US20140305969A1

US20140305969A1 - Apparatus, Diabetic Treatment System and Method for Sweetening Food

Info

Publication number: US20140305969A1
Application number: US14/358,670
Authority: US
Inventors: Marcus-Meinolf Dittrich
Original assignee: Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 2011-11-17
Filing date: 2012-11-15
Publication date: 2014-10-16
Also published as: EP2780277A1; CN104066675A; JP2015501675A; WO2013072442A1

Abstract

The current invention relates to an apparatus, in particular a dietary dispenser, to a diabetic treatment system and to a method for sweetening food. The technical problem of enabling the consumer to be satisfied with the flavor, in particular the sweetness, of food and at the same time providing the optimal amount of calories and/or carbohydrates to the consumer in a simple and secure way is solved by an apparatus, in particular a dietary dispenser, comprising at least two reservoirs, at least one nozzle and a dispense mechanism. Each of the reservoirs comprises an outlet and each outlet is connected to at least one nozzle. The first reservoir contains a first fluid comprising sugar, while the second reservoir contains a second fluid comprising a sugar substitute. The dispense mechanism is configured such that the fluids can be dispensed through the respective outlets and through the at least one nozzle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a U.S. National Phase Application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/072791 filed Nov. 15, 2012, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 11189560.3 filed Nov. 17, 2011. The entire disclosure contents of these applications are herewith incorporated by reference into the present application.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The current invention relates to an apparatus, in particular a dietary dispenser, a diabetic treatment system and to a method for sweetening food.

BACKGROUND

It is well known in the state of the art to use a sugar substitute instead of sugar in order to sweeten food. Especially for diabetics and for people who are on a diet or who are administered a diet, sugar substitutes are a common replacement for sugar. By using a sugar substitute, people do not have to dispense with the sweet taste of food while food with reduced calories and fewer carbohydrates is consumed. This is very beneficial for people suffering from diabetes and/or being on diet.
It is problematic though, that there are certain drawbacks involved when using a sugar substitute. Many sugar substitutes, for example most artificial sweeteners, which can be used to sweeten food, in particular beverages, come with a distinct taste or aftertaste for the person consuming it. This, in effect, leads to a reduced delight and pleasure for the person consuming said food.
These disadvantages do not appear when using sugar instead of a sugar substitute. However, sugar can often not be used due to the above mentioned reasons of leading to an increased amount of carbohydrate and/or calory intake. Carbohydrates are to be avoided for diabetics at least in an uncontrolled consumption, since carbohydrates, and especially sugars, can increase the blood sugar level quickly, which can not be counteracted well enough or even at all by a person suffering from diabetes without any medication. With respect to people on a diet, they often want to avoid any increased consumption of calories.
To address this problem, there are beverages available which contain both, sugar and a sugar substitute, in order to provide a balance between a good taste and a reduced intake of calories and carbohydrates. However, this only relates to ready-made beverages and often does not meet the needs of the consumer, since the amount of sugar which can be consumed by diabetics depends highly on the particular person and on the very situation.
In view of the aforementioned, the invention faces the technical problem of enabling the consumer to be satisfied with the flavor, in particular the sweetness, of food and at the same time providing the optimal amount of calories and/or carbohydrates to the consumer in a simple and secure way.
The technical problem is solved by an apparatus, in particular a dietary dispenser, comprising at least two reservoirs, at least one nozzle and a dispense mechanism. Each of the reservoirs comprises an outlet and each outlet is connected to at least one nozzle. The first reservoir contains a first fluid comprising sugar, while the second reservoir contains a second fluid comprising a sugar substitute. The dispense mechanism is configured such that the fluids can be dispensed through the respective outlets and through the at least one nozzle.
By providing the aforementioned apparatus it is possible to sweeten food, such as meals and beverages, with sugar and a sugar substitute at the same time and with the desired ratio. While the sugar provides the sweet taste people are used to without any negative aftertastes, the sugar substitute provides the possibility of reducing the amount of calories and carbohydrates in order to meet any medical or dietary requirements.
With the nozzle the fluids can be easily dispensed into a beverage, but it may also be injected into firmer food.
Due to the fact that the first fluid containing sugar is kept in a different reservoir than the second fluid containing a sugar substitute, it is generally possible to dispense a fluid comprising a practically arbitrary ratio of sugar and sugar substitute. Of course, it is also possible to only dispense one of the two fluids with a dispense procedure. In case no sugar substitute is desired, only the first fluid comprising sugar can be dispensed. If the consumption of carbohydrates or calories is to be minimized, only the second fluid comprising sugar substitute can be dispensed. Preferably the dispensed fluid comprises at least two fluids, though.
With the dispense mechanism, a specific ratio of the sugar compared to the sugar substitute can be dispensed. For this, the ratio may be set by the user directly based on a user's input or indirectly such that the apparatus via optional computing means determines a ratio based on the user's input and/or on further information provided to the apparatus. For instance, it is possible to design the dispense mechanism as a mechanical dispense mechanism such that the user sets the amount of sugar and sugar substitute individually by mechanically charging a spring to a certain degree, for example, which then forces the fluids via a plunger out of the reservoirs. It is also possible to design the dispense mechanism as an electronically controlled pump mechanism with electric motors, for example. It is also conceivable that the dispense mechanism consists of a pressurized reservoirs and valves provided in order to control the dispense of the respective fluids.
It is preferred that the sugar and/or the sugar substitutes are solved in the respective fluid. This allows for a smooth dispensing and mixing of the fluids.
Sugar is understood to be any kind of sweet tasting carbohydrate causing an insulin reaction of the human body. A sugar substitute can be any sweet tasting edible substance but producing compared to sugar a reduced or preferably no insulin reaction of the human body and having compared to sugar reduced or no calories. This is due to the fact, that sugar substitutes are substantially not as digestible as sugar. Sugar substitutes are for example sweeteners or sugar alcohols. Sugar substitutes have usually at least a similar, but mostly a higher sweetness than sugar.

SUMMARY

The apparatus according to the invention is not limited to the use of two reservoirs. There may as well be further reservoirs, providing fluids with the same or different sugars or sugar substitutes as in the first two reservoirs. This can be useful to be able to produce a wider variety of tastes or concentrations, for example. It may also be useful to provide a further reservoir containing water in order to rinse or clean fluidic channels such as the nozzle. In a further embodiment, a further reservoir may contain a flavor like vanilla or a mixture of flavors.
According to a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the sugar in the first fluid is at least one of monosaccharides, disaccherides, oligosaccharides. Many of these sugars are readily available on the market and are solvable in edible fluids. They also cause a well known sweet taste without any negative aftertastes. These sugars also have well known effects on the human organism. Properties of these sugars such as the glycemic index that describes the influence of a sugar on the blood glucose level, for instance, can then be considered as well, when a specific ratio between the sugar and the sugar substitute is chosen.
Preferably, the sugar substitute in the second fluid is a natural or an artificial sugar substitute. Artificial sugar substitutes, also called synthetic or artificial sweeteners, are generally easier to produce than to extract natural sugar substitutes from plants or fruits, for example. On the other hand, natural sweeteners may be preferred by users due to the natural origin of the substance. The sugar substitutes can especially be chosen depending on their applicability with respect to their stability, solvability and/or sweetness. Artificial sugar substitutes are understood to be in particular: Acesulfame potassium, Alitame, Aspartame, Salt of aspartame-acesulfame, Cyclamate, Dulcin, Glucin, Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, Neotame, P-4000, Saccharin and/or Sucralose. Natural sugar substitutes are in particular Curculin, Erythritol, Glycyrrhizin, Glycerol, Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, Inulin, Isomalt, Lactitol, Luo han guo, Mabinlin, Maltitol, Malto-oligosaccharide, Mannitol, Miraculin, Monatin, Monellin, Osladin, Pentadin, Sorbitol, Stevia, Tagatose, Thaumatin and/or Xylitol.
According to a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the apparatus is further comprising a manifold such that the outlets of the at least two reservoirs can be connected to a single nozzle. The usability and handling of the apparatus is made especially simple, when there is only a single nozzle dispensing fluid. Furthermore when the fluid for sweetening is dispensed through a single nozzle, there is no spatial separation between the sugar and the sugar substitute in the food, providing a further improved and homogeneous taste for the consumer.
When, on the other hand, according to an alternative embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the apparatus further comprises a separate nozzle for each reservoir, the production of the apparatus is facilitated, since no complex parts such as manifolds are necessary. Additionally, there is no mutual interaction between the single reservoirs. For example, when the fluids are dispensed one after the other and the reservoirs are connected to each other via the manifold, it may happen that a certain amount of one fluid enters the reservoir of the other, resulting in dispense procedures with inaccurate dosing. Such an effect is effectively avoided by separate nozzles. This may provide a further improvement of the taste of food, while the desired amount of calories and/or carbohydrates is dispensed.
In a further embodiment, the apparatus comprises a valve between each outlet and the at least one nozzle. By providing valves between the reservoirs or the outlets of the reservoirs and the nozzle a secure sealing with minimal risk of leakage can be provided. By providing valves between each outlet and the one nozzle or multiple nozzles, the backflow of fluids from one reservoir into another can be avoided as well. Such valves can be designed as check vales, for example umbrella valves, effectively suppressing backflow into the reservoirs. If the pressure is high enough in a specific reservoir the valve opens and dispenses fluid. It is also possible to design the valves as actively controlled valves to better control the state of a valve. When the fluids are dispensed sequentially, the valves are preferably open one at a time only. Additionally the precision of dosing during a dispense procedure can be further increased by the use of valves, since the valves reduce the effect of fluids dripping from the apparatus after the dispense procedure. In case the valves are actively controlled, they can start and stop a dispense procedure quickly and thus precisely. This provides a further improvement of the taste of food, while the optimal amount of calories and/or carbohydrates is dispensed.
The number of valves preferably matches the number of reservoirs and the valves are assigned to a reservoir each. The valves are preferably located directly behind the outlets of the reservoirs, in order to prevent any fluidic connection between the reservoir and the nozzle from being jammed due to dried out fluids remaining in the fluidic connections.
It is further advantageous, when between the outlets of the reservoirs and the nozzle a mixing chamber is located, in which the fluids can mix before being dispensed. In this manner, a homogeneous taste can be achieved.
When the dispense mechanism comprises a plunger for each reservoir, a simple way of providing a dispense mechanism is realized while at the same time the amount of the first and second fluid and optionally further fluids to be dispensed can be set and dispensed independently of each other. The plunger increases the pressure in the respective reservoir and the fluid is forced out of the reservoir. The plunger can be moved or pressed against with a piston driven by an electromechanical motor, for example a stepper motor. In doing so, a very precise dosing during the dispense procedure is achievable. It is also possible though, to move the respective plunger with mechanically stored energy provided by a loaded spring or directly by a pressure exerted by the user over an actuating button, for example. The latter means are not as cost-intensive as the provision of an electromechanical motor. The dispense mechanism may further comprise gears in order to provide an optimal transmission for the plunger to move with appropriate force and speed.
According to a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus comprises a user interface and a control unit, such that a user specific dose parameter can be provided to the control unit, which is configured to control the dispense mechanism.
By providing a control unit able to control the dispense mechanism, not only a very precise dosing during the dispense procedure is possible, but also the ratio between the first and the at least second fluid can be calculated by the control unit based on inputs provided by the user interface. The control unit may in particular be a microprocessor, receiving information from the user interface and providing information and/or control signals to the dispense mechanism.
The user interface may be realized with buttons and/or a display in order to provide the possibility for the user to provide information to the apparatus and the control unit in particular. A display can provide feedback about the information put in or about dispensed amounts of sugar, calories and/or carbohydrates.
The user can, for instance, enter information via the user interface about a desired sweetness, for example in sugar cube equivalents, tea or table spoons of sugar, or any other suitable measurement for sweetness, and also provide information about the desired amount of carbohydrates. The control unit can then calculate a suitable ratio between the first fluid containing sugar and the second fluid containing sugar substitutes in order to provide the user with the desired amount of carbohydrates and the desired amount of total sweetness. Of course, the control unit may make use of further fluids from further reservoirs, if provided.
It is also possible that the user only enters the degree of sweetness he wishes to be dispensed and the ratio between the different fluids is calculated by the control unit based on further information. Such further information may be a standard value set by the user or a value derived from blood sugar values of the patient also input by the user or received from further devices. Such further information may also be derived from the history of previous dispenses during a certain period of time in the past.
It is further conceivable that the user directly enters the amount of the first and the second fluid or the amount of one fluid and the desired ratio between the fluids.
According to a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the nozzle comprises a substantially blunt needle or cannula. The danger of an accidental misuse of the apparatus, such as the risk of an injection, for example under the skin of a person, is reduced and thus the safety of the apparatus is increased.
For an additional safety increase the device may be designed such that it can be clearly distinguished from devices such as an insulin injection device by means of different colors and/or shapes in order to prevent any confusion or mix-up.
When the nozzle is exchangeable, the usability is improved, since the nozzle can be exchanged in case of jamming or to maintain hygiene standards for example.
Further, when the nozzle is exchangeable and the apparatus further provides a lock out mechanism such that an attachment of a medical needle as the nozzle is prevented, the usability is improved, since the nozzle can be exchanged in case of jamming or to maintain hygiene standards for example. At the same time the safety of the apparatus is not impaired, since no medical needle can be attached to the apparatus. A lock out mechanism may be realized with a special shape of geometrically adapted connection elements of the blunt needles or cannula, such that a standard medical needle or needles intended to be used with injection devices are not attachable to the apparatus.
It is additionally or alternatively possible to provide such a lock out mechanism electronically, especially when a control unit is provided. In that case the apparatus can detect, if a suitable needle or cannula is attached and only in the given case approve the use of the device to prevent accidental injections of the fluids under the skin, for example.
According to a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, at least one of the reservoirs is exchangeable. On the one hand a cost reduction for the user is achieved, since the device is reusable and only the reservoirs need to be exchanged. This is especially useful, since the fluids may be used up at different rates. On the other hand this gives the user the ability to change the reservoirs in order to use different sugars and/or sugar substitutes. This allows for a more user specific taste and thus further improves the taste of the food. Preferably, all reservoirs are exchangeable for a maximum customization.
When at least one reservoir is exchangeable, it is further preferred that substantially only the intended reservoirs, in form of cartridges for example, can be inserted. This could be realized by a geometrical adaption of the cartridge and the apparatus, such that substantially only the intended cartridges fit into the apparatus. The apparatus may also provide a detection system, such that the apparatus can electronically detect, whether a certain inserted cartridge is allowed or not. In case a cartridge is not allowed, the apparatus may prevent the user from using it.
It is further preferred that the apparatus according to the invention comprises a memory unit for saving the information. The apparatus can save information about past dispense procedures, for example. The information about the fluids dispensed can be used for a more precise determination of the ratio between the first and the second fluid and optionally further fluids to even further increase the taste and/or more precisely adjust the amount of calories/carbohydrates dispensed.
According to a second teaching of the invention, a diabetic treatment system comprises an apparatus according to the invention and at least one of an insulin injection device and a blood sugar measurement device. If the apparatus according to the invention is part of this system, it can, for instance, access information or is provided with information of the insulin injection device and/or the blood sugar measurement device. With this information the ratio of the first fluid and the at least second fluid can be determined or further be optimized. With information about past insulin injection and/or blood sugar levels the optimum ratio of sugar to sugar substitute can be determined for a given situation to provide a good taste to the user with the appropriate amount of calories and/or carbohydrates.
Additionally, the apparatus according the invention may also provide information to another device of the diabetic treatment system. Such a device may be the insulin injection device, for example in order to provide information about an expected blood sugar level of the patient.
According to a third teaching of the invention the technical problem is further solved by a method for sweetening food, comprising the steps of providing a user specific dose parameter to an apparatus, in particular an apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus dispensing a fluid comprising at least one of a first fluid and a second fluid, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid have a ratio based on the provided user specific dose parameter and wherein the first fluid comprises sugar and the second fluid comprises a sugar substitute.
Food is understood to mean meals as well as beverages.
User specific dose parameter is understood to mean any information based on which the ratio between the first fluid and the second fluid can be determined. Such user specific dose information can in particular be a desired sweetness, for example in sugar cube equivalents or any other suitable measurement for sweetness, information about the desired amount of carbohydrates and/or calories, the ratio between the different fluids and/or current or past blood sugar levels. The user specific dose parameter is understood to be one or more of the above mentioned information. The user specific dose parameter can either be provided manually by the user or can at least partly be calculated by the apparatus, in particular the ratio of the two fluids. The ratio of the fluids can of course be that high/low, that only one fluid is effectively dispensed. Preferably, at least two fluids are dispensed.
In case the ratio is such that the dispensed fluid is a mixture of at least two fluids, the fluids can be mixed before being dispensed, for example in a mixing chamber provided in the apparatus, or during the dispensing. Alternatively the fluids can be dispensed one after the other or via different nozzles.
A fluid for sweetening food based on the user specific information can thus be provided, wherein the user is satisfied with the flavor of food and at the same time is provided with the optimal amount of calories and/or carbohydrates. Since the apparatus is performing the dispensing of the fluid having the desired ratio, the method is performed in a simple and secure way.
When the user specific dose parameter comprises information about a desired sweetness to be dispensed and/or about an absolute or relative amount of sugar to be dispensed and the ratio of the first fluid and the second fluid is calculated by the apparatus based on the provided user specific dose parameter, a very convenient and effective way of providing food with an improved taste and at the same time with a desired amount of calories and/or carbohydrates is achieved.
The desired sweetness may be individually set before each dispensing procedure by the user or it may be a standard value set by the user once, for example. The absolute amount of sugar may be input by the user in form of sugar cube equivalents or in form of a maximum amount of carbohydrates the user wants to be dispensed. The user may also set the relative amount of sugar in the dispensed fluid in order to achieve an individual balance between a good taste and reduced carbohydrates. The user may also provide the apparatus only with the desired sweetness, while the maximum amount of carbohydrates (and thus sugar) to be dispensed can be retrieved from blood sugar levels of the user. The relative or absolute amount of sugar may thus not necessarily be provided directly, but it can also be provided indirectly, as long as the absolute or relative amount of sugar to be dispensed is derivable from the user specific information.
The user specific dose parameter comprises preferably additional user specific information, such information can be carbohydrate and/or calory limits for a certain time interval, such as for an hour or a day, information about the past dispensed fluids and/or information about past glucose measurements, such as time and glucose values. These values may be input by the user via the user interface manually, or certain information may be transferred to the apparatus form other devices of the diabetic treatment system, such as a blood sugar measurement device. A very convenient way of providing a good balance between a good taste and a reduced amount of calories and/or carbohydrates may be achieved with the additional user specific dose parameters.
It is further preferred that the apparatus saves information about past dispense procedures. For this purpose the apparatus according to the invention can comprise a memory unit for saving the information. The information about the fluids dispensed can be used for a more precise determination of the ratio between the first and the second fluid and optionally further fluids to even further increase the taste and/or more precisely adjust the amount of calories/carbohydrates dispensed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These as well as other advantages of various aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention before a certain dispense procedure,

FIG. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention from FIG. 1 during the dispense procedure,

FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 5 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary diabetic treatment system according to the invention, and

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention before a dispense procedure. The apparatus 1 comprises a first reservoir 2 and a second reservoir 4. The first reservoir 2 contains a first fluid 6 comprising a sugar solution, while the second reservoir 4 contains a second fluid 8 comprising an artificial low calorie sweetener. The reservoirs 6, 8 are designed as cartridges. The reservoir 2 comprises an outlet 10, while the reservoir 4 comprises an outlet 12, through which the respective fluid 6, 8 can be dispensed. In the shown embodiment the fluids 6, 8 are prevented from being dispensed by the valves 14, 16. In this case, the valves 14, 16 are check valves; other types of valves can be provided as well. Further downstream of the fluidic system the fluidic channels 18, 20 lead to a manifold 22 comprising a mixing chamber 24. The manifold joins the two channels 18, 20 into the single nozzle 26.
The fluids 6, 8 contained in the reservoirs 2, 4 can be dispensed by a dispense mechanism 28 in form of a pump mechanism. The dispense mechanism 28 comprises in this embodiment a plunger 30 for the first reservoir 2 and a plunger 32 for the second reservoir 4. When the pressure exerted on the plungers 30, 32 and thus on the fluids 6, 8 is high enough, the respective fluid 6, 8 will be dispensed through the respective check valve 14, 16. The plunger 30 is connected to a piston 34, while the plunger 32 is connected to the piston 36. The pistons 34, 36 can be driven by the electric motor 38 and the electric motor 40, respectively. Both electric motors 38, 40 are controlled over the connection 42 and connection 44, respectively, by the control unit 46. In the illustrated embodiment the control unit is provided with information by the user interface 48, to which it is connected via the connection 50. The dispense mechanism can alternatively be provided mechanically by means of a loaded spring and actuating means for a user, for example.
In the illustrated embodiment, the user provides the control unit 46 with a user specific dose parameter via the user interface 48. The user may enter a desired sweetness, for example in sugar cube equivalents, tea or table spoon equivalents, or any other suitable measurement for sweetness. The user may optionally or alternatively enter a user specific dose parameter comprising information about the desired amount of carbohydrates and/or calories. Further information which can be comprised by the user specific dose parameter may be the ratio between the different fluids 6, 8 or past blood sugar levels.
If the user enters a desired sweetness and a desired value for a (maximum) amount of carbohydrates, this information is sufficient for the control unit 46 to calculate an optimal ratio of the fluids 6, 8 to be dispensed.
FIG. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention from FIG. 1 during the dispense procedure. The dispensed fluid 52 coming out of the nozzle 26 is a mixture of the fluids 6, 8.
In the illustrated example the user entered an amount of carbohydrates, which is lower than the amount of carbohydrates which is normally contained in the first fluid 6 containing sugar at the desired sweetness, which is also entered by the user. The control unit 46 automatically reduces the amount of the first fluid 6 which will be dispensed such that the lack of sweetness due to said reduction can be compensated for with the second fluid 8 and at the same time providing a fluid 52 with the desired amount of carbohydrates and the desired sweetness. Since the second fluid 8 contains a lower amount or substantially no usable carbohydrates for the human organism, by dispensing the second fluid 8 the sweetness will be increased up the desired level without or with only minimally increasing the amount of digestible carbohydrates in the dispensed fluid 52. In this manner, an optimal balance between a good taste and a reduced amount of carbohydrates and/or calories in the consumed food is achievable in a simple and secure way. It can be further seen in FIG. 2 that the amount of the second fluid 8 dispensed is bigger than the amount of the first fluid 6 dispensed, since the plunger 32 moved further down than the plunger 30.
The remaining fluid in the fluidic system, the mixing chamber 24 and the nozzle 26 behind the valves 14, 16 is preferably also dispensed, in order to increase the precision of the dosing of further dispense procedures and to prevent any jamming of the fluidic system due to dried out fluids. Alternatively, the volume of fluidic systems after the reservoirs 2, 4 can be kept as small as possible, such that the amount of fluids 6, 8 remaining in the fluidic system is negligible.
In case the user wishes to reduce the amount of sugar to zero or in case the blood sugar levels of the user, which may be input to the apparatus 1 via the interface 48 or which may be transferred to the control unit 46 from other devices, are to high to allow the use of sugar, the dispensed fluid 52 will only contain the second fluid 8.
Likewise it is also possible, that the desired sweetness can be reached without exceeding the entered amount of sugar/carbohydrates. In that case, only fluid 6 comprising sugar would be dispensed for the best taste. The user interface 48 can in this case inform the user that the amount of sugar/carbohydrates is lower than the value entered even though the desired sweetness is reached.
FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. For the sake of a better overview, not all reference numbers from FIG. 1 or 2 are repeated in FIG. 3, even though the elements from FIG. 1 or 2 are still illustrated in FIG. 3. The apparatus 54 illustrated in FIG. 3 is similar to the apparatus 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The apparatus 54 differs in the design of the fluidic system comprising the nozzles 26 a, 26 b behind the valves 14, 16. The reservoirs 2, 4 each comprise a separate nozzle 26 a and 26 b, respectively. The production of the apparatus 54 is facilitated, since no complex parts such as the manifold 22 of apparatus 1 are necessary. Additionally, there is no mutual interaction between the reservoirs 2, 4 in apparatus 54. That a certain amount of one fluid 6, 8 enters the reservoir 2, 4 of the respective other fluid 6, 8, is effectively avoided by separate nozzles 26 a, 26 b. This provides a further improvement of the taste of food, while the optimal amount of calories and/or carbohydrates is dispensed.
FIG. 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. For the sake of a better overview, not all reference numbers from FIG. 1 or 2 are repeated in FIG. 4, even though the elements from FIG. 1 or 2 are still illustrated in FIG. 4. The apparatus 56 illustrated in FIG. 4 is similar to the apparatus 54 illustrated in FIG. 3. The apparatus 56 differs from apparatus 54 in the design of the fluidic system in so far that no valves are provided. This provides a further simplified construction of the apparatus 56. It is generally sufficient for a leak tight apparatus 56, when the diameter of the nozzles 26 a and 26 b is small enough and the reservoirs 2, 4 are air-tight otherwise. Accordingly the apparatus 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be designed without valves 12, 14, for example.
FIG. 5 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. For the sake of a better overview, not all reference numbers from FIG. 1 or 2 are repeated in FIG. 5, even though the elements from FIG. 1 or 2 are still illustrated in FIG. 5. The apparatus 58 illustrated in FIG. 5 is similar to the apparatus 56 illustrated in FIG. 4. The apparatus 58 differs from apparatus 56 in that additionally to the reservoirs 2, 4 a third reservoir 60 is provided. The third reservoir 60 contains a third fluid 62. The reservoir 60 is designed as a cartridge, as well. The reservoir 60 comprises an outlet 64 through which the fluid 62 can be dispensed. In the shown embodiment no valves are provided, although this is possible. The outlet 64 leads to the nozzle 26 c. The fluid 62 contained in the reservoir 60 can also be dispensed by the dispense mechanism 28 in form of a pump mechanism. The dispense mechanism 66 shown in FIG. 5 is similar to the dispense mechanism 28. The dispense mechanism 66 further comprises a plunger 68 for the third reservoir 60. When the pressure exerted on the plunger 68 and thus on the fluid 62 is big enough, the fluid 62 will be dispensed though the nozzle 26 c. The plunger 68 is connected to a piston 70. The piston 70 can be driven by the electric motor 72, which is controlled over the connection 74 by the control unit 46.
The third fluid 62 can contain sugar and/or a sugar substitute. By providing further fluids it is possible, to provide a wider variety of tastes and concentrations, for example. It is also conceivable that the third fluid is water, for example. In case of a manifold 22 and a common nozzle 26, as illustrated in FIG. 1, water could be used for rinsing. Further embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention may also comprise more reservoirs than two or three reservoirs.
FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary diabetic treatment system according to the invention. The apparatus 76 is an apparatus according to the invention, for example any of the apparatus 1, 54, 56 or 58. The diabetic treatment system 75 further comprises an insulin injection device 78 and a blood sugar measurement device 80. The apparatus 76 can access information of the blood sugar measurement device over the connection 82. Such a connection may be a cable connection or a wireless connection, for example. Such information comprises for example the blood sugar level of the user. With this information the ratio of the first fluid 6 and the second fluid 8 can further be optimized. The apparatus 76 can also access information of the insulin injection device over the connection 84. Such a connection may also be a cable connection or a wireless connection, for example. Information about past injected insulin doses may be provided to the apparatus 76. With such information the optimum ratio of sugar to sugar substitute can be determined for the given situation to provide a good taste to the user with the appropriate amount of calories and/or carbohydrates. Additionally, the apparatus 76 may also provide information, such as a dispensed amount of sugar, to the devices 78 or 80 of the diabetic treatment system. The insulin injection device 78 can then consider this information for better estimating future blood sugar levels of the user and accordingly adjusting insulin doses.
FIG. 7 shows a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention. In order to provide user specific dose parameter to an apparatus, for example apparatus 1, 54, 56 or 58, the user provides a desired sweetness in sugar cube equivalents over the user interface 48 to the control unit 46 in step 86. The control unit 46 is also provided with user specific information about the maximum amount of carbohydrates that may be dispensed, or information about the blood sugar level of the user in step 88 to complement the user specific dose parameter. The user may either enter this information over the user interface 48 or the blood sugar measurement device 80 illustrated in FIG. 6 may provide the control unit with this information. In step 90 the control unit calculates the optimal ratio of fluid 6 and fluid 8 to be dispensed, in order to provide the desired sweetness for the user and at the same time reduce the amount of sugar dispensed according to recent blood sugar levels of the user. According to step 92 a mixture of the fluids 6 and 8 is then dispensed. Finally in step 94, the information about the past dispense procedure, such as dispensed amount of sugar or dispensed amount of carbohydrates, is saved. This information can be displayed to the user via the user interface 48 at any time or the information may further be provided to devices of a diabetic treatment system 75.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. Apparatus, in particular a dietary dispenser, comprising

