Flow regulation device for breath analysis and related method
First Claim
1. A breath analyte capture and analysis system for determining a concentration of an analyte in a breath sample from a user, comprising:
- a cartridge having a chamber containing an interactant material;
a mouthpiece device configured to receive and fluidly connect to the cartridge, the mouthpiece device configured to enable the user to exhale a portion of the breath sample through the chamber such that the portion passes through the interactant material under an exhalation force created by the user, causing the interactant material to absorb the analyte, the mouthpiece device comprising;
an influent flow port into which the user exhales the breath sample;
a first flow path coupled to the influent flow port, the first flow path extending into the chamber when the cartridge is positioned in the mouthpiece device;
a second flow path coupled to the influent flow port; and
a valve that is manually switchable by the user, by application of a depressive force by the user, between a first orientation in which breath entering the influent port travels through the second flow path and a second orientation in which breath entering the influent port travels through the first flow path, the valve enabling the user to manually route the portion of the breath sample exhaled into the mouthpiece device through the chamber of the cartridge to cause the portion to be exposed to the interactant material; and
a base unit configured to receive and analyze the cartridge after the portion of the breath sample has been routed through the chamber of the cartridge using the mouthpiece device, the base unit comprising a sensor that senses the concentration of the analyte in the portion of the breath sample, wherein the base unit is physically separate from the mouthpiece device such that the user can exhale the portion of the breath sample into the mouthpiece device and cartridge at a location that is remote from the base unit.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A breath capture device for determining the concentration of acetone in a breath sample from a user. In some embodiments, the device includes a controller programmed to use stored data to control flow of a breath sample into an analysis chamber as the user exhales into a port. In other embodiments, the device includes a switch responsive to an action by the user that is operable between a first orientation in which breath entering the port preferentially travels through a second flow path and a second orientation in which breath entering the port preferentially travels through a first flow path. In still other embodiments, the device includes a flow regulator both responsive to user action and operable from a first position in which breath entering a port preferentially travels through a second flow path to a second position in which breath entering the port preferentially travels through a first flow path.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A breath analyte capture and analysis system for determining a concentration of an analyte in a breath sample from a user, comprising:
-
a cartridge having a chamber containing an interactant material; a mouthpiece device configured to receive and fluidly connect to the cartridge, the mouthpiece device configured to enable the user to exhale a portion of the breath sample through the chamber such that the portion passes through the interactant material under an exhalation force created by the user, causing the interactant material to absorb the analyte, the mouthpiece device comprising; an influent flow port into which the user exhales the breath sample; a first flow path coupled to the influent flow port, the first flow path extending into the chamber when the cartridge is positioned in the mouthpiece device; a second flow path coupled to the influent flow port; and a valve that is manually switchable by the user, by application of a depressive force by the user, between a first orientation in which breath entering the influent port travels through the second flow path and a second orientation in which breath entering the influent port travels through the first flow path, the valve enabling the user to manually route the portion of the breath sample exhaled into the mouthpiece device through the chamber of the cartridge to cause the portion to be exposed to the interactant material; and a base unit configured to receive and analyze the cartridge after the portion of the breath sample has been routed through the chamber of the cartridge using the mouthpiece device, the base unit comprising a sensor that senses the concentration of the analyte in the portion of the breath sample, wherein the base unit is physically separate from the mouthpiece device such that the user can exhale the portion of the breath sample into the mouthpiece device and cartridge at a location that is remote from the base unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of analyzing breath, comprising:
-
with a portable mouthpiece device configured to receive a cartridge having a chamber containing an interactant material, routing a selected portion of a breath sample of a user through the chamber of the cartridge as the user exhales the breath sample into the mouthpiece device such that an exhalation force created by the user forces the selected portion of the breath sample through the chamber, causing the interactant material to absorb an analyte in the selected portion of the breath sample, wherein routing the selected portion comprises actuating a valve of the mouthpiece device; and subsequently, after the cartridge has been removed from the mouthpiece device and inserted into a base unit that is physically separate from the mouthpiece device, generating a measurement of a concentration of the analyte in the selected portion of the breath sample, wherein generating the measurement comprises analyzing the cartridge with a sensor of the base unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A breath analyte capture and analysis system capable of determining a concentration of an analyte in breath of a user, the system comprising:
-
a disposable cartridge having a test chamber containing an interactant material; a portable mouthpiece device configured to receive and fluidly connect to the disposable cartridge, the portable mouthpiece device configured to route a portion of a breath sample, exhaled into the portable mouthpiece device by the user, through the test chamber such that the portion passes through the test chamber and interactant material under an exhalation force created by the user, causing the interactant material to absorb the analyte, the portable mouthpiece device further configured to route an additional portion of the breath sample out of the portable mouthpiece device such that the additional portion does not pass through the test chamber; and a base unit configured to receive and analyze the disposable cartridge after the portion of the breath sample has been routed through the test chamber of the disposable cartridge using the portable mouthpiece device, the base unit comprising a sensor that senses a color change produced by a reaction in the test chamber, the color change indicative of a concentration level of the analyte; wherein the base unit is physically separate from the portable mouthpiece device such that the user can exhale the portion of the breath sample into the portable mouthpiece device and disposable cartridge while located remotely from the base unit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification