Transdermal Portable Alcohol Monitor and Methods for Using Such

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide alcohol monitoring devices, and methods for using such. As one example, an alcohol monitoring device is disclosed that includes a device body, an alcohol sensor, and a liquid cartridge. The alcohol sensor is associated with the device body, and relies on a liquid supply to perform an alcohol measurement on a subject. The liquid cartridge is replaceably coupled to the device body and provides the liquid supply to the alcohol sensor.

1 . A monitoring device, wherein the system comprises:
 a multi-use monitoring device, wherein the multi-use monitoring device includes:
 a device body and a sensor housing extending away from the device body; 
 a location monitor disposed in the device body and operable to identify a location of a subject wearing the multi-use monitoring device; 
 an alcohol sensor disposed in the sensor housing, wherein the alcohol sensor detects an alcohol presence near the subject wearing the multi-use monitoring device; and 
 a transmitter operable to communicate the alcohol usage and the location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol sensor is a transdermal alcohol sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing is connected to the device body via a force element. 
     
     
         4 . The monitoring device of  claim 3 , wherein the force element is a spring. 
     
     
         5 . The monitoring device of  claim 3 , wherein the force element is a torsion hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The monitoring device of  claim 3 , wherein the force element is operable to press the sensor housing toward the subject and away from the device body. 
     
     
         7 . The monitoring device of  claim 3 , wherein the force element is operable to press the alcohol sensor toward the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device further comprises:
 a securing device operable to secure the device body to the subject.   
     
     
         9 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device further includes:
 a proximity detector operable to detect whether the device body is within a desired proximity of the subject.   
     
     
         10 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further includes at least one tamper sensor, and wherein the at least one tamper sensor is operable to detect unauthorized tampering with the device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for maintaining alcohol monitoring equipment, the method comprising:
 providing a portable alcohol monitoring device, the device comprising:
 a device body; 
 an alcohol sensor, wherein the alcohol sensor is associated with the device body, and wherein the alcohol sensor relies on a liquid supply to perform an alcohol measurement on a subject; and 
 a liquid cartridge; wherein the liquid cartridge is replaceably coupled to the device body and provides the liquid supply to the alcohol sensor; 
   removing a tamper resistant hardware element, wherein the tamper resistant hardware element is damaged;   removing the liquid cartridge;   replacing the liquid cartridge; and   replacing the tamper resistant hardware.   
     
     
         12 . A method for deploying an alcohol monitoring device, the method comprising:
 providing a portable alcohol monitoring device, the portable alcohol monitoring device comprising:
 a device body and a sensor housing extending away from the device body; 
 an alcohol sensor disposed in the sensor housing, wherein the alcohol sensor detects an alcohol presence near the subject wearing the multi-use monitoring device; 
 a transmitter operable to communicate the alcohol presence; and 
 a securing device attached to the device body; and 
   securing the portable alcohol monitoring device to the subject using the securing device such that a surface of the sensor housing is in contact with the subject while an area of the device body near the sensor housing is spaced apart from the subject.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the alcohol sensor is a transdermal alcohol sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor housing is connected to the device body via a force element. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the force element is selected from a group consisting of: a spring and a torsion hinge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the force element is operable to press the sensor housing toward the subject and away from the device body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the securing device is a strap. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the device further includes at least one tamper sensor, and wherein the at least one tamper sensor is operable to detect unauthorized tampering with the device.