Breath component monitoring device

• US 5,174,959 A
• Filed: 04/15/1991
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: George, Richard W., Kundu, Samar K., March, Steven C., Rutnarak, Sangvorn
• Primary Examiner(s): WARDEN, JILL ALICE
• Application Number:
  US07/685,317
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/59, 422/84, 422/85, 422/61, 436/128, 436/132, 436/167, 436/181
• US Class Current: 422/413
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/64 involving ketones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/200833 Carbonyl, ether, aldehyde or ketone containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/204165 Ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25875 Gaseous sample or with change of physical state

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and materials for the detection of ketone and aldehyde analytes in fluid samples by means of reacting analyte containing samples with a first solid matrix material to which a nitroprusside salt is coupled and a second solid matrix material to which an amine is covalently coupled. Methods and devices are also provided for ascertaining the fat catabolism effects of a weight loss dietary regimen comprising determining the breath acetone concentration of the subject.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring levels of various components in the breath of a user, comprising:

a) an outer tubular member having an open first end and a second end;

b) valve means disposed toward the second end of said outer tubular member;

c) a breath sample collection means having one end mounted on said tubular member and having the other end closed, and having an interior in communication with the inside of said outer tubular member through said valve means; and

d) a disposable tubular analyzer column containing material reactive to the presence of at least one breath component wherein said column is insertable into and contained within said outer tubular member, co-operates with said valve means to permit breath blown by a user into said outer tubular member to pass through said outer tubular member into said breath sample collection means and to permit said collected breath sample to discharge through the reactive material of said analyzer column.

2. The monitoring device as recited in claim 1 wherein said analyzer column is insertable into and contained within said outer tubular member to a first rotational and axial position for breath collection in which breath blown into said outer tubular member bypasses said reactive material of said analyzer column and passes through said valve means into said breath sample collection means, said analyzer column being rotatable and further insertable to a second rotational and axial position wherein said analyzer column is in communication with said valve means such that a collected breath sample is discharged from breath sample collection means through said valve means into said reactive material of said analyzer column.

3. The monitoring device as recited in claim 2 wherein said analyzer column further comprises a mouthpiece which is receivable in said first open end of said outer tubular member and a reduced-diameter central portion creating a passageway between the inside of said outer tubular member and the outside of said analyzer column, said central portion being connected to said mouthpiece by a wall segment having at least one orifice therein such that, when said analyzer column is in said first position, the breath of a user passes from said mouthpiece through said passageway and said valve means into said breath sample collection means.

4. The monitoring device as recited in claim 2 wherein longitudinally extending rib means are provided on the inner surface of said outer tubular member for guiding said analyzer column when inserted therein.

5. The monitoring device as recited in claim 4 wherein positioning flats are provided on said analyzer column for cooperating with said rib means on said outer tubular member to guide and position said analyzer column during insertion of said analyzer column into said outer tubular member.

6. The monitoring device as recited in claim 4 wherein stop means are provided on at least one of said rib means for engagement by said analyzer column to determine a first axial position of said column.

7. The monitoring device as recited in claim 2 wherein said valve means comprises a housing member, a ball member disposed therein, an O-ring, and a further reduced-diameter end portion of said analyzer column, said further reduced diameter end portion of said column being axially spaced from said O-ring in said first position of the column and, in said second position of the column, passing through and sealingly engaging said O-ring and abutting against said ball.

8. The monitoring device as recited in claim 2 wherein said sample collection means comprises an inflatable/deflatable bag and a flat coil spring is provided on the outer surface of said bag so that, after said bag is inflated and said analyzer column is moved into said second position, said spring coils said bag into its deflated condition with the fixed volume of air being discharged at a substantially constant rate through said reactive material in the analyzer column.

9. The monitoring device as recited in claim 1 wherein said reactive material includes at least one fluid reactant, said tubular analyzer column has a flexible portion adjacent said reactive material and said outer tubular member includes means for squeezing said flexible portion thereby to break an ampule of said fluid reactant disposed in said flexible portion.

10. The monitoring device as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for squeezing comprises an outwardly biased but inwardly movable breaker button mounted in a portable housing surrounding said outer tubular member, said breaker button being in alignment with said flexible portion of the disposable analyzer column and having a stem and head for transferring pressure to said flexible portion.

11. The monitoring device as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for squeezing is axially positioned to break the end of said ampule most closely adjacent said reactive material.

12. A kit for the determination of levels of various components in a user'"'"'s breath, said kit comprising:

a) a portable housing with an opening at one end and containing;

i) an outer tubular member having an open first end and a second end, wherein said outer tubular member is contained within said portable housing such that said open first end of said outer tubular member is in communication with said portable housing opening;

ii) valve means disposed toward said second end of said outer tubular member; and

iii) a breath sample collection means having one end mounted on said outer tubular member and having the other end closed, and having an interior in communication with the inside of said outer tubular member through said valve means for collecting a fixed volume of a user'"'"'s breath; and

b) a disposable tubular analyzer column containing material reactive to the presence of at least one breath component, wherein said column is insertable into said outer tubular member through said portable housing opening, co-operates with said valve means to permit breath blown by a user into said outer tubular member to pass through said outer tubular member into said breath sample collection means and to permit said collected breath sample to discharge through the reactive material of said analyzer column.

13. A disposable, tubular analyzer column for use in a blow tube, having an open first end and a valve disposed toward a second end, for monitoring levels of various components in the breath of a user, said analyzer column comprising:

a hollow mouthpiece portion of a diameter permitting partial insertion of said analyzer column into an open first end of a blow tube;

a central portion of reduced-diameter having a wall segment interconnecting said mouthpiece and said reduced-diameter central portion, said central portion housing a volume of reactive material, and said wall segment defining at least one breath passage opening such that when said analyzer column is inserted into said blow tube to a first position, a breath passageway to said valve is formed from inside said mouthpiece through said breath passage opening and through a space formed between an inner wall of said blow tube and an outer wall of said reduced-diameter central portion.

14. The analyzer column as recited in claim 13 wherein said central portion also houses a breakable ampule of liquid reactant adjacent said reactive material, said central portion being flexible enough to permit breaking of said ampule by applying pressure to sid central portion.

15. The analyzer column as recited in claim 13 wherein said tubular analyzer column is further characterized by an end portion opposite said mouthpiece portion, said end portion having a further reduced-diameter which is operably engageable wtih a valve means of said blow tube in a second position of said analyzer column in said blow tube, wherein said valve means comprises a housing member, a ball member disposed therein and an O-ring, said further reduced-diameter end portion of said analyzer column being axially spaced from said O-ring in said first position of said analyzer column and passing through and sealingly engaging said O-ring and abutting against said ball member in said second position of said analyzer column.