Monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in both exhaled breath and atmosphere plays an important role in research environmental sensing and person healthcare. The measurement of end-tidal CO2 can be used for evaluating systemic metabolism perfusion and ventilation and serves as a non-invasive and simple method to diagnose and evaluate the states of COPD asthma and diabetic ketoacidosis. Monitoring atmospheric CO2 is important for indoor air quality which is associated with sick building syndrome. Unfortunately most CO2 sensors are based on infrared technology which is bulky expensive sensitive to humidity and requires frequent calibration. Thus current CO2 sensors are limited in use to highly controlled environments such as hospitals. Researchers at the Biodesign Institute of Arizona State University have developed a small low-cost and easy to use multifunctional detector for monitoring breath and atmospheric CO2 concentrations. This detector utilizes an ultrafast reversible sensitive and selective nanocomposite sensor element having a long shelf life to enable repeated use. Portability is a key component of this device; it can be used anywhere and at any time providing a more complete and accurate assessment of disease status or indoor air quality. Moreover it can be synchronized with mobile devices so that users can have access to real-time data that can be shared with a physician. This portable CO2 detector can be used to provide accurate assessment of indoor air quality or a patient\\\'s disease status at any time making it highly useful and valuable. Applications: 1) CO2 detection 2) Evaluating systemic metabolism perfusion and ventilation 3) Predicting severity of asthma COPD & diabetic ketoacidosis 4) Respiratory management of COPD and asthma 5) Evaluating effectiveness of treatments 6) Monitoring indoor air quality 7) Can be used in combination with other complementary sensors (spirometry breath biomarkers heart rate etc.) to provide integrative health solutions
1) Small (pocket-sized) low cost and easy to use 2) Highly stable with negligible cross-sensitivity to other gasses in the atmosphere 3) Can be synchronized with mobile devices (acting as user interfaces) for real time data access 4) Ultrafast reversible sensitive and selective nanocomposites sensor element