Breath analyte sensing apparatus that generates gas streams that #flow over a nanoparticle-based sensor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing an analyte in breath, the apparatus comprising:
- a fluid receiving device configured to receive a breath sample;
a conditioning device coupled to the fluid receiving device and configured to dehumidify the breath sample;
a sorbent material positioned downstream from the conditioning device, the sorbent material configured to extract the analyte from the dehumidified breath sample;
a sensing device comprising a nanoparticle-based sensor;
a source of compressed gas; and
a gas stream controller comprising a set of valves coupled to the source of compressed gas, the gas stream controller configured to, during an analyte measurement cycle;
(1) produce a first gas stream that flows over the nanoparticle-based sensor without first passing through the sorbent material, enabling the sensing device to generate and log a baseline signal, and (2) subsequently, produce a second gas stream that passes through the sorbent material prior to flowing over the nanoparticle-based sensor, such that the second gas stream causes the extracted analyte to flow from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor, enabling the nanoparticle-based sensor to generate a signal reflective of a concentration of the analyte.
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Abstract
According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a conditioning device that dehumidifies a breath sample, a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from the dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.
76 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing an analyte in breath, the apparatus comprising:
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a fluid receiving device configured to receive a breath sample; a conditioning device coupled to the fluid receiving device and configured to dehumidify the breath sample; a sorbent material positioned downstream from the conditioning device, the sorbent material configured to extract the analyte from the dehumidified breath sample; a sensing device comprising a nanoparticle-based sensor; a source of compressed gas; and a gas stream controller comprising a set of valves coupled to the source of compressed gas, the gas stream controller configured to, during an analyte measurement cycle;
(1) produce a first gas stream that flows over the nanoparticle-based sensor without first passing through the sorbent material, enabling the sensing device to generate and log a baseline signal, and (2) subsequently, produce a second gas stream that passes through the sorbent material prior to flowing over the nanoparticle-based sensor, such that the second gas stream causes the extracted analyte to flow from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor, enabling the nanoparticle-based sensor to generate a signal reflective of a concentration of the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification