SE537193C2 - Apparatus and method for heating a device for alcohol exhalation samples - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for heating a device for alcohol exhalation samples Download PDF

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SE537193C2
SE537193C2 SE1250673A SE1250673A SE537193C2 SE 537193 C2 SE537193 C2 SE 537193C2 SE 1250673 A SE1250673 A SE 1250673A SE 1250673 A SE1250673 A SE 1250673A SE 537193 C2 SE537193 C2 SE 537193C2
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fuel cell
cell sensor
alcohol
flow
exhaled air
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SE1250673A
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SE1250673A1 (en
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Miguel Arias
Sven Bergqvist
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Alco Systems Sweden Ab
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Priority to SE1250673A priority Critical patent/SE537193C2/en
Priority to PCT/SE2013/050721 priority patent/WO2013191633A1/en
Publication of SE1250673A1 publication Critical patent/SE1250673A1/en
Publication of SE537193C2 publication Critical patent/SE537193C2/en

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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60KARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K28/00Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions
    • B60K28/02Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver
    • B60K28/06Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver responsive to incapacity of driver
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/483Physical analysis of biological material
    • G01N33/497Physical analysis of biological material of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
    • G01N33/4972Determining alcohol content
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01NINVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/48Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
    • G01N33/50Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
    • G01N33/98Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60WCONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
    • B60W2540/00Input parameters relating to occupants
    • B60W2540/24Drug level, e.g. alcohol

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Urology & Nephrology (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Biotechnology (AREA)
  • Cell Biology (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

537 193 frarod spektroskopi dyra, vilket begransar tillampningen i massproducerade anordningar. En annan vanligen anvand teknik är baserad pa en branslecellssensor som konverterar bransle i form av alkohol (etanol) till elektrisk strom i en elektrokemisk reaktion. Branslecellssensorer har en nagot lagre noggrannhet an sensorer for in- frar6d spektroskopi, men är mycket billigare. Dock kraver branslecellssensorer att utandningsprovet är av en bestambar volym fOr att korrekt faststalla alkoholutandningskoncentrationen. En olagenhet med for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningar uppvi- sande branslecellssensorer är att de är mycket kansliga f6r temperatur. Vid laga temperaturer omkring 0 °C paverkas noggrannheten hos alkoholutandningskoncentrationsmatningarna starkt beroende pa ackumuleringen av kondenserat vatten pa branslecellssensorn beroende pa temperaturskillnaden mellan branslecellssensorn och anvandarens utandningsluft. Foljaktligen kraver sadana anordningar normalt uppvarmning innan en tillforlitlig och precis matning av alkoholutandnings- koncentrationen kan genonnforas. Foreslagna losningar pa detta problem inkluderar externa eller interna varmeelennent som tar strom fran batteriet hos det fordon i vilket den for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningen är installerad, eller fran en extern batterikalla. Dessa losningar är besvarliga och onodigt komplice- rade och kraver aven en sarskild uppvarmningstid vilket i hog grad forlanger for- donsstarten. Privata konsumenter kanske inte paverkas sa negativt av detta problem, men for foretag som arbetar med ett stort antal fordon, sa som bussar, lastbilar, tag och sa vidare, kommer den utdragna starttiden att kannbart reducera produktiviteten eftersom det ofta, om inte alltid, kravs att dessa fordon ar driftdug- liga med kort varsel och inom precist definierade tidsfonster. Dar-for finns ett behov att utveckla forbattrade forfaranden och forbattrad apparatur for att varma upp for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningar. Sammanfattning av uppfinningen Syftet med foreliggande uppfinning är att tillhandahalla forbattrade forfaran- den och forbattrad apparatur f6r att varma upp f6r alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningar. Detta uppnas genom en apparatur enligt krav 1. 537 193 from expensive spectroscopy, which limits the application in mass-produced devices. Another commonly used technique is based on an fuel cell sensor that converts fuel in the form of alcohol (ethanol) to electric current in an electrochemical reaction. Fuel cell sensors have a somewhat lower accuracy than sensors for infrared spectroscopy, but are much cheaper. However, fuel cell sensors require that the breath sample be of a determinable volume in order to correctly determine the alcohol breath concentration. One problem with devices designed for alcohol breath tests is that they are very sensitive to temperature. At low temperatures around 0 ° C, the accuracy of the alcohol exhalation concentration feeds is strongly affected due to the accumulation of condensed water on the fuel cell sensor due to the temperature difference between the fuel cell sensor and the user's exhaled air. Consequently, such devices normally require heating before a reliable and accurate supply of the alcohol exhalation concentration can be carried out. Proposed solutions to this problem include external or internal heating elements which draw current from the battery of the vehicle in which the device designed for alcohol breath testing is installed, or from an external battery source. These solutions are responsive and unnecessarily complicated and also require a special warm-up time, which to a large extent requires the start of the vehicle. Private consumers may not be so negatively affected by this problem, but for companies working with a large number of vehicles, such as buses, trucks, trains and so on, the extended start-up time will significantly reduce productivity as it is often, if not always, required that these vehicles are operational at short notice and within precisely defined time windows. Therefore, there is a need to develop improved procedures and equipment for heating alcohol breath test devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide improved procedures and apparatus for heating devices designed for alcohol breath testing. This is achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1.

