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-11879890-B1
Publication Date
2024-01-23
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 laser may be configured to ablate at least a portion of the VOCs adhered to the molecule collector off of the molecule collector to release of 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 disclosed system analyzes a breath sample using a sampling chamber with an inlet configured to receive the breath sample and provide it to the sampling chamber. A molecule collector disposed within the sampling chamber adheres volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the breath sample, and a laser ablates VOCs off of the molecule collector within the sampling chamber so that the ablated VOCs are available for subsequent identification.
An analysis device identifies one or more target VOCs from among the VOCs present in the sampling chamber subsequent to ablation of at least a portion of the VOCs from the molecule collector, and generates an output representative of the one or more target VOCs. A vacuum pump introduces a vacuum in the analysis device concurrent with ablating VOCs off of the molecule collector, and the laser and the vacuum pump support concurrent system cleaning while output is generated.
While generating the output representative of the one or more target VOCs, the laser and the vacuum pump clean the system by further heating the sampling chamber and evacuating the sampling chamber and the analysis device using the vacuum. A method version similarly receives the breath sample, adheres VOCs using the molecule collector, ablates VOCs using the laser, introduces the vacuum concurrent with ablating, identifies the target VOCs, and generates output that quantitates a concentration of the target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims: system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Across these independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on five inventive features.
Laser ablation of adhered breath VOCs in a sampling chamber
A sampling chamber receives a breath sample via an inlet, includes a molecule collector that adheres VOCs present in the breath sample, and uses a laser to ablate VOCs off of the molecule collector within the sampling chamber.
Target VOC identification and output generation
An analysis device identifies one or more target VOCs from among VOCs present in the sampling chamber subsequent to ablation and generates an output representative of the one or more target VOCs.
Concurrent vacuum introduction with laser ablation
A vacuum pump introduces a vacuum in the analysis device concurrent with ablating VOCs off of the molecule collector.
Concurrent cleaning by laser further heating and evacuation
The laser and the vacuum pump clean the system by further heating the sampling chamber and evacuating the sampling chamber and the analysis device using the vacuum while output is generated.
Quantifying target VOC concentration relative to breath source
The output representative of the one or more target VOCs quantitates a concentration of the one or more target VOCs with respect to a source of the breath sample.
The independent claims cover a breath-sample VOC analysis workflow implemented as a system, method, or storage medium, in which VOCs are adhered to a molecule collector, released by laser ablation within the sampling chamber, identified by an analysis device, output as concentration information relative to a breath source, while a vacuum is concurrently applied and the system is cleaned by further heating and evacuation using the vacuum.
Stated Advantages
Improved discrimination and speed versus prior art.
THz-specific advantages including rotational/absorptive differentiation and potential ppm–ppt sensitivity.
DUIM enforcement motivation.
Documented Applications
On-site detection and quantitation of target VOCs from breath samples, including benzene, toluene, xylene, and marijuana-related VOCs.
Detection and analysis of metabolites and metabolite markers indicative of SARS-CoV-2 and/or Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) using target VOCs such as ketones and aldehydes.
Detection and analysis of cannabinoid-related analytes including Δ-9-THC, 11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC), carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH), THC metabolites, and opioid-related analytes including opioids and opioid metabolites.
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