BREATH ANALYZER AND BREATH TEST METHODS

• US 20170191953A1
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anastasia Rigas
• Original Assignee: Anastasia Rigas
• Inventors: Rigas, Anastasia
• Granted Patent: US 10,401,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0285 Nanoscale sensors
• 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 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4233 oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2033/4975 other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/06 Gastro-intestinal diseases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved breath analyzer and breath test method to determine the presence of a gastrointestinal disorder in a subject'"'"'s digestive tract.

Claims

1. A handheld, portable breath analyzer, comprising:

a main body; and

a removable mouthpiece, wherein the removable mouthpiece removably attaches to the main body;

wherein the main body includes a sensor, a processor, a power source and an electrical circuit;

wherein the electrical circuit operably connects the power source to the sensor and connects the sensor to the processor;

wherein the sensor comprises a conductive material and hydrogen selective material in contact with the conductive material, wherein the hydrogen selective material has a resistivity that increases in response to increased concentration of hydrogen; and

wherein the processor detects resistivity of the sensor and uses the resistivity to calculate a concentration of hydrogen.

2. The breath analyzer of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen selective material comprises polyaniline, wherein the polyaniline is doped with a dopant that increases pH sensitivity of the polyaniline, and wherein the polyaniline has a resistivity that increases in response to increased concentration of hydrogen.

3. The breath analyzer of claim 2 wherein the polyaniline has a pH sensitivity of more than 59 mV.

4. The breath analyzer of claim 2 wherein the dopant comprises a protonic acid.

5. The breath analyzer of claim 4 wherein the dopant comprises a protonic acid selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, salicylic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutamic acid, adipic acid, phthalic acid and camphor sulfonic acid.

6. The breath analyzer of claim 5 wherein the dopant consists essentially of hydrochloric acid.

7. The breath analyzer of claim 1 wherein the conductive comprises a plurality of electrodes.

8. The breath analyzer of claim 7 wherein the plurality of interdigitated finger electrodes.

9. The breath analyzer of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen selective material is deposited as a thin film on the conductive material.

10. The breath analyzer of claim 1 further comprising a desiccant or gas filter, wherein the desiccant or gas filter is located in either the removable mouthpiece or the main body.

11. A breath test method for screening for a gastrointestinal disorder, comprising steps of:

(a) providing a portable, hand-held breath analyzer, wherein the portable, hand-held breath analyzer comprises;

(i) a main body; and

(ii) a removable mouthpiece, wherein the removable mouthpiece removably attaches the main body, wherein the main body includes a sensor, a processor, a power source and an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit operably connects the power source to the sensor and connects the sensor to the processor;

wherein the sensor comprises a conductive material and hydrogen selective material in contact with the conductive material, wherein the hydrogen selective material has a resistivity that increases in response to increased concentration of hydrogen;

(b) prompting a subject to exhale a breath sample into the removable mouthpiece;

(c) allowing the processor to measure a resistivity of the sensor that occurs when the breath sample contacts the sensor; and

(f) designating the subject as having an increased likelihood of having a gastrointestinal disorder if the measured resistivity is above and/or beneath a predetermined value.

12. The breath test method of claim 11 wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is celiac disease.

13. The breath test method of claim 11 wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

14. A breath test method for diagnosing a gastrointestinal disorder, comprising steps of:

(a) providing a portable, hand-held breath analyzer, wherein the portable, hand-held breath analyzer comprises;

(i) a main body; and

(ii) a removable mouthpiece, wherein the removable mouthpiece removably attaches the main body, wherein the main body includes a sensor, a processor, a power source and an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit operably connects the power source to the sensor and connects the sensor to the processor;

wherein the sensor comprises a conductive material and hydrogen selective material in contact with the conductive material, wherein the hydrogen selective material has a resistivity that increases in response to increased concentration of hydrogen;

(b) prompting a subject to exhale a breath sample into the removable mouthpiece;

(c) allowing the processor to measure a resistivity of the sensor that occurs when the breath sample contacts the sensor; and

(f) diagnosing the subject as having a gastrointestinal disorder if the measured resistivity is above and/or beneath a predetermined value.

15. The breath test method of claim 14 wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is celiac disease.

16. The breath test method of claim 14 wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

17-26. -26. (canceled)