Description

537 193 frarod spektroskopi dyra, vilket begransar tillampningen i massproducerade anordningar. 537 193 from expensive spectroscopy, which limits the application in mass-produced devices.

En annan vanligen anvand teknik är baserad pa en branslecellssensor som konverterar bransle i form av alkohol (etanol) till elektrisk strom i en elektrokemisk reaktion. Branslecellssensorer har en nagot lagre noggrannhet an sensorer for in- frar6d spektroskopi, men är mycket billigare. Dock kraver branslecellssensorer att utandningsprovet är av en bestambar volym fOr att korrekt faststalla alkoholutandningskoncentrationen. Another commonly used technique is based on an fuel cell sensor that converts fuel in the form of alcohol (ethanol) to electric current in an electrochemical reaction. Fuel cell sensors have a somewhat lower accuracy than sensors for infrared spectroscopy, but are much cheaper. However, fuel cell sensors require that the breath sample be of a determinable volume in order to correctly determine the alcohol breath concentration.

En olagenhet med for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningar uppvi- sande branslecellssensorer är att de är mycket kansliga f6r temperatur. Vid laga temperaturer omkring 0 °C paverkas noggrannheten hos alkoholutandningskoncentrationsmatningarna starkt beroende pa ackumuleringen av kondenserat vatten pa branslecellssensorn beroende pa temperaturskillnaden mellan branslecellssensorn och anvandarens utandningsluft. Foljaktligen kraver sadana anordningar normalt uppvarmning innan en tillforlitlig och precis matning av alkoholutandnings- koncentrationen kan genonnforas. Foreslagna losningar pa detta problem inkluderar externa eller interna varmeelennent som tar strom fran batteriet hos det fordon i vilket den for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningen är installerad, eller fran en extern batterikalla. Dessa losningar är besvarliga och onodigt komplice- rade och kraver aven en sarskild uppvarmningstid vilket i hog grad forlanger for- donsstarten. Privata konsumenter kanske inte paverkas sa negativt av detta problem, men for foretag som arbetar med ett stort antal fordon, sa som bussar, lastbilar, tag och sa vidare, kommer den utdragna starttiden att kannbart reducera produktiviteten eftersom det ofta, om inte alltid, kravs att dessa fordon ar driftdug- liga med kort varsel och inom precist definierade tidsfonster. One problem with devices designed for alcohol breath tests is that they are very sensitive to temperature. At low temperatures around 0 ° C, the accuracy of the alcohol exhalation concentration feeds is strongly affected due to the accumulation of condensed water on the fuel cell sensor due to the temperature difference between the fuel cell sensor and the user's exhaled air. Accordingly, such devices normally require heating before a reliable and accurate supply of the alcohol exhalation concentration can be carried out. Proposed solutions to this problem include external or internal heating elements which draw current from the battery of the vehicle in which the device designed for alcohol breath testing is installed, or from an external battery source. These solutions are responsive and unnecessarily complicated and also require a special warm-up time, which to a large extent requires the start of the vehicle. Private consumers may not be so negatively affected by this problem, but for companies working with a large number of vehicles, such as buses, trucks, trains and so on, the extended start-up time will significantly reduce productivity as it is often, if not always, required that these vehicles are operational at short notice and within precisely defined time windows.

