DISPOSABLE SENSOR FOR USE IN MEASURING AN ANALYTE IN A GASEOUS SAMPLE

• US 20090260418A1
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circassia AB
• Original Assignee: Apieron Incorporated (Circassia Group Plc)
• Inventors: Fay, Jonathan, Chazan, David, Parikh, Bhairavi, Stone, James, Nason, Kevin, Flaherty, Bryan, Kaiser, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/23.300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/783 for analysing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath

Abstract

The present invention is a disposable sensor for use with a device that quantifies analytes in a gaseous sample. It comprises (i) a sensing element, (ii) a means for interfacing the disposable sensor with a gas analysis device, and (iii) a housing. When used with a device that can quantify the concentration of an analyte in a gas sample, the present invention facilitates the use of exhaled breath analysis as a clinical tool.

Claims

1. A sensor for use with a device that quantifies the concentration of an analyte in a gaseous sample of exhaled breath, comprising:

a sensing element; and

a use limitation means.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said use limitations means comprises a means for preventing or discouraging use of the sensor after it has been used a certain number of times.

3. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein said certain number of times is thirty.

4. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein said certain number of times is one.

5. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said use limitations means comprises a means for preventing or discouraging use of the sensor after an expiration date.

6. The sensor according to claim 1 or 5, wherein said use limitations means comprises an information storage device.

7. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein said information storage device comprises an integrated circuit.

8. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein said information storage device comprises a magnetic strip.

9. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said use limitation means comprises a means for preventing or discouraging use of the sensor after it has once been removed from a gas analysis device.

10. The sensor according to claim 9, wherein said use limitations means comprises a tab.

11. The sensor according to claim 9, wherein said use limitations means comprises a fuse.

12. The sensor according to claim 9, wherein said use limitations means comprises a means for detecting a leak within said sensor.

13. A sensor for use with a device that quantifies the concentration of an analyte in a gaseous sample of exhaled breath, comprising:

a disposable sensing element; and

calibration information associated with said sensing element.

14. The sensor according to claim 13, wherein said calibration information comprises text for reading by a user.

15. The sensor according to claim 14, wherein said text comprises a code.

16. The sensor according to claim 14, wherein said text comprises a coefficient table.

17. The sensor according to claim 13, wherein said calibration information is stored in an integrated circuit associated with said sensing element.

18. The sensor according to claim 13, wherein said calibration information is stored in a bar code associated with said sensing element.

19. The sensor according to claim 13, wherein said calibration information is stored in an optical code associated with said sensing element.