Device and method for collection of exhaled alveolar breath condensate
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A diagnosis method for respiratory disease based on the separation of the expired airway phase in an exhaled breath from the alveolar phase, and a device to accomplish the method. The device includes a cartridge assembly and a disposable condensing chamber carried in a substantially enclosed housing. The cartridge assembly includes a disposable cartridge and a reusable control system that monitors a characteristic of gas passing through the cartridge to determine when to divert the exhaled breath to an exhaust outlet and when to divert the exhaled breath to the condensing chamber. The characteristic is selected as being representative of the transition from the expired airway phase to the alveolar phase. Also included are a refrigeration system, an auxiliary monitoring system for determining when a sufficient volume of gas has been produced, and a built-in analyzer.
132 Citations
90 Claims
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42. An apparatus for separating the expired airway phase of breath exhaled by a mammalian subject from the alveolar phase of the exhaled breath, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a fluid inlet;
(b) at least a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet;
(c) a valve assembly adjustable between at least two states, the at least two states including a first state wherein fluid received at the fluid inlet is diverted to the first fluid outlet, and a second state wherein fluid received at the fluid inlet is diverted to the second fluid outlet; and
(d) a control system that adjusts the state of the valve assembly, the control system including;
a spectrometer arranged to monitor at least one characteristic of a generally gaseous fluid passing through the separation apparatus, the characteristic generally capable of distinguishing the expired airway phase of an exhaled breath from a mammalian subject from the alveolar phase of the exhaled breath, and an actuator device, coupled to the spectrometer and the valve assembly, that adjusts the state of the valve assembly on the basis of the state of the monitored characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification