and you are slightly

allergic, then you can only take that small nibble and stop eating without causing damage or

more damage. Another better way to scan food if you have allergies would be to put the

Dave, 01/29/15,

Again. You.

Dave, 01/29/15,

Try to reword to no use you.

Dave, 01/29/15,

I wouldn’t just focus on tooth sensor here. You need to include the esophageal ring in this part. You can do that together, not a s a big addition, as the risks are essentially the same – unforeseen adverse heatlh effects…


spectrometer on the outside of your phone or anything you keep on you; to test for allergens in

food without having it in your mouth. There are many easy ways to alter this technology to make

it better for specific health needs and worries.

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Dave, 01/29/15,

You want to really finish strong here. This is the last thing they read. Revise the very last paragraph to emphasize the huge health beneofits. Early in the paragraph you may want to include a few statistics about how weight and unhealthy eating lead to heart disease etc. Numbers of lives saved is nice.

http://spec.jpl.nasa.gov/

http://www.3dscanco.com/about/3d-scanning/


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http://www.theodora.com/anatomy/the_esophagus.html





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