Breath analysis device

Claim 1

A dual breath analysis device for testing and analysing an exhaled breath sample, said device comprising: a housing; a sample port coupled to said housing for receiving said exhaled breath sample and being connectable to a mouthpiece apparatus; a fuel cell for generating a breath alcohol signal in response to said exhaled breath sample; a dual pumping system coupled to said sample port for pumping said exhaled breath sample to said fuel cell in a passive test mode and for coupling said sample port to said fuel cell for a person to provide said exhaled breath sample at a positive pressure using said mouthpiece apparatus in a direct test mode; a pressure transducer volumetric measurement system coupled between said sample port and said fuel cell for measuring said exhaled breath sample in said direct test mode; control means coupled to said dual pumping system, said pressure transducer volumetric measurement system and said fuel cell, said control means for actuating said dual pumping system and for receiving a volumetric measurement from said pressure transducer volumetric measurement system and said breath alcohol signal from said fuel cell, said control means for performing a pass/fail test on a first breath alcohol signal obtained from a first breath sample without using said mouthpiece apparatus in said passive test mode; in response to detecting the presence of alcohol in said first breath sample by performing said pass/fail test on said first blood alcohol signal, said control means accurately measuring BAC of a second breath alcohol signal obtained from a second breath sample comprising deep alveolar air obtained using said mouthpiece apparatus when said volumetric measurement exceeds a prescribed volume in said direct test mode.