System and method for monitoring health using exhaled breath

• US 20070203448A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Lampotang, Samsun, Bjoraker, David, Melker, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,211,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/24
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 involving training the classification device
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/01 specially adapted for anaesthetising A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/026 specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0841 for sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1045 Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/18 Vaporising devices for anaesthetic preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/22 Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices ; Other means for removing carbon dioxidecartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1035 the anaesthetic agent concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0486 Glucose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 : voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/43 : Composition of exhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 : partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 : partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/437 : the anaesthetic agent concentration
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 : of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

The present invention includes systems and methods for monitoring endogenous compound concentration in blood by detecting markers, such as odors, upon exhalation by a patient, wherein such markers are the endogenous compound itself or result from the endogenous compound. In the case of olfactory markers, the invention preferably utilizes electronic sensor technology, such as the commercial devices referred to as “artificial” or “electronic” noses or tongues, to non-invasively monitor endogenous compound levels in blood. The invention further includes a reporting system capable of tracking endogenous compound concentrations in blood (remote or proximate locations) and providing the necessary alerts with regard to emergent or harmful conditions in a patient.

Claims

1. An anesthetic agent delivery system for delivering a desired dose of anesthetic agent to a patient comprising:

an anesthetic supply having a controller for controlling the amount of anesthetic agent provided by the supply;

a breath analyzer for analyzing the patient'"'"'s breath for concentration of at least one substance indicative of the anesthetic agent concentration in the patient'"'"'s bloodstream that provides a signal to indicate the anesthetic agent concentration delivered to the patient; and

a system controller connected to the anesthetic supply which receives the signal and controls the amount of anesthetic agent based on the signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the breath analyzer comprises a collector for sampling the patient'"'"'s expired breath, a sensor for analyzing the breath for concentration of at least one substance indicative of the anesthetic agent concentration, a processor for calculating the effect of the agent based on the concentration and determining depth of anesthesia.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the sensor is selected from semiconductor gas sensor technology or conductive polymer gas sensor technology.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising respiratory phase sensor technology for determining a specific phase of the respiratory cycle from which the sample of breath is collected.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said respiratory phase sensor technology is selected from the group consisting of:

viscosity sensors;

flow sensors;

pressure sensors;

humidity sensors;

temperature sensors; and

gas sensors.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said respiratory phase sensor technology is selected from the group consisting of:

CO₂ sensors;

O₂ sensors; and

NO sensors.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the sample of breath is collected from the initial phase or end-tidal phase.

8. An anesthetic agent delivery and monitoring system for delivering balanced anesthesia to a patient through a breathing circuit and an IV comprising:

an anesthetic gas supply having a controller for controlling the amount of volatile anesthetic agent provided by the supply to the breathing circuit;

an intravenous anesthetic agent supply having a controller for controlling the amount of IV anesthetic agent administered to the patient intravenously;

an inspired gas analyzer for analyzing the concentration of anesthetic gas in the breathing circuit;

an expired gas analyzer for analyzing the patient'"'"'s breath for concentration of at least one substance indicative of anesthetic agent concentrations in the patient'"'"'s bloodstream that provides at least one signal to indicate the anesthetic agent concentration delivered to the patient; and

a system controller connected to each of the anesthetic supplies which receives the signal and controls the amount of anesthetic agents administered based on the signal.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the inspired gas analyzer and expired gas analyzer comprise a sensor for analyzing the gas for concentration of at least one substance indicative of the anesthetic agent concentration and a processor for calculating the effect of the agent based on the concentration and determining depth of anesthesia.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor is selected from semiconductor gas sensor technology or conductive polymer gas sensor technology.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising respiratory phase sensor technology for determining a specific phase of the respiratory cycle from which the sample of breath is collected.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said respiratory phase sensor technology is selected from the group consisting of:

viscosity sensors;

flow sensors;

pressure sensors;

humidity sensors;

temperature sensors; and

gas sensors.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the respiratory phase sensor technology is selected from the group consisting of:

CO₂ sensors;

O₂ sensors; and

NO sensors.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the sample of breath is collected from the initial phase or end-tidal phase.

15. An apparatus for administering balanced anesthesia to a patient comprising:

at least one supply of at least one intravenous anesthetic agent;

intravenous delivery means for controllably intravenously delivering said at least one intravenous anesthetic agent to the patent;

at least one supply of at least one inhalational anesthetic agent;

a breathing circuit for delivery of said inhalational anesthetic agent;

an inspired gas analyzer for analyzing gas in said breathing circuit for said inhalational agent;

an expired gas analyzer for analyzing the patient'"'"'s breath for concentration of at least one substance indicative of anesthetic agents in the patient'"'"'s bloodstream that provides a signal to indicate anesthetic agent concentration delivered to the patient;

a system controller connected to the intravenous delivery means which receives the signal and controls the amount of anesthetic agent based on the signal; and

a system controller connected to the breathing circuit which receives the signal and controls the amount of anesthetic agent based on the signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising respiratory phase sensor technology for determining a specific phase of the respiratory cycle from which the sample of breath is collected.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said respiratory phase sensor technology is selected from the group consisting of:

viscosity sensors;

flow sensors;

pressure sensors;

humidity sensors;

temperature sensors; and

gas sensors.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the respiratory phase sensor technology is selected from the group consisting of:

CO₂ sensors;

O₂ sensors; and

NO sensors.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the sample of breath is collected from the initial phase or end-tidal phase.