Abstract: A method and infrared sensing device for determining the concentration of alveolar alcohol in a breath sample exhaled by a subject into an infrared sensing device. The presence of alcohol from the upper respiratory tract of the subject is detected by continuously monitoring alcohol and carbon dioxide, normalizing alcohol values with respect to carbon dioxide, calculating a difference between normalized alcohol concentration and carbon dioxide concentration over time, integrating (summing) the difference, and comparing the integrated difference with a threshold. This technique accurately and consistently detects the presence of mouth alcohol in the sample before the presence of carbon dioxide which originates in deep lung breath.

Abstract: An apparatus (14) for detecting carbon dioxide in exhaled gas is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an indicating element (10) for changing color when exposed to carbon dioxide and a carbon dioxide shield (12) for absorbing a predetermined level of carbon dioxide from the exhaled gas before exposing the indicating element (10) to the exhaled gas.

Abstract: An automated unsupervised apparatus for conducting a blood alcohol content level test on an individual user, and subsequently discerning and displaying a meaningful test result, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an alphanumeric display for instructing the individual user to blow into the apparatus so as to provide a breath sample. A pressure switch is used to monitor the gauge pressure of the individual user's breath sample in order to determine whether the gauge pressure is at or above a threshold value for a predetermined length of time, typically three seconds. The alphanumeric display instructs the individual user to wait and blow again in the event that the gauge pressure does not remain at or above the threshold value for the predetermined length of time. A testing sample of the individual user's breath sample is captured in a fuel cell type alcohol concentration sensor.

Abstract: Process for the continuous analysis of the composition of gases, by means of a measuring head for determining the flow rate and analysis equipment which is placed a distance away from the measuring head and is connected thereto by a sample line, a calibration gas being fed to the sample line at the measuring head, by means of which the transit time of the gases is determined, and by means of this transit time a phase shift is introduced during the determination of the connection between the flow rate and the composition. According to the invention a series of calibration gas impulses are fed from the equipment, and the average transit time of the gases in the conditions prevailing locally at that moment is determined therewith, for the essentially continuous determination of the connection between the flow rate and the composition.

Abstract: An alcohol concentration sensor provided a tube shaped means (21) of which the top end (211) is closed with a top end closing means (20) and of which the bottom end (212) is remained open, a gas supply tube means (22) which penetrates the top end closing means (20) to extend down into the tube shaped means (21), which is provided an air blower means (24), and of which the lower end (221) terminates slightly upper than the bottom end (212) of the tube shaped means (21), thereby the lower end (221) of the gas supply tube means (22) is soaked into a liquid (10) containing water and alcohol, of which the alcohol concentration is required to be determined, deeply sufficient to allow the air bubbles flown out of the gas supply tube means (22) into the liquid (10) to absorb sufficient quantity of alcohol contained in the liquid (10), whenever the tube shaped means (21) is soaked in the liquid (10 ), a gas drawing out means (26) which penetrates the top end closing means (20), a gas temperature sensing means (27) whi

Abstract: An air-borne chemical sensor system includes a motor and impeller to draw an air sample into a housing containing a sensor which will provide a signal for display related to the amount of a particular air-borne chemical in a given air sample. The system is controllable by different duration activation of a single activating switch which can further control a secondary function, such as a flashlight.

Abstract: A method of detecting ethanol in lachrymal fluid is provided in which an open eye of a subject is enclosed in a chamber to define a space above the eye, an ethanol vapor sensor is introduced into the space of the chamber in a spaced relation to the eye; the sensor is calibrated; and the ethanol vapor concentration in the said lachrymal fluid exuded by the eye is measured.

