Group to Develop Alcohol-Sensor Device

A contract to develop a device that can continuously detect the presence and level of alcohol in the human body has been announced by SpectRx, Inc. (Norcross, GA, USA), Boston University School of Public Health (MA, USA), and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CA, USA).

The development program will be coordinated by SpectRx and will be based on the company's laser-based interstitial fluid (ISF) technology, also used in a device for continuous glucose monitoring. An inexpensive laser painlessly creates four microscopic holes, or micropores, in the outer dead layer of skin through which a stream of ISF is drawn continuously into a patch and tested for alcohol. The device will be used to detect alcohol abuse in people with critical jobs, such as airline pilots, or for use in the criminal justice system. Results would be transmitted to a remote monitoring station.

The US$1.5 million contract was awarded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). SpectRx and Childrens Hospital will be performing most of the work during the first two years, and Boston University will conduct clinical trials during the latter part of the program.

"This contract is further validation of our unique method for collecting interstitial fluid and its potential to serve as a platform for multiple sensing and monitoring products,” said Mark A. Samuels, chairman and CEO of SpectRx.




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SpectRx
B.U. School of PH
Childrens HosP, LA