Wearable Multi-Gas Technologies for Monitoring Personal Air Quality

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Frequent and fast assessment of air quality is critical to identify and address potential exposure to toxic gases that may impact health. However, current methods for monitoring toxic gases have significant disadvantages that discourage users. Platypus Technologies has developed a customizable solution for quantitative assessment of gaseous air pollutants which is simple and low-cost for the consumer market, yet it is robust and highly accurate, allowing for applications in professional industrial hygiene. Our novel platform for detection and measurement of toxic gases consist of three components: (1) disposable sensor chips that produce an optical change when exposed to a specific toxic gas, (2) a reusable, wearable electronic badge, with wireless capabilities, that reads the optical state of the sensor chips and alerts the user of the presence of noxious gases, and (3) a software application for remote communication with the badge, data visualization and data logging. This multi-gas monitoring platform produces visual, auditory, and vibratory alarms when noxious levels of toxic gases are detected, enables accurate measurements of gaseous air pollutants, allows for easy documentation of exposure data, and does not require maintenance or calibration. Having developed successful prototypes of the technology, we aim to leverage prior investments in the company and, through this Fast-Track SBIR project, finalize development to accelerate commercialization of these technologies. We focus the next phase of our work on selected gases relevant for air quality at home, outdoors, and in the workplace: formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, and peracetic acid. However, successful completion of the goals defined on this project will facilitate subsequent commercialization of additional sensor chips for other air pollutants (e.g. ozone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorine, etc.). In Phase I, we aim to develop repeatable and scalable fabrication processes that enable measurements of toxic gases with accuracy requirements in line with federal and industrial standards. In Phase II, we aim to demonstrate robust device performance over diverse field environments, and to assess user acceptance of the technology. Platypus Technologies aims to usher a new paradigm in air quality monitoring by offering simple, inexpensive, and reliable tools to measure toxic gases. These technologies will enable fast, frequent air quality monitoring that could lead to improved knowledge of toxic gas exposure at home and in the workplace, and in turn accelerate decision-making on personal air quality.