As Tim Moor blows into what looks like a large breathalyser attached to a small plastic box it is difficult to believe such a crude-looking machine is capable of detecting diseases such as diabetes in a mere ten seconds.

Patients blow into the disposable, removable bag, which is then put in the EV system (the white box in the picture). This then reads the levels and concentration of various gases in one's breath and produces a read-out.

"Then it's up to the doctors to make a diagnosis, " says Tim.

But while it may look like a plastic bag or balloon, the gas analyser EV has taken four years to research and is still being developed.

Tim, of G & T Design Ltd, York, invented the gas analyser while working at Elan Vital (UK) Ltd, a research development company from which the gas analyser EV takes its initials. In 2003 Tim teamed up with Professor Albert Crowe, head of the physics department at Newcastle University, to develop the device, which is now going through trials in the US.

Up to now, the interest in the gas analyser has been immense. Among the institutions involved with its development is the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, various electronic software companies, Newcastle University's marine science division, the physics department, and Tim also approached the police protection division.

"We approached the police because of the gas analyser's implications for detecting the use of narcotics in road users, but that will take about 15 years to implement because it would mean changing legislation."

"There are quite a lot of applications for it, " says Tim, "The gas analyser is capable of predicting the onset of asthma and cancer - though further development by specialists is needed."

Such development takes years of trials throughout the world. "It will be at least 2010 before gas analysers are in doctors' surgeries, " said Tim.

According to Tim, each individual test using the gas analyser could cost as little as 40p or 50p, compared with the current cost of about £150 for a blood test.

This has implications for offering nationwide screening of such common diseases as diabetes, asthma and cancer - there are an estimated 2.35 million people with diabetes throughout England and it is believed this figure will rise to 2.5 million in by 2010. The condition is recognised by the Department of Health as a major challenge to the nation's health.

Testing with the gas analyser offers a "friendly, non-invasive means of diagnosis."

"Patients can sit down in a doctor's surgery and blow into a bag without being injected. The system is extremely sensitive, it can detect diseases at an early stage because it knows what it is looking for, " says Tim.

Tim says breath is an effective means of analysis and that the device opens up the potential for further medical tests using gas analysis. "There are many, many gases in our breath, " says Tim, "The University of Edinburgh did some research which showed there were more than 560 gases in our breath."

"Breath testing is understated - it's just a case of getting a machine that does it, " said Tim.

Soon the gas analyser will be on trial at the London School of Tropical Medicine, where boffins say it is going to be a significant contribution to medical studies.

As the device EV is still being developed it is difficult to say how successful it will be. Cathy Moulton, care advisor at leading charity Diabetes UK, said: "As the EV gas analyser system is still in development, it is early days to comment on whether or not it is an effective diagnostic tool for diabetes.

"Any new method of diabetes diagnosis needs to be tested and approved by the relevant bodies to ensure its accuracy and safety."

She said: "A non-invasive device that could detect diabetes within seconds could be a very useful tool in the right setting."

Unfortunately, it will be at least twoand-a-half years until the gas analyser will have its most scrutinising trial - that of the general public.