Development of a photothermal non-invasive in-vehicle alcohol detection biosensor

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The development and application of a mid-infrared (MIR) two-wavelength laser-based biosensor (named Wavelength-Modulated Differential Photothermal Radiometry, WM-DPTR) is proposed as a fast, noninvasive all optical blood alcohol diagnostic monitor for use in the fight against drunk driving in Canada and potentially world-wide, in collaboration with our industrial partner, Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (ACS), Etobicoke, ON. Our previous research using a skin-glucose-blood serum phantom diffused into skin demonstrated that WM-DPTR has the highest sensitivity to glucose amongst noninvasive techniques to-date. Preliminary testing of WM-DPTR with a similar skin-ethanol-blood serum phantom configuration showed that similar performance should be expected in the case of ethanol. Project goal is to develop a laboratory prototype of an in-vehicle WM-DPTR alcohol interlock system. A major part of this CRD Proposal is to replace the commercial two-quantum cascade laser (QCL)-module in the biosensor with one-laser-module for substantial price decrease at commercial-level (~ 500) quantities. ACS is also collaborating with the University of Waterloo for the development of inexpensive (~$500) and compact mid-IR lasers for supporting the commercialization of WM-DPTR technology.