Dar-for finns ett behov att utveckla forbattrade forfaranden och forbattrad apparatur for att varma upp for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningar. Therefore, there is a need to develop improved procedures and equipment for heating alcohol breath test devices.

Sammanfattning av uppfinningen Syftet med foreliggande uppfinning är att tillhandahalla forbattrade forfaran- den och forbattrad apparatur f6r att varma upp f6r alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningar. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide improved procedures and apparatus for heating devices designed for alcohol breath testing.

Detta uppnas genom en apparatur enligt krav 1. 2 537 193 Enligt foreliggande uppfinning tillhandahalls en apparatur for att varma upp en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov uppvisande en branslecellssensor innan en matning av alkoholutandningskoncentration utfors, varvid apparaturen innefattar medel for att motta ett flode av utandad luft fran en anvandare och leda det till branslecellssensorn, en separat rorledning i fluidkommunikation med det motta- gande medlet och branslecellssensorn och konfigurerad att motta flodet av utandad luft, varvid rOrledningen innefattar medel fOr att reducera fuktigheten i flOdet av utandad luft. This is achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1. According to the present invention, an apparatus for heating an alcohol breath test device having an fuel cell sensor before a supply of alcohol exhalation concentration is performed is provided, the apparatus comprising means for receiving a flow of exhaled air from a user and direct it to the fuel cell sensor, a separate pipeline in fluid communication with the receiving means and the fuel cell sensor and configured to receive the flow of exhaled air, the pipeline including means for reducing the humidity in the flow of exhaled air.

Foljaktligen loser foreliggande uppfinning problemet ovan genom att anvanda temperaturen hos anvandarens utandningsluft, vilken normalt ligger omkring 32- 36 °C beroende pa bade inre och yttre betingelser (kroppstemperatur, omgivningstemperatur), for att varma upp branslecellssensorn. Eftersom anvandarens utandningsluft har en relativ fuktighet av 100 "Yo innefattar apparaturen medel for att reducera denna fuktighet for att inte negativt paverka branslecellssensorn. Accordingly, the present invention solves the above problem by using the temperature of the user's exhaled air, which is normally about 32-36 ° C depending on both internal and external conditions (body temperature, ambient temperature), to heat the fuel cell sensor. Since the user's exhaled air has a relative humidity of 100 "Yo, the apparatus includes means for reducing this humidity so as not to adversely affect the fuel cell sensor.

I en foredragen utforingsform innefattar apparaturen enligt foreliggande upp- finning vidare medel for att fOrhindra direktflode av luft nnellan det mottagande medlet och branslecellssensorn. Salunda kan branslecellssensom skyddas fran den fuktiga utandade luften tills den har natt en lamplig temperatur. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention further comprises means for preventing direct flow of air from the receiving means and the fuel cell sensor. Thus, the fuel cell sensor can be protected from the humid exhaled air until it has a suitable temperature at night.

I en alternativ utforingsform är det forhindrande medlet manovrerbart mellan en forsta position, vilken leder vasentligen hela luftflOdet in i rOrledningen, och en andra position, vilken mojliggor direktflode av luft fran det mottagande medlet till branslecellssensorn. Foljaktligen kan flode av utandad luft selektivt ledas Than det mottagande medlet via den separata rOrledningen till branslecellssensom, eller direkt till branslecellssensorn. Foretradesvis innefattar det fOrhindrande medlet en ventil, ett glidbart eller roterbart vaggelement eller en kombination darav. In an alternative embodiment, the preventing means is maneuverable between a first position, which leads substantially the entire air flow into the pipeline, and a second position, which allows direct flow of air from the receiving means to the fuel cell sensor. Consequently, flow of exhaled air can be selectively directed than the receiving means via the separate pipeline to the fuel cell sensor, or directly to the fuel cell sensor. Preferably, the preventive means comprises a valve, a slidable or rotatable cradle element or a combination thereof.

I en ytterligare foredragen utforingsform manovreras det forhindrande medlet mot den forsta positionen nar en temperatur pa branslecellssensorn är under en forutbestamd troskeltemperatur; och mot den andra positionen nar en temperatur pa branslecellssensorn är lika med eller Over en forutbestamd troskeltemperatur. In a further preferred embodiment, the preventive means is maneuvered towards the first position when a temperature of the fuel cell sensor is below a predetermined threshold temperature; and towards the second position when a temperature on the fuel cell sensor is equal to or Above a predetermined threshold temperature.

