Breath mist collection system

Abstract

To provide a breathing mist collection system capable of highly accurate quantification and efficient collection of breathing mist by providing a breathing air conveying device capable of conveying breathing air containing breathing mist to collection means without containing contaminants due to external causes.SOLUTION: A breathing mist collection system S includes: a breathing air conveying device 1 that introduces breathing air of a subject; a collection device 2 that collects breathing mist by circulating the breathing air introduced into the breathing air conveying device 1 through an adsorbent; a clean air supply device 3 that supplies clean air to the breathing air conveying device 1; and a quantifying device 4 that quantifies the breathing mist in the breathing air introduced into the breathing air conveying device 1. The system causes to generate an airflow from the clean air supply device 3 to the collection device 2 via the breathing air conveying device 1, quantifies the breathing mist in the breathing air introduced into the breathing air conveying device 1 by the quantifying means 4, circulates the breathing air introduced into the breathing air conveying device 1 through an adsorption unit 20 and brought into contact with the adsorbent to collect the breathing mist.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exhalation mist collecting system for collecting exhalation mist containing non-volatile substances released from blood etc. via alveoli. [Background technology]

[0002] Although the dosage and administration of therapeutic drugs are prescribed, for drugs with a narrow effective blood concentration range and close toxicity concentration, or drugs whose blood concentration varies greatly due to different drug metabolism abilities of each patient and interactions with other drugs, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is performed to maintain the effective blood concentration. Blood concentrations vary depending on the patient's drug metabolism ability, and the relationship between the dosage of molecular targeted drugs and blood concentrations varies from patient to patient. Therefore, TDM is essential for effective treatment. In such TDM, measurement samples were conventionally collected by invasive methods involving blood sampling. Blood sampling imposes a large physical and mental burden not only on patients but also on medical personnel. In addition, blood sampling cannot be performed many times a day, making it impossible to constantly monitor blood concentrations. Furthermore, a certain amount of blood samples is required for TDM, and it is impossible for non-medical personnel such as patients themselves or their families to collect blood at home.

[0003] In this situation, there has been a strong demand from both patients and medical professionals for non-invasive methods to replace invasive methods such as blood sampling. Non-invasive methods for collecting biological samples that can be performed anywhere, anytime, and even by non-medical personnel are highly desired not only for therapeutic drugs, but also for identifying compounds that cause poisoning by harmful substances, and for confirming whether or not a person has taken prohibited drugs such as narcotics or stimulants.

[0004] Here, as a non-invasive method, a method focusing on components generated or released from exhaled breath or skin is being considered. When using components that volatilize from the skin, collection is greatly affected by the environment and the skin condition of the subject due to sweating, etc. Therefore, a method is being considered to analyze non-volatile components contained in exhaled breath, which changes little, and examine the condition of the subject. Non-volatile components contained in blood and lung tissue are collected and used for TDM. For example, harmful compounds contained in therapeutic drugs and foods that are taken into the body, physiological substances such as hormones, and substances that are indicators of diseases such as glucose and lipids are taken up in the mist of alveolar lining fluid (exhaled breath mist) made of pulmonary surfactant and body fluids formed during breathing and released into the exhaled breath.

[0005] The inventors have noticed that the exhaled mist discharged from the alveoli with breathing is a collection of fine particles composed of the membrane of pulmonary surfactant present in the alveoli and the water contained therein, and further, that the fine particles contain non-volatile substances that have infiltrated into the alveoli from the circulating blood. In other words, they have found that by collecting fine particles composed of the membrane of pulmonary surfactant and water, non-volatile substances discharged from the blood can be efficiently collected and concentrated. This can be used for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), etc., by monitoring the concentration of compounds and substances in the blood and tissues, and can be applied to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, and can grasp the intake status of harmful substances in the body, and even the presence or absence of prohibited drugs such as narcotics and stimulants. In addition, if the components released with exhalation, such as volatile or water-soluble compounds including ammonia and acetone, are conjugated to or released together with the exhaled mist, the target components can also be collected.

[0006] In order to analyze such non-volatile components in breath mist, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method and device for collecting breath condensate and measuring the contents of proteins, physiologically active factors, glucose, and toxic metals.

