Handheld Breath Analyzer Using Thermopile Sensor for Acetone Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for sensing analytes in gases, such as breath, are often cumbersome, expensive, and require skilled operators, making them impractical for field or home use, and existing breath analysis methods like blood and urine tests are invasive, inaccurate, or not time-sensitive.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held breath analyzer using a thermopile sensor with an analyte interactant that reacts to acetone, allowing for accurate and reliable detection of acetone levels in breath, enabling non-invasive, portable, and real-time monitoring of metabolic states like diabetes and obesity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional gas sensing systems are used to detect analytes in breath, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase, making them impractical for field or home use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyte detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential sensing function from complex conventional systems by using a simple thermopile sensor that directly detects thermal energy changes from analyte interactions, eliminating the need for complex support equipment while maintaining measurement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing systems with a thermal detection system using a thermopile sensor, which converts thermal energy changes directly into electrical signals, simplifying the overall system architecture while preserving measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If blood analysis is performed to measure analyte levels, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to invasive procedures and need for trained personnel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyte measurement accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses breath as an intermediary medium to indirectly measure analyte levels that would traditionally require blood sampling, providing a non-invasive alternative that maintains measurement accuracy while dramatically improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device enables users to perform self-testing by simply breathing into the apparatus, eliminating the need for trained personnel or invasive procedures while maintaining reliable measurement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If urine analysis is used to detect analytes, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and time-sensitivity deteriorate due to collection time requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling convenienceVSAvoidanalyte detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous or near-continuous monitoring through real-time breath analysis, eliminating the intermittent sampling required by urine collection while maintaining measurement precision and improving time-sensitivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Adaptability or versatility

If portable breath analysis devices are developed, then ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to environmental constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoiddetection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The thermopile sensor performs self-compensation for environmental temperature variations by measuring temperature differences relative to a reference, enabling accurate measurements in portable field conditions without complex environmental control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 provides high accuracy and reliability in detecting acetone levels in breath, facilitating non-invasive monitoring of metabolic states and obesity management, overcoming the limitations of existing methods by being portable, easy to use, and cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

A hand-held breath analyzer using a thermopile sensor with an analyte interactant that reacts to acetone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermopile: Thermopile

Data Source

PatentUS10589277B2Breath analyte sensing apparatus that generates gas streams that flow over a nanoparticle-based sensor

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 INVOY HLDG INC

AI summary

An apparatus and associated method are provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from a dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.