Gas sample collection and analysis

• US 8,191,437 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OI Corporation (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OI Corporation (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brandesky, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOLB, NATHANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/121,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20080307903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 738/648.3, 738/648.1, 738/646.2
• US Class Current: 73/864.83
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087

Abstract

A system and method for capturing a sample gas for analysis is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an accumulator that has a variable volume. A volume of the sample gas is fed to the accumulator. The system also has an analyzer. An aliquot of the sample gas is withdrawn from the accumulator and fed to the analyzer. The analyzer analyzes a desired component of the sample gas.

Claims

1. A method for capturing a sample gas for analysis, comprising:

(A) feeding an increasing volume of the sample gas to a flexible bag that is impermeable to gas;

(B) withdrawing a first aliquot of the sample gas from the flexible bag;

(C) feeding the first aliquot of the sample gas to an analyzer;

(D) analyzing a desired component of the sample gas; and

(E) withdrawing a second aliquot of the sample gas from the flexible bag.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the volume of sample gas in the second aliquot is different from the volume of sample gas in the first aliquot.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the flexible bag has a variable volume.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising combusting a sample to produce the sample gas.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising coupling the flexible bag to the analyzer before the sample gas is fed to the flexible bag.