Method and device for collecting and analyzing exhaled breath
First Claim
1. A method for collecting condensate from the breath of a subject inhaled through and exhaled into a portable device comprising a mouthpiece including a check valve optionally attached to a filter assembly further attached to the bottom end of a cooled, open-ended, hollow collecting tube close to the bottom end of which a hollow duckbill valve has been inserted so as to make a sealing connection with the interior walls thereof and for analyzing the collected condensate for the presence of one or more selected substances comprising:
- sliding a cooling sleeve having a lower temperature than the collecting tube over the collecting tube and placing the cooling sleeve in at least close physical proximity with the collecting tube prior to giving the tube to the subject;
instructing the subject to inhale through the mouthpiece while ensuring by means of operation of the duckbill valve and a check valve located within the mouthpiece that air inhaled by the subject comes directly from a desired source and does not contaminate the collecting tube;
directing the subject to exhale through the mouthpiece while maintaining the collecting tube oriented approximately perpendicular to the ground;
channeling breath exhaled from the subject by means of closure of the check valve through the filter assembly, if there is one, and the duckbill valve turbulently into the collecting tube;
repeating returning to the instructing step until a period of approximately ten minutes has elapsed from the first inhalation;
removing the cooling sleeve from around the collecting tube and disconnecting the filter, if any, and mouthpiece assembly from the bottom end of the collecting tube;
pushing the duckbill valve along the length of the collecting tube to within approximately two inches of the top end thereof while maintaining the collecting tube oriented approximately perpendicular to the ground so as to wipe condensate from the interior walls of the collecting tube and form a pool of condensate around the base of the duckbill valve;
installing an airtight cap on the top end of the collecting tube if the tube is to be either stored for later use or shipped to another location for analysis;
moving the tube to the analysis site and removing the airtight cap, if one has been installed;
degassing the condensate pool; and
withdrawing a test sample of the condensate for analysis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device for collecting, storing, shipping, preparing and analyzing condensate derived from the exhaled breath of a user. Using the mouthpiece (15) of the device (10), a human subject inhales drawing air through a check valve (30).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for collecting condensate from the breath of a subject inhaled through and exhaled into a portable device comprising a mouthpiece including a check valve optionally attached to a filter assembly further attached to the bottom end of a cooled, open-ended, hollow collecting tube close to the bottom end of which a hollow duckbill valve has been inserted so as to make a sealing connection with the interior walls thereof and for analyzing the collected condensate for the presence of one or more selected substances comprising:
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sliding a cooling sleeve having a lower temperature than the collecting tube over the collecting tube and placing the cooling sleeve in at least close physical proximity with the collecting tube prior to giving the tube to the subject; instructing the subject to inhale through the mouthpiece while ensuring by means of operation of the duckbill valve and a check valve located within the mouthpiece that air inhaled by the subject comes directly from a desired source and does not contaminate the collecting tube; directing the subject to exhale through the mouthpiece while maintaining the collecting tube oriented approximately perpendicular to the ground; channeling breath exhaled from the subject by means of closure of the check valve through the filter assembly, if there is one, and the duckbill valve turbulently into the collecting tube; repeating returning to the instructing step until a period of approximately ten minutes has elapsed from the first inhalation; removing the cooling sleeve from around the collecting tube and disconnecting the filter, if any, and mouthpiece assembly from the bottom end of the collecting tube; pushing the duckbill valve along the length of the collecting tube to within approximately two inches of the top end thereof while maintaining the collecting tube oriented approximately perpendicular to the ground so as to wipe condensate from the interior walls of the collecting tube and form a pool of condensate around the base of the duckbill valve; installing an airtight cap on the top end of the collecting tube if the tube is to be either stored for later use or shipped to another location for analysis; moving the tube to the analysis site and removing the airtight cap, if one has been installed; degassing the condensate pool; and withdrawing a test sample of the condensate for analysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for collecting condensate from the breath of a subject exhaled into a cooled, hollow collecting tube close to one end of which a one-way valve for admitting breath into the tube has been inserted so as to make a sealing connection with the interior walls thereof comprising:
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admitting exhaled breath into the collecting tube through the one-way valve; causing turbulence in the exhaled breath as it is admitted into the collecting tube through the one-way valve to enhance condensation efficiency along the interior walls of the collecting tube; moving the one-way valve towards the opposite end of the collecting tube to swipe condensate from the interior walls of the tube and to concentrate and pool the condensate within the collecting tube; removing the pooled condensate from the collecting tube or assaying samples of the pooled condensate directly within the collecting tube, whichever is preferred. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for collecting condensate from the breath of a subject exhaled into a cooled, hollow collecting tube close to one end of which a one-way valve for admitting breath into the tube has been inserted so as to make a sealing connection with the interior walls thereof comprising:
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moving the one-way valve towards the opposite end of the collecting tube after a subject has exhaled through the one-way valve into the collecting tube to swipe condensate from the interior walls of the tube and to concentrate and pool the condensate within the collecting tube; and removing the pooled condensate from the collecting tube or assaying samples of the pooled condensate directly from the collecting tube, whichever is preferred. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for collecting breath condensate of a subject from an open-ended, hollow, cooled, collecting tube having a one-way valve situated at one end thereof comprising:
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causing the subject to exhale into the collecting tube through the one-way valve and swiping the interior walls of the collecting tube from one end to the opposite end thereof with the one-way valve wherein the one-way valve functions as a plunger. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification