Now More Than 600 Customers Worldwide
Since World-First e-Tongue 1993 Launch

SCAA
News on current topics about e-tongue

For more information, contact your local distributor or us.

Features of e-Tongue system TS-5000Z

Since Insent launched its world-first e-Tongue (electronic ‘tongue’) taste sensor in 1993, more than 600 business customers worldwide now use this product.

  • Taste Evaluation Correlated with Human Gustatory Sensation: Using our patented technology,  customers can access digital taste information captured by our high-sensitivity and high-selectivity sensors for the five basic tastes and astringency.
  • High Data Reproducibility: High repeatability and reproducibility are achieved by automatically cleaning and checking the response of sensors after measuring each sample.
  • Initial Taste and Aftertaste: Both the first impression (initial taste) and time-dependent aftertaste can be obtained for umami, bitterness and astringency, without multivariate analysis.
  • Objective Taste Scale: An objective and universal taste intensity for a control sample is captured based on the Weber-Fechner Law using our proprietary algorithm.
Taste Sensor of our patented lipid/polymer membranes TS-5000Z

Unique Biomimetic Membrane

These proprietary lipid and polymer membranes mimic living organisms.​

Five Basic Tastes and Astringency

The bitter, sour, salty, umami, sweet tastes and astringency can be evaluated and correlated with intensity.

taste sensor explanation

Equivalent to or Better than Human Taste Sensitivity

The taste-sensor sensitivity is designed to match human thresholds, and the response covers the human dynamic range (ranging from 1 to 10 times threshold)

High Basic-Taste Selectivity

Like antigen/antibody reactions, selectivity is not a one-to-one relation, but is instead like the ‘global selectivity’ similar to other human receptors.

Insent’s e-Tongue taste sensor is a biomimetic technology inspired by the structure and function of biological membranes. A single biological taste receptor can capture the same taste attribute, such as bitterness, for multiple chemicals. Our patented lipid/polymer membrane generates a voltage that changes according to the interaction with a specific taste attribute. The membrane response characteristics are adjusted by changing the types of membrane lipid and plasticizing agents as well as the ratio of multiple lipid types with selective responses to specific tastes (e.g., separate membranes that each respond specifically to bitterness, astringency, etc.).

[Reference]

Yoshikazu Kobayashi, Masaaki Habara, Hidekazu Ikezazki, Ronggang Chen, Yoshinobu Naito and Kiyoshi Toko, Advanced Taste Sensors Based on Artificial Lipids with Global Selectivity to Basic Taste Qualities and High Correlation to Sensory Scores, Sensors 2010, 10, 3411-3443; doi:10.3390/s100403411

[Collaborations]

Prof. Kiyoshi Toko, Kyushu University

Measurement of taste information

Unique Aftertaste Measurement

Both initial taste and aftertaste can be captured from molecules adsorbed on the membranes.

Repeatability and Reproducibility

Reproducible test results are obtained by performing a cleaning process before and after every sample measurement.

Taste Sensors of TS-5000Z

Automatic Measurement

The system automates all measurement procedures after the operator manually sets the solutions.

Sensor and Protocol Selection

The standard set of sensors and test protocols can be customized for the test purpose.

The taste sensor outputs the change in potential relative to the membrane potential of a tasteless reference solution (e.g., Ag/AgCl saturated KCl solution of reference electrode). To perform electrochemically stable measurements, the reference-electrode electrolyte is a solution of 30 mM KCl and 0.3 mM tartaric acid.

Timeline

The taste sensor evaluates two types of taste: initial, which is the perceived taste when food first enters the mouth, and aftertaste, which is the taste persisting in the mouth after swallowing the food. First, the initial taste is measured as the difference in the potential of the sample liquid versus the potential of the reference solution* as zero. Then, the sensors are lightly washed, and the aftertaste is measured as difference in potential versus the reference solution.

 

*Reference solution: a nearly tasteless solution of 30 mM KCl and 0.3 mM tartaric acid used to mimic human saliva.

Data analysis for subjective to objective conversion

Universal Taste Scale

Automatic transform from raw data to taste intensity like a measure based on Weber-fechner’s law.

