Transdermal Gas Sampling Strip with Electrocatalytic Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing trace gases like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in breath are invasive, costly, and inefficient due to low concentrations and interference from respiratory bacteria and moisture, making it difficult to accurately diagnose conditions such as peripheral artery disease.
Innovation Solution
A transdermal gas analyzer with a dermal sampling strip that collects gases through a vapor space with openings for fluid paths, using an electrocatalytic cell to detect and measure H2S and other gases like nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and carbon monoxide, without a diffusion barrier, allowing for non-invasive and accurate analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If breath analysis is used to detect trace gases like H2S, then non-invasive sampling is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to low concentrations and interference from respiratory bacteria and moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the target analytes (trace gases like H2S) from the complex breath matrix by using a sorbent material that selectively captures these gases while leaving behind interfering substances such as moisture and bacterial components. This extraction process isolates the target compounds for subsequent analysis, thereby maintaining non-invasive sampling while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sorbent material as an intermediary between the breath sample and the detection system. This mediator selectively binds to trace gases through adsorption, concentrating them and removing interfering substances. The sorbent acts as a bridge that transforms the dilute, complex breath sample into a concentrated, purified analyte stream suitable for accurate detection.
2Productivity
If heating is applied to enhance transdermal gas emission, then collection efficiency improves, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the body's own temperature and natural transdermal gas emission processes without requiring external heating. The sampling device passively collects gases that naturally emanate from the skin, eliminating the need for complex heating systems while maintaining effective gas collection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying full heating to maximize gas emission, the patent employs passive collection that relies on sufficient natural transdermal emission. This partial action approach achieves adequate collection efficiency without the excessive energy input and device complexity associated with active heating systems.
3Measurement precision
If diffusion barriers are used to selectively transmit gases, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sorbent material with specific porous structure that provides selective adsorption capabilities. The porous material's surface properties and pore sizes naturally favor the binding of target trace gases while excluding or minimizing the uptake of interfering substances. This inherent selectivity of the porous sorbent material achieves measurement precision without requiring additional diffusion barrier layers or complex selective transmission structures.
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 efficient and accurate detection of trace gases at low concentrations, providing a non-invasive diagnostic tool for conditions like peripheral artery disease by collecting and analyzing transdermally emitted gases without the need for heating or diffusion barriers.
Implementation Method 1
analyzing for the presence of at least one component of the transdermally emitted gas collected in the sample collection chamber of the dermal sampling strip(s) by contacting the transdermally emitted gas with a working electrode of an electrocatalytic cell, and measuring an electrical signal created by a reaction of the at least one component of the transdermally emitted gas at the working electrode
Data Source
AI summary
Transdermally emitted gasses are detected by applying a dermal sampling strip to the skin of a biological subject, capturing the gasses in a vapor space in the dermal sampling strip, and analyzing for at least one such gas captured in the vapor space of the dermal sampling strip. Analysis is preferably performed using an electrocatalytic cell, which can be mounted on the dermal sampling strip and form a wall of the vapor space.