Method and Device for Collecting and Analyzing Exhaled Breath

Abstract

A method and device for collecting, storing, shipping, preparing and analyzing condensate derived from the exhaled breath of a user. Using the mouthpiece ( 15 ) of the device ( 10 ), a human subject inhales drawing air through a check valve ( 30 ).

1 ) A portable device for collecting, sporting, storing and processing condensate from air exhaled thereinto comprising: 
 a mouthpiece having three projections by means of which air is inhaled and exhaled;    an optional filter housing having two openings separated by a filter assembly the first one of which is interconnected with a first projection of said mouthpiece;    a hollow condensate collecting tube having two open ends and a circular cross-section interconnected at a first open end with the second opening of said filter housing;    movable valve means deformable and sealingly inserted between the interior walls of said collecting tube near the first open end thereof for preventing the admission of air during inhalation; admitting exhaled air into said collecting tube, making airflow therethrough turbulent, swiping condensate off the interior walls of said collecting tube, preventing efflux of condensate, retaining the condensate in a pool and channeling gasses or liquids into the condensate;    hollow removable cooling sleeve means slidably placed over said collecting tube wherein said cooling sleeve means has an interior diameter only slightly greater than the exterior diameter of said collecting tube so that the interior walls of said cooling sleeve means are in at least close physical proximity to the exterior walls of said collecting tube for drawing heat from the inner surface of said collecting tube to accelerate the condensing process; and    advancement means removably insertable into the first open end of said collecting tube behind said valve means for pushing said valve means upwards towards the second open end of said collecting tube.    
   
   
       2 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein carbon dioxide is removed from the condensate preparatory to testing the acidity level of the condensate by channeling one or more gases through said valve means into the condensate.  
   
   
       3 ) The device of  claim 2  wherein the gas channeled through said valve means is one or more selected from argon, helium, oxygen or air that has had carbon dioxide removed from it with a carbon dioxide trap.  
   
   
       4 ) The device of  claim 1  further including airtight cap means for providing a removable seal over the second open end of said condensate collecting tube after removal of said advancement means from said collecting tube prior to storage and/or shipment to another location.  
   
   
       5 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein a second projection of said mouthpiece includes check valve means for admitting air during inhalation and inhibiting the egress of air during exhalation  
   
   
       6 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein said valve means has valve leaves and a generally elliptical cross-section which is deformed into a circular shape upon insertion into said collecting tube.  
   
   
       7 ) The device of  claim 6  wherein by deforming said valve means a complete seal is created between the valve leaves.  
   
   
       8 ) The device of  claim 7  wherein said valve means is generally hollow and includes an upper section of lesser mass and a lower section of greater mass and wherein the boundary between the upper and lower sections is generally defined and separated by one or more pairs of hollow passageways formed in the body of said valve means each of which passageways extends from near the bottom of the hollow interior of said valve means diagonally upward to the exterior of said valve means exiting into a generally semi-circular notch formed at a point above the bottom of said valve means displaced between approximately one-eighth and one-quarter of the length of said valve means away from the bottom thereof  
   
   
       9 ) The device of  claim 8  wherein resilient ring means are seated in the notch in said valve means for maintaining said valve means in an orthogonal orientation with the interior walls of said collecting tube, for wiping the inner walls of said collecting tube as said valve means is pushed upwardly therethrough and for deflecting in reaction to force exerted upon it by a pressurized substance flowing through the hollow passageways within said valve means.  
   
   
       10 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein said cooling sleeve means has a lower temperature than said collecting tube.  
   
   
       11 ) The device of  claim 10  wherein said cooling sleeve means tends to maintain a low temperature.  
   
   
       12 ) The device of  claim 11  wherein said cooling sleeve is comprised of aluminum.  
   
   
       13 ) The device of  claim 11  wherein said cooling sleeve is comprised of a material having a high specific heal  
   
   
       14 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein said cooling sleeve is between approximately one-quarter and one-half inch shorter than said collecting tube.  
   
   
       15 ) The device of  claim 1  further including degassification means for forcing pressurized gas through the condensate.  
   
   
       16 ) The device of  claim 15  wherein said degassification means is a physical probe which is inserted into the open bottom end of said collecting tube and extended therethrough until brought into physical contact with the bottom of said valve means.  
   
   
       17 ) The device of  claim 15  wherein said degassification means is a single positively pressurized manifold into which the open bottom end of said collecting tube is retainably inserted and through which said collecting tube is maintained in a vertical position.  
   
   
       18 ) The device of  claim 15  wherein said degassification means comprises a first manifold into which the open bottom end of said collecting tube is retainably placed and a second manifold into which the open top end of said collecting tube is retainably placed wherein both ends of said collecting tube are subjected to a mechanized vacuum and wherein further said second manifold is periodically opened to atmospheric pressure.  
   
   
       19 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the structure of said mouthpiece substantially reduces the number of salivary droplets which are exhaled by a subject from entering said optional filter housing or said collecting tube.  
   
   
       20 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A device for collecting condensate from breath exhaled thereinto comprising: 
 mouthpiece means for admitting and directing both inhaled and exhaled breath;    a hollow condensate tube having two open ends connected on one end to said mouthpiece means;    movable valve means sealingly inserted between the interior walls of said tube for preventing the admission of air during inhalation, controlling the admission of exhaled breath into said tube during exhalation and swiping condensate off the interior walls of said tube as it is moved along said tube.    
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 28  wherein said valve means further makes airflow through said tube turbulent, prevents efflux of condensate, retains condensate in a pool and channels gasses or liquids into the condensate.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 28  further comprising cooling means for cooling said tube and for accelerating the formation of condensate.  
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 30  wherein said cooling means further comprises a pre-chilled hollow, tubular sleeve placed in close physical proximity to the exterior walls of said tube.  
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 31  wherein said cooling means is constructed from aluminum or any high specific heat, durable, reusable material which does not deteriorate when wet and tends to retain and maintain a low temperature when cooled.  
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 31  wherein said cooling means is a container in which chemicals can be mixed that create an endothermic reaction.  
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 28  further comprising advancement means for causing said valve means to move from one end of said tube to the other.  
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 34  wherein said advancement means is a rod and piston arrangement.  
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 28  wherein said tube is constructed from one or more of the group of materials consisting of plastic, stainless steel, anodized aluminum, and Teflon®.  
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 28  wherein said valve means is constructed from one or more of the group of materials consisting of rubber, rubber-like elastomeric materials, and plastics which behave as elastomers.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the device is disposable.