Six Initial Tastes and Three Aftertastes

Sourness, saltiness, bitterness, astringency, umami, and sweetness are measured as initial tastes, while bitterness, astringency and umami are measured as aftertastes as well as initial tastes.

taste sensor analysis application

"Tastelessness" and Intensity

The results show which tastes have no perceivable intensity (tastelessness) and the strength or weakness compared to a target.

Instant Data Analysis

A new application supports on-the-fly analysis with one-click display of results.

The taste sensor is a chemical sensor that attempts to approximate the taste intensity perceived by people. According to the Weber-Fechner Law, for moderate stimuli, the intensity of the human sensory response (E) is proportional to the logarithm of the intensity of the stimulus (R). This can be expressed as:

$E=ClogR$

where C is a constant. The taste-sensor response is also proportional to the logarithmic value of the taste sample concentration, so the value of the taste sensor response approximates the human taste sensation.

Data application of e-tongue system TS-5000Z

Product development / renovation

– Screening ingredients
– Reformulating products with alternative ingredients (cost reduction)
– Matching products/targeting product taste
– Masking bitterness/adding palatants
– Formulating health products/nursing-care meals

Market assessment

– Linking market insights to commercial data
– Obtaining product taste insights

Consumer/customer engagement

– Demonstrating quality/taste profile

Quality control

– Maintaining product quality during production (identifying non-conforming product)
– Comparing batch-to-batch
– Evaluating customer complaints
– Validating/supporting taste panel
– Assessing shelf life

Specifications of Taste Sensing Systeem
Taste Sensing System TS-5000ZNumber of sample10 (max. 14 depends on measurement procedure)
Required sample volume70mL (min. 35 mL depends on the nature of sample)
Weight26kg
Dimension (W x D x H)470mm × 530mm × 510mm
CPUSH-4A
OS (enbedded)SuperH Linux
Memory64MB
Simple Web serverthttpd
Taste sensorResponse mechanismMembrane potential measurement (potentiometric measurement)
Sensor typeArtificial lipid/polymer membrane
Measurement objectDrinks, solids, drugs, etc. (in case of solids, preliminary liquefaction is required)
Ceramic reference electrodeLiquid juctionSingle junction through ceramic
Temperature sensorResponse mechanismImpedance measurement using platinum resistance thermometer
Sensor headPin jack typeInner and outer sensor attachments
Management server computerCPUPentium 4, 2.0GHz or higher
Harddisk160GB or more
Memory1GB or more
OSLinux
DBMSPostgreSQL
Web serverapache + Tomcat
Analysis applicationAnalysis functionData search, data processing function, correction processing, statistical analysis, graphing tool, etc.

For the specifications of SA402B, please contact us.

Taste informationSensorCharacteristicTarget example
Initial taste (relative value)SaltinessCT0Saltiness evoked by dietary saltsSeasoning, soup
SournessCA0sourness produced by citric acid and tartaric acidBeer, coffee
UmamiAAEUmami (saboriness) by amino acids and nucleic acidsSoup, meat, seasoning
Acidic bitternessC00Bitterness derived by bitter substances found in foodstuffs and beverages, but can alsobe perceived richness with its concentration being lowBeer, coffee
AstringencyAE1Pungent taste by astringent taste materialsTea
SweetnessGL1Sweetness produced by sugars and sugar alcoholsSweets, drink
Aftertaste (CPA value)Bitter aftertaste (acidic)C00Aftertaste by bitter taste materialsBeer, coffee
Astringent aftertasteAE1Aftertaste by astringent taste materialsTea
Umami aftertasteAAERichness, also called “continuity” evoked by umami sabstancesSoup, meat, seasoning
Bitter aftertaste (basic)AN0Bitteness of medicinesBasic drugs (such as quinine hydrochloride, famotidine)
Aftertaste from hydrochloride saltsBT0Bitterness of medicinesHydrochloride drugs
Contact us to learn more

If you have any questions, we are happy to help you. 

Feel free to ask one-on-one online meeting with one of our experts for discussing your individual solutions.

Insent | Intelligent Sensor Technology, Inc.
5-1-1 Onna, Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture 243-0032 Japan
Phone: +81 46-296-6609
Email: info@insentjp.com

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.