Abstract: A breath alcohol testing system for advantageous use in unsupervised blood alcohol testing includes a face mask having for receiving a breath sample, components to confirm the identity and components to insure that this identity act and breath delivery are performed by the same person. The system requires that the face mask continuously engage the face of the subject between identity confirmation and breath delivery. By making the continuing physical presence of a subject an operative link in the system during both identity confirmation and breath delivery, the integrity of unsupervised testing is greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A breath sobriety test system deters circumvention of a test having an alcohol measuring phase and an identification phase. In an alcohol measuring phase, the alcohol content of a breath sample delivered by an operator/test subject is measured in the conventional manner according to the electrical output signal of an alcohol sensor. In the identification phase, the operator/test subject confirms his or her identity as a designated individual by performing an identity-confirming act recognizable by the system. The identity-confirming act includes delivering breath to the system. The response of the alcohol sensor to the breath delivered in the identification phase is compared with the reading taken during the alcohol measuring phase.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to deter circumvention of sobriety breath tests. As a precondition to passing the test, the invention requires an operator/test subject to apply a suction at the sample delivery port within a predetermined time of delivering a breath sample thereinto. The delay, if any, between the required sucking and the delivery of the breath sample is selected to be short thereby deterring a substitution of gas sources. In this way, the invention effectively deters circumvention of sobriety breath tests due to attempts to supply bogus gas samples from a positive pressure gas source incapable of applying a reverse pressure gradient.

Abstract: A pocket instrument for sampling breath air in situ, includes a microprocessor-controlled directional control valve with needles at an outlet to which needle the sample vessels are attached. The directional control valve is arranged to be connected through another outlet to the atmosphere and to a collecting chamber respectively, which collecting chamber is provided with a feeding device for accommodating and delivering the breath air.

Abstract: This invention is an ethanol sensitive solid useful for the colorimetric determination of ethyl alcohol in human breath samples. The solid is prepared by wetting silica gel with an acidic solution of a chromium(VI) salt and then heating to substantially dehydrate the material. The solid so prepared will change color from a deep orange to blue-green in the presence of alcohol. By packing the solid into a transparent tube and passing a known volume of breath sample through it, the blood alcohol content of the user may be estimated by measuring the color-changed portion of the packed tube.

Abstract: Ethyl alcohol test strip fabricating and use techniques for testing an individual's saliva to determine his sobriety are disclosed. The test strips employ an alcohol oxidase, Peroxidase and an hydrogen donor indicator such as Tetraalkylbenzidine in a carrier matrix supported on the strip with the alcohol oxidase functioning as a catalyst to convert any ethanol present along with ambient oxygen to acetaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide. The peroxidase function as catalyst to induce a color change in the hydrogen donor and convert the hydrogen peroxide to water. The method of fabricating the test strip involves multiple steps of reagent application and hot air drying.

Abstract: A novel method of detecting and diagnosing lung cancers by monitoring and analyzing expired lung air for the presence of selected aromatic amines, particularly aniline and ortho-toluidine, is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring breath alcohol content by oxidizing breath alcohol in a fuel cell and utilizing substantially all of the electrons produced by said oxidation as a measure of the amount of alcohol contained in the sample. A working embodiment of the invention includes a resistor across terminals of the fuel cell with a resistance that is high enough to permit the voltage from the fuel cell to be accurately measured but low enough to permit the voltage to fall to a substantially steady minimum voltage within a time on the order of two minutes or less. The method of measuring breath alcohol concentration comprises integrating the entire area under the curve generated by the fuel cell output voltage between the beginning of oxidation of the alcohol in the fuel cell and the reaching of the substantially steady minimum.

Abstract: A test vial for the detection of gas components in air, containing a packing changing along the longitudinal axis of the test vial is improved in such a manner that, at a constant flow resistance, a sensitivity for the hazardous substance to be detected is obtained, which varies along the test vial. The provision is made that the packing consists of a combination of applied indicator and carrier substance at ratios varying along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A breath alcohol detector measures and compensates for distance between the mouth of the individual exhaling breath into the ambient air and the detector, the atmospheric pressure, and the temperature. Blood alcohol content information is calculated using these compensation factors and a signal obtained from an electrochemical fuel cell which is indicative of the amount of alcohol or other gas contained in the sample. The detector also includes a reciprocally acting electromagnetically energized motor which drives a diaphragm pump to draw the sample into the electrochemical fuel cell.

