# US 2015/0177205 A1 · Cartridge based breath alcohol calibration device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0177205 A1 - Document ID: US20150177205A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/411,714 - Filed: 2013-06-27 - Published: 2015-06-25 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-27 - Assignees: Alco Systems Sweden AB - Applicants: Alco Systems Sweden AB - Inventors: Miguel Arias; Nigel Evans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150177205A1 ## CPC - G01N 33/0006: {Calibrating gas analysers} - G01N 33/4972: {Determining alcohol content (for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A calibration device for a breath alcohol testing device includes a pump providing a controlled air flow at a predetermined rate, a chamber in fluid communication with the pump that receives the air flow from the pump, and an outlet opening in fluid communication with the chamber that allows the air flow to exit the chamber in which the chamber and/or outlet opening can be heated to a predetermined maintainable temperature during operation of the pump. The calibration device is releasably connected to or brought in fluid communication with a breath alcohol testing device such that the air flow exiting the outlet opening passes into the testing device. The calibration device receives a sealed cartridge containing a predetermined alcohol concentration in the chamber and further includes a lid for opening/closing the chamber wherein the cartridge can be pierced such that the air flow provided by the pump to the chamber will pass through the cartridge. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 A calibration device for a breath alcohol testing device, wherein the calibration device comprises: a pump configured to provide a controlled flow of air at a predetermined rate; a chamber in fluid communication with the pump and adapted to receive the flow of air from the pump; an outlet opening in fluid communication with the chamber adapted to allow the flow of air to exit the chamber; and heating means configured to heat the chamber and/or outlet opening to a predetermined temperature and to maintain the predetermined temperature during operation of the pump, wherein the calibration device is configured to be releasably connected to or brought in fluid communication with a breath alcohol testing device such that the flow of air exiting the outlet opening is passed into the breath alcohol testing device, wherein the calibration device is adapted to receive a sealed cartridge containing a predetermined concentration of alcohol in the chamber and further comprises a lid for opening/closing the chamber and co-operating with means for piercing the sealed cartridge to pierce the cartridge upon closing of the lid such that the flow of air provided by the pump to the chamber will pass through the cartridge, thereby providing a sample containing the predetermined concentration of alcohol to the breath alcohol testing device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The calibration device according to claim 15, wherein the piercing means comprises at least one of a needle, a syringe or a knife. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The calibration device according to claim 15, wherein the piercing means is configured to pierce the cartridge at opposite ends thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The calibration device according to claim 15, further comprising a controller for controlling operation of at least one of the pump or the heating means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The calibration device according to claim 15, further comprising means for indicating to a user that the predetermined temperature has been achieved. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The calibration device according to claim 19, wherein the indicating means comprises at least one of a light or a display. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The calibration device according to claim 15, further comprising input means allowing a user to select a volume of air to be provided by at least one of the pump or the predetermined temperature. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The calibration device according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined temperature is set in the range of 30-37° C. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The calibration device according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined temperature is set in the range of 33-35° C. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The calibration device according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined temperature is set to 34° C. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The calibration device according to claim 15, wherein the heating means comprises a thermistor. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The calibration device according to claim 15, wherein the cartridge contains a predetermined concentration of alcohol and is adapted to be used in the calibration device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The calibration device according to claim 26, wherein the cartridge comprises a porous material with a pre-determined amount of alcohol soaked therein. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The calibration device according to claim 27, wherein the cartridge comprises a plastic tube enclosing the porous material and sealed at both ends thereof. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The calibration device according to claim 28, wherein the seal comprises a foil material. ### Claim 30 A method of calibrating a breath alcohol testing device, comprising the steps of: providing a calibration device configured to be releasably connected to or brought in fluid communication with a breath alcohol testing device; wherein the calibration device comprises: a pump configured to provide a controlled flow of air at a predetermined rate; a chamber in fluid communication with the pump and adapted to receive the flow of air from the pump; an outlet opening in fluid communication with the chamber adapted to allow the flow of air to exit the chamber; and a lid for opening/closing the chamber and co-operating with means for piercing a sealed cartridge; heating at least one of the chamber or outlet opening to a predetermined temperature; inserting a sealed cartridge containing a predetermined concentration of alcohol into the chamber of the calibration device and piercing the sealed cartridge by closing the lid such that the flow of air provided by the pump to the chamber will pass through the cartridge; operating the pump to provide a flow of air through the cartridge while maintaining the predetermined temperature during operation of the pump; and passing the flow of air, containing the predetermined concentration of alcohol, exiting the outlet opening into the breath alcohol testing device.