I en fordelaktig utforingsform innefattar medlet for att reducera fuktigheten en varmevaxlare, ett torkmedelsmaterial, en varmepump, ett jonmembran eller en kombination darav. In an advantageous embodiment, the means for reducing the humidity comprises a heat exchanger, a desiccant material, a heat pump, an ion membrane or a combination thereof.

I en annan alternativ utforingsfornn är apparaturen konfigurerad att vara lostagbart ansluten till en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov. Pa sa satt kan appa- 3 537 193 raturen enligt foreliggande uppfinning anpassas for att anvandas med redan befintliga for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningar. Alternativt kan apparaturen inkorporeras i den for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningen redan i tillverkningssteget. In another alternative embodiment, the apparatus is configured to be releasably connected to a device for alcohol breath testing. In this way, the apparatus of the present invention can be adapted for use with pre-existing devices designed for alcohol breath testing. Alternatively, the apparatus may be incorporated into the device designed for alcohol breath testing already in the manufacturing step.

I en andra aspekt av fOreliggande uppfinning tillhandahalls en anordning fOr alkoholutandningsprov som innefattar en apparatur for att varma upp anordningen innan matningar av alkoholutandningskoncentration utfors. In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for alcohol breath testing comprising apparatus for heating the apparatus before feeding alcohol breath concentrations is performed.

I en tredje aspekt av foreliggande uppfinning tillhandahalls en nykterhetssparranordning som innefattar en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov som inklu- derar en apparatur f6r att varma upp anordningen innan matningar av alkoholu- tandningskoncentration utfors. In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sobriety saving device comprising an alcohol breath test device which includes an apparatus for heating the device before feeding alcohol breath concentrations.

I en fjarde aspekt av foreliggande uppfinning tillhandahalls ett forfarande f6r att varma upp en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov uppvisande en branslecellssensor innan en matning av alkoholutandningskoncentration utf6rs. In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of heating an alcohol breath test device having a fuel cell sensor prior to performing an alcohol breath concentration feed.

I foredragna utforingsformer innefattar forfarandet steg som svarar mot de re- levanta sardragen hos apparaturen enligt foreliggande uppfinning. In preferred embodiments, the method comprises steps corresponding to the relevant features of the apparatus of the present invention.

Kortfattad beskrivning av ritningarna Fig. 1 illustrerar schematiskt en apparatur for att varma upp en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov enligt foreliggande uppfinning i en forsta position; Fig. 2 illustrerar schematiskt en apparatur for att varma upp en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov enligt foreliggande uppfinning i en andra position. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an apparatus for heating an alcohol breath test device according to the present invention in a first position; Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an apparatus for heating an alcohol breath test device according to the present invention in a second position.

Detaljerad beskrivning av uppfinningen Foredragna utforingsformer av en apparatur for att varma upp en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov enligt foreliggande uppfinning kommer nu att beskrivas med hanvisning till den bifogade ritningen. Uppfinningen ska inte anses vara begransad till de utforingsformer som visas i den bifogade ritningen, utan kan varvideras inom ramen f6r patentkraven. Detailed Description of the Invention Preferred embodiments of an apparatus for heating an alcohol breath test device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. The invention is not to be construed as limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the claims.

Fig. 1 visar en schematisk illustration av en apparatur for att varma upp en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov. Ett inloppsror 1 är anordnat for att motta ett flode utandad luft fran en anvandare. Inloppsroret 1 är anpassat att leda flodet utandad luft, dvs. ett utandningsprov, till branslecellssensorn 2 hos en anordning for al kohol utandn ingsprov. 4 537 193 En separat rorledning 3 är arrangerad i fluidkommunikation med inloppsroret 1 och branslecellssensorn 2. Rorledningen 3 är konfigurerad att motta flodet av utandad luft Iran inloppsrOret 1, beroende pa ventilens 5 position. Ventilen 5 verkar sasom ett medel for att forhindra direktflode av luft igenom inloppsroret 1 till brans- lecellssensorn 2. Naturligtvis är aven andra medel for att astadkomma fOrhind- rande av direktflode mellan inloppsraret 1 och branslecellssensorn 2 beaktade, sa som ett glidbart eller roterbart vaggelement. Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for heating an apparatus for alcohol breath testing. An inlet pipe 1 is arranged to receive a flood of exhaled air from a user. The inlet pipe 1 is adapted to direct the river exhaled air, ie. a breath sample, to the fuel cell sensor 2 of an alcohol breath test device. 4 537 193 A separate pipeline 3 is arranged in fluid communication with the inlet pipe 1 and the fuel cell sensor 2. The pipeline 3 is configured to receive the flow of exhaled air Iran the inlet pipe 1, depending on the position of the valve 5. The valve 5 acts as a means for preventing direct flow of air through the inlet pipe 1 to the fuel cell sensor 2. Of course, other means for preventing direct flow between the inlet pipe 1 and the fuel cell sensor 2 are also considered, such as a slidable or rotatable rocker element.

