Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
KnoNap short for “the napkin that knows” is a napkin
designed to detect the presence of 26 drugs in a class of 40 psychoactive drugs
called benzodiazepines, including Valium, Rohypnol and Zanax. Such drugs have sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic
(anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties, which combined
with alcohol have potentially fatal effects. Such class of drugs are also known
as the drugs of choice used for “date rape” and more generally “drug-facilitated
assault”.
The KnoNap looks just like a real cocktail napkin, on which the
user places just a small drop of his or her drink. When the drink is spiked, the napkin
will immediately detect the presence of a drug by changing color on a small spot, in the close vicinity
of the drop.
The KnoNap invention is disclosed in the PCT WIPO
patent application WO2018222750A1
titled Integrated
devices for rapid detection of benzodiazepines or other drugs in solution. The invention arises out one of the inventor’s own unfortunate experience with date rape abroad.
Honored in 2018 as
one of the Toyota Mothers of Invention, Danya Sherman took action following her
plight. She developed the KnoNap, founded the KnoNap company, tirelessly canvassing campuses and other venues to advocate for victims, and to educate and empower
others with this method of self-defense against drug-assisted assault. The
KnoNap was developed as a portable test kit that is easy to use and interpret,
discreet and reliable. Designed within a napkin, the test kit is also
purposefully gender-neutral so that both men and women might use it, in a
variety of social settings.
The patent discloses
the chemical reactions and reagents of the rapid drug-assaying system which
comprises an absorbent sample pad for the drop of the drink and a reaction
chamber in fluid communication with the sample pad. The reaction chamber
comprises an acidic layer, an ion exchange resin layer, an absorbent reaction
pad, and a viewing pad infused with a colorimetric reagent. The assaying system
might be placed at one or several corners of the napkin or in any other
multiple zones.
The abstract of
this invention is included below, together with the Figure 1 drawing of the
patent. Figure 1 depicts the KnoNap 100 with its top 101 and bottom 104 tissue
paper layers, the test zone 102 and an impermeable layer 103. In some
embodiments, an extra test zone 102 is included between the bottom layer 104 and
the impermeable layer 103.
Integrated devices for rapid detection of benzodiazepines or other drugs in solution are provided. In various embodiments, a test device comprises a reaction chamber having an input port and an output port, the reaction chamber having translucent walls — having a thickness; a hydrophihc sample pad disposed at the input port; an acidic layer disposed within the reaction chamber and in fluid communication with the sample pad; an ion exchange resin layer disposed within the reaction chamber and in fluid communication with the acidic layer; a hydrophihc reaction pad disposed within the reaction chamber and in fluid communication with the ion exchange resin layer, the hydrophilic reaction pad being infused with a hydrolyzing and/or reducing reagent; a viewing pad disposed at the output port and in fluid communication with the reaction pad, the viewing pad extending along the thickness of the reaction chamber walls, the viewing pad being infused with at least one colorimetric reagent. [Abstract WO2018222750A1]
In the drive to
prevent drug-assisted assault, marketing of the KnoNap napkins is targeting individual consumers, and all social
settings, including bars and restaurants, as well as college campuses.
Pun intended KnoNap prevents forced “napping”.
References
KnoNap
Toyota MOI (Mother of Invention) Danya Sherman
Ritschel, C. (01-29-2018) KnoNap:
Napkin capable of detecting drugs in drinks invented by Washington DC student
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing informative information with us. If want to know about drug testing sherman so you can visit their.
Post a Comment