Breath test for detection of lung cancer

• US 6,312,390 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael Phillips
• Original Assignee: Michael Phillips
• Inventors: Phillips, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, RYAN CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US09/410,870
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 128/206.29, 128/204.17, 600/532, 600/543, 600/473, 436/64, 436/96, 436/813, 436/900
• US Class Current: 600/532
• 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 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 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2033/4975 other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/904 for medical, immunological, body treatment, or diagnosis

Abstract

Carcinogenesis is accompanied by increased production of oxygen free radicals (OFRs) which degrade membranes by lipid peroxidation. The process evolves volatile organic compounds (VOCs), principally alkanes, which are excreted in the breath. VOCs in alveolar breath provided sensitive and specific markers of lung cancer. Breath VOC analysis is a non-invasive test which may potentially detect lung cancer at an early stage and reduce the high mortality of the disease.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the probable presence of lung cancer in a mammal, including a human, which comprises:

collecting a measured quantity of alveolar breath from the mammal;

analyzing the collected breath for the presence of volatile organic markers for lung cancer;

determining a first mean alveolar gradient for the markers present in the mammal'"'"'s breath;

comparing the first mean alveolar gradient for the markers present in the mammal'"'"'s breath to a second mean alveolar gradient for the same markers, found in the breath of a mammal free of lung cancer; and

wherein a statistically significant difference in the first mean alveolar gradient from the second mean alveolar gradient indicates the probable presence of lung cancer.

2. A method of detecting the probable presence of lung cancer in a mammal according to claim 1 wherein the volatile organic markers are selected from the group consisting of Styrene (ethenylbenzene);

Heptane, 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl;

Heptane, 2-methyl;

Decane;

Benzene, propyl-;

Undecane;

Cyclopentane, methyl-;

Cyclopropane, 1-methyl-2-pentyl-;

Methane, trichlorofluoro-;

Benzene;

Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl-;

1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-(isoprene);

Octane, 3-methyl-;

1-hexene;

Nonane, 3-methyl-;

1-heptene;

Benzene, 1,4-dimethyl;

Heptane 2,4-dimethyl;

Hexanal;

Cyclohexane;

Benzene, 1-methylethenyl-; and

Hepatanal.

3. A method of detecting the probable presence of lung cancer in a mammal according to claim 1 wherein if the mammal is a smoker, then the mammal free of lung cancer is a smoker and if the mammal is not a smoker, then the mammal free of lung cancer is not a smoker and the volatile organic markers are methylalkanes.

4. A method of detecting the probable presence of lung cancer in a mammal according to claim 3 wherein the volatile organic markers are selected from the group consisting of heptane, 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl;

heptane, 2-methyl;

cyclopentane, methyl;

octane, 3-methyl;

nonane, 3-methyl; and

heptane, 2,4-dimethyl.