at least two reservoirs,

at least one nozzle and

a dispense mechanism,

wherein each of said reservoirs comprises an outlet,

wherein each outlet is connected to at least one nozzle,

wherein said first reservoir contains a first fluid comprising sugar,

wherein said second reservoir contains a second fluid comprising a sugar substitute, and

wherein said dispense mechanism is configured such that said fluids can be dispensed through said respective outlets and through said at least one nozzle.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said sugar in said first fluid is at least one of monosaccharides, disaccherides, oligosaccharides.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said sugar substitute in said second fluid is a natural or an artificial sugar substitute.

20. Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a manifold such that said outlets of said at least two reservoirs are connected to a single nozzle.

21. Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a separate nozzle for each reservoir.

22. Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a valve, in particular a check valve, between each outlet and said at least one nozzle.

23. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said dispense mechanism comprises a plunger for each reservoir.

24. Apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a user interface and a control unit, such that a user specific dose parameter can be provided to said control unit configured to control said dispense mechanism.

25. Apparatus according to any of the claims 17, wherein said nozzle comprises a substantially blunt needle or cannula.

26. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said nozzle is exchangeable and said apparatus further provides a lock out mechanism such that an attachment of a medical needle as said nozzle is prevented.

27. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said reservoirs is exchangeable.

28. Diabetic treatment system comprising an apparatus according to claim 17 and at least one of an insulin injection device and a blood sugar measurement device.

29. Method for sweetening food, comprising the steps of

providing a user specific dose parameter to an apparatus, in particular an apparatus according to claim 17,

said apparatus dispensing a fluid comprising at least one of a first fluid and a second fluid,

wherein said first fluid and said second fluid have a ratio based on said provided user specific dose parameter, and

wherein said first fluid comprises sugar and said second fluid comprises a sugar substitute.

30. Method according to claim 17, wherein said user specific dose parameter comprises information about a desired sweetness to be dispensed and/or about an absolute or relative amount of sugar to be dispensed, and wherein said ratio of said first fluid and said second fluid is calculated by said apparatus based on said provided user specific dose parameter.

31. Method according to claim 17, wherein said user specific dose parameter comprises additional user specific information.

32. Method according to claim 17, wherein said apparatus saves information about past dispense procedures.