VAPOR SENSOR SUITABLE FOR DETECTING ALCOHOLIC RESIDUE AT A SKIN SITE
First Claim
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1. A vapor sensor for detecting alcoholic residue at a skin site, the vapor sensor comprising:
- a housing, wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening extending to the interior of the housing;
a sensor element disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet opening, wherein the sensor element comprises a first conductive member, a second conductive member, and an absorptive dielectric material sandwiched between the first conductive member and the second conductive member;
at least one standoff member disposed proximate to the housing, wherein the at least one standoff member is positioned to maintain a gap between the inlet opening and the skin site;
an operating circuit in electrical communication with the sensor element and capable of detecting a parameter of the sensor element, wherein the parameter correlates with alcohol concentration; and
at least one output member communicatively coupled to the operating circuit, wherein the at least one output member is adapted to generate a sensory output indicative to an operator regarding concentration of alcoholic vapor in the ambient atmosphere proximate the skin site upon receiving communication from the operating circuit.
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Abstract
A vapor sensor comprises a housing with an inlet opening in fluid communication a sensor element within the housing. Standoff member(s) are positioned to maintain a gap between the inlet opening and a skin site. An operating circuit is in electrical communication with the sensor element and communicatively coupled to and output member. In use, the output member generates a sensory output indicative to an operator regarding concentration of alcoholic vapor in the ambient atmosphere proximate the skin site upon receiving communication from the operating circuit.
10 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vapor sensor for detecting alcoholic residue at a skin site, the vapor sensor comprising:
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a housing, wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening extending to the interior of the housing; a sensor element disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet opening, wherein the sensor element comprises a first conductive member, a second conductive member, and an absorptive dielectric material sandwiched between the first conductive member and the second conductive member; at least one standoff member disposed proximate to the housing, wherein the at least one standoff member is positioned to maintain a gap between the inlet opening and the skin site; an operating circuit in electrical communication with the sensor element and capable of detecting a parameter of the sensor element, wherein the parameter correlates with alcohol concentration; and at least one output member communicatively coupled to the operating circuit, wherein the at least one output member is adapted to generate a sensory output indicative to an operator regarding concentration of alcoholic vapor in the ambient atmosphere proximate the skin site upon receiving communication from the operating circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of detecting alcohol residue, the method comprising:
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providing a vapor sensor for detecting alcoholic residue at a skin site, the vapor sensor comprising; a housing, wherein the housing comprises an inlet opening extending to the interior of the housing; a sensor element disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet opening; at least one standoff member disposed proximate to the housing, wherein the at least one standoff member is positioned to maintain a gap between the inlet opening and the skin site; an operating circuit in electrical communication with the sensor element and capable of detecting a parameter of the sensor element, wherein the parameter correlates with alcohol concentration; and at least one output member communicatively coupled to the operating circuit, wherein the at least one output member is adapted to generate a sensory output indicative to an operator regarding concentration of alcoholic vapor in the ambient atmosphere proximate the skin site upon receiving communication from the operating circuit; placing the vapor sensor proximate to a skin site such that the inlet opening is separated from the skin site by the at least one standoff member; introducing the ambient atmosphere proximate the skin site into the inlet opening such that the sensor element is exposed to the ambient atmosphere; measuring a value of the parameter of the sensor element; and based at least in part on the value of the parameter, causing the at least one output member to generate the sensory output. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification