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Publication Number
US-11617521-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for collecting different selected exhaled breath samples, or fractions thereof, on a single sample capture device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) collecting a first exhaled breath sample by contacting the sample with a capture device comprising an adsorbent material; (b) collecting a second exhaled breath sample by contacting the second sample with said capture device, wherein the first and second exhaled breath samples are caused to be captured on the capture device in a spatially separated manner.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method for collecting different selected exhaled breath samples, or fractions thereof, on a single sorbent tube capture device. A first exhaled breath sample is collected by contacting the sample with the sorbent tube capture device, and a second exhaled breath sample is collected by contacting the second sample with the same sorbent tube capture device.
The method causes the first and second exhaled breath samples to be captured in a spatially separated manner on the sorbent tube capture device. Spatially separated capture enables the samples to be individually analyzed as different fractions, while maintaining the use of a single adsorbent capture device.
Spatial separation can be achieved by an intervening time period and/or causing migration of the first sample along the sorbent before collecting the second sample. Example embodiments include using adsorbent materials and performing downstream thermal desorption and chemical analysis for individual fractions.
An example wash-out longitudinal study is described in which repeated exhaled breath sampling shows reproducible increases and subsequent decreases of specific VOCs over time following peppermint capsule ingestion. The example supports the use of multiple selected exhaled breath samples captured on a single sorbent tube capture device for time-dependent profiling of VOCs.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a method that collects two different selected exhaled breath samples, or fractions thereof, onto a single sorbent tube capture device while capturing the first and second samples in a spatially separated manner. The inventive features are refined by dependent claims that specify timing, spatial separation by migration, sorbent tube composition, analyte detection/measurement, and time-point-based determination of administered substance and related metabolites or derivatives.
Single sorbent tube capture device for two selected exhaled breath samples
A method for collecting different selected exhaled breath samples, or fractions thereof, on a single sorbent tube capture device, comprising collecting a first exhaled breath sample and collecting a second exhaled breath sample by contacting both with the same sorbent tube capture device.
Spatially separated capture of first and second exhaled breath samples
Collecting the first and second exhaled breath samples on the sorbent tube capture device in a spatially separated manner.
Intervening time interval between first and second sample collection
At least 30 seconds elapsing between collecting the first sample and starting collection of the second sample.
Spatial separation by migrating the first captured sample
Capturing first and second breath samples on a sorbent tube capture device in a spatially separated manner by migrating the first collected sample along the capture device before contacting the second sample with the device.
Porous polymeric sorbent resin in the sorbent tube capture device
The sorbent tube capture device includes a porous polymeric sorbent resin.
Analyte detection and concentration measurement
Performing chemical analysis by detecting and/or measuring the presence and concentration of at least one analyte.
Time-point-based determination of concentration or amount changes
Determining the concentration or amount of an administered substance, metabolite, or other derivative thereof in first and second exhaled breath samples taken at different known time points to analyze how that concentration or amount changes over time.
Overall, the claim set is centered on using a single sorbent tube capture device to capture two different selected exhaled breath samples in a spatially separated manner, with dependent refinements describing how separation is obtained, what sorbent materials are used, and how the captured fractions are analyzed.
Stated Advantages
Enables individual desorption/analysis of spatially separated breath sample fractions while using a single sorbent tube capture device.
Documented Applications
A wash-out longitudinal study using peppermint capsule ingestion with repeated exhaled breath sampling to show reproducible increases and subsequent decreases of specific VOCs over time.
Use in profiling VOC biomarkers across time by capturing different selected exhaled breath samples as separate spatial fractions on a single sorbent tube capture device.
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