Mouth alcohol tester

• US 8,161,793 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcotek, Inc.
• Inventors: Mitchell, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROY, PUNAM P
• Application Number:
  US12/168,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20090007634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 73/233, 600/532, 422/84
• US Class Current: 73/23.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06

Abstract

This application discloses a system for detecting mouth alcohol which is integrated with a breath-measuring instrument. In an embodiment, the breath-measuring instrument comprises a single fuel cell system, wherein the single fuel cell measures an individual'"'"'s alveolar breath as well as detection of any mouth alcohol. In a further embodiment, the breath-measuring instrument comprises a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, wherein the first fuel cell measures alveolar breath and the second fuel cell detects mouth alcohol.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the presence of mouth alcohol, the method comprising:

having a human subject breath into a breath manifold of a breath tester, the breath of said human subject including an early breath followed by a later breath;

having at least a portion of said early breath enter into a fuel cell;

determining an amount of alcohol in said early breath at said fuel cell;

having at least a portion of said later breath enter into said fuel cell;

determining an amount of alcohol in said later breath at said fuel cell;

calculating the ratio of said amount of alcohol in said early breath to said amount of alcohol in said later breath;

comparing said ratio to a predetermined threshold; and

if said ratio is between about 0.05 and 1, indicating the presence of mouth alcohol.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said ratio is between about 0.06 and 1.

3. A method for detecting the presence of mouth alcohol, the method comprising:

having a human subject breath into a breath manifold of a breath tester, the breath of said human subject including an early breath followed by a later breath;

having a first volume of breath from said early breath enter into a fuel cell;

determining an amount of alcohol in said early breath at said fuel cell;

having a second volume of breath from said later breath enter into said fuel cell, wherein said second volume is greater than said first volume;

determining an amount of alcohol in said later breath at said fuel cell;

calculating the ratio of said amount of alcohol in said early breath to said amount of alcohol in said later breath; and

if said ratio is greater than a predetermined threshold, indicating the presence of mouth alcohol.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said threshold is between about 0.05 and 0.07.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said threshold is about 0.06.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said later breath comprises alveolar breath.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said first volume is collected from the entire time period between when said human subject initially breathes into said manifold until said second volume is collected.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein said first volume is collected because a back pressure being generated in said manifold forces said first volume into a fuel cell.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said second volume is collected because a sampling system takes said second volume as a sample.