Techniques for rapid detection and quantitation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using breath samples
Inventors
Verbeck, IV, Guido Fridolin • Redmond, John • Wing, Tim C. • Keiser, Luke
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11874270-B1
Publication Date
2024-01-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
An exemplary breath analysis system may include a sampling chamber having a molecule collector disposed therein. The molecule collector 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 photodiode array configured to excite and/or heat the molecule collector to release at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector to release at least the portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector. An analysis device (e.g., a mass spectrometer or Terahertz (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 target VOC(s). The output may include information that quantitates a concentration of the target VOC(s) with respect to a source of the breath sample.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a system for analyzing a breath sample by using a sampling chamber and an inlet configured to receive a breath sample and provide the breath sample to the sampling chamber. A molecule collector disposed within the sampling chamber is configured to adhere volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the breath sample. A photodiode array is configured to excite and/or heat the molecule collector to release at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector.
After release from the molecule collector, an analysis device identifies one or more target VOCs from among the VOCs present in the sampling chamber and generates an output representative of the one or more target VOCs. The output representative comprises information that quantitates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample. The system further includes a vacuum pump configured to introduce a vacuum in the analysis device, concurrent with the photodiode array exciting and/or heating the molecule collector.
The vacuum pump and photodiode array are further configured to clean the system by the photodiode array further heating the sampling chamber and evacuating the sampling chamber and the analysis device using the vacuum, at least concurrent with generating output representative of the one or more target VOCs. The document also describes staged release behavior in which the photodiode array excites and/or heats the molecule collector across a spectrum and/or over time, releasing lighter and/or less-bound VOCs first and heavier and/or more strongly bound VOCs later.
Target VOCs include metabolites and metabolite markers indicative of SARS-CoV-2 and/or COVID-19 and/or cannabinoid and opioid compounds and metabolites. The analysis device can identify target VOCs using a mass spectrometer and associated components, and can alternatively use a Terahertz (THz) spectrometer that excites and detects based on excitation-related characteristics after VOCs are released from the molecule collector.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim set includes three independent claims covering shared inventive features: collecting VOCs on a molecule collector, exciting/heating with a photodiode array to release VOCs, introducing vacuum during analysis, identifying one or more target VOCs and generating an output representative that quantates concentration versus the breath source, and concurrent cleaning via further heating and evacuation using the vacuum.
Photodiode-array excited VOC release from a molecule collector
Exciting and/or heating, by a photodiode array, a molecule collector disposed within a sampling chamber, where the molecule collector is configured to adhere VOCs present in the breath sample, to release at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector.
Identification of target VOCs and output quantating concentration versus breath source
Identifying, by an analysis device, one or more target VOCs from among the VOCs present in the sampling chamber subsequent to release of at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector, and generating an output representative of the one or more target VOCs, where the output representative comprises information that quantitates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.
Concurrent vacuum introduction and photodiode-array cleaning
Introducing a vacuum in an analysis device concurrent with exciting and/or heating the molecule collector, and, concurrent with at least generating the output representative of the one or more target VOCs, cleaning the sampling chamber by further heating the sampling chamber and evacuating the sampling chamber and the analysis device using the vacuum.
Breath sample intake via sampling chamber and inlet
Receiving a breath sample via an inlet coupled to a sampling chamber and providing the breath sample to the sampling chamber, where the sampling chamber comprises the molecule collector disposed within the sampling chamber configured to adhere VOCs present in the breath sample.
Computer-implemented operations for breath VOC analysis
Storing instructions on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations comprising activating a photodiode array, concurrent vacuum introduction, identifying one or more target VOCs, generating an output representative that quantates concentration with respect to a source of the breath sample, and concurrent cleaning by further heating and evacuating using the vacuum.
The independent claims collectively cover a breath-sample analysis architecture centered on a photodiode array that excites and/or heats a molecule collector to release VOCs, an analysis device that identifies one or more target VOCs and generates an output representative that quantates target concentration relative to the breath source, and a concurrent vacuum-based cleaning approach using further heating and evacuation. Implementation is provided for a system, an analysis method, and a processor-executed, non-transitory computer-readable medium.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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