SENSOR FOR ANALYTES IN A FLUID AND RELATED METHOD

• US 20180056302A1
• Filed: 04/04/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invoy Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Invoy Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Ahmad, Lubna M., Martineau, Rhett L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,343,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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

According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a fluid collecting device configured to receive a sample of breath; a conditioning device coupled to the fluid collecting device and configured to receive the sample of breath and condition the sample with respect to at least one of temperature, flow rate, pressure, humidity, and concentration; and a sensing device coupled to the conditioning device and configured to receive the conditioned sample, wherein the sensing device includes a nanoparticle-based sensor and further whereby the analyte interacts with the sensing device to cause a change that is sensed by the sensing device and wherein the change comprises information useful in characterizing the analyte. Preferably, the apparatus is hand-held and characterizing the analyte is useful for health monitoring.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing an analyte in breath, the apparatus comprising:

a fluid collecting device configured to receive a sample of breath;

a conditioning device coupled to the fluid collecting device and configured to receive the sample of breath and condition the sample with respect to at least one of temperature, flow rate, pressure, humidity, and concentration;

a sensing device coupled to the conditioning device and configured to receive the conditioned sample, wherein the sensing device includes a nanoparticle-based sensor;

whereby the analyte interacts with the sensing device to cause a change that is sensed by the sensing device and wherein the change comprises information useful in characterizing the analyte.

2. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the apparatus is hand-held.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conditioning device is disposed in a hand-held apparatus and conditions for humidity.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conditioning device is disposed in a hand-held apparatus and conditions for concentration.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conditioning device is disposed in a hand-held apparatus and conditions for flowrate and pressure.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conditioning device is disposed in a hand-held apparatus and conditions for humidity and concentration.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conditioning device is disposed in a hand-held apparatus and conditions for humidity, concentration, flowrate and pressure.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the analyte comprises acetone and a second analyte and wherein the information is used to monitor a health condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the analyte comprises acetone and the information is used to monitor ovulation.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the analyte comprises acetone and further comprises a device that is configured to monitor the breath temperature, wherein the temperature and information is used to monitor ovulation.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the analyte comprises acetone and oxygen and wherein the information is used to monitor fat metabolism.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the analyte comprises acetone and carbon dioxide, wherein the information is used to monitor fat metabolism.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the analyte comprises acetone, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, wherein the information is used to monitor fat metabolism.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the analyte comprises acetone and at least one of isopropanol, ethanol, ammonia, isoprene, and markers of oxidative stress.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fluid collecting device is configured to receive the sample of breath from a user mouthpiece.

16. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fluid collecting device is configured to receive the sample of breath from a breath storage unit.

17. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sample of breath comprises a single exhalation from a user.

18. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sample of breath comprises a plurality of exhalations from a user.

19. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conditioning device conditions the sample with respect to temperature.

20. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conditioning device conditions the sample with respect to humidity.

21-54. -54. (canceled)