Disposable hand-held device for collection of exhaled breath condensate

• US 8,491,494 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority
• Original Assignee: Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority
• Inventors: Kline, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mallari, Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'ANGELO, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/799,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 600/543
• US Class Current: 600/543
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0087 Breath samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices

Abstract

A breath condensate collection apparatus comprising a central chamber, a breath input assembly, a plunger assembly and a breath condensate collection port. The central chamber has inner and outer side walls with a coolant material sealed in between. The breath input assembly is disposed on the side of the central chamber in fluid communication with the chamber interior. The plunger assembly has a piston, slidably disposed in the chamber, and a handle extending from a first end of the chamber. The collection port is disposed at the second end of the central chamber in fluid communication with the interior of the chamber. Obstructive structures may be arranged in the chamber interior for increasing the surface area on which condensate may form. The apparatus may also include an outlet assembly that may be removed and replaced with a sampling well into which the condensate may be washed with a buffer solution.

Claims

1. A method of collecting breath condensate using a breath condensate collection apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a central chamber having double side walls, first and second opposing ends, a coolant material sealed between the double side walls, consisting of an inner wall and an outer wall for cooling at least the inner wall of the central chamber, and a breath condensate collection port disposed at the second end of the central chamber;

lowering the temperature of the coolant material to chill at least the inner wall of the central chamber;

receiving, in an interior of the central chamber, exhaled breath from a patient, delivered through the double side walls via a breath input assembly disposed on the outside of the outer wall of the central chamber;

condensing portions of the exhaled breath on inner surfaces of the inner wall of the central chamber;

expressing condensate, produced during the condensing step, from the central chamber by depressing a plunger assembly through the central chamber, thereby forcing the condensate into the breath condensate collection port;

aspirating the expressed condensate from the breath condensate collection port for analysis thereof, wherein aspirating includes aspirating the expressed condensate into a pipette;

transferring the condensate from the pipette to a separate assay well for said analysis thereof; and

temporarily sealing the breath condensate collection port during the receiving and condensing steps,

wherein providing the central chamber includes providing a central chamber having an outlet and an outlet valve on top of the outer side wall of the central chamber adjacent the second end thereof and providing the breath condensate collection port on a bottom of the central chamber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the central chamber includes providing at least one clip mounted at the first end of the central chamber, the method further comprising:

after expressing the condensate by depressing the plunger assembly, locking, via the at least one clip, the handle of the plunger assembly in a fully depressed position to facilitate transport or handling of the breath condensate collection apparatus until said aspirating the expressed condensate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said breath input assembly is disposed underneath the central chamber.