Ventilen 5 kan selektivt manovreras mellan en forsta position, varvid vasentligen hela flodet utandad luft leds till rarledningen 3, och en andra position, varvid vasentligen hela flodet utandad luft leds fran inloppsroret 1 till branslecellssensorn 2. The valve 5 can be selectively maneuvered between a first position, whereby substantially the entire flow of exhaled air is led to the manifold 3, and a second position, wherein substantially the entire flow of exhaled air is led from the inlet pipe 1 to the fuel cell sensor 2.

Branslecellssensorn 2 innefattar ett par platinaplattor i egenskap av elektroder. Branslecellssensorn 2 ger upphov till en elektrokemisk reaktion nar eventuell alkohol (etanol) som forekommer i anyandarens utandningsluft passerar elektro- derna. Etanolen oxideras till attiksyra och vatten, vilket producerar en elektrisk stronn som är beroende pa den mangd etanol som forekonnnner. Den elektriska strommen kan matas av en mikroprocessor och anvandas for att berakna alkoholutandningskoncentrationen (BrAC = breath alcohol concentration) hos anyandaren. The fuel cell sensor 2 comprises a pair of platinum plates in the capacity of electrodes. The fuel cell sensor 2 gives rise to an electrochemical reaction when any alcohol (ethanol) present in any other person's exhaled air passes the electrodes. The ethanol is oxidized to acetic acid and water, which produces an electric current that is dependent on the amount of ethanol present. The electric current can be fed by a microprocessor and used to calculate the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) of any other person.

Om platinaplattorna är fuktiga eller vata nar en matning Ors, paverkas den elektrokemiska reaktionen sa att den resulterade elektriska strommen inte anger den faktiska mangden alkohol som forekommer i anyandarens utandningsluft, vilket salunda ger en falsk eller oriktig matning av alkoholutandningskoncentrationen. If the platinum plates are damp or wet when a feed is made, the electrochemical reaction is affected so that the resulting electric current does not indicate the actual amount of alcohol present in the other's exhaled air, thus giving a false or incorrect feeding of the alcohol exhalation concentration.

Vid kalla betingelser kommer temperaturen pa branslecellssensorn och dess platinaplattor att vara vasentligen lagre an utandningstemperaturen hos anvanda- ren som blaser in i den for alkoholutandningsprov utformade anordningen. Foljaktligen kommer anvandarens utandningsluft, som innehaller vattenanga och som har en relativ fuktighet av 100 %, att fororsaka avsevard kondensation av vatten pa platinaplattorna, vilket ger upphov till felaktiga matningar av alkoholutandnings- koncentrationen. Under cold conditions, the temperature of the fuel cell sensor and its platinum plates will be substantially lower than the exhalation temperature of the user blowing into the device designed for alcohol breath testing. Consequently, the user's exhaled air, which contains water vapor and has a relative humidity of 100%, will cause considerable condensation of water on the platinum plates, which gives rise to incorrect feeding of the alcohol exhalation concentration.

