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Breathalyzer for Blood Glucose

Portable, simple and inexpensive test to provide Type I diabetics an indirect measure of blood glucose via breath analysis.

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The goal of this project is to develop a low cost, non-invasive, meter for Type I (insulin dependent) diabetics to monitor their blood glucose without the constant need for purchasing single use strips or other even more expensive monitoring devices, such as CGM's (continuous glucose monitors). Presently this device is not intended to be used alone but as an adjunct to other methods of blood glucose monitoring.

Motivation behind the development of this project

Presently, over 1 million people, in the U.S. alone, are insulin dependent diabetics and about 40 thousand additional people are diagnosed each year.

Each year there is over $14 billion dollars spent on treating insulin dependent diabetes and lost wages due to it.

While technology has greatly improved treatment and management of insulin dependent diabetes, the costs seem to increase geometrically (especially to those without insurance).

The cornerstone to managing insulin dependent diabetes is monitoring blood glucose levels. Presently, the only methods available for monitoring blood glucose rely on single use, disposable, test strips or longer term Continuous Blood Glucose Monitors. While CGM's provide a fantastic method of tracking and, as a result, controlling blood glucose levels, they do so at a very high monetary cost since they require special sensors that need to be replaced every 10-14 days. In addition, CGM's need calibration through the use of test strips. Despite all the technological advances in medicine we continue to rely on the same methods of measuring blood glucose as 40-50 years ago (enzymatic... not really much different than the first Glucometer that I used in the mid 1980's).

Since I first researched this idea, last year, there have been numerous research projects published in respected journals that have, independently, followed similar ideas and direction. They all seem to achieve the objective of measuring ketone levels. Despite this, no products have been produced.

Theory behind this project:

Our bodies produce ketones (through the breakdown of fatty acids in the liver) when glucose is unavailable to the bodies cells. This occurs, either under fasting conditions (essentially low intake of carbohydrates) or when there is insufficient insulin present to transport glucose into the tissues of our bodies.

The breakdown of fatty acids produces the ketone bodies - aceto-acetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate, both of which are acidic and lower blood pH, when they reach high levels. To maintain blood pH levels acetoacetate is excreted through the kidney's and also the lungs (as acetone - resulting in the fruity odor on the breath of those in ketosis). Diabetic Keto-Acidosis is most likely to occur when individuals are sick, stressed, have blood glucose over 300 or in women, who are pregnant, with any type of diabetes.

In those of us who are not insulin dependent diabetics it is normal to produce Ketones when blood glucose levels begin to drop. For those with insulin dependent diabetes, the production of Ketones begins when there is insufficient insulin present to transport glucose into cells (regardless of how much glucose is present).

For insulin dependent diabetics, when there is plenty of glucose available but no insulin then Ketoacidosis can develop. Diabetic Keto-Acidosis is the most common cause of death for young people diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes.

This makes analysis of ketone levels useful for treatment of insulin dependent diabetes.

The main ketone bodies produced by our bodies are:

  • Beta-hydroxybutyrate – used in blood tests for ketones
  • Acetoacetate – used in urine tests for ketones
  • Acetone – target for breath tests for ketones (produced from breakdown of acetoacetate)

BetaHydroxyButyrate and Acetoacetate transported in the blood. Acetoacetate breaks down into acetone in the lungs and is excreted in exhaled breath – where it can be measured.

Exhaled breath contains numerous components (400+ ?). These components come, primarily, from the air we breath and waste produced from metabolism within our bodies. The largest proportions present in our exhaled air are: … CO2, H2O,

During Exhaltion – first portion of breath is from our mouth and trachea, the next portion of breath is from our bronchi and bronchioli, the final of breath comes from our avioli.

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  • 1 × MQ-3 Gas Sensor
  • 1 × MQ-138 Gas Sensor
  • 1 × TGS - 822 Gas Sensor
  • 1 × BME 280 Enviornmental Sensor Adafruit Breakout for the BME 280 sensor, measures temperature, pressure and humidity
  • 1 × DHT-11 Sensor Temperature and Humidity sensor. Using to verify exhaled breath temp and humdity, as well as efficacy of dessicants.

  • Test Chamber Build part 2

    Tom Meehan09/22/2019 at 23:22 0 comments

    My test chamber is nearly done. The main portion that I'm adding is a port to introduce precisely measured volumes of acetone (I can't drill the hole for it until I've re-checked my calculations).

    I finally received my MQ138 sensor, it took a little longer than  expected due to few suppliers actually carrying it (Digikey, Mouser and Newark do not). In addition, it cost's considerably more than other commonly available gas sensors (instead of $5-10 it more like $40-50).

    For my test chamber, I've completed the surround for insulation, heater pad on the bottom and finished all the wiring for the sensors, fan and heater.  All wiring ports are sealed with silicone.

  • Semiconductor Gas Sensors for Acetone

    Tom Meehan09/04/2019 at 01:12 0 comments

    Presently, I am testing the following gas sensors. I'm including the sensitivity graphs from the data sheets:

    MQ3

    MQ138

    TGS822

  • Test Chamber for Validating Sensors

    Tom Meehan09/04/2019 at 01:06 0 comments

    Semiconductor gas sensors are relatively inexpensive but they come with one caveat - you have to calibrate them with known concentrations of the gas(es) you are using the sensor to detect.  It is one thing to detect if a gas is present but if determining its actual concentration is the objective (which it certainly is, in this instance) then we need to test each sensor against different known concentrations to determine their sensitivity to to our target gas (acetone) as well as the relationship between sensor values and gas concentration.

    For this chamber, I have a number of design considerations:

    • Needs to be air tight
    • Temperature controlled
    • Made from materials that are non-reactive (and minimally absorbent) to acetone.
    • Reasonable size - big enough so that it is  convenient to measure out acetone to place in chamber, but not so big that controlling temperature, etc., becomes a burden.
    • Include desiccant to maintain low humidity (non-reactive to acetone and ethanol)
    • Environmental sensors to determine temperature humidity and atmospheric pressure
    • Continuous air circulation within chamber

    Presently, I am finishing a chamber design and build that uses an inexpensive glass aquarium (I did remove the upper plastic rim since I believe it is made from ABS - very absorbent to acetone) and mounting sensors and fan inside, along with a watch glass for the evaporation of acetone.  In addition, a Calorique heating element external to the tank and insulation surrounding the whole structure.

    The sensors that I am currently including are: BME280 (for temperature, humidity and barometric pressure), MQ 3 gas sensor, MQ138 gas sensor and TGS822 gas sensor.

    The chamber has a silicone gasket (fabricated) to seal it. Wiring is routed into the tank via holes drilled in the glass and sealed with silicone.

    Below are a few pictures of my progress so far:

    Keep tuned, I'll have additional updates tomorrow!

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