Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2022
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Biomedical Engineering
First Advisor
Troy Drewry
Second Advisor
Glenn Walker
Third Advisor
Thomas Werfel
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Hyperammonemia is a life-threatening metabolic condition that is characterized by elevated levels of ammonia concentrations in the blood. Resulting from serious conditions such as chronic kidney disease or liver failure, the limited functions of the liver and kidney lead to an increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) within the body. Currently, there are a wide variety of treatments for this condition, ranging from various medications to surgical procedures such as liver transplants. However, there is a lack of variety in diagnostic testing methods to determine a patient’s ammonia levels. In most cases, patients will need to schedule a doctor’s appointment to perform a blood test; blood samples are sent to a lab to then be analyzed for ammonia concentrations. Though this method is sufficient, it is often extremely complicated, costly, and time-consuming. Moreover, patients with hemophobia or sensitivity to being pricked often find this testing procedure extremely uncomfortable. Thus, our biomedical engineering senior design team sought to develop a non-invasive screening device that detects ammonia in real-time. There is a reasonable correlation between blood urea concentration and mouth-exhaled ammonia concentration. The device contains an ammonia sensor that allows for the detection and display of ammonia levels through mouth exhalation. This sensor, when in the presence of ammonia, rises in conductivity along with the rising gas concentration. With the device, a detailed instruction pamphlet will be included which will provide safe operating instructions for the user. The device is currently in development as proof of concept. With sufficient funding, resources, and research the potential for more accurate detection sensors is viable.
Recommended Citation
Wright, Emily C. and Sivalingam, Ashwin M., "Increasing Accessibility to Monitoring Ammonia Levels in the Body Through Development of a Novel Point-Of-Care Breath Ammonia Diagnostic Device" (2022). Honors Theses. 2692.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2692
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.