Tracer-Aided Breath Alcohol Classification with Peak-Based Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breath analyzing systems face challenges in providing rapid and reliable detection of intoxicating substances with minimal user interaction and reduced environmental impact, while effectively handling measurement errors and environmental variations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes repetitive sampling of sensor signals for intoxicating and tracer substances, analyzes tracer signal peaks to define evaluation periods, calculates running averages with statistical spreads, and classifies concentrations by comparing against predetermined limits, ensuring accurate classification by minimizing measurement errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contactless detection is used to reduce user effort and eliminate disposable mouthpieces, then ease of operation and environmental impact are improved, but measurement precision and response time deteriorate due to low substance concentration in the breath sample
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses tracer substances (CO2, water vapor) as intermediaries to detect the presence and concentration of intoxicating substances. The tracer substances are naturally present in breath at predictable concentrations and serve as mediators to trigger and facilitate the determination of target substance concentrations, enabling accurate detection without requiring forced expiration or disposable mouthpieces
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters including sampling frequency, integration time, and threshold values based on detected tracer substance concentrations. When tracer concentrations indicate alveolar breath is present, the system increases measurement sensitivity and extends integration time to improve detection precision for low-concentration intoxicating substances in contactless mode
2Reliability
If contactless detection with tracer substances is used to facilitate determination, then measurement reliability is improved, but response time worsens due to the time needed for sufficient data accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the classification process based on real-time tracer substance detection. When sufficient tracer data is accumulated indicating reliable alveolar breath sampling, the system automatically transitions from data collection to classification mode, adjusting integration time and sampling frequency dynamically to balance reliability and response time
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors tracer substance concentrations and uses this feedback to determine when sufficient breath data has been collected for reliable classification. The feedback mechanism triggers the classification process only when confidence thresholds are met, ensuring measurement reliability while minimizing unnecessary waiting time through intelligent decision-making
3Measurement precision
If repetitive sampling with statistical analysis is used to minimize measurement errors, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity worsens due to extended measurement and classification time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs repetitive sampling at high frequency during the evaluation period to accumulate sufficient data for accurate statistical analysis. By concentrating measurements during the tracer substance peak when alveolar breath is present, the system achieves high measurement precision without requiring continuous extended sampling, thus maintaining productivity
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 real-time, accurate classification of intoxicating substance concentrations with reduced measurement errors, minimizing false results and startup times, and reducing environmental waste from disposable mouthpieces.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor signal representing the instantaneous concentration of a tracer substance, typically carbon dioxide, CO2, or water vapor, H2O, present in the breath in highly predictable amounts
Implementation Method 2
a sensor signal representing the instantaneous concentration of the intoxicating substance... the target substance concentration value
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a breath analyzing system and method. In particular the invention relates to a breath analyzing system and method arranged to provide tracer-aided classification of the presence of a breath intoxicating substance above a limit concentration and providing status to a user about the progression of the classification. The method/system detects a peak in the tracer signal and defines an evaluation period corresponding to the duration of the peak. Measurements classification of the concentration of the intoxicating substance is used for the evaluation period, and if required to achieve a result, for a plurality of evaluation periods.