Apparatus for diagnostic gas analysis
First Claim
1. A device for diagnostic measurement of NO in exhaled breath, comprising:
- an NO scrubber;
an inlet/outlet through which a patient inhales air via the NO scrubber and exhales at a first flow rate and pressure dependent on the patient'"'"'s control over the patient'"'"'s exhalation;
an NO sensor that analyzes a sample of the exhaled breath during an analysis period to detect a level of NO in the sample of the exhaled breath;
a buffer chamber defining a volume and that temporarily stores the sample of the exhaled breath before analysis by the NO sensor;
a flow controller disposed between the buffer chamber and the NO sensor that allows passage of the sample of exhaled breath to the NO sensor during the analysis period; and
a sample feeder in the form of a sample pump or a fan that actively feeds the sample of exhaled breath from the buffer chamber to the NO sensor at a predetermined and constant second flow rate over the analysis period, wherein the second flow rate is smaller than the first flow rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld, small but accurate and reliable device for diagnostic NO measurements using a NO sensor, where the parameters governing the taking of the sample are different from the parameters optimal for the accuracy of said NO sensor I described. By temporarily storing a portion of the exhaled air, and feeding this to the sensor at a flow rate adapted to the NO sensor, the accuracy and sensitivity of a system/method involving NO sensors, in particular electrochemical NO sensors, can be increased. The method for diagnostic NO measurements comprises steps for controlling the inhalation of NO free air, as well as the exhalation, both by built-in means and by audible and/or visual feedback to the patient.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device for diagnostic measurement of NO in exhaled breath, comprising:
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an NO scrubber; an inlet/outlet through which a patient inhales air via the NO scrubber and exhales at a first flow rate and pressure dependent on the patient'"'"'s control over the patient'"'"'s exhalation; an NO sensor that analyzes a sample of the exhaled breath during an analysis period to detect a level of NO in the sample of the exhaled breath; a buffer chamber defining a volume and that temporarily stores the sample of the exhaled breath before analysis by the NO sensor; a flow controller disposed between the buffer chamber and the NO sensor that allows passage of the sample of exhaled breath to the NO sensor during the analysis period; and a sample feeder in the form of a sample pump or a fan that actively feeds the sample of exhaled breath from the buffer chamber to the NO sensor at a predetermined and constant second flow rate over the analysis period, wherein the second flow rate is smaller than the first flow rate. - 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)
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Specification