We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Novel Breathalyzer Can Detect Marijuana Use

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 19 Sep 2019
Print article
Image: A prototype breathalyzed can measure THC in a person\'s breath (Photo courtesy of PITT).
Image: A prototype breathalyzed can measure THC in a person\'s breath (Photo courtesy of PITT).
An innovative hand-held breathalyzer can detect the levels of various breath compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in the marijuana plant.

Developed at the University of Pittsburgh (PITT; PA, USA), the hand-held breathalyzer is composed of semiconductor-enriched single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs) ink deposited in a dielectrophoresis process. The prototype device is similar to an alcohol breathalyzer, with a plastic casing, protruding mouthpiece, and digital display. Molecules in the breath, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), ethanol, methanol, acetone, water, and THC, bind to the chemiresistor nanotechnology sensors.

Enhanced selectivity toward THC over other, more volatile breath components was achieved by delaying the sensor reading, thus allowing their desorption from the surface. Once a THC molecule binds to the surface of the s-SWCNTs, it changes their electrical properties; the speed of electrical current recovery indicates whether THC is present, similar to or better than gold standard mass spectrometry. Machine learning (ML) algorithms were utilized to improve the selective detection of THC with better accuracy. A study describing the new breathalyzer was published on July 19, 2019, in ACS Sensors.

“In legal states, you'll see road signs that say ‘Drive High, Get a DUI’, but there has not been a reliable and practical way to enforce that,” said senior author professor of chemistry Alexander Star, PhD. “There are debates in the legal community about what levels of THC would amount to a DUI, but creating such a device is an important first step toward making sure people don't partake and drive.”

Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is composed of dried buds and leaves of varieties of the Cannabis sativa plant. The two most active components in marijuana are THC, and cannabidiol (CBD). THC seems to cause the euphoria reported by users, and helps relieve pain and nausea and reduce inflammation. CBD can help treat seizures, reduce anxiety and paranoia, and counteract the THC high.

Related Links:
University of Pittsburgh

Gold Member
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
Transvaginal Tube
LiNA McCartney Tube

Print article

Channels

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: NTT and Olympus have begun the world\'s first joint demonstration experiment of a cloud endoscopy system (Photo courtesy of Olympus)

Cloud Endoscopy System Enables Real-Time Image Processing on the Cloud

Endoscopes, which are flexible tubes inserted into the body's natural openings for internal examination and biopsy collection, are becoming increasingly vital in medical diagnostics. Their minimal invasiveness... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II high-sensitivity troponin assay has been developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Polymedco)

POC Myocardial Infarction Test Delivers Results in 17 Minutes

Chest pain is the second leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits by adults in the United States, generating over 7 million visits annually. In the event of a suspected heart attack, physicians... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.