Method and apparatus for detecting environmental smoke exposure

• US 7,052,468 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Melker, Richard J., Gold, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Application Number:
  US10/153,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 600529-543, 73/233, 422/84
• US Class Current: 600/532
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/014 Resonance or resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0217 Smoke, combustion gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02408 Solids in gases, e.g. particle suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0256 Adsorption, desorption, surface mass change, e.g. on biosensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0423 Surface waves, e.g. Rayleigh waves, Love waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0426 Bulk waves, e.g. quartz crystal microbalance, torsional waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0427 Flexural waves, plate waves, e.g. Lamb waves, tuning fork, cantilever
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/022 Fluid sensors based on microsensors, e.g. quartz crystal-microbalance [QCM], surface acoustic wave [SAW] devices, tuning forks, cantilevers, flexural plate wave [FPW] devices microdevices per se B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/069 Defect imaging, localisation and sizing using, e.g. time of flight diffraction [TOFD], synthetic aperture focusing technique [SAFT], Amplituden-Laufzeit-Ortskurven [ALOK] technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4427 with stored values, e.g. threshold values
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and apparatus for detecting exposure to environmental tobacco smoke by analyzing a sample of breath using electronic sensor technology, including surface acoustic-wave gas sensor technology. The method determines the presence and concentration of substance(s) (or a class of substances) indicative of environmental smoke exposure. Diagnostic software is used to identify substances where a stored library of signatures is compared to the signature obtained from the system. Signal processing and neural networks are preferably utilized in the analysis.

Claims

1. A method of determining smoke exposure, comprising:

obtaining a sample of exhaled breath; and

analyzing said sample of breath with sensor technology to determine the presence of smoke related components thereby determining smoke exposure, wherein the analysis of said sample includes comparing the results sensed in said sample with a predetermined signature profile of a specific smoke related component,

wherein the predetermined signature profile of said specific smoke related component is associated with a chemical selected from the group consisting of;

acetaldehyde, acetic acid, acetone, acrolein, 4-Amniobiphenol, ammonia, anatabine, aniline, benzene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pryrene, benzoic acid, gamma-butyrolactone, cadmium, carbonyl sulfide, catechol, cotinine, cyanide derivatives, dimethylamine, formaldehyde, formic acid, glycolic acid, Harman, hydrazine, hydrogen cyanide, hydroquinone, isoprene, methylamine, methyl chloride, 3-methylpyridine 2-naphthylamino, nickel, nicotine, nitrogen oxides, N-Nitrosodiethanolamine, N-Nitrosodiethylamine, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, NNK, phenol, polonium-210, propionaldehyde, pyridine, quinoline, succinic acid, toluene, 2-Toluidine, 3-Vinylpyridine, xylene, and Zinc.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is analyzed to determine the presence of said smoke related components by sensor technology selected from the group consisting of:

semiconductor gas sensor technology;

conductive polymer gas sensor technology;

aptamer sensor technology; and

amplifying fluorescent polymer (AFP) sensor technology.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is analyzed to determine the presence of said smoke related components by at least one surface acoustic wave gas sensor produced by technology selected from the group consisting of pulsed laser deposition, matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation, and pulsed laser assisted surface functionalization.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor technology produces a unique electronic fingerprint to characterize the smoke exposure such that the presence and concentration of the smoke related components is determined.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is analyzed to confirm the presence of said smoke related components by a spectrophotometer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said sample is analyzed to confirm the presence of said smoke related components by a mass spectrometer.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recording data resulting from analysis of said sample.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of communicating data resulting from analysis of said sample to a remote system.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of capturing exhaled breath in a vessel prior to analysis.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dehumidifying said sample prior to analysis.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said analysis further includes detecting exhalation with a sensor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein analysis further includes restricting the flow of exhaled breath with an air flow restrictor.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the analysis is performed for medical treatment purposes.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the analysis is performed for research purposes.

16. A method of determining smoke exposure, comprising:

obtaining a sample of exhaled breath;

analyzing said sample of breath with sensor technology to determine the presence of smoke related components thereby determining smoke exposure, wherein said sample is analyzed to determine the presence of said smoke related components by sensor technology selected from the group consisting of;

semiconductor gas sensor technology;

conductive polymer gas sensor technology;

aptamer sensor technology; and

amplifying fluorescent polymer (AFP) sensor technology; and

using an oscillator circuit having said sensor technology as an active feedback element.

17. A method of determining smoke exposure, comprising:

obtaining a sample of exhaled breath;

analyzing said sample of breath with sensor technology to determine the presence of smoke related components thereby determining smoke exposure, wherein said sample is analyzed to determine the presence of said smoke related components by sensor technology selected from the group consisting of;

semiconductor gas sensor technology;

conductive polymer gas sensor technology;

aptamer sensor technology; and

amplifying fluorescent polymer (AFP) sensor technology;

using an oscillator circuit having said sensor technology as an active feedback element; and

using a frequency counter in communication with said oscillator circuit to measure oscillation frequency which corresponds to resonant frequency of the sensor.

