Breath analysis system

• US 10,495,552 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulse Health LLC
• Original Assignee: Pulse Health LLC
• Inventors: Cooper, Steve, Andrews, Neal, Mahon, Maura, Dreilinger, Rachel, Barsic, David, Myler, Weston, Krauss, Martin, Herbst, Scot, Ingle, James, Thomas, Gerald, Myers, Rick, Young, Brian, Lara, Juven, Noll, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Christine T
• Application Number:
  US15/351,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20170199125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 422 84, 422 83, 422 50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0087 Breath samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2244 Exhaled gas, e.g. alcohol detecting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2033/4975 other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/022 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/068 Optics, miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/52 Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper and including single- and multilayer analytical elements immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/64 involving ketones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/200833 Carbonyl, ether, aldehyde or ketone containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/202499 Formaldehyde or acetone

Abstract

A breath analysis system that includes a handle assembly with an analysis cartridge on an upper end thereof. The handle includes a main body portion with a pressure opening and a pressure transducer therein. The analysis cartridge includes a main body portion with an upper portion that defines a breath chamber, a lower portion that defines a fluid chamber and a filter assembly that is movable between a breath capture position and an analysis position. The filter assembly has an opening defined therethrough. In the breath capture position, the opening partially defines the breath chamber and in the analysis position the opening partially defines the fluid chamber. The system also includes an analysis device with a case, a door, a controller that controls the motor and a fluorescence detection assembly and a rotation assembly positioned in the case interior. The rotation assembly includes a shroud with a funnel portion for receiving the analysis cartridge.

Claims

1. An optical assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a light path along a first direction and a fluorescence path along a second, distinct direction, wherein the housing further comprises a defined well positioned along the light path and the fluorescence path;

a light source configured to emit light along the light path; and

a light sensor configured to detect light along the fluorescence path, wherein;

the light emitted from the light source is configured to cause fluorescence from a fluorescent constituent contained within the defined well; and

the fluorescence produces the light along the fluorescence path.

2. The optical assembly of claim 1 wherein the second direction is transverse to the first direction.

3. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the housing further comprises;

a light chamber positioned along the light path; and

a fluorescence chamber positioned along the fluorescence path; and

the light chamber and the fluorescence chamber are attached to the defined well at distinct passages.

4. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the optical assembly further comprises;

a lens; and

a filter; and

the lens and the filter are aligned along one of light path or the fluorescence path.

5. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the housing further comprises;

an upper portion having an upper flange; and

a lower portion having a lower flange; and

the upper flange overlaps the lower flange to couple the upper and lower portions.

6. The optical assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a lens and at least one baffle along the light path and configured to collimate the light along the light path.

7. The optical assembly of claim 6, wherein the lens is a Fresnel lens.

8. The optical assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

a lens and at least one baffle along the fluorescence path.

9. An optical assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a light path along a first direction and a fluorescence path along a second, distinct direction, wherein the housing further comprises a defined well positioned along the light path and the fluorescence path;

a cartridge having a set of light windows and a fluorescence window and defining an interior volume configured to receive a sample, the cartridge received within the defined well;

an emitter configured to illuminate the sample by emitting light along the light path and passing the light through the set of light windows, the light configured to cause fluorescence from a fluorescent constituent of the sample; and

a detector optically coupled with the fluorescence window and configured to detect light emitted along the fluorescence path from the fluorescence, wherein;

the fluorescence window is positioned between the set of light windows along an exterior surface of the cartridge.

10. The optical assembly of claim 9, wherein the second direction is transverse to the first direction.

11. The optical assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing further defines:

a light chamber optically coupled with the emitter and one of the set of light windows of the cartridge, the light chamber configured to direct light emitted from the emitter along the light path; and

a fluorescence chamber optically coupled with the detector and the fluorescence window, the fluorescence chamber configured to direct the light emitted from the fluorescence along the fluorescence path.

12. The optical assembly of claim 11, wherein the housing further defines a light trap optically coupled with another of the set of light windows and configured to receive light from the emitter that passes through the set of light windows.

13. The optical assembly of claim 9, wherein the set of light windows are laterally aligned on the cartridge.

14. The optical assembly of claim 13, wherein:

the set of light windows are laterally aligned along the first direction; and

the fluorescence window is positioned on the cartridge along the second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.