APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSTIC GAS ANALYSIS
First Claim
1. A device for diagnostic measurement of NO in exhaled breath, comprising an inlet through which a patient exhales at a first flow rate and pressure, and an electrochemical sensor for determining the level of NO, wherein the device further comprises a buffer chamber for temporarily storing a sample of the exhaled air, and a sample feeder for feeding a portion of the sample from the buffer chamber to the sensor at a second flow rate, wherein the second flow rate is smaller than the first flow rate.
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Abstract
A handheld, small but accurate and reliable device for diagnostic NO measurements using a NO sensor, where the parameters governing the taking of the sample are different from the parameters optimal for the accuracy of said NO sensor I described. By temporarily storing a portion of the exhaled air, and feeding this to the sensor at a flow rate adapted to the NO sensor, the accuracy and sensitivity of a system/method involving NO sensors, in particular electrochemical NO sensors, can be increased. The method for diagnostic NO measurements comprises steps for controlling the inhalation of NO free air, as well as the exhalation, both by built-in means and by audible and/or visual feedback to the patient.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A device for diagnostic measurement of NO in exhaled breath, comprising an inlet through which a patient exhales at a first flow rate and pressure, and an electrochemical sensor for determining the level of NO, wherein the device further comprises a buffer chamber for temporarily storing a sample of the exhaled air, and a sample feeder for feeding a portion of the sample from the buffer chamber to the sensor at a second flow rate, wherein the second flow rate is smaller than the first flow rate.
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20. A method for diagnostic NO measurements using a device comprising an electrochemical NO sensor, comprising the steps of
receiving breath exhaled by a patient with the device, controlling a flow rate and pressure of the exhaled breath to at least one preset value defining a first flow rate, temporarily storing a sample of the exhalation air in a buffer chamber, feeding at least a portion of the sample from the buffer chamber to the electrochemical NO sensor at a second flow rate, and determining the NO concentration in the sample, wherein the second flow rate is smaller than the first flow rate.
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29. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program comprising executable instructions configured to control operation of a device for diagnostic measurement of NO in exhaled breath, including:
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control flow rate and pressure of the exhaled breath to at least one preset value defining a first flow rate; control temporary storage of a sample of the exhaled breath in a buffer chamber; control feeding of at least a portion of the sample from the buffer chamber to an electrochemical NO sensor at a second flow rate that is smaller than the first flow rate; and determine NO concentration in the sample.
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30. A device for diagnostic measurement of NO in exhaled breath using an electrochemical sensor, comprising means for receiving the exhaled breath at a first flow rate, means for temporarily storing a sample of the exhaled breath, and means for feeding a portion of the sample from the means for temporarily storing to the electrochemical sensor at a second flow rate, wherein the second flow rate is smaller than the first flow rate.
Specification