Alcohol detection assembly

• US 20030162204A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dave Smith, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Thomas J. Foley
• Original Assignee: Dave Smith, Eric Waltzer, Greg Liang, Mike Smith, Roger Tatum, Thomas J. Foley
• Inventors: Liang, Greg, Smith, Dave, Smith, Mike, Waltzer, Eric, Tatum, Roger, Foley, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US10/310,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20030162204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/452 using independent floating stirring elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/81 Combinations of similar mixers, e.g. with rotary stirring devices in two or more receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/812 in two or more alternative mixing receptacles, e.g. mixing in one receptacle and dispensing from another receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7161 the containers being connected coaxially before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7163 the containers being connected in a mouth-to-mouth, end-to-end disposition, i.e. the openings are juxtaposed before contacting the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7174 using pistons, plungers or syringes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/754251 reciprocating in the mixing receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/041 Connecting closures to device or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0478 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0622 distribution valves, valves having multiple inlets and/or outlets, e.g. metering valves, multi-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0644 rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5023 : with a sample being transported to, and subsequently stored in an absorbent for analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 : Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 : Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48714 : for determining substances foreign to the organism, e.g. drugs or heavy metals drugs by chemical analysis G01N33/94
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 : the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 : Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 : involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 : involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7036 : Jacketed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

Assemblies and methods are provided for detecting alcohol using a reconstituted reagent solution. An alcohol reaction assembly includes an alcohol reaction chamber, a reagent chamber in fluid communication with the alcohol reaction chamber, and a buffer chamber in fluid communication with the reagent chamber. The alcohol reaction assembly further includes a buffer dispense plunger disposed within the buffer chamber for dispensing buffer from the buffer chamber, through the reagent chamber, and into the alcohol reaction chamber, where it hydrates dry reagent therein to produce a reagent solution. The alcohol reaction assembly further includes a calibrator chamber in fluid communication with the alcohol reaction chamber, and a calibrator dispense plunger disposed within the calibrator chamber to dispense a predetermined quantity of alcohol into the alcohol reaction chamber. The alcohol reaction assembly also includes a sample chamber in fluid communication with the alcohol reaction chamber, and being configured for containing a sample. The alcohol reaction assembly includes buffer and calibrator drive assemblies can be mechanically coupled to the buffer and calibrator dispense plungers to automate them. The components of the alcohol reaction assembly can also be arranged in a cassette and test console. For example, the chambers and plungers can be contained with the cassette, whereas the drive assemblies can be contained within the test console. In this case, the buffer drive assembly can include a cassette loading drive assembly that is configured to load the cassette into the test console, and a buffer driver that is fixed within the test console and is configured to move the buffer dispense plunger within the buffer chamber as the cassette is being loaded into the test console.

Claims

1. An alcohol reaction assembly, comprising:

an alcohol reaction chamber;

a reagent chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said reagent chamber containing a dry reagent for reacting with alcohol;

a buffer chamber in fluid communication with said reagent chamber, said buffer chamber containing a buffer;

a buffer dispense plunger disposed within said buffer chamber, and being movable within said buffer chamber to dispense said buffer from said buffer chamber, through said reagent chamber, and into said alcohol reaction chamber to form a reagent solution therein.

a calibrator chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said calibrator chamber containing a predetermined quantity of alcohol;

a calibrator dispense plunger disposed within said calibrator chamber, and being movable within said calibrator chamber to dispense said alcohol from said calibrator chamber into said alcohol reaction chamber; and

a sample chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, and being configured for containing a sample.

2. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a buffer drive assembly mechanically coupled to said buffer dispense plunger; and

a calibrator drive assembly mechanically coupled to said calibrator dispense plunger.

3. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 2, wherein said alcohol reaction chamber, reagent chamber, buffer chamber, buffer dispense plunger, calibrator chamber, calibrator dispense plunger, and sample chamber are containing within a cassette, and said buffer drive assembly and calibrator drive assembly are contained in a test console.

4. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 3, wherein said buffer drive assembly comprises:

a cassette loading drive assembly configured to load said cassette into said test console; and

a buffer driver fixed within said test console, and being configured to move said buffer dispense plunger within said buffer chamber as said cassette is being loaded into said test console.

5. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 1, further comprising an air flow port in communication with said sample chamber, wherein said sample is dispensed into said alcohol reaction chamber when air is pumped through said air flow port.

6. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 5, further comprising an air blower coupled to said air flow port.

7. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 1, further comprising a vent port in communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said vent port being configured to vent air from said alcohol reaction chamber when said reagent solution and said calibrator solution are dispensed within said alcohol reaction chamber.

8. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a ferrous element disposed within said alcohol reaction chamber; and

a mixing drive assembly magnetically coupled to said ferrous element.

9. An alcohol reaction assembly, comprising:

an alcohol reaction chamber;

a reagent chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said reagent chamber containing a dry reagent for reacting with alcohol;

a buffer chamber in fluid communication with said reagent chamber, said buffer chamber containing a buffer; and

a buffer dispense plunger disposed within said buffer chamber, and being movable within said buffer chamber to dispense said buffer from said buffer chamber, through said reagent chamber, and into said alcohol reaction chamber to form a reagent solution therein.

10. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 9, wherein said dry reagent comprises alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD).

11. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 9, wherein said dry reagent is lyophilized.

12. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 9, wherein said buffer chamber comprises a seal that seals said buffer from said reagent chamber, and said buffer dispense plunger comprises a stylus that is configured to puncture said seal when said buffer dispense plunger is moved toward said seal.

13. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 9, further comprising a buffer drive assembly mechanically coupled to said buffer dispense plunger.

14. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a calibrator chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said calibrator chamber containing a predetermined quantity of alcohol; and

a calibrator dispense plunger disposed within said calibrator chamber, and being movable within said calibrator chamber to dispense said alcohol from said calibrator chamber into said alcohol reaction chamber.

15. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 14, further comprising a calibrator drive assembly mechanically coupled to said calibrator dispense plunger.

16. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 15, further comprising a sample chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, and being configured for containing a sample.

17. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 16, further comprising an air flow port in communication with said sample chamber, wherein said sample is dispensed into said alcohol reaction chamber when air is pumped through said air flow port.

18. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 17, further comprising an air blower coupled to said air flow port.

19. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 9, further comprising a vent port in communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said vent port being configured to vent air from said alcohol reaction chamber when said reagent solution is dispensed within said alcohol reaction chamber.

20. The alcohol reaction assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

a ferrous element disposed within said alcohol reaction chamber; and

a mixing drive assembly magnetically coupled to said ferrous element.

21. An alcohol detection assembly, comprising:

an alcohol reaction chamber;

a reagent chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said reagent chamber containing a dry reagent for reacting with alcohol;

a buffer chamber in fluid communication with said reagent chamber, said buffer chamber containing a buffer;

a buffer dispense plunger disposed within said buffer chamber, and being movable within said buffer chamber to dispense said buffer from said buffer chamber, through said reagent chamber, and into said alcohol reaction chamber to form a reagent solution therein;

a sample chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, and being configured for containing and dispensing a sample into said alcohol reaction chamber to produce a detectable alcohol sample solution if said sample contains alcohol;

an energy source configured for transmitting an energy beam through said alcohol reaction chamber;

an energy detector configured for receiving said energy beam from said alcohol reaction chamber, and outputting a signal based on said received energy beam; and

processing circuitry configured for determining the presence of alcohol within said sample based on said output signal.

22. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 21, wherein said energy source comprises an optical source, said energy detector comprises an optical detector, and said output signal indicates an optical absorbance value of said alcohol detectable sample solution.

23. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 22, wherein said optical source comprises a light emitting diode (LED), said energy detector comprises a silicon diode detector, and said processing circuitry comprises a central processor unit (CPU).

24. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 21, further comprising:

a splitter coupled to said energy source for splitting energy from said energy source into said energy beam and a reference energy beam, wherein said reference energy beam bypasses said alcohol reaction chamber; and

a reference energy detector configured for receiving said reference energy beam, and outputting a reference signal based on said reference energy beam; and

a controller coupled to said energy source, said controller being configured for using said reference output signal for maintaining the magnitude of said energy beam at a substantially uniform level.

25. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 21, further comprising:

a calibrator chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said calibrator chamber containing a predetermined quantity of alcohol; and

a calibrator dispense plunger disposed within said calibrator chamber, and being movable within said calibrator chamber to dispense said alcohol from said calibrator chamber into alcohol reaction chamber;

wherein said energy source is configured for transmitting an initial energy beam through said alcohol reaction chamber;

said energy detector is configured for receiving said initial energy beam from said alcohol reaction chamber, and outputting an initial signal based on said initial received energy beam; and

said processing circuitry is configured for calibrating said reagent solution based on said initial output signal.

26. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 21, further comprising:

a buffer drive assembly mechanically coupled to said buffer dispense plunger; and

a calibrator drive assembly mechanically coupled to said calibrator dispense plunger.

27. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 26, wherein:

said alcohol reaction chamber, reagent chamber, buffer chamber, buffer dispense plunger, calibrator chamber, calibrator dispense plunger, and sample chamber are contained within a cassette, and said buffer drive assembly, calibrator drive assembly, energy source, and energy detector are contained in a test console.

28. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 27, wherein said buffer drive assembly comprises:

a cassette loading drive assembly configured to load said cassette into said test console; and

a buffer driver fixed within said test console to move said buffer dispense plunger within said buffer chamber as said cassette is being loaded into said test console.

29. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 21, further comprising an air flow port in communication with said sample chamber, wherein said sample is dispensed into said alcohol reaction chamber when air is pumped through said air flow port.

30. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 29, further comprising an air blower coupled to said air flow port.

31. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 21, further comprising a vent port in communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said vent port being configured to vent air from said alcohol reaction chamber when reagent solution is dispensed within said alcohol reaction chamber.

32. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 21, further comprising:

a ferrous element disposed within said alcohol reaction chamber; and

a mixing drive assembly magnetically coupled to said ferrous element.

33. The alcohol detection assembly of claim 21, wherein said processing circuitry is configured for determining a concentration of said alcohol within said sample based on said output signal.

34. A method of detecting the presence of alcohol in a sample, comprising:

flowing buffer from a buffer chamber through a reagent chamber to produce a reagent solution;

dispensing said reagent solution within an alcohol reaction chamber;

dispensing said sample within said alcohol reaction chamber, wherein said reagent solution and said sample react to produce an alcohol detectable sample solution;

transmitting energy through said alcohol detectable sample solution;

receiving said energy from said alcohol detectable sample solution; and

determining a presence of said sample alcohol based on said received energy.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising mixing said alcohol detectable sample solution to complete reaction between said sample and said reagent solution.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein said energy is optical energy.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said detectable alcohol sample solution comprises an alcohol indicator exhibiting an optical absorbance value in the presence of said transmitted optical energy, and wherein said alcohol presence determination comprises determining said optical absorbance value based on said optical energy received.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said alcohol indicator comprises nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide with high energy hydrogen (NADH).

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said reagent solution comprises alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), and said detectable alcohol sample solution is produced by reacting said NAD and said sample alcohol in the presence of said ADH to produce said NADH.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said optical absorbance value is proportional to a quantity of alcohol reacted with said reagent solution, the method further comprising determining a concentration of said alcohol in said sample based on said optical absorbance value.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising calibrating said reagent solution prior to said sample dispensing.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein said sample comprises saliva.

