Capsule with integrated antimicrobial filter
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorsYann Epars, Matthew David Steven, Anne Roulin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention proposes a capsule (9) for use in a beverage production device. The capsule (9) contains one or several ingredients (12) for producing a beverage or liquid comestible when a liquid (3) is fed into the capsule (9). The capsule is provided with an integrated antimicrobial filter (1).
Claims12
A capsule for use in a beverage production device, the capsule containing ingredients for producing a nutritional liquid when a liquid is fed into the capsule at an inlet face thereof, the capsule comprising:
- an inlet face and an outlet face;
- an antimicrobial filter comprising at least one microporous polymer membrane free of bacteriostatic or bactericidal material and is supported by a backing member;
- a main compartment containing at least a portion of ingredients for producing a nutritional liquid, the portion of the ingredients in the main compartment comprising milk-based powder, and the antimicrobial filter being positioned between the outlet face and the portion of the ingredients in the main compartment and distanced from the outlet face;
- and
- a second compartment between the antimicrobial filter and the outlet face, the second compartment comprising probiotic microorganisms.
A method for reducing the microbial load in a nutritional liquid, the method comprising:
- feeding a liquid into an ingredient containing capsule at an inlet face thereof, the capsule comprising (i) an antimicrobial filter comprising at least one microporous polymer membrane free of bacteriostatic or bactericidal material and is supported by a backing member, (ii) a main compartment containing at least a portion of ingredients for producing a nutritional liquid, the portion of the ingredients in the main compartment comprising milk-based powder, and the antimicrobial filter being positioned between an outlet face of the capsule and the portion of the ingredients in the main compartment, and inwardly distanced from the outlet face, and (iii) a second compartment between the antimicrobial filter and the outlet face, the second compartment comprising probiotic microorganisms;
- allowing interaction of the ingredients in the main compartment with the liquid to form an unfiltered nutritional liquid;
- filtering the unfiltered nutritional liquid by passing the unfiltered nutritional liquid through the antimicrobial filter, thereby forming a filtered nutritional liquid;
- combining the filtered nutritional liquid with the probiotic microorganisms within the second compartment;
- and
- dispensing the filtered nutritional liquid comprising the probiotic microorganisms from the outlet face.
A capsule for producing a nutritional liquid when a liquid is fed into the capsule, the capsule comprising:
- an inlet face and an outlet face;
- an antimicrobial filter comprising at least one microporous polymer membrane free of bacteriostatic or bactericidal material and is supported by a backing member;
- a main compartment containing at least a portion of ingredients contained by the capsule, the portion of the ingredients in the main compartment comprising milk-based powder, and the antimicrobial filter being positioned between the outlet face of the capsule and the portion of the ingredients in the main compartment and inwardly distanced from the outlet face;
- and
- a second compartment located between of the antimicrobial filter and the outlet face, the second compartment comprising probiotic microorganisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.