GAS SAMPLING ROTARY PUMP FOR BREATH ANALYZERS: PHASE I

THE SPECIFIC AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS AN EXPERIMENTAL EXPLORATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ADAPTING A NEW ROLLER/GEARPUMP CONCEPT TO CREATE A MINIATURE GAS SAMPLING ROTARY PUMP FOR MICROPROCESSOR CONTROL OF METERED FLOW IN BREATH ALCOHOLMEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT. A PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENT COMPONENT HAVING GREAT UTILITY FOR USE IN A LARGE VARIETY OF CLINICAL AND ANALYTICAL EQUIPMENTS WILL BE DEVELOPED. LONG TERM OBJECTIVES ENCOMPASS IMPROVED UTILITY OF BREATH ANALYZERS FOR MEASUREMENT OF TREATMENT COMPLIANCE BY VARIOUS MEANS INCLUDING PROVISION OF ENHANCED CAPABILITY FOR SUCCESSIVE DETERMINATIONS OF A PERSON'S ALVEOLAR BREATH ALCOHOL CONTENT OVER EXTENDED TIME INTERVALS. OTHER AIR MONITOR APPLICATIONS ALSO HAVE VERY SIGNIFICANT COMMERCIAL POTENTIALAS EVIDENCED BY INCREASING NEED FOR FIELD SAMPLING TO SENSE ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS AND HAZARDOUS WORKPLACE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IN MINES.