Non-invasive, miniature, breath monitoring apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a subject'"'"'s breath for diagnostic analysis comprising;
- delivering a sample gas mixture to a subject;
collecting a low volume breath sample from said subject;
delivering said low volume breath sample from said subject to a miniature sample cell;
projecting one or more collimated beams of radiation through said miniature sample cell;
isolating a narrow spectral region corresponding to at least two selected frequency components centered at different wavelengths;
analyzing said selected frequency components of said collimated beam with one or more spectrometers;
storing each output from said one or more spectrometers;
converting said outputs from each spectrometer to concentration readings;
whereby said outputs can be processed to produce diagnostic information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rugged, miniature, spectroscopic gas analyzer apparatus for rapid, non-invasive, multi-component breath monitoring and analysis and subsequent determination of Q or other medical diagnostic applications. The system is comprised of one or more IR emitters focussed by optical elements through a low volume sample cell receiving a sample input of a patient'"'"'s breath for analysis. The patient either at rest or during exercise, inhales C2H2—SF6 mixtures (balance of oxygen and nitrogen) which is subsequently monitored upon exhalation for CO2, H2O, C2H2, and SF6 which can be employed to determine Q directly and accurately. Measurements are performed in real-time or via post-processing of stored original data. Due to its small size, ruggedness, and low power consumption, the monitor can conveniently be employed in the field or data can also be retrieved remotely using telemetry. The miniature analyzer operates on the principle of infrared absorption spectroscopy and allows very precise concentration measurements of the analytes of interest, without any bias or interference from other matrix components.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a subject'"'"'s breath for diagnostic analysis comprising;
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delivering a sample gas mixture to a subject;
collecting a low volume breath sample from said subject;
delivering said low volume breath sample from said subject to a miniature sample cell;
projecting one or more collimated beams of radiation through said miniature sample cell;
isolating a narrow spectral region corresponding to at least two selected frequency components centered at different wavelengths;
analyzing said selected frequency components of said collimated beam with one or more spectrometers;
storing each output from said one or more spectrometers;
converting said outputs from each spectrometer to concentration readings;
whereby said outputs can be processed to produce diagnostic information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of monitoring a subject'"'"'s breath for diagnostic analysis comprising;
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delivering a sample gas mixture to a subject;
collecting a breath sample from said subject;
delivering said breath sample from said subject to a miniature sample cell;
projecting collimated beams of IR radiation from a CO2 laser and a broadband thermal element through said miniature sample cell;
analyzing selected frequency components of said collimated beam with one or more spectrometers;
storing each output from said one or more spectrometers;
converting said outputs from each spectrometer to concentration readings;
whereby said outputs can be processed to produce diagnostic information.
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34. A method of monitoring a subject'"'"'s breath for diagnostic analysis comprising;
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delivering a sample gas mixture to a subject;
collecting a breath sample from said subject;
delivering said breath sample from said subject to a miniature light pipe sample cell;
projecting one or more collimated beams of radiation through said miniature sample cell;
analyzing selected frequency components of said collimated beam with one or more spectrometers;
storing each output from said one or more spectrometers;
converting said outputs from each spectrometer to concentration readings;
whereby said outputs can be processed to produce diagnostic information.
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35. A method of monitoring a subject'"'"'s breath for diagnostic analysis comprising;
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delivering a sample gas mixture to a subject;
collecting a breath sample from said subject;
said step of collecting a breath sample from said subject comprises filling an anesthetic bag with said sample gas mixture, connecting said anesthetic bag to a flow control valve, placing a breathing tube with said valve in the mouth of a subject, and connecting said breathing tube to said miniature sample cell;
delivering said breath sample from said subject to a miniature sample cell;
projecting one or more collimated beams of radiation through said miniature sample cell;
analyzing selected frequency components of said collimated beam with one or more spectrometers;
storing each output from said one or more spectrometers;
converting said outputs from each spectrometer to concentration readings;
whereby said outputs can be processed to produce diagnostic information. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of monitoring a subject'"'"'s breath for diagnostic analysis comprising;
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delivering a sample gas mixture to a subject;
collecting a breath sample from said subject;
delivering said breath sample from said subject to a miniature sample cell;
projecting one or more collimated beams of radiation through said miniature sample cell;
filtering spectral interferences from said analysis by inserting an optical chamber downstream from said miniature sample cell, filling said optical chamber with a gas having the spectral interference to be filtered;
analyzing selected frequency components of said collimated beam with one or more spectrometers;
storing each output from said one or more spectrometers;
converting said outputs from each spectrometer to concentration readings;
whereby said outputs can be processed to produce diagnostic information. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A method of monitoring a subject'"'"'s breath for diagnostic analysis comprising;
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delivering a sample gas mixture to a subject, said subject rebreathing said sample gas mixture;
collecting a breath sample from said subject;
delivering said breath sample from said subject to a miniature sample cell;
projecting one or more collimated beams of radiation through said miniature sample cell;
analyzing selected frequency components of said collimated beam with one or more spectrometers;
storing each output from said one or more spectrometers;
converting said outputs from each spectrometer to concentration readings;
whereby said outputs can be processed to produce diagnostic information.
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Specification