SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING HEALTH USING EXHALED BREATH

• US 20120016252A1
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David G. Bjoraker, Richard J. Melker
• Original Assignee: David G. Bjoraker, Richard J. Melker
• Inventors: Melker, Richard J., Bjoraker, David G.
• Application Number:
  US13/246,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20120016252A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/532
• 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

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method for detecting an anesthetic agent in the breath of a subject receiving said anesthetic agent intravenously which comprises:

capturing at least one breath sample or a portion of a breath sample of said subject and subjecting said breath sample or portion thereof to analysis by a breath analyzer for analyzing the patient'"'"'s breath for concentration of at least one substance, selected from the group consisting of the active anesthetic agent itself or a metabolite thereof.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein said 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.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the sensor is selected from semiconductor gas sensor technology, surface acoustic wave gas sensor technology or conductive polymer gas sensor technology.

23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising respiratory phase sensor technology for determining a specific phase of the respiratory cycle from which the sample of breath is collected.

24. The method according to claim 23 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.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said respiratory phase sensor technology is selected from the group consisting of:

CO₂ sensors;

O₂ sensors; and

NO sensors.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the sample of breath is collected from the initial phase or end-tidal phase.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein said anesthetic agent is propofol.