Breath test for the detection of various diseases

• US 6,221,026 B1
• Filed: 01/12/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Phillips
• Original Assignee: Michael Phillips
• Inventors: Phillips, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, RYAN CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US09/229,020
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 600/529, 600/532-533, 600/537-538, 600/540-541, 600/543, 600/300, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/532
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0087 Breath samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2033/4975 other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4975 other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours

Abstract

The alkane profile, comprising the alveolar gradients of n-alkanes in breath having 4 to 20 carbons, is determined for the diagnosis of disease in mammals, including humans.

Claims

1. A process for determining the presence or absence of disease in a mammal, including a human, which comprises;

collecting a representative sample of alveolar breath from the mammal;

collecting a representative sample of ambient air;

analyzing the samples of breath and air to determine content of n-alkanes having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive;

calculating alveolar gradients of the n-alkanes having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive, in the breath sample in order to determine an alkane profile; and

comparing the alkane profile to baseline alkane profiles calculated for mammals known to be free of the disease to be determined with a finding of differences in the alkane profile from the baseline alkane profile being indicative of the presence of the disease.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the disease is breast cancer.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the disease is manifested by cardiac chest pain.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the mammal is a human.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the disease is unstable angina pectoris.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the disease is acute myocardial infarction.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the disease is renal disease.

8. A process for determining the presence of breast cancer in a human, which comprises;

collecting a representative sample of alveolar breath from a human;

collecting a representative sample of ambient air;

analyzing the collected samples of breath and of air to determine content of n-alkanes having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive;

calculating alveolar gradients of the n-alkanes having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive, in the breath sample in order to determine an alkane profile;

calculating a baseline alkane profile for humans known to be free of breast cancer; and

comparing the alkane profile to the baseline alkane profile with a finding of downward displacement in the alkane profile from the baseline alkane profile being indicative of the presence of breast cancer.

9. A process for determining the presence of ischemic heart disease in a human, which comprises;

collecting a representative sample of alveolar breath from a human;

collecting a representative sample of ambient air;

analyzing the collected samples of breath and of air to determine content of n-alkanes having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive;

calculating alveolar gradients of the n-alkanes having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive, in the breath sample, in order to determine an alkane profile;

calculating a baseline alkane profile for humans known to be free of ischemic heart disease;

comparing the alkane profile to the baseline alkane profile with a finding of upward displacement in the alkane profile from the baseline alkane profile being indicative of the presence of ischemic heart disease.

10. A process for determining the presence of renal disease in a human, which comprises;

collecting a representative sample of alveolar breath from a human;

collecting a representative sample of ambient air;

analyzing the collected samples of breath and of air to determine content of n-alkanes having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive;

calculating alveolar gradients of the n-alkanes having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, inclusive, in the breath sample in order to determine an alkane profile;

calculating a baseline alkane profile for humans known to be free of renal disease; and

comparing the alkane profile to the baseline alkane profile with a finding of downward displacement in the alkane profile from the baseline alkane profile being indicative of the presence of renal disease.