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Medical Breathalyzer to Diagnosis from Exhalation

R. Colin Johnson | Date: 10-13-10 | Comments

Just a single exhalation into a medical breathalyzer being developed at Stony Brook University could instantly diagnose patients for cholesterol levels, diabetes and even lung cancer.

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Medical Breathalyzer to Diagnosis from Exhalation

Using nanoscale sensors developed in the Center for Nanomaterials and Sensor Development, researchers at Stony Brook University in New York have designed medical breathalyzers that recognize signal gases in a single exhalation. Specific sensors could potentially be crafted for nearly any disease, according to the researchers. The National Science Foundation is currently funding pre-clinical trials for a diabetes breathalyzer.

A single-breath exhalation has over 300 identifiable gases, according to lead researcher, Prof. Perena Gouma, director of Stony Brook's Center for Nanomaterials and Sensor Development. The key to identifying disease is developing a sensor for a gas that is only present in the breath for those infected�called a signal gas�such as acetone, which indicates a diabetic's blood sugar level.

Perena Gouma is the brainchild at Stony Brook University who believes a medical breathalyzer can detect disease just by exhaling into it.

The researchers hope to enrich the lives of diabetics and other chronically ill patients, who must either constantly prick themselves to take blood samples or risk having a seizure. With a medical breathalyzer, the researchers argue that patients will be more inclined to monitor their blood sugar levels more carefully, since just breathing into a tube is easier than repeatedly pricking one's finger. And by taking the steps to keep their blood-sugar levels at optimal levels, the medical breathalyzer will enable diabetics to feel better physically, thus improving quality of life.

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