Breath analysis system

• US 9,797,815 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pulse Health LLC
• Original Assignee: Pulse Health LLC
• Inventors: Cooper, Steve, Andrews, Neal, Krauss, Martin, King, Andrew E., Mahon, Maura, Myler, Weston, Ingle, James, Thomas, Gerald, Dreilinger, Rachel, Barsic, David, Myers, Rick, Carlsen, Craig, Herbst, Scot, Young, Brian, Lara, Juven, Noll, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Andrew V
• Application Number:
  US14/754,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20150377748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0087 Breath samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/24 Housings ; Casings for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2244 Exhaled gas, e.g. alcohol detecting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/022 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/068 Optics, miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4975 other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/52 Use of compounds or compositions for colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric investigation, e.g. use of reagent paper and including single- and multilayer analytical elements immunological elements G01N33/54386; involving labelled immunochemicals G01N33/58; for haemoglobin or occult blood G01N33/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/64 involving ketones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/200833 Carbonyl, ether, aldehyde or ketone containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/202499 Formaldehyde or acetone

Abstract

A breath analysis system that includes a handle assembly with an analysis cartridge on an upper end thereof. The handle includes a main body portion with a pressure opening and a pressure transducer therein. The analysis cartridge includes a main body portion with an upper portion that defines a breath chamber, a lower portion that defines a fluid chamber and a filter assembly that is movable between a breath capture position and an analysis position. The filter assembly has an opening defined therethrough. In the breath capture position, the opening partially defines the breath chamber and in the analysis position the opening partially defines the fluid chamber. The system also includes an analysis device with a case, a door, a controller that controls the motor and a fluorescence detection assembly and a rotation assembly positioned in the case interior. The rotation assembly includes a shroud with a funnel portion for receiving the analysis cartridge.

Claims

1. A breath capture assembly comprising:

a handle assembly that includes an elongated main body portion that defines a handle interior,

a cap disposed at an end of the main body portion that includes a pressure opening defined therein, and

a pressure transducer disposed in the handle interior, and

an analysis cartridge received on an upper end of the handle assembly,

wherein the analysis cartridge includes a main body portion that includes an upper portion that defines a breath chamber, and a lower portion that defines a fluid chamber,

wherein the breath chamber includes a breath entry opening, a breath exit opening and a breath path therebetween, and a filter assembly that is movable along a filter assembly path between a first position and a second position,

wherein the filter assembly has an opening defined therethrough, and

wherein in the first position, the opening partially defines the breath chamber and is part of the breath path and in the second position the opening partially defines the fluid chamber.

2. The breath capture assembly of claim 1 wherein a pressure measurement hole is defined in a wall of the upper portion of the analysis cartridge, wherein the pressure measurement hole communicates the breath chamber with a pressure tunnel that extends through the main body portion, and wherein a pressure path is defined from the breath chamber, through the pressure measurement hole, the pressure tunnel, the pressure opening and to the pressure transducer.

3. The breath capture assembly of claim 2 wherein the cap of the handle assembly includes a pressure protrusion extending upwardly therefrom that is sealingly received in a pressure recess in the analysis cartridge, wherein the pressure recess is in communication with the pressure tunnel, and wherein the pressure opening is defined in the pressure protrusion.

4. The breath capture assembly of claim 2 wherein a hollow extension extends downwardly from the cap of the handle assembly and into the handle interior, and wherein the hollow extension is part of the pressure path.

5. The breath capture assembly of claim 4 further comprising a pressure tube that is received on the hollow extension and is in the pressure path between the hollow extension and the pressure transducer.

6. The breath capture assembly of claim 1 wherein the cap includes a seat defined therearound, and wherein a collar depending downwardly from the analysis cartridge is received on the seat.

7. The breath capture assembly of claim 6 wherein the cap includes an attachment protrusion extending radially outwardly therefrom, and wherein the attachment protrusion is received in an attachment recess defined in the collar of the analysis cartridge.

8. The breath capture assembly of claim 1 wherein the breath chamber is sealed from the fluid chamber.

9. The breath capture assembly of claim 8 wherein the analysis cartridge includes a breakable barrier disposed between the breath chamber and the fluid chamber when the filter assembly is in the first position to seal the breath chamber from the fluid chamber.

10. The breath capture assembly of claim 1 wherein the filter assembly includes first and second filters positioned in the opening, wherein the first and second filters define a substrate space therebetween, and wherein a carbonyl containing moiety capture material is disposed in the substrate space.

11. The breath capture assembly of claim 10 wherein the carbonyl containing moiety capture material is silica.

12. The breath capture assembly of claim 1 wherein the analysis cartridge includes a phenylene diamine derivative disposed therein.

13. The breath capture assembly of claim 12 further comprising an ampule member having a fluorescence chromophore space with the phenylene diamine derivative disposed therein, wherein the fluid chamber includes an elution solution disposed therein, wherein the ampule member is movable between a first position where the phenylene diamine derivative is separated from the elution solution and a second position where the phenylene diamine derivative is disposed in the elution solution.

14. The breath capture assembly of claim 13 wherein the phenylene diamine derivative is m-phenylene diamine.

15. The breath capture assembly of claim 12 wherein the phenylene diamine derivative is m-phenylene diamine.