43. A method of detecting the presence of alcohol in a sample, comprising:

flowing buffer from a buffer chamber through a reagent chamber to produce a reagent solution;

dispensing said reagent solution within an alcohol reaction chamber;

dispensing said sample within said alcohol reaction chamber, wherein said reagent solution and said sample react to produce an alcohol detectable sample solution having an alcohol indicator exhibiting an optical absorbance value at a specified optical wavelength;

measuring an optical absorbance value of said alcohol indicator; and

determining a presence of said sample alcohol based on said measured optical absorbance value of said alcohol indicator.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said alcohol indicator comprises nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide with high energy hydrogen (NADH).

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said reagent solution comprises alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), and said detectable alcohol sample solution is produced by reacting said NAD and said sample alcohol in the presence of said ADH to produce said NADH.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein said optical absorbance value of said alcohol indicator is proportional to a quantity of alcohol reacted with said reagent solution, the method further comprising determining said sample alcohol concentration based on said measured optical absorbance value of said alcohol indicator.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said optical absorbance value of said alcohol indicator is determined by:

measuring an optical absorbance value of said reagent solution at said specific wavelength;

measuring an optical absorbance value of said alcohol detectable sample solution at said specific wavelength; and

subtracting said measured optical absorbance value of said reagent solution from said measured optical absorbance value of said alcohol detectable sample solution.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein said sample alcohol concentration determination comprises:

dispensing a predetermined quantity of alcohol from a calibrator chamber into said alcohol reaction chamber prior to said sample dispensing, wherein said reagent solution and said alcohol react to produce an alcohol detectable calibrator solution having a known alcohol concentration C;

measuring a first optical absorbance value A₀ of said reagent solution at said specific wavelength;

measuring a second optical absorbance value A₁ of said alcohol detectable calibration solution at said specific wavelength;

measuring a third optical absorbance value A₃ of said alcohol detectable sample solution at said specific wavelength; and

determining said sample alcohol concentration in accordance with a factor equal to C(A₂-A₀)/(A₁-A₀)

49. The method of claim 43, wherein said specified optical wavelength comprises an ultraviolet wavelength.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein said specified optical wavelength is 365 nm.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein said sample comprises saliva.

52. An alcohol reaction assembly, comprising:

an alcohol reaction chamber;

a reagent chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said reagent chamber containing a dry reagent for reacting with alcohol;

a buffer chamber in fluid communication with said reagent chamber, said buffer chamber containing a buffer;

a buffer dispense plunger disposed within said buffer chamber, and being movable within said buffer chamber to dispense said buffer from said buffer chamber, through said reagent chamber, and into said alcohol reaction chamber to form a reagent solution therein;

a sample chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, and being configured for containing a sample;

a sample dispense plunger disposed within said sample chamber, and being movable within said sample chamber from said sample chamber into said alcohol reaction chamber.

53. The assembly of claim 52 further comprising:

a calibrator chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said calibrator chamber containing a predetermined quantity of alcohol; and

a calibrator dispense plunger disposed within said calibrator chamber, and being movable within said calibrator chamber to dispense said alcohol from said calibrator chamber into said alcohol reaction chamber.

54. An alcohol reaction assembly, comprising:

an alcohol reaction chamber;

a reagent chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, said reagent chamber containing a dry reagent for reacting with alcohol;

a buffer chamber in fluid communication with said reagent chamber, said buffer chamber containing a buffer and a predetermined quantity of alcohol;

a buffer dispense plunger disposed within said buffer chamber, and being movable within said buffer chamber to dispense said buffer and the predetermined quantity of alcohol from said buffer chamber, through said reagent chamber, and into said alcohol reaction chamber to form a reagent solution therein;

a sample chamber in fluid communication with said alcohol reaction chamber, and being configured for containing a sample;

a sample dispense plunger disposed within said sample chamber, and being movable within said sample chamber from said sample chamber into said alcohol reaction chamber.