Breath Analyzer Pump-Valve Sampling for Reliable Alcohol Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analytical instruments for detecting substances in gas samples, such as breath alcohol, are not reliable and prone to environmental interference, leading to inaccurate measurements.
Innovation Solution
An analytical device with a synchronized drive unit that controls a valve and intake chamber unit to draw a defined gas sample from a subject into a measuring chamber, purging the chamber and ensuring minimal environmental influence, thereby increasing measurement reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas sample is drawn directly into the measuring chamber without controlled sampling, then the sampling process is simple, but environmental interference increases and measurement reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling system is segmented into distinct functional components: a valve for controlled sample admission, an intake chamber unit for sample collection, and a measuring chamber for analysis. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while isolating the measurement process from environmental interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The intake chamber unit is pre-positioned and the valve is pre-configured to control sample admission. Before measurement begins, the system is prepared with the valve in a closed state and the intake chamber ready to receive the gas sample, ensuring that sampling occurs under controlled conditions from the outset.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the measuring chamber is open to the environment, then gas exchange is free, but environmental substances interfere with the measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful environmental factors are extracted from the measurement system by isolating the measuring chamber from the environment using the valve. The valve selectively admits only the desired gas sample while excluding environmental substances, effectively removing the harmful interference before it can affect the measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve acts as an intermediary between the environment and the measuring chamber. It mediates the gas flow by selectively allowing the gas sample to pass through while blocking environmental substances, thus protecting the measurement process from harmful external factors.
3Measurement precision
If gas samples from upper airways are included in the measurement, then the sampling process is simplified, but measurement accuracy decreases due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the sampling process through the movable valve, which can be positioned to admit gas samples at specific moments during the breathing cycle. This dynamic control allows the system to capture gas specifically from the lungs while excluding gas from the upper airways, thereby improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve operates periodically to admit gas samples at specific phases of the breathing cycle. By synchronizing the valve operation with the breathing rhythm, the system selectively samples gas from the lungs during exhalation while excluding gas from the upper airways, ensuring accurate breath alcohol measurement.
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
The device ensures that the gas sample primarily originates from the subject's lungs, reducing interference from the upper airways and environment, resulting in more accurate determination of blood alcohol content.
Implementation Method 1
analytical device with a positive displacement pump and a valve
Implementation Method 2
analytical device with a positive displacement pump and a valve
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an analytical device and a method for analyzing a breath sample exhaled by a test subject for a predetermined substance, in particular alcohol. An input fluid connection connects an input unit (1) to a measuring chamber (3). A suction fluid connection connects the measuring chamber to a suction chamber unit (5, 6). The suction chamber unit (5, 6) can be selectively switched to a state of minimum volume and a state of maximum volume. A sensor (12) is able to measure the quantity or concentration of the substance in the measuring chamber. A drive unit (4, 11) is able to selectively move a valve (2, 13) for the input fluid connection to either a closed or a releasing end position. The drive unit is also able to switch the suction chamber unit from one state to the other.The movement of the valve (2, 13) from one end position to the other is coupled with a transfer of the intake chamber unit (5, 6) from one state to the other state.