BREATH ANALYSIS
First Claim
1. Method for breath analysis includingsampling by air intake to a measuring cell (4) through the inlet opening (24) of a receptor (2;
- 41) having concentration preserving effect, located adjacent to the mouth and nose opening of a test person in order to receive flow of expired airwhereby said flow is distributed by the shape of said receptor into one branch leading to said measuring cell, and into another branch flowing back to said inlet thereby protecting incident flow from being mixed with ambient air, whereby said concentration preserving effect is obtained, anddetermination by means of said measuring cell the concentration of a volatile organic substance, e g ethyl alcohol, and a physiological reference substance, e g carbon dioxide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for breath analysis from a test person who may be incapable of delivering controlled forced expiration. Breath sampling may be essentially contactless and is provided by active air intake to measuring cell (4) via receptor (2) which exhibits concentration preserving effect based on partial reflow which prevents mixing with ambient air. The analysis is performed by IR spectroscopy, including the determination of concentration of a volatile organic substance, e g ethyl alcohol, and a physiological reference substance, e g carbon dioxide. The timing of sampling is controlled by starting command from operator, and the duration of air intake is controlled by sensor signal from the measuring cell. The apparatus includes one hand unit (1), an exchangeable receptor (2), and a docking station (3).
58 Citations
10 Claims
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1. Method for breath analysis including
sampling by air intake to a measuring cell (4) through the inlet opening (24) of a receptor (2; -
41) having concentration preserving effect, located adjacent to the mouth and nose opening of a test person in order to receive flow of expired air
whereby said flow is distributed by the shape of said receptor into one branch leading to said measuring cell, and into another branch flowing back to said inlet thereby protecting incident flow from being mixed with ambient air, whereby said concentration preserving effect is obtained, and determination by means of said measuring cell the concentration of a volatile organic substance, e g ethyl alcohol, and a physiological reference substance, e g carbon dioxide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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41) having concentration preserving effect, located adjacent to the mouth and nose opening of a test person in order to receive flow of expired air
- 7. Breath analyzer comprising measuring cell (4), and receptor (2, 41) connected to said measuring cell including an inlet opening (24) which during sampling is directed towards the mouth and nose of a test person in order to receive expired air, and a connector (45) to the measuring cell characterized in that the receptor (2, 41) has the shape of a cup, funnel or scoop with a geometry such that the expiratory air flow received at said inlet opening (24) is partly fed to said measuring cell and partly reflowing back to said inlet opening (24).
Specification