Abstract: Pancreatic exocrine function is determined by a breath test method wherein a radioactive labelled ester such as cholesterol octanoate is ingested in the body and is hydrolyzed by pancreatic enzymes and oxidized to labelled Co.sub.2 which is expired in the breath. The rate of appearance of labelled Co.sub.2 in the breadth is a function of the rate of hydrolysis by pancreatic enzymes which in turn reflects pancreatic exocrine function. Before ingestion, the ester is mixed with a carrier substrate such as a triglyceride to form a lipid matrix containing the ester and the lipid matrix is suspended in aqueous solution. To insure that low levels of expired labelled Co.sub.2 is due to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, the ester is ingested simultaneously with a differentially labelled unesterfied carboxylic acid or the test method is repeated with an added step of simultaneously ingesting the ester with exogenously provided pancreatic enzymes.

Abstract: A isothermal rebreathing apparatus and method for collecting human breath samples for chemical analysis of the ethyl alcohol content wherein the breath samples are obtained from a subject repetitively exhaling into the inhaling from an enclosed, flexible, variable volume, bag-like collection receptacle which is heated to maintain the breath sample enclosed therein at a prescribed temperature, preferably at or near the subject's body temperature, before extracting the breath sample for subsequent chemical analysis. The collection receptacle may be enclosed by an airtight chamber including heaters therein to warm the air around the collection receptacle in order to regulate the temperature of the breath sample therein. A bellows section in fluid communication with the heating chamber allows for inflation and deflation of the flexible collection receptacle while located in an airtight environment.

Abstract: An alcohol breath testing device comprising a conduit through which human breath air is passed. The conduit contains a chemical material which changes appearance upon being contacted by alcohol vapor. An air float chamber is operably connected to said conduit and has an air valve. The air chamber, air valve, and conduit are designed so that in a predetermined period of time a predetermined amount of breath air is permitted to pass through said device. The linear extent of color change in the chemical material in said predetermined period of time correlates to the concentration of alcohol in said breath air.

Abstract: A battery-operated portable breath tester is disclosed. The breath tester includes a housing which defines a sleeve for receiving a wand. The wand defines an internal sample chamber, with a lamp at one end for providing infrared energy and a detector at an opposite end for receiving the infrared energy after it has passed through the sample to be tested. The wand defines opening extending from the internal sample chamber to the outside of the wand. The wand has an external shape providing a snug fit within the sleeve. As the wand is moved within the sleeve, gas is purged from the wand. The wand is connected to the housing by means of an electrical coil. The housing encloses a digital voltmeter including a digital display for providing a test readout. The digital voltmeter includes an oscillator which is coupled through a frequency divider and a transistor switch to the lamp.

Abstract: A device, useful for breath analysis and as an amusement device, comprising a flexible tube which can be extended from a shortened condition to an extended condition, one end of the tube being secured to a mouthpiece unit including both an input opening, through which breath can be exhaled into the tube, and an exhaust opening; spring means for urging the tube to its shortened condition; an escape opening at the end of the tube opposite the mouthpiece unit; and pressure regulating means for opening the escape opening when the tube has been inflated by breath exhaled through the input opening. Advantageously, the tube is a collapsible, non-self-supporting polymeric tube and the spring means is effective to roll the tube upon itself in spiral fashion toward the mouthpiece unit.

Abstract: A non-invasive method for determining gastric acidity in humans, using oral magnesium metal powder while measuring the hydrogen gas response in exhaled breath and belches. The magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach liberating hydrogen and the magnitude of the hydrogen released is correlated with the amount of gastric acid produced.

Abstract: A method of measuring breath alcohol includes blowing breath in a stream through an inlet line, hence through an orifice, past a thermistor exposed to the stream, changing the temperature of the thermistor to a predetermined temperature in response to a predetermined volume of breath. The thermistor provides an output signal to trigger the measurement of alcohol in the breath by an alcohol detecting device. The method and apparatus permit the purging of the system to provide a base line reference for the alcohol detection device, then testing to ensure that the breath inlet line is clear of contamination, then running an alcohol standard sample through the alcohol detecting device, again purging the system, again testing to ensure that the breath inlet line is clear of contamination, recording the result as a blank test, and thereafter blowing breath through the inlet line to obtain a demonstratably accurate measurement of breath alcohol.