Detection of acetone via nanostructure sensors
AssigneeUniversity of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
InventorsAlexander Star, Mengning Ding
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of detecting at least one of analyte in an environment (such as in breath) includes providing a structure including nanostructures in contact with titanium dioxide, applying electromagnetic radiation to the structure for a period of time, measuring at least one response and using the measured response to determine the presence of the analyte in the environment.
Claims21
A method of detecting at least one analyte selected from the group of acetone and ethanol in an environment, comprising:
- providing a structure comprising nanostructures in contact with titanium dioxide positioned between two conductive electrodes;
- applying electromagnetic radiation to the structure for a period of time;
- measuring at least one response comprising a change in conductivity or resistivity of the structure via the two conductive electrodes upon exposure to the environment subsequent to applying electromagnetic radiation to the structure for the period of time;
- and
- determining the presence of the at least one analyte selected from the group of acetone and ethanol in the environment from the measured response.
A system for detecting at least one analyte selected from the group of acetone and ethanol, comprising:
- a first electrode;
- a second electrode, spaced from the first electrode;
- a structure comprising nanostructures in contact with titanium dioxide positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- at least one energy source to apply electromagnetic radiation to the structure for a period of time;
- and
- at least one measurement system in operative connection with the first electrode and the second electrode to measure a response comprising a change in conductivity or resistivity, the measured response determining a presence of the at least one analyte selected from the group of acetone and ethanol in an environment.
A method of determining an acetone level in a subject, comprising:
- providing a structure comprising nanostructures in contact with titanium dioxide, the structure being positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode;
- applying electromagnetic radiation to the structure for a period of time;
- placing the structure in fluid connection with breath of the subject;
- measuring at least one response comprising a change in conductivity or resistivity;
- and
- determining an acetone level in the subject from the measured response.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.