Spectroscopic breath analysis
First Claim
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1. Exhaled breath analysis apparatus for quantifying the presence of one or more target substances in exhaled breath comprising:
- a cavity enhanced absorption assembly comprising an optical cavity coupled to an optical source operable to emit radiation and an optical detector configured to generate a signal in response to illumination by said radiation;
a breath collection assembly arranged to pass at least a portion of said exhaled breath into said optical cavity for illumination by said radiation; and
a data processor connected to said optical detector and adapted to quantify the presence of said one or more target substances in said optical cavity by the contribution to said signal made by absorption of said radiation by said target substance.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for the analysis of exhaled breath by spectroscopy are disclosed. An optical cavity containing the exhaled breath, typically comprising a pair of opposing high reflectivity mirrors, is used to implement a cavity enhanced absorbtion technique. Pairs of 12CO2 and 13CO2 absorbtion lines suitable for use in spectroscopic breath analysis are also disclosed.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Exhaled breath analysis apparatus for quantifying the presence of one or more target substances in exhaled breath comprising:
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a cavity enhanced absorption assembly comprising an optical cavity coupled to an optical source operable to emit radiation and an optical detector configured to generate a signal in response to illumination by said radiation;
a breath collection assembly arranged to pass at least a portion of said exhaled breath into said optical cavity for illumination by said radiation; and
a data processor connected to said optical detector and adapted to quantify the presence of said one or more target substances in said optical cavity by the contribution to said signal made by absorption of said radiation by said target substance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of quantifying the presence of one or more target substances in breath exhaled by a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting said exhaled breath;
passing at least a portion of said exhaled breath into the optical cavity of a cavity enhanced absorption assembly;
illuminating said exhaled breath in said optical cavity with radiation emitted by an optical source;
generating a signal in response to the illumination by said radiation of an optical detector coupled to said optical cavity; and
analysing said signal to quantify therefrom the presence of said one or more target substances in said optical cavity by the contribution to said signal made by absorption of said radiation by said target substances. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Exhaled breath analysis apparatus adapted to determine the absorption of radiation by a breath sample at the wavelengths of a 13CO2 absorption line and a 12CO2 absorption line selected from the list of (13CO2, 12CO2) absorption lines comprising:
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18. A method of quantifying the presence of 13CO2 and CO2 in exhaled breath, comprising determining the absorption of radiation by a breath sample at the wavelengths of a 13CO2 absorption line and a 12CO2 absorption line selected from the list of (13CO2, 12CO2) absorption lines comprising:
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19. The use of cavity enhanced absorption in the quantification of one or more target components of exhaled breath.
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20. The use of cavity enhanced absorption in the detection of human or animal disease by quantification of one or more target components in breath exhaled by a human or animal.
Specification