18. A method of determining smoke exposure, comprising:

obtaining a sample of exhaled breath;

analyzing said sample of breath with sensor technology to determine the presence of smoke related components thereby determining smoke exposure; and

analyzing data resulting from analysis of said sample with a neural network classifier.

19. A method of determining smoke exposure, comprising:

obtaining a sample of exhaled breath; and

analyzing said sample of breath with sensor technology to determine the presence of smoke related components thereby determining smoke exposure;

wherein the analysis of said sample includes comparing the results sensed in said sample against a predetermined signature library of interferents.

20. A method of determining smoke exposure, comprising:

obtaining a sample of exhaled breath; and

analyzing said sample of breath with sensor technology to determine the presence of smoke related components thereby determining smoke exposure;

wherein the analysis of said sample includes comparing the results sensed in said sample with a predetermined signature profile of a class of smoke related components.

21. A method of determining smoke exposure by analyzing exhaled breath for the presence of smoke related components, comprising:

obtaining a sample of exhaled breath from a subject who has possibly been exposed to smoke; and

subsequently analyzing said sample using gas sensor technology;

comparing the results of the analysis against a library of known smoke related components and interferents; and

identifying and con firming the presence or absence of smoke related components in said subject.

22. A method of determining subject compliance, comprising:

obtaining a sample of exhaled breath from said subject;

subsequently analyzing said breath sample;

comparing the results of the analysis against a library of known smoke related components and interferents; and

confirming the presence or absence of any smoke related components indicating smoke exposure.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of identifying a baseline smoke exposure spectrum for said subject prior to exposure to said smoke related components.

24. A method of determining the time course of excretion of at least one smoke related component in expired breath comprising:

obtaining a sample of expired breath at a first interval;

analyzing said sample with sensor technology to determine the concentration of said component;

obtaining at least one additional sample of expired breath at a later interval;

analyzing said additional sample with sensor technology to determine the concentration of said component; and

comparing the concentration of the first sample with the concentration of additional samples to determine the time course of excretion of at least one smoke related component in expired breath.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising evaluating damage to lungs based on the time course.

26. An apparatus for rapidly determining smoke exposure by analyzing exhaled breath for smoke related components, comprising:

(a) means for receiving exhaled breath from a subject;

(b) means for determining the presence of smoke related components in said breath;

(c) means for reporting results; and

(d) a stored library or specific smoke related components for comparison, wherein said specific smoke related components include at least one of the substances from the group consisting of;

acetaldehyde, acetic acid, acetone, acrolein, 4-Amniobiphenol, ammonia, anatabine, aniline, benzene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pryrene, benzoic acid, gamma-butyrolactone, cadmium, carbonyl sulfide, catechol, cotinine, cyanide derivatives, dimethylamine, formaldehyde, formic acid, glycolic acid, Harman, hydrazine, hydrogen cyanide, hydroquinone, isoprene, methylamine, methyl chloride, 3-methylpyridine, 2-naphthylamine, nickel, nicotine, nitrogen oxides, N-Nitrosodiethanolamine, N-Nitrosodiethylamine, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, NNK, phenol, polonium-210, propionaldehyde, pyridine, quinoline, succinic acid, toluene, 2-Toluidine, 3-Vinylpyridine, xylene, and Zinc.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a mouthpiece in communication with the means for receiving exhaled breath.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an air flow restrictor in communication with the means for receiving exhaled breath.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an air flow sensor in communication with the means for receiving exhaled breath.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said air flow sensor is a pressure sensor.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the means for determining the presence of smoke related components in said breath comprises a sensor having a surface exposed to said breath and a material selectively absorptive of a group of chemical substances of which smoke related components are members.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said sensor comprises a gas sensor.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said gas sensor is selected from the group consisting of semiconductor gas sensor technology;

conductive polymer gas sensor technology;

aptamer sensor technology; and

amplifying fluorescent polymer (AFP) sensor technology.

34. The apparatus of claim 26 comprising an analysis means, coupled to the sensor, for producing an electrical signal indicative of the presence of said smoke related components.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a stored library of interferents for comparison.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a stored library of classes of smoke related components for comparison.

37. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the analysis means are further operative to determine the approximate concentration of said smoke related components.

38. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a neural network classifier.

39. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising means for remotely communicating the results.

40. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising means for storing the results.

41. A device for detecting at least one target substance in expired breath indicative of smoke exposure comprising:

a surface-acoustic wave sensor capable of detecting the presence of said target substance in expired breath, wherein said sensor responds to the target substance by a shift in the resonant frequency;

an oscillator circuit having said sensor as an active feedback element; and

a frequency counter in communication with said oscillator circuit to measure oscillation frequency which corresponds to resonant frequency of the sensor;

a processor for comparing the oscillation frequency with a previously measured oscillation frequency of the target substance and determining presence and concentration of the target substance therefrom.