Techniques for rapid detection and quantitation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using breath samples
Inventors
Verbeck, IV, Guido Fridolin • Redmond, John • Wing, Tim
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10813585-B2
Publication Date
2020-10-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
An exemplary breath analysis system may include a sampling chamber having a molecule collector disposed therein. The molecule detector may be configured such that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in a breath sample introduced to the sampling chamber adhere to the molecule collector. A heating element may introduce heat within the sampling chamber, causing release of at least a portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector. An analysis device (e.g., a mass spectrometer or tetrahertz (THz) spectrometer) may identify one or more target VOCs from among at least the portion of the VOCs released from the molecule collector and generate an output representative of the identified one or more target VOCs. The output may include information that quantitates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for analyzing a breath sample by capturing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a sampling chamber using a molecule collector. The molecule collector is configured to adhere to VOCs present in the breath sample, and a heating element introduces heat within the sampling chamber to release at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector. The released VOCs are then processed by an analysis device comprising a Terahertz (THz) spectrometer.
The THz spectrometer includes an excitation source and a detector. The system introduces, via the excitation source, an excitation signal within the sampling chamber subsequent to the release of at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector, and identifies one or more target VOCs based on one or more characteristics associated with excitation of at least the portion of the VOCs released in response to the excitation signal. The identified target VOCs are used to generate an output representative of the one or more target VOCs.
In the described implementations, the molecule collector includes carbon molecular sieve materials such as Carboxen®-coated mesh. The described implementations identify cannabinoid-related VOCs and metabolites, including Δ-9-THC, 11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC), carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH), THC metabolites, and also opioids and opioid metabolites. The generated output representative includes information that quantates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.
Claims Coverage
The partial content identifies three independent claims. Each claim includes the core sequence of adhering VOCs to a molecule collector, releasing VOCs by heating, THz excitation, detecting target VOCs based on excitation-associated characteristics, and generating an output representative that includes concentration information relative to the breath sample source.
Thz breath-analysis system with molecule-collector VOC release
A system for analyzing a breath sample comprising a sampling chamber with an inlet, a molecule collector disposed within the sampling chamber configured to adhere VOCs, a heating element introducing heat within the sampling chamber to release at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector, and an analysis device comprising a Terahertz (THz) spectrometer with an excitation source and a detector to introduce an excitation signal after release and identify one or more target VOCs based on excitation-associated characteristics, generating an output representative of the one or more target VOCs.
Thz breath-analysis method with excitation-characteristic identification
A method for analyzing a breath sample comprising receiving a breath sample in a sampling chamber having a molecule collector configured to adhere VOCs, introducing heat within the sampling chamber via a heating element to release at least a portion of the VOCs, detecting one or more target VOCs subsequent to release using a THz spectrometer by emitting an excitation signal after release and identifying the one or more target VOCs based on one or more characteristics associated with excitation of at least the portion released in response to the excitation signal, and generating an output representative of the one or more target VOCs that comprises information that quantates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.
Computer-readable medium for thz quantitative breath VOC analysis
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause operations for analyzing a breath sample including activating a heating element to introduce heat within a sampling chamber with a molecule collector that adheres VOCs and releases at least a portion of the VOCs based on the heat, detecting one or more target VOCs using a THz spectrometer by controlling an excitation source to emit an excitation signal after release and identifying the one or more target VOCs based on one or more characteristics associated with excitation, and generating an output representative comprising information that quantates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage is the combination of collecting breath VOCs on a molecule collector in a sampling chamber, releasing collected VOCs by heating, exciting released VOCs within the sampling chamber using a THz spectrometer excitation signal, identifying target VOCs based on excitation-associated characteristics, and generating an output representative that quantates target VOC concentration relative to a breath sample source.
Stated Advantages
Rapid on-site quantitation (field speed on the order of seconds).
Portability.
Discrimination of THC vs CBD.
Handling water interference for THz-TDS.
Rationale/advantages relative to GC/MS and other breathalyzers.
Documented Applications
On-site breath analysis for quantitation of cannabinoid-related VOCs and metabolites from breath samples.
THz detection related to marijuana-derived volatiles.
Comparison of mass-spectrometry breath VOC profiles for healthy breath sample, seasonal allergies breath, and mouthwash (Listerine) breath scenarios.
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