Darfor innefattar rorledningen 3 medel 4 for att reducera fuktigheten hos den utandade luften, sa att nar den utandade luften darefter nar branslecellssensorn 2 är den i alit vasentligt avfuktad, eller har atminstone en fuktighet under en forutbestamd niva som bedoms att inte negativt paverka branslecellssensorns 2 fun ktion. 537 193 Avfuktningsmedlet 4 kan innefatta en varmevaxlare, ett torkmedelsmaterial, en varnnepump, ett jonmembran eller en kombination darav. Exempel pa torkmedel är silikagel, aktivt kol, kalciumsulfat, kalciumklorid, montmorillonitlera och molekylsiktar. Dessa material är hygroskopiska, dvs. i stand att attrahera och halla vattenmolekyler Man den omgivande miljon, och fungerar genom absorption eller adsorption av vatten, eller en kombination av de tva. Torkmedlen kan vara i andra former an fasta, och kan fungera igenom andra principer, sa som kemisk bindning av vattenmolekyler. Therefore, the pipeline 3 comprises means 4 for reducing the humidity of the exhaled air, so that when the exhaled air then reaches the fuel cell sensor 2 it is substantially dehumidified, or has at least a humidity below a predetermined level which is judged not to adversely affect the fuel cell sensor 2. ktion. The dehumidifying agent 4 may comprise a heat exchanger, a desiccant material, a warning pump, an ion membrane or a combination thereof. Examples of desiccants are silica gel, activated carbon, calcium sulphate, calcium chloride, montmorillonite clay and molecular sieves. These materials are hygroscopic, ie. able to attract and hold water molecules Man the surrounding million, and works by absorption or adsorption of water, or a combination of the two. The desiccants can be in other forms than solids, and can work through other principles, such as chemical bonding of water molecules.

Under drift av apparaturen enligt foreliggande uppfinning mottas ett forsta flode av utandad luft fran en anvandare i inloppsroret 1 och leds till den separata rorledningen 3, sasom visas av pilarna i fig. 1, med hjalp av den selektivt manovrerade ventilen 5. Detta illustreras vidare genom att de nnotsvarande ventiloppningarna är schematiskt skuggade i svart. I rorledningen 3 reduceras fuktigheten hos den utandade luften med hjalp av avfuktningsmedlet 4 innan den avfuktade utan- luften leds vidare till branslecellssensorn 2, sasom visas av pilarna i fig. 1. During operation of the apparatus according to the present invention, a first flow of exhaled air is received from a user in the inlet pipe 1 and led to the separate pipe line 3, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, by means of the selectively maneuvered valve 5. This is further illustrated by that the corresponding valve openings are schematically shaded in black. In the pipeline 3, the humidity of the exhaled air is reduced with the aid of the dehumidifying agent 4 before the dehumidified outside air is passed on to the fuel cell sensor 2, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1.

Under avfuktning uppratthalls vasentligen temperaturen pa den utandade luften, eller reduceras atminstone inte i vasentlig grad. Den varma, avfuktade utandade luften kommer darefter att varma branslecellssensorns 2 platinaplattor, sa att den nar en temperatur som vasentligen sammanfaller med utandningstemperaturen 20 hos anvandaren. During dehumidification, the temperature of the exhaled air is substantially maintained, or at least not significantly reduced. The hot, dehumidified exhaled air will then heat the platinum plates of the fuel cell sensor 2, so that it reaches a temperature that substantially coincides with the exhalation temperature of the user.

Pafoljande utandningsprover av utandad luft tan anvandaren kommer darefter att ledas Iran inloppstret 1 till branslecellssensorn 2, sasom visas av pilarna i fig. 2, utan att f6rst passera genom den separata rorledningen 3 som inkluderar avfuktningsmedlet 4. Detta illustreras vidare genom att de motsvarande ventilöpp- är schematiskt skuggade i svart. Ett satt att astadkomma den selektiva manovreringen av ventilen 5 är att mata temperaturen pa branslecellssensorn 2. Salunda kommer ventilen 5 att manovreras mot den forsta positionen, varvid vasentligen hela flodet utandad luft leds in i rorledningen 3, om temperaturen pa branslecellssensorn 2 är under en forutbestamd troskeltemperatur, som foretra- desvis motsvarar utandningstemperaturen (cirka 34 °C) hos anvandaren. Subsequent breath tests by the exhaled air tan user will then be directed to the Iran inlet stage 1 to the fuel cell sensor 2, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2, without first passing through the separate pipeline 3 which includes the dehumidifier 4. This is further illustrated by the corresponding valve openings. are schematically shaded in black. One way to effect the selective actuation of the valve 5 is to supply the temperature of the fuel cell sensor 2. Thus, the valve 5 will be actuated towards the first position, with substantially the entire flow of exhaled air being led into the pipeline 3, if the temperature of the fuel cell sensor 2 is below a predetermined threshold temperature, which preferably corresponds to the exhalation temperature (approximately 34 ° C) of the user.

