TIME Best Inventions 2006

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MEDICINE INVENTIONS

E-MAIL

Bright Idea
Identifying drunk drivers could get a lot quicker and easier after a new infrared alcohol test--developed by an Albuquerque, N.M., start-up--is launched next year. Using the fact that body tissue with alcohol in it absorbs more light than normal tissue, the device detects alcohol levels by shining infrared light on the subject's skin and analyzing tissue based on how it reflects that light. The test (which doesn't have an official name yet) takes 60 sec. to produce results vs. 20 min. for a Breathalyzer test and days for a standard blood test.

Inventor: TruTouch Technologies
Availability: January 2007
To learn more visit trutouchtechnologies.com

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