Diagnostic apparatus

Abstract

A diagnostic apparatus ( 10 ) for analysing a sample to diagnose disease, the apparatus ( 10 ) comprising: a separating element ( 16 ) for separating gas derived from the sample into component parts; a sensor arrangement ( 18 ) coupled to the separating element ( 16 ) such that a component part of the gas is directed towards the sensor arrangement ( 18 ), the sensor arrangement ( 18 ) being configured to detect compounds which may be indicative of disease; and a processing element ( 20 ) coupled to an output of the sensor arrangement ( 18 ), the processing element ( 20 ) being configured to process a signal output by the sensor arrangement ( 18 ) to provide a diagnosis.

1 . A diagnostic apparatus for analysing a sample to diagnose disease, the apparatus comprising:
 a separating element for separating gas derived from the sample into component parts;   a sensor arrangement coupled to the separating element such that a component part of the gas is directed towards the sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement being configured to detect compounds which may be indicative of disease; and   a processing element coupled to an output of the sensor arrangement, the processing element being configured to process a signal output by the sensor arrangement to provide a diagnosis.   
     
     
         2 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the separating element comprises a multi-capillary column. 
     
     
         3 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the separating element may comprises a single-capillary column or a plurality of single-capillary columns. 
     
     
         4 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor arrangement comprises one or more sensors selected from the group comprising a metal-oxide sensor, a UV sensor and an ammonia or amine sensor. 
     
     
         5 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor arrangement comprises two or more sensors arranged in a serial configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor arrangement comprises two or more sensors arranged in a parallel configuration. 
     
     
         7 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to detect one or more volatile compounds present in the gas. 
     
     
         8 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to detect one or more volatile organic compounds present in the gas. 
     
     
         9 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to generate a signal indicative of the elution time of a volatile compound in the sample. 
     
     
         10 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the processing element is configured to compare the signal generated by the sensor arrangement to a known profile from one or more previously-diagnosed samples. 
     
     
         11 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a pre-treatment stage for altering physio-chemical parameters of the sample. 
     
     
         12 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising heating means for heating the sample to promote the release of the gas. 
     
     
         13 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising means for acidifying or basifying the sample to alter the number or concentration of volatile compounds detected by sensor arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . A diagnostic apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the processing element implements an artificial neural network to provide the diagnosis. 
     
     
         15 . A method of diagnosing disease by analysing a sample, the method comprising the steps of: collecting the sample; separating a gas evolved from the sample into component parts; directing a component part of the gas towards a sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement being configured to detect a compound which may be indicative of disease;
 and processing a signal output by the sensor arrangement to provide a diagnosis.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of separating the gas comprises passing the gas through a separating element comprising a multi-capillary column. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of separating the gas comprises passing the gas through a separating element comprising a single-capillary column or a plurality of single-capillary columns. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the sensor arrangement comprises one or more sensors selected from the group comprising a metal-oxide sensor, a UV sensor and an ammonia or amine sensor. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the sensor arrangement comprises two or more sensors arranged in a serial configuration. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the sensor arrangement comprises two or more sensors arranged in a parallel configuration. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to detect one or more volatile compounds present in the gas. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to detect one or more volatile organic compounds present in the gas. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to generate a signal indicative of the elution time of a volatile compound in the sample. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the step of processing the signal output by the sensor arrangement comprises comparing the signal generated by the sensor arrangement to a known profile from one or more previously-diagnosed samples. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 15  further comprising pre-treating the sample to for alter physio-chemical parameters of the sample. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 15  further comprising heating the sample to promote the release of the gas. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 15  further comprising acidifying or basifying the sample to alter the number or concentration of volatile compounds detected by sensor arrangement. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the step of processing the signal output by the sensor arrangement comprises processing the signal using an artificial neural network to provide the diagnosis. 
     
     
         29 .- 46 . (canceled)