Blood Alcohol Biosensor Test Strip for Rapid Field Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breath alcohol testers do not provide direct and reliable measurements of blood alcohol content, leading to delays and incorrect treatments in emergency situations, as they require patients to be conscious and cooperative, and may yield misleading results due to discrepancies between breath and blood ethanol levels.
Innovation Solution
A portable biosensor test strip with graphite electrodes, saccharose, and bovine serum albumin, using the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme to measure blood alcohol content from a fingertip sample, connected to a user-friendly measuring device that operates on the amperometric principle, providing quick and accurate results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If breath alcohol testing is used, then the measurement can be performed quickly and non-invasively, but the measurement does not directly reflect blood alcohol content leading to unreliable results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the breath-based electrochemical oxidation system with a direct blood-based amperometric measurement system. The test strip uses graphite electrodes to directly measure ethanol in blood samples, eliminating the indirect breath-to-blood conversion and providing accurate blood alcohol content measurement while maintaining ease of field operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blood sampling intermediary (fingerstick method) that bridges the gap between non-invasive field testing and accurate blood alcohol measurement. The test strip captures blood alcohol content directly through the fingerstick sample, serving as an accurate intermediary that reflects true blood alcohol levels without requiring full blood draw procedures.
2Measurement precision
If blood tests are performed to accurately measure blood alcohol content, then reliable measurement is achieved, but the procedure becomes complex and requires additional equipment and training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable test strips with pre-loaded reagents and electrodes that eliminate the need for complex, expensive, and maintainable laboratory equipment. Each single-use test strip provides accurate blood alcohol measurement without requiring calibration, quality control procedures, or specialized laboratory infrastructure, thereby simplifying the measurement procedure while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The test strip is designed as a self-contained system that performs all necessary functions (sample application, reaction, measurement, and result display) without requiring external laboratory equipment or complex operational procedures. The strip automatically processes the blood sample and generates results, enabling first responders to perform accurate blood alcohol testing independently in the field.
3Ease of operation
If breath testing is used for unconscious or uncooperative patients, then the measurement can be performed, but the results may be misleading due to inability to cooperate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the breath-based measurement system with a direct blood sampling system using fingerstick method. This substitution allows measurement of unconscious or uncooperative patients by obtaining blood samples through capillary puncture, which does not require patient cooperation or consciousness, thereby ensuring reliable blood alcohol content measurement in all patient conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, reliable, and accurate blood alcohol content measurement in field conditions, reducing treatment delays and costs by allowing for immediate and precise assessment without the need for additional procedures or equipment.
Implementation Method 1
uses the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme to measure blood alcohol content
Implementation Method 2
The operation of the portable alcometers ('field alcometers') used by Finnish authorities is based on the electrochemical oxidation of the alcohol contained in the breath
Implementation Method 3
operating on the amperometric principle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a test strip for measuring the blood alcohol content from blood. The test strip comprises a base material (5) and two electrodes (1, 2) attached to it and a reaction area (3) connected to both electrodes, to which area nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme (ADH) are applied as reagents. A sample opening (6) is connected to the reaction area (3), from which opening the blood sample to be measured can be transferred to the reaction area (3) to dissolve the reagents and optional auxiliary substances, and at the same time into contact with both electrodes (1, 2). Between the electrodes can thus be formed a potential difference which makes possible the movement of the protons (H+) formed in the reaction towards a negatively charged working electrode (1), whereby a measurable change in current is formed. The invention further relates to an apparatus and method for measuring the blood alcohol content from blood.