Breath analyte sensing apparatus that generates gas streams that flow over a nanoparticle-based sensor

• US 10,589,277 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2019
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invoy Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Invoy Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Ahmad, Lubna M., Martineau, Rhett L.
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US16/422,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20190344281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/00 Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis vaccination prophylaxis, vaccination therapy A61B17/20; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination menstruation tables G06C3/00; Throat striking implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0087 Breath samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0276 comprising a thermosensitive compound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0285 Nanoscale sensors
• 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 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0663 Whole sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0832 cylindrical, tube shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0896 Nanoscaled
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/1877 using chemical reactions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5082 Test tubes per se
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/52 Containers specially adapted for storing or dispensing a reagent B01L3/02 takes precedence; containers for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; containers in general B65D; storing or dispensing test elements G01N33/4875; automated reagent dispensing G01N35/1002
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/561 Tubes; Conduits in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/54 Supports specially adapted for pipettes and burettes automated pipetting stations G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/25 involving enzymes not classifiable in groups C12Q1/26 - C12Q1/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 : Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/542 : with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/98 : involving alcohol, e.g. ethanol in breath

Abstract

An apparatus and associated method are provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from a dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device-implemented method performed by an analyte sensing device, the analyte sensing device comprising a sorbent material that extracts an analyte from a breath sample, the method comprising, under control of a processor:

causing a first gas stream that does not first pass through the sorbent material to pass over a nanoparticle-based sensor, the first gas stream generated using a compressed gas source;

recording a baseline signal generated by the nanoparticle-based sensor in response to the first gas stream;

subsequently, causing a second gas stream to pass through the sorbent material and to thereafter flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor after the sorbent material has extracted the analyte from the breath sample; and

recording a measurement signal generated by the nanoparticle-based sensor in response to the second gas stream, the measurement signal reflective of a concentration of the analyte in the second gas stream.

2. The device-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising generating a measurement of a concentration of the analyte in the breath sample based on the baseline signal and the measurement signal.

3. The device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the analyte sensing device comprises a heating element that heats the sorbent material, and the method comprises causing the second gas stream to pass through the sorbent material while the sorbent material is heated to a selected temperature by the heating element.

4. The device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first gas stream is caused to pass over the nanoparticle-based sensor after the user has exhaled the breath sample into the analyte sensing device.

5. The device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the analyte is acetone.

6. The device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first and second gas streams are generated by controlling a set of values that are fluidly coupled to the compressed gas source.

7. The device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the analyte sensing device is a handheld device.

8. The device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the breath sample is a dehumidified breath sample.

9. The device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the sorbent material comprises a porous organic polymer.