APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSTIC GAS ANALYSIS

• US 20140305810A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Circassia AB
• Original Assignee: Aerocrine AB (Circassia Group Plc)
• Inventors: von Bahr, Pontus, Hemmingsson, Tryggve, Jakobsson, Anders, Gustafsson, Fredric
• Application Number:
  US14/314,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20140305810A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/781
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0803 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• 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 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/766 of gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/28 Electrolytic cell components
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0016 by regulating a physical variable, e.g. pressure, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0037 for NOx
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/177692 Oxides of nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/179228 Both nitrogen oxide and dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

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. 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.

Claims

1. A method for processing measured exhaled NO concentration, comprising:

collecting a sample of exhaled air during an exhalation performed by a person at a controlled flow rate and pressure with a device that includes an NO sensor and a pump or a fan;

feeding the collected sample with the pump or the fan to the NO sensor at a flow rate suitable for said sensor, the feeding performed for a duration longer than the duration of said exhalation;

determining an NO concentration in said sample; and

relaying the measured NO concentration to at least one external unit using one of a memory card, microprocessor card, smartcard, wireless communication, a conventional serial port and a parallel port.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one external unit comprises external software.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measured NO concentration is stored as data.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said data comprises patient information.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the patient information further comprises at least one of a patient identification, a date and time of measurement, a measured FE_NO, a sensor ID number, a device ID number, a disease input, a comfort level input, a medication parameter, and an error list.

6. A method for measuring the concentration of exhaled NO, comprising :

collecting a sample of exhaled air at a first preset flow rate and pressure with a device that includes an NO sensor and a pump or a fan,

feeding said sample with the pump or the fan to said NO sensor at a second preset flow rate and pressure suitable for said sensor,

determining an NO concentration in said air sample, and

relaying the NO concentration to at least one external unit using one of a memory card, microprocessor card, smartcard, wireless communication, a conventional serial port and a parallel port.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one external unit comprises external software.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the measured NO concentration is stored as data.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said data comprises patient information.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the patient information further comprises at least one of a patient identification, a date and time of measurement, a measured FE_NO, a sensor ID number, a device ID number, a disease input, a comfort level input, a medication parameter, and an error list.

11. A method for analyzing the concentration of exhaled NO, comprising :

collecting a sample of exhaled air at a first preset flow rate and pressure with a device that includes an NO sensor and a pump or a fan,

feeding said sample with the pump or the fan to said NO sensor at a second preset flow rate and pressure suitable for said sensor,

determining an NO concentration in said air sample, and

relaying the NO concentration to at least one external unit using one of a memory card, microprocessor card, smartcard, wireless communication, a conventional serial port and a parallel port.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one external unit comprises external software.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the measured NO concentration is stored as data.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said data comprises patient information.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the patient information further comprises at least one of a patient identification, a date and time of measurement, a measured FE_NO, a sensor ID number, a device ID number, a disease input, a comfort level input, a medication parameter, and an error list.