Queensland Examin breathalyser

[IndepthDiver]

As a few members have requested, I'm creating a new thread for my post about the recent news article on the Queensland Examin breathalyser. Some are wondering:
a) why the Queensland breathalyser received a $650k government grant when Biotome (Brainchip's partner) only received a $20k government grant, and
b) if the breathalyser is a competitor or an Akida embedded product.

New breathalyser COVID-19 test developed in Queensland

www.9news.com.au

a) Grant funding
Recently there was an article doing the rounds which inferred Biotome received a $20,000 grant from the WA government. Some were wondering why Biotome only received a $20,000 grant while this new Queensland breathalyser received a $650,000 grant.

Just to clarify Biotome was given a $225,000 research grant by the WA government (this is in the original grant funding documentation, see bottom entry on the table screenshot below). The $20k grant value seems to be incorrect and IMO is an administrative error, as the funding comes from the same source as the $225,000 grant (the WA State government).

Secondly, the $650k grant appears to be a federal grant. The federal government is bigger than State so typically federal grants are higher value. Biotome has only received a State grant but there is always the possibility of them receiving a federal one in the future.

Future Health Research and Innovation Fund - FHRI Focus Grants - COVID-19​

Media statement announcing a COVID-19-related research, innovation and infrastructure funding recipients
fhrifund.health.wa.gov.au

Misleading $20k grant

Precision-immunology assisted by on-chip machine learning to create a test for neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2

research-repository.uwa.edu.au

b) Breathalyser
There is no indication from the article that the Queensland Examin breathalyser is an Akida embedded product. Which leaves the possibility that it may be a competitor to the Akida-embedded Nanose breathalyser.

Here's what we know about the Queensland Examin breathalyser: *Note that I have updated this today based on further research

The time frame for getting results back by this device is significantly longer than is the case for Nanose. The below article indicates the Queensland device takes 60 seconds to return a result.

It's not clear if the analysis is being done on the device itself. Given it takes 60 seconds to get a QR code result back, this either means:
-it's being sent off to the cloud for analysis, OR
-it's being analysed very slowly on the device.

There's no indication of power consumption. Assuming it's battery operated, how long will it last till needing to be charged?

How does it compare to the Nanose device?
From memory the Nanose device can return results back in the order of ~3 seconds. An additional 30 seconds is required to use gas to purge the device. This is very different to waiting 60 seconds for a QR code. Nanose also doesn't need an internet connection so can be operated anywhere at any time as it is self-sufficient. We also know an Akida chip can run at maximum capacity on a AAA battery for 6 months, which indicates a Nanose device powered by Akida would be able to last this long as well. If this Queensland device isn't powered by Akida, and if it potentially using most of it's power to send data back and forth to the internet it will not last that long.
In short, Nanose is a significantly superior device.

Further information about the sensor / device operation can be found in the Youtube video below. This was uploaded 5 months ago and features Prof. Massoud Tabib-Azar, the Utah university partner of the Examin breathalyser.

 

[uiux]

Thanks @IndepthDiver - great post

 

[IndepthDiver]

Something strange just happened to my previous post. I edited it to provide an improved analysis based on a recent Youtube video featuring the Professor behind it and his sensor but all the updates seem to have disappeared.

The key takeaways are that the Queensland device seems limited to COVID and it's not clear if it needs external heating or the like. The Nanose device is much more versatile due to the gold nano-particles, is not limited to just COVID (the Queensland one appears to be), plus with Akida it can learn new diseases on the fly. It appears to be a much better device but further details are required to verify this.

The video is below. If I can be bothered I might post the aditional details at a later date.


Edit: some of it is showing fine, just the part on the breathalyser didn't update

 

[Bravo]

There was an article the other day in which a Melbourne respiratory expert who is also working on a different breath test said people could already be using breath tests if the government supported projects like his, not with research grants but with purchase orders.

I thought this was a very interesting comment to make.

If this is the case, shouldn't we all pitch in for one massive purchase order from Biotome? Then once the devices arrive, we could gift them to aged care facilities and the like, where they would help the most vulnerable people. This would be what I call a win-win-win situation.

Just a random thought...

Australian designer of COVID breath-test frustrated government isn't making purchase orders

Non-intrusive coronavirus breath tests could be made in Australia and available in months but a developer says the government needs to buy them first.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GrandRhino]

There was an article the other day in which a Melbourne respiratory expert who is also working on a different breath test said people could already be using breath tests if the government supported projects like his, not with research grants but with purchase orders.

I thought this was a very interesting comment to make.

If this is the case, shouldn't we all pitch in for one massive purchase order from Biotome? Then once the devices arrive, we could gift them to aged care facilities and the like, where they would help the most vulnerable people. This would be what I call a win-win-win situation.

Just a random thought...

