Disposable hand-held device for collection of exhaled breath condensate
First Claim
1. A breath condensate collection apparatus comprising:
- a central chamber having double side walls and first and second opposing ends, wherein the double side walls include an inner side wall and an outer side wall in spaced relationship to one another;
a coolant material sealed between the inner and outer side walls for cooling at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
a breath input assembly disposed on the outside of the outer side wall of the central chamber and penetrating both the inner and outer side walls such that the interior of the breath input assembly is in fluid communication with the interior of the central chamber;
a plunger assembly having a piston and a handle, wherein the piston is slidably disposed in the interior of the central chamber in snug contact with the inner side wall and wherein the handle extends from the first end of the central chamber so as to permit the piston to be moved within the central chamber; and
a breath condensate collection port, disposed at the second end of the central chamber, in fluid communication with the interior of the central chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A breath condensate collection apparatus comprising a central chamber, a breath input assembly, a plunger assembly and a breath condensate collection port. The central chamber has inner and outer side walls with a coolant material sealed in between. The breath input assembly is disposed on the side of the central chamber in fluid communication with the chamber interior. The plunger assembly has a piston, slidably disposed in the chamber, and a handle extending from a first end of the chamber. The collection port is disposed at the second end of the central chamber in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber. Obstructive structures may be arranged in the chamber interior for increasing the surface area on which condensate may form. The apparatus may also include an outlet assembly that may be removed and replaced with a sampling well into which the condensate may be washed with a buffer solution.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A breath condensate collection apparatus comprising:
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a central chamber having double side walls and first and second opposing ends, wherein the double side walls include an inner side wall and an outer side wall in spaced relationship to one another;
a coolant material sealed between the inner and outer side walls for cooling at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
a breath input assembly disposed on the outside of the outer side wall of the central chamber and penetrating both the inner and outer side walls such that the interior of the breath input assembly is in fluid communication with the interior of the central chamber;
a plunger assembly having a piston and a handle, wherein the piston is slidably disposed in the interior of the central chamber in snug contact with the inner side wall and wherein the handle extends from the first end of the central chamber so as to permit the piston to be moved within the central chamber; and
a breath condensate collection port, disposed at the second end of the central chamber, in fluid communication with the interior of the central chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of collecting breath condensate, the method comprising:
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providing a central chamber having double side walls, first and second opposing ends, a coolant material sealed between the inner and outer side walls for cooling at least the inner walls of the central chamber, and a breath condensate collection port disposed at the second end of the central chamber;
lowering the temperature of the coolant material to chill at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
receiving, in the interior of the central chamber, exhaled breath from a patient, delivered through the inner and outer side walls via a breath input assembly disposed on the outside of the outer side wall of the central chamber;
condensing portions of the exhaled breath on the inner surfaces of the inner walls of the central chamber;
expressing condensate, produced during the condensing step, from the central chamber by depressing a plunger assembly through the central chamber, thereby forcing the condensate into the breath condensate collection port; and
aspirating the expressed condensate from the breath condensate collection port for analysis thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A breath condensate collection apparatus comprising:
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a central chamber having double side walls including an inner side wall and an outer side wall in spaced relationship to one another;
a coolant material sealed between the inner and outer side walls for cooling at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
a breath input assembly, the interior of which is in fluid communication with the interior of the central chamber;
one or more obstructive structures arranged in the interior of the central chamber for increasing the surface area on which condensate may form; and
a breath condensate collection port in fluid communication with the interior of the central chamber. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of collecting breath condensate, the method comprising:
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providing a double-walled central chamber having one or more obstructive structures arranged in the interior thereof and a coolant material sealed between the inner and outer side walls for cooling at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
lowering the temperature of the coolant material to chill at least the inner walls of the central chamber and the obstructive structures;
receiving, in the interior of the central chamber, exhaled breath from a patient;
condensing portions of the exhaled breath on the inner surfaces of the inner walls of the central chamber and on the obstructive structures; and
removing condensate, produced during the condensing step, from the central chamber. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of collecting breath condensate, the method comprising:
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providing a double-walled central chamber having a removable outlet assembly and a coolant material sealed between the inner and outer side walls for cooling at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
lowering the temperature of the coolant material to chill at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
receiving, in the interior of the central chamber, exhaled breath from a patient;
condensing portions of the exhaled breath on the inner surfaces of the inner walls of the central chamber;
removing the outlet assembly and replacing it with a sampling well; and
moving condensate, produced during the condensing step, from the central chamber to the sampling well. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of collecting breath condensate, the method comprising:
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providing a double-walled central chamber having one or more obstructive structures arranged in the interior thereof and a coolant material sealed between the inner and outer side walls for cooling at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
calibrating the walls and coolant material of the double-walled central chamber such that, when beginning at a predetermined temperature, a chosen number of breaths, received from a typical patient, creates a sufficient amount of breath condensate to be collected on the inner surfaces of the inner walls of the central chamber;
lowering the temperature of the coolant material to the predetermined temperature to chill at least the inner walls of the central chamber;
receiving, in the interior of the central chamber, a plurality of exhalations from a particular patient, wherein the number of exhalations is within a predetermined range established on the basis of the chosen number of breaths;
condensing portions of the exhalations, received from the patient, on the inner surfaces of the inner walls of the central chamber; and
removing condensate, produced during the condensing step, from the central chamber. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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Specification