Patent US673779A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5042501A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5042501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for analysis of expired breath
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
•
Filing: 1990-05-01
•
Granted: 1991-08-27
•
Expires: 2010-05-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for providing breath for introduction to a measuring device such as a mass spectrometer. The apparatus includes a mouthpiece for interfacing a subject with the apparatus; a tube for carrying exhaled breath from the subject to the inlet of a mixing chamber; a mixing chamber having an inlet, sample outlet and exit tube, that provides a residence time for the exhaled breath sufficient to mix the breath and provide an adequate sample to the measuring device; and heating apparatus for maintaining the apparatus above a temperature where condensation of vapor occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald V. Kenny
- 👤 Thomas J. Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/497; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/08; A61B5/087; A61B5/0878; A61B5/097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for providing breath from a subject for introduction to a measuring device comprising: a. subject interface means for interfacing the subject with the apparatus; b. tube means for carrying exhaled breath from the subject interface means to the inlet of a mixing chamber; c. a mixing chamber having an inlet, sample outlet and exit tube means, that provides a residence time for the exhaled breath sufficient to mix the breath and provide a sufficient sample to the measuring device; and d. heating means for maintaining b. and c. above a temperature where condensation of vapor occurs.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for providing breath from a subject for introduction to a measuring device comprising: a. subject interface means for interfacing the subject with the apparatus; b. tube means for carrying exhaled breath from the subject interface means to the inlet of a mixing chamber; c. a mixing chamber having an inlet, sample outlet and exit tube means, that provides a residence time for the exhaled breath sufficient to mix the breath and provide a sufficient sample to the measuring device; and d. heating means for maintaining b. and c. above a temperature where condensation of vapor occurs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising: e. adaptor means for introducing sample breath from the mixing chamber to a measuring device; and f. additional heating means for maintaining the adaptor means above a temperature where condensation occurs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means includes means for maintaining the subject interface above the temperature where condensation of vapor occurs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the subject interface means constitutes a mouthpiece or a tracheotomy tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tube means has means for connection to a mass spectrometer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mixing chamber has movable walls for adjustment of volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating means constitutes a resistance wire and associated control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a calibration device is connected to the sample outlet to provide standards for the measuring device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the materials that constitute the breath interface apparatus are inert to the materials to be tested.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for measuring trace components in a subject's breath comprising: a. providing a subject interface means to obtain breath from the subject; b. flowing breath obtained from the subject to a mixing chamber: c. mixing the breath in the mixing chamber; d. flowing breath samples from the mixing chamber to a measuring device and exiting unneeded breath from the mixing chamber; and e. maintaining the breath in steps a, b, c, and d above the condensation temperature of vapor in the breath.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for measuring trace components in a subject's breath comprising: a. providing a subject interface means to obtain breath from the subject; b. flowing breath obtained from the subject to a mixing chamber: c. mixing the breath in the mixing chamber; d. flowing breath samples from the mixing chamber to a measuring device and exiting unneeded breath from the mixing chamber; and e. maintaining the breath in steps a, b, c, and d above the condensation temperature of vapor in the breath.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 whereby the residence time is maintained between about 1 second to about 60 seconds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 whereby the residence time is maintained above about 30 seconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 whereby the providing step includes a mouthpiece or a tracheotomy tube as the subject interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 10 whereby the sample flow rate is maintained between about 0.1 liters per minute to about 100 liters per minute.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 whereby the sample flow rate is maintained above about 3 liters per minute.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 comprising: f. providing a mass spectrometer as the measuring device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10, whereby the system is flushed with clean air between analysis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 whereby a calibration standard is injected into the breath samples from the mixing chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-26 | 1995-02-25 | 1995-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-26 | 1999-02-25 | 1999-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-26 | 2003-02-25 | 2003-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |