SpectRx正在开发检测和测量体内酒精的设备

 
一种新设备被设计用于持续监测体内是否存在酒精以及酒精的水平，用于检测关键工作岗位的酒精滥用，例如航空飞行员或者司法系统。检测结果能够传送到远程检测站。

这种正在开发的新设备可以检测组织间隙内液体(ISF)的酒精水平，该液体存在于体内细胞周围。使用并不昂贵的激光在皮肤死亡的外层打出4个微孔，通过这些孔将ISF持续吸出到一块纱布上，进行酒精检测。这种微孔只比人的头发大一点点，激光的自限功能确保激光只穿透外层皮肤。

SpectRx(Norcross, GA, USA)正在开发这种探头，已经将该公司自己的ISF采集技术用于酒精检测。洛杉矶儿童医院(CA, USA)正在开发数据处理、分析和整合系统。SpectRx计划将该设备商品化，同时计划为持续血糖监测开发类似的用户设备。

Device to Detect and Measure Alcohol in the Body
 
A new device is being designed to continuously monitor the presence and level of alcohol in the body and to detect alcohol abuse in critical job functions, such as those of airline pilots or those in the criminal justice system. Results will be transmitted to a remote monitoring station.

The new device being developed tests for alcohol levels in interstitial fluid (ISF), the fluid that surrounds cells in the body. An inexpensive laser painlessly makes four microscopic holes, or micropores, in the outer dead layer of the skin through which ISF is drawn continuously into a patch, which is tested for alcohol. The micropores are just slightly larger than a strand of human hair and a self-limiting feature of the laser allows the pores to penetrate only the outer layer of skin.

SpectRx (Norcross, GA, USA) is developing the sensor and has adapted its ISF acquisition technology for alcohol measurement. The Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CA, USA) is developing the data processing, analysis, and integration systems. SpectRx plans to commercialize the device, and also plans to develop a similar consumer device for continuous glucose monitoring.