Australian designer of COVID breath-test frustrated government isn't making purchase orders

Non-intrusive coronavirus breath tests could be made in Australia and available in months but a developer says the government needs to buy them first.

www.abc.net.au

Awesome idea Bravo, I would like a few myself too for family.
Did we ever get any indication/estimate of how much a device could cost?

 

[Fact Finder]

Awesome idea Bravo, I would like a few myself too for family.
Did we ever get any indication/estimate of how much a device could cost?

No but I did some research on Alcohol testers and they ranged from $70 to $800.

In a relative sense the sensor is likely the expensive component so my guess is around $350 to $520. But very much a guess and as an approved medical device could be much higher????

If you take a RAT at $20 a test it would at these price points not take long before it would have paid for itself but still a significant outlay.

To encourage mass take up would probably need some sort of government support.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[GrandRhino]

Thanks FF! Now that you say it I remember you mentioning that a little while ago. I'd better start putting some $ aside for when the time comes

I think you're right though, it would be on the higher end where doctors / hospitals / clinics could buy some to use, while we use up all of the RAT stock and everyone gets used to the idea of a breath test.

It would be very interesting if a large South Korean company decided to include it in their mobile phones

 

[Fact Finder]

Thanks FF! Now that you say it I remember you mentioning that a little while ago. I'd better start putting some $ aside for when the time comes

I think you're right though, it would be on the higher end where doctors / hospitals / clinics could buy some to use, while we use up all of the RAT stock and everyone gets used to the idea of a breath test.

It would be very interesting if a large South Korean company decided to include it in their mobile phones

Yes I think you are right phones are the way for this technology to get into the most hands in double quick time.

When you think about it mobile phone companies thrive on customers trading up to a new phone and fabricate improvements to make it happen. Just imagine the uptake in the market if a phone that could do this was released.

Perhaps the NaNose delay is all about getting it to function in phones????

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[Bravo]

Yes I think you are right phones are the way for this technology to get into the most hands in double quick time.

When you think about it mobile phone companies thrive on customers trading up to a new phone and fabricate improvements to make it happen. Just imagine the uptake in the market if a phone that could do this was released.

Perhaps the NaNose delay is all about getting it to function in phones????

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

Hi Fact,

It appears that Samsung already have a patent for a mobile device with a built in breath sensor. This article dates all the way back to 2017.

Future phones could include a built-in breathalyzer

This might be the most useful new smartphone feature yet.

www.dailydot.com

Future Samsung phones could include a built-in breathalyzer​

This might be the most useful new smartphone feature yet.​

Tech

Published Aug 15, 2017 Updated May 22, 2021, 8:30 pm CDT



Samsung may have just come up with the most useful new smartphone feature yet. While its Galaxy Note line of phones includes a stylus, a recently published patent filing shows Samsung could be working on a stylus-type device that also acts as a mic—and as a breathalyzer.




The patent, titled “Portable Device Having Exhalation Sensing Function,” describes a mobile device with a built-in gas detector. When you make a call with the device, the gas detector extends outward. Then, it can automatically sense your breath as you exhale.

Image via Free Patents Online
The idea of a portable breathalyzer isn’t new. There are a number of portable breathalyzers available today. There are even models that work with your iOS or Android phone. The problem with these, though, is it’s still one more device to carry in your purse or pocket.


Samsung’s solution is more convenient, and also more subtle. It will automatically sense your exhalation when you make a phone call, which is key, according to Samsung’s patent description. If the device does monitor blood alcohol levels, it could alert you that you’re more inebriated than you thought—and not just when you choose to test your BAC. This could help prompt you to leave your car after that post-work happy hour and take a Lyft home instead.

Image via Free Patents Online
In its patent, Samsung never specifically says its mobile device would sense alcohol on your breath—it’s just a “gas sensor.” So it’s possible that it could sense a range of other issues. Breath sensing can be used to detect some forms of cancer, Crohn’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, for example. It can also detect respiratory diseases, and heck, perhaps even social nemesis halitosis. Imagine knowing definitely that your breath doesn’t stink before approaching a date—that would be amazing.


As Patently Apple points out, the way Samsung implements this breath-sensing microphone is a lot like its Galaxy Note series’ S-Pen styluses. Perhaps we’ll see this breath sensor in a Samsung phone a few years from now.

 

[Bravo]

What's really intersting is when you click on the "detect some forms of cancer" link it then takes you to this article, which shows a video link to Na-Nose:

Detecting Disease Through Breath Prof. Hossam Haick Technion​

Simple breath test can detect cancer and 16 other diseases

Ancient Greek physicians figured that our breath was a strong health indicator, but researchers from the Israel Institute of Technology have proven just how true that is. They developed a device that uses nanoparticles to identify 17 different diseases, including lung cancer and Parkinson's...

www.engadget.com

 

[uiux]

@IndepthDiver it might be worth breaking out all the Biotome research into its own thread so we can track progress and have a compendium of info for it