EXHALED BREATH HYPOXIA BIOMARKERS

• US 20170251952A1
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Air Force (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Original Assignee: US Department of The Air Force (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Inventors: Harshman, Sean W., Geier, Brian A., Gigsby, Claude C., Phillips, Jeffrey B., Ott, Darrin K.
• Granted Patent: US 11,103,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0087 Breath samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0833 Measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0036 in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/14 for high-altitude aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination

Abstract

A method of detecting hypoxia. Detecting hypoxia includes detecting, in exhaled breath, at least one indicator for hypoxia. The at least one indicator is selected from the group consisting of pentanal, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 4-butyrolactone.

Claims

1. A method of detecting hypoxia, the method comprising:

detecting, in exhaled breath, at least one indicator for hypoxia, the at least one indicator selected from the group consisting of pentanal, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 4-butyrolactone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the at least one indicator includes determining an amount of the at least one indicator is greater than a threshold level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the at least one indicator includes observing a plurality of the at least one indicator.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein observing the plurality includes comparing a relative amount of each indicator of the plurality.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the at least one indicator includes comparing a present amount of the at least one indicator to a previous amount of the at least one indicator.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the previous amount is measured during a time window ranging from 1 min to 5 min.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sampling the exhaled breath.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

further detecting, in exhaled breath, at least one of an oxygen content, a carbon dioxide content, and a mass flow.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the at least one indicator includes determining an amount of the at least one indicator is greater than a threshold level.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting the at least one indicator includes comparing a present amount of the at least one indicator to a previous amount of the at least one indicator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the previous amount is measured during a time window ranging from 1 min to 5 min.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

further detecting, in exhaled breath, at least one of an oxygen content, a carbon dioxide content, and a mass flow.

9. A method of detecting hypoxia in a pilot flying at high-altitude, the method comprising:

monitoring exhaled breath of the pilot; and

detecting at least one indicator of hypoxia, the at least one indicator selected from the group consisting of pentanal, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 4-butyrolactone; and

if the at least one indicator is detected, increasing a flow of oxygen to the pilot.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

decreasing the flow of oxygen to the pilot after the at least one indicator is no longer detected.

15. A flight mask comprising:

an inhalation valve port;

an exhalation valve port;

an air flow path extending between the inhalation valve port and the exhalation valve port; and

an exhaled breath sensor along the air flow path and configured to detect at least one of pentanal, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 4-butyrolactone.

16. The flight mask of claim 15, wherein the exhaled breath sensor comprises:

a sensing material configured to have an affinity to at least one of pentanal, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 4-butyrolactone.

17. The flight mask of claim 16, wherein the sensing material comprises a poly-vinylpyrrolidone or a poly-vinylpyroolidone-polystyrene blend.

18. The flight mask of claim 16, wherein the sensing material is formed by a molecular imprint polymerization process.

19. The flight mask of claim 16, wherein the exhaled breath sensor further comprises:

a transducer comprising graphene or single-wall carbon nanotubes.

20. The flight mask of claim 15, further comprising:

a carbon dioxide sensor;

an oxygen sensor; and

a mass flow detector.