Nar temperaturen pa branslecellssensorn 2 är over den forutbestamda titskeltemperaturen, efter varmning med anvandning av ett utandat flode av luft fran anvandaren eller under varma betingelser, kommer ventilen 5 att nnanovreras mot 6 537 193 den andra positionen, varvid vasentligen hela flodet utandad luft leds direkt fran inloppsroret 1 till branslecellssensorn 2. 7 When the temperature of the fuel cell sensor 2 is above the predetermined titanium temperature, after heating using an exhaled flow of air from the user or under hot conditions, the valve 5 will be innovated towards the second position, with substantially the entire flow of exhaled air being led directly from inlet pipe 1 to the fuel cell sensor 2. 7

Claims (2)

537 193 PATENTKRAV 1. Apparatur for att varma upp en anordning fOr alkoholutandningsprov uppvisande en branslecellssensor (2) innan en matning av alkoholutandningskoncentration utfors, kannetecknad av att apparaturen innefattar: 1. medel (1) f6r att motta ett flode av utandad luft fran en anvandare och leda det till branslecellssensorn (2); 2. en separat rorledning (3) i fluidkommunikation med det mottagande medlet (1) och branslecellssensorn (2) och konfigurerad att motta flOdet av utandad luft, varvid rorledningen (3) innefattar medel (4) for att red ucera fuktigheten hos den utandade luften innan den avfuktade utandade luften leds vidare till branslecellssensorn (2) for att varma upp branslecellssensorn (2). 2. Apparatur enligt krav 1, vidare innefattande medel (5) for att forhindra direktflode av luft mellan det mottagande medlet (1) och branslecellssensorn (2). 3. Apparatur enligt krav 2, varvid det forhindrande medlet (5) är manovrerbart mellan en forsta position, vilken leder vasentligen hela luftflodet in i rorledningen (3), och en andra position, vilken mojliggor direktflode av luft fran det mottagande medlet (1) till branslecellssensorn (2). 4. Apparatur enligt krav 2 eller 3, varvid det forhindrande medlet (5) innefattar en ventil, ett glidbart eller roterbart vaggelement eller en kombination darav. 5. Apparatur enligt krav 3 eller 4, varvid det forhindrande medlet (5) manOvreras mot den fOrsta positionen nar en temperatur pa branslecellssensorn (2) är under en fOrutbestarnd troskeltemperatur. 6. Apparatur enligt nagot av kraven 3-5, varvid det forhindrande medlet (5) nnanovreras mot den andra posit ionen nar en ternperatur pa branslecellssensorn (2) är lika med eller Over en forutbestamd troskeltemperatur. 7. Apparatur enligt nagot av foregaende krav, varvid medlet (4) f6r att reducera fuktigheten innefattar en varmevaxlare, ett torkmedelsmaterial, en varmepump, ett jon- 8 537 193 nnennbran eller en konnbination darav. 8. Apparatur enligt nagot av fOregaende krav, varvid apparaturen är konfigurerad att vara lostagbart ansluten till en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov. 9. Apparatur enligt nagot av kraven 1-7, varvid apparaturen är konfigurerad att inkorporeras i en anordning fOr alkoholutandningsprov. 10. Anordning fOr alkoholutandningsprov innefattande en uppyarmningsapparatur enligt nagot av foregaende krav. 11. Nykterhetssparranordning f6r fordon innefattande en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov enligt krav 10. 12. Forfarande for att varma upp en anordning for alkoholutandningsprov uppvisande en branslecellssensor (2) innan en matning av alkoholutandningskoncentration utf6rs, kannetecknad av att forfarandet innefattar: 1. att nnotta ett floozie av utandad luft fran en anyandare; 2. att leda flodet av utandad luft via en separat rorledning (3) for att reducera luftens fuktighet; 3. att leda flodet av avfuktad luft tan den separata rorledningen (3) till branslecellssensorn (2) for att varma upp branslecellssensorn (2). 13. FOrfarande enligt krav 12, vidare innefattande steget 1. att forhindra direktflode av luft mellan det mottagande medlet (1) och branslecellssensorn (2). 14. Forfarande enligt krav 13, vidare innefattande stegen537 193 CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for heating an alcohol breath test device having a fuel cell sensor (2) before performing an alcohol breath concentration feed, characterized in that the apparatus comprises: 1. means (1) for receiving a flow of exhaled air from a user and directing it to the fuel cell sensor (2); A separate pipeline (3) in fluid communication with the receiving means (1) and the fuel cell sensor (2) and configured to receive the flow of exhaled air, the pipeline (3) comprising means (4) for reducing the humidity of the exhaled air before the dehumidified exhaled air is passed on to the fuel cell sensor (2) to heat the fuel cell sensor (2). Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means (5) for preventing direct flow of air between the receiving means (1) and the fuel cell sensor (2). Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the preventing means (5) is manoeuvrable between a first position, which leads substantially the entire air flow into the pipeline (3), and a second position, which allows direct flow of air from the receiving means (1) to the fuel cell sensor (2). Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the preventing means (5) comprises a valve, a slidable or rotatable cradle element or a combination thereof. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the preventive means (5) is operated towards the first position when a temperature of the fuel cell sensor (2) is below a predetermined threshold temperature. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein the preventive means (5) is innovated towards the second position when a temperature on the fuel cell sensor (2) is equal to or Above a predetermined threshold temperature. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (4) for reducing humidity comprises a heat exchanger, a desiccant material, a heat pump, an ion burner or a combination thereof. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is configured to be releasably connected to a device for alcohol breath testing. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the apparatus is configured to be incorporated into a device for alcohol breath testing. Apparatus for alcohol breath testing comprising a heating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. A sobriety restraint device for vehicles comprising an alcohol breath test device according to claim 10. A method of heating an alcohol breath test device having a fuel cell sensor (2) before performing an alcohol breath concentration feed, characterized in that the method comprises: 1. using a float. of exhaled air from another; 2. directing the flow of exhaled air via a separate pipeline (3) to reduce the humidity of the air; 3. directing the flow of dehumidified air tan the separate pipeline (3) to the fuel cell sensor (2) to heat the fuel cell sensor (2). The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of preventing direct flow of air between the receiving means (1) and the fuel cell sensor (2). The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps 1. att leda vasentligen alit av ett f6rsta flode av utandad luft in i rorledningen (3); och1. to conduct substantially alit of a first flow of exhaled air into the pipeline (3); and 2. att leda vasentligen alit av ett andra flode av utandad luft direkt mellan det mottagande medlet (1) och branslecellssensorn (2). 9 537 193 1/12. conducting substantially alit of a second flow of exhaled air directly between the receiving means (1) and the fuel cell sensor (2). 9 537 193 1/1
SE1250673A 2012-06-21 2012-06-21 Apparatus and method for heating a device for alcohol exhalation samples SE537193C2 (en)

