The Optical Breathalyzer

This internship will enable a targeted collaboration to be developed between Alcohol Countermeasure Systems Corp. and Trent University, associated with designing and constructing a new generation of alloptical breath alcohol sensors. The high-sensitivity, high-selectivity breathalysers that will emerge from this collaboration are expected to become a valued diagnostic tool within many sectors, from professional to recreational. Portable breathalysers are currently based on chemically-induced changes, while an all-optical device could extend the existing advantages of these devices to include higher sensitivity, increased reliability, and a longer working life. ACS Corp has been a leading manufacturer of alcohol sensing instruments for more than 20 years, with a very active industrially-related research program. This internship, funding in part by MITACS, will optimally combine the output from university-based research with that from industry to enable a speedy development of a product that will undoubtedly have significant commercial potential.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Ralph C. Shiell

Student:

Bryan van der Ende

Partner:

Alcohol Countermeasure Systems Corp.

Discipline:

Physics / Astronomy

Sector:

University:

Trent University

Program: