Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 47 posts

Re: One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

#11

Post by jdiez17 »

frik wrote: post #10

What kind of sensor technology can "smell"? I mean the CMOS was a break through for image sensors. There are air quality sensors and various kind of gas sensors. But what sensor tech can be used to smell odor? There are dogs that smell drugs, cancer, and what not - so "just" a sensor is needed to get the data in difital format. [btw NYT article page crashes my mobile browser mid article, what are they doing? Their si…

Odours are just molecules that are detected by the cells in our noses, and it's possible to identify them with various techniques. You've probably heard of mass spectrometry, which tells you the mass to charge ratio of the molecules that are present in a sample. You can figure out which molecules they are by looking up the m/z value in a database -- but mass spectrometers are pretty bulky.

There's also a technique called field-asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry, which gives you a less direct indication of the molecules you're looking at, but FAIMS can be miniaturized into a silicon chip, and that is what Owlstone has done. Here's a bit more info about FAIMS: https://www.owlstonemedical.com/science-technology/faims-tec...

edit: odours are not necessarily organic molecules

Re: One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

#12

Post by tiatia »

jdiez17 wrote: post #11
frik wrote: post #10

What kind of sensor technology can "smell"? I mean the CMOS was a break through for image sensors. There are air quality sensors and various kind of gas sensors. But what sensor tech can be used to smell odor? There are dogs that smell drugs, cancer, and what not - so "just" a sensor is needed to get the data in difital format. [btw NYT article page crashes my mobile browser mid article, what are they doing? Their si…

Odours are just molecules that are detected by the cells in our noses, and it's possible to identify them with various techniques. You've probably heard of mass spectrometry, which tells you the mass to charge ratio of the molecules that are present in a sample. You can figure out which molecules they are by looking up the m/z value in a database -- but mass spectrometers are pretty bulky. There's also a technique ca…

"Odours are just organic molecules"

Yeah. Right. This is why Yeah. Right. This is why H2S has no smell. (in fact, some claim is has not and we smell something else).

"that are detected by the cells in our noses, and it's possible to identify them with various techniques."

Well, I think this was not the question. Yes, the mentioned start-up in this thread (owlstonemedical) uses a "Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometer", might work, but I am not too impressed by the approach. Also, would not call this a detection of "scent".

Would be more impressed if they really build an artificial nose that can smell. They eye has not receptors to detect dogs, chairs, cars but detects a spectrum. Same with the ear and actually, the same with the nose. The literature is out there.

Re: One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

#13

Post by tiatia »

frik wrote: post #10

What kind of sensor technology can "smell"? I mean the CMOS was a break through for image sensors. There are air quality sensors and various kind of gas sensors. But what sensor tech can be used to smell odor? There are dogs that smell drugs, cancer, and what not - so "just" a sensor is needed to get the data in difital format. [btw NYT article page crashes my mobile browser mid article, what are they doing? Their si…

"But what sensor tech can be used to smell odor?"

Measure the far infrared spectrum.

Re: One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

#14

Post by HaoZeke »

jdiez17 wrote: post #8

I work for Owlstone Medical as a software engineer, so ask me any questions and I'll try to answer as best I can. Also, we're hiring! https://www.owlstonemedical.com/about/careers/

I wanted to ask about your methods of modelling multi component diffusion. Also do the machines use the psychophysical aspects of headspace for smell analysis?

I'm working on molecular models for complex perfume models.

Hit me up if you have any answers please. HaoZeke@yandex.com

Re: One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

#15

Post by BoorishBears »

tiatia wrote: post #12
jdiez17 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Odours are just molecules that are detected by the cells in our noses, and it's possible to identify them with various techniques. You've probably heard of mass spectrometry, which tells you the mass to charge ratio of the molecules that are present in a sample. You can figure out which molecules they are by looking up the m/z value in a database -- but mass spectrometers are pretty bulky. There's also a technique ca…

"Odours are just organic molecules" Yeah. Right. This is why Yeah. Right. This is why H2S has no smell. (in fact, some claim is has not and we smell something else). "that are detected by the cells in our noses, and it's possible to identify them with various techniques." Well, I think this was not the question. Yes, the mentioned start-up in this thread (owlstonemedical) uses a "Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectro…

>jdiez17 2 hours ago [-]

>I work for Owlstone Medical as a software engineer, so ask me any questions and I'll try to answer as best I can.

Re: One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

#17

Post by Mo3 »

afarrell wrote: post #16

How expensive would it be to make a machine that can smell if you or your clothes stink? I would pay at least $150 for that as a hard-of-smelling person. I would have far paid more back when I was single and lonely.

You can do this for farts already with a Raspberry Pi and a gas sensor, maybe there's other types of sensors that can detect ammonia?

https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/fart-detector/worksheet...

Re: One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

#18

Post by thatcat »

tiatia wrote: post #13
frik wrote: post #10

What kind of sensor technology can "smell"? I mean the CMOS was a break through for image sensors. There are air quality sensors and various kind of gas sensors. But what sensor tech can be used to smell odor? There are dogs that smell drugs, cancer, and what not - so "just" a sensor is needed to get the data in difital format. [btw NYT article page crashes my mobile browser mid article, what are they doing? Their si…

"But what sensor tech can be used to smell odor?" Measure the far infrared spectrum.

Doesnt fir measure temp? How would this work for identifying gaseous molecules?

Re: One Day, a Machine Will Smell Whether You’re Sick

#19

Post by maxxxxx »

afarrell wrote: post #16

How expensive would it be to make a machine that can smell if you or your clothes stink? I would pay at least $150 for that as a hard-of-smelling person. I would have far paid more back when I was single and lonely.

I would like that too. After a surgery a few years I sometimes have post nasal drip which causes bad breath. I have no way to tell when this happens. I would love a sensor that could detect it.
Post reply on HN