# US 10,244,964 B2 · Detection of acetone via nanostructure sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,244,964 B2 - Document ID: US10244964B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/479,316 - Filed: 2014-09-06 - Published: 2015-03-12 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-06 - Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Applicants: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Inventors: Alexander Star; Mengning Ding - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10244964B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)} - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/7278: {Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesizing signals from measured signals} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one analyte is ethanol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one analyte is acetone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the nanostructures comprise carbon nanostructures. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the structure comprises a network of oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the measured response is an electrical property change. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the structure comprises nanostructures which are supported upon a surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the surface comprises SiO2 or a polymer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the titanium dioxide is mixed with the nanostructures, immobilized upon the nanostructures, or covalently attached to the nanostructures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the titanium dioxide is covalently attached to the nanostructures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the nanostructures are oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein applying electromagnetic radiation to the structure for the period of time comprises applying UV light for the period of time and a baseline for detection of the at least one analyte is established after application of the UV light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein titanium dioxide is deposited upon the nanostructures via sol-gel synthesis. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the nanostructures comprise carbon nanostructures. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system f claim 14 wherein the titanium dioxide is mixed with the nanostructures, immobilized upon the nanostructures, or covalently attached to the nanostructures. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein at least a concentration of acetone is determined from the measured response and is used to determine a glucose level in the subject. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the measured response of the nanostructures to breath of the subject is also used to determine a concentration of ethanol, and acetone concentration and ethanol concentration are used to determine the glucose level in the subject. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the nanostructures comprise carbon nanostructures and the titanium dioxide is covalently attached to the nanostructures. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein a concentration of at least acetone is determined from the measured response and is used to determine a presence of ketosis.