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A compact breath gas sensor system based on terahertz/millimeter-wave gas spectroscopy

  • Nick Rothbart EMAIL logo , Klaus Schmalz , Rembert Koczulla and Heinz-Wilhelm Hübers
Published/Copyright: September 26, 2022
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Abstract

We demonstrate a full-cycle breath gas sensor system based on terahertz/millimeter-wave gas spectroscopy. The sensor consists of a transmitter and receiver working around 250 GHz based on SiGe BiCMOS technology. Typical detection thresholds are in the ppm range depending on the respective molecule. The data analysis provides partial pressures of the investigated molecules by fitting of spectra which are measured by wavelength modulation. Beside the spectroscopic measurement and the data analysis, a full cycle of breath analysis includes the sampling and the conditioning of the sample tubes. The full cycle takes about 35 min per sample in average. As the system is compact and easy to operate, it allows for on-site analysis of breath samples in medical laboratories or hospitals.


Corresponding author: Nick Rothbart, Department of Physics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; and German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Optical Sensor Systems, Berlin, Germany, E-mail:

Funding source: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Award Identifier / Grant number: SPP 1857—Electromagnetic Sensors for Life Sciences (ESSENCE)

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: This research was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), SPP 1857—Electromagnetic Sensors for Life Sciences (ESSENCE).

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Received: 2022-06-23
Accepted: 2022-09-07
Published Online: 2022-09-26
Published in Print: 2022-12-16

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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