Introduction.Having a child or member of the family who has a nut allergy can be a serious & often hampering problem for holidays and excursions. Well no more! The ingeniousNut Cracker™ is a fully portable device which can be used to test food stuffs in any environment for the detection of nuts. Simply sample the food & within minutesyou can relax & enjoy your meal! Let the Nut Cracker™ “crack” your problems & the arduous task of eating out in a foreign country will never get you down again!

The Nut Allergy.The nut allergy is one of the most common food related allergies in the worldand worryingly is on the increase. Peanuts as a popular source of protein andtherefore figure highly in food stuffs. The reaction in the sufferer can differthough eczema to asthma are common. Anaphylactic shock leading to deathis the most extreme symptom and is the major concern to mothers with youngsufferers.

IgE are the allergic antibodies, present in both allergic and nonallergicchildren. Allergic children, however, are more likely to produce more IgEallergen-specific antibodies. Once formed, the antibodies affix to tissuesurfaces such as the skin or gastrointestinal tract, ready to react when theallergic child is re-exposed to even a small amount of allergen, It is then thesubsequent reactions from the IgE that produce the sometimes devastatingsymptoms.

The Nut Cracker™ by William Black for W.A.B Enterprises and PHY 435.

The Nut Cracker™.The design of the Nut Cracker™ enables ease of use while away from thehome and allows quick and clear results.

Plan View

3cm11cm

4cm

Results screenTesting switch Sample

releaseSample bin

Elevation View

2cm

3cm11cm

Main processor Power switch Detector opening

Reverse Plan View11cm 3cm

4cm

The simple elegance of the design provides ultimate ease of use whereever you are. Running off 2 AA batteries, the Nut Cracker™ operates allover the world. Simple instructions are located on the rear of theprocessor and with a one button test, the process produces a resultwithin 5 minutes, just in time for your food to be ready to eat!

BatteriesQuick-use

instructionsMaster reset

GO

Result Alarm

Technology.The Nut Cracker™ operates with a simple detection and reaction system.Harnessing the fact that the IgE antibodies within the sufferer react extremelywith contact of the allergen (nut) the Nut Cracker™ simply reacts to thedetection of the allergen.

How It Works.

The test strips placed inside the sample bin have IgE antibodies implantedonto the surface along with a reacting dye. When the food sample is placedon the bin (after being mixed with Cracker Solvent™) the antibodies detectand attach to the bacteria specific to the nuts producing a large red line onthe strip. This information is then converted to a probability measure and acoloured light on the processor indicates a measure of confidence in thesample. The whole test takes approximately 5mins.

How to use The Nut Cracker™

1. Take a sample of food and mix with disposable vile of Cracker Solvent™.

2. Drop a small amount into the sample bin making sure there is a newsample strip inserted.

3. Attach sample bin onto processor, turn on and press testing switch for5sec.

4.Leave processor on a flat surface and wait approx 5mins. The result alarmwill alert you of a result being produced.

5. Look at results screen for result: & +ve = includes nut.

& ? = probable nut.

& -ve = no nut content.

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3.

4.

5.

Flashing Green

Flashing Amber

Flashing Red

Specifications

Weight: 55gSensitivity: 10µg/ml

Size: 14cm x 4cm x 2cm (including processor & sample bin)

Marketing & Opportunities.The Nut Cracker™ is aimed as a product for people wanting to experienceforeign cuisine and enjoy holidays without the pressure of finding nut freerestaurants.It will be available as part of a travel pack costing approx £100. The packwill contain: 1 x processor unit (inc. 2xAA batteries).

20 x sample bins.20 x sample strips.

The cost is justified because of the technology involved and the seriousnessof the problem it addresses. Further orders will be available via a website forsample bins, sample strips and Cracker Solvent™ .

20 x vile of Cracker Solvent™.

Further development into the detection of nuts is desperately needed.The Nut Cracker™ produces a probability it is not 100% effective. PCRDNA techniques are much more accurate and miniaturising suchtechnology into a portable unit is W.A.B enterprises’ next researchproject.

Limitation

Only nuts reacting to IgE antibodies are detected. Further test strips forother allergic food stuff (milk, fish etc.) are to be developed.