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US10488398B2 (en) 2015-12-17 2019-11-26 #1 A Lifesafer, Inc. Chemical impairment detection system with an integrated, multi-function breath chamber
DE102019218849A1 (en) * 2019-12-04 2021-06-10 Robert Bosch Gmbh Method for operating a respiratory gas analyzer with at least one gas sensor
JP2023143775A (en) * 2022-03-25 2023-10-06 旭化成エレクトロニクス株式会社 Gas sensor system, gas sensor control device and control method
CN120641039A (en) * 2023-02-03 2025-09-12 奥斯通医疗有限公司 Breath sampling device and method for preparing a sample for analysis from a breath sampling device

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DE3842515A1 (en) * 1988-12-16 1990-06-21 Lmb Laborservice Gmbh Sampling device for an apparatus for detecting a component in gas, in particular alcohol in exhaled air
WO1992022813A1 (en) * 1991-06-19 1992-12-23 Alcohol Measuring Equipment Pty. Limited Breath alcohol analysis apparatus
GB9512396D0 (en) * 1995-06-17 1995-08-16 Lion Lab Plc Breath testing apparatus
US7204335B2 (en) * 2003-10-31 2007-04-17 Sheram Enterprises, Inc. Vehicle sobriety interlock device
WO2009025488A2 (en) * 2007-08-20 2009-02-26 Tongyang Moolsan Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method of analyzing constituents of gas in oral cavity and alveolar gas

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