Remote Blood Alcohol Analyzer

描述(由申请人提供)：物理光学公司(POC)建议开发一种基于全光纤红外(IR)呼吸分析(IRSBA)的新型远程血液酒精分析仪(REBAA)，以满足在磁共振成像(MRI)环境中监测血液酒精浓度(BAC)的关键需求(06-A-105)。在MRI中测量BAC对于更好地了解酒精对大脑功能的影响至关重要；具体地说，迫切需要一种与MRI兼容的设备，能够在MRI(脑成像)实验期间连续监测BAC的变化。建议的REBAA创新性地将成熟的IRSBA(用于执法)与光纤技术相结合，以便在MR环境中来回传输IR。位于测试对象旁边的非磁性气室收集测试对象呼出的空气并对其进行红外光谱分析。该设计将红外源和询问电子设备移出MR环境。用户界面显示BAC并且还连续地将实时BAC上载到正在处理功能磁共振成像(FMRI)的MRI系统或计算机。REBAA可在核磁共振环境中连续测量生物量，其测量精度和范围(0.00至0.06%BAC[g/210 L]；0至3.00 mg/L)可与商业IRSBA仪器相媲美。它的模块化特性允许与MRI系统兼容和轻松集成，由于光学气室非常接近测试对象，因此不会出现呼吸不适/障碍。该SBIR项目的第一阶段将在概念验证原型中演示全光学IRSBA测量的可行性，并演示BAC的精确测量。第一阶段的研究结果将导致第二阶段的全功能Rebaa原型，该原型将为临床前测试做好准备，这将为第三阶段的临床测试打开大门。 与公共健康相关：过度饮酒每年给美国造成的总经济成本估计为1850亿美元，其中近一半的成本来自与酒精相关的残疾造成的生产力损失。更好、更准确地了解酒精对大脑功能的影响，可以通过使用与磁共振环境(如功能磁共振成像)兼容的血液酒精分析仪来持续监测血液酒精浓度，从而更好地了解酒精对大脑的影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Remote Blood Alcohol Analyzer (ReBAA) based on all-optical fiber-based infrared (IR) spectrometry breath analysis (IRSBA) to meet a critical need for monitoring blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment (06-A-105). Measuring BAC during MRI is critical in gaining better understanding of the effects of alcohol on brain function; specifically, there is an acute need for an MRI-compatible device capable of continuously monitoring the changes in BAC during MRI (brain-imaging) experiments. The proposed ReBAA innovatively combines proven IRSBA (used in law enforcement) with fiber optic technology to transmit IR to and from the MR environment. A nonmagnetic gas chamber, located next to the test subject, collects and performs IR spectroscopy on the test subject's exhaled air. This design moves the IR source and interrogation electronics outside of the MR environment. A user interface displays the BAC and also uploads the real-time BAC continuously to the MRI system or computer that is processing the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The ReBAA offers continuous measurement of BAC in an MRI environment and offers a measurement accuracy and range (0.00 to 0.06% BAC [g/210 L]; 0 to 3.00 mg/L) that is comparable to commercial IRSBA instrumentation. Its modular nature allows compatibility and ease of integration with an MRI system with no breathing discomfort/obstruction because of the close proximity of the optical gas chamber to the test subject. Phase I of this SBIR project will demonstrate feasibility of the all-optical IRSBA measurement in a proof-of-concept prototype and demonstrate precision measurement of BAC. Research findings from Phase I will lead to a fully functional ReBAA prototype in Phase II that will be ready for preclinical testing that will open the doors for clinical testing in Phase III. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The excessive consumption of alcohol resulted in a total economical cost to the United States of an estimated $185 billion annually, with almost half of the cost being from lost productivity due to alcohol-related disabilities. Better and more precise understanding of alcohol's effects on brain functioning can be accomplished through the use a blood alcohol analyzer compatible with a magnetic resonance environment such as functional magnetic resonance imaging to continuously monitor blood alcohol concentration and thus facilitate better understanding of alcohols effects on the brain.