[0007] However, such a method of collecting exhaled breath condensate requires a long time for collection, imposes a heavy burden on the subject, and has many practical limitations.

[0008] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for attaching and capturing aerosols contained in exhaled breath with a filter, and analyzing the aerosols attached to the filter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2012-521008 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2014-510914 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The technology described in Patent Document 2 is mainly for determining whether or not prohibited drugs are used, and has a problem of poor quantitative analysis of the subject. In addition, since the subject breathes air from the environment, there is a problem of many impurities being mixed in. Furthermore, since the adsorption is performed by natural exhaust from breathing, there is a problem that the collision of the exhaled breath mist with the adsorbent is insufficient, and the adsorption efficiency is low.

[0011] The present invention aims to provide an exhalation mist collection system that is equipped with an exhalation breath transport device that can transport exhaled breath including exhalation mist containing non-volatile substances released from blood, etc. through the alveoli to a collection means without containing exogenous impurities, and that can perform highly accurate quantitative measurement and efficient collection of exhalation mist. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 comprises: lungAn exhaled breath mist collecting system for collecting exhaled breath mist containing non-volatile and hardly volatile substances released through the alveoli and airways, comprising: an exhaled breath transporting device for introducing the exhaled breath of a subject and serving as a transport flow path for the exhaled breath; a collecting device for collecting the exhaled breath mist by bringing the exhaled breath transported by the exhaled breath transporting device into contact with an adsorbent; a clean air supplying device for supplying clean air for transporting the exhaled breath to the exhaled breath transporting device; and a quantifying device for quantifying the exhaled breath mist in the exhaled breath transported by the exhaled breath transporting device, wherein the exhaled breath transporting device is an exhaled breath introducing member worn by the subject and for introducing the exhaled breath of the subject. and a housing connected in communication with the breath introduction member and through which the breath is transported, the housing comprising an air introduction section connected to the clean air supply device and through which clean air is supplied, and an breath transport section which transports the breath introduced into the breath introduction member by the clean air supplied to the air introduction section and guides it to the quantitative measurement device, the collection device comprising an adsorption unit having one end connected to the air introduction section and holding an adsorbent for adsorbing the breath mist, and a suction means connected to the other end of the adsorption unit and performing suction to circulate the breath to the adsorption unit, the exhaled air introduction member is connected to one end of the housing and extends from the other end of the housing toward the exhaled air introduction member, and the inside of the housing is divided into the air introduction section and the exhaled air transport section by a tubular member that opens facing the exhaled air introduction member, the air introduction section is connected to the clean air supply device at the other end of the housing, and the exhaled air transport section is connected to the quantification device and the collection device downstream of the airflow, An air flow is generated from the clean air supply device toward the collection device via the breath transport device, and the breath mist in the breath introduced into the breath transport device is measured. Device The exhaled breath introduced into the exhaled breath transport device is circulated through the adsorption unit to contact the adsorbent, thereby collecting the exhaled breath mist.

[0013] In the invention described in claim 2, in the exhalation mist collecting system described in claim 1, The exhaled breath introduction member includes an exhaled breath introduction section formed in a mask shape to cover the nose and mouth of the subject and separate them from the outside, and an adjustment valve to adjust the internal pressure of the housing. , technical means are used.

[0014] In the invention described in claim 3, in the exhalation mist collecting system described in claim 1 or claim 2, The clean air supply device is provided with a heating means for heating the clean air. , technical means are used.

[0015] In the invention described in claim 4, in the exhalation mist collection system described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the quantitative measurement device uses a technical means of quantifying the exhalation mist based on particle diameter and particle number determined by optical techniques. Effect of the Invention

[0016] The air breathed by the subject is clean air supplied by a clean air supply device, and the exhaled breath can be transported and collected using this air, so that it is possible to prevent the air from containing impurities such as dust. The exhaled breath mist can be quantified by a quantification device while transporting the exhaled breath, allowing for highly accurate quantification. The exhaled breath mist is collected while being sucked by a suction device, so that the exhaled breath mist can be sufficiently collided with the adsorbent, and the adsorption efficiency of the exhaled breath mist can be increased. This allows for efficient collection of the exhaled breath mist. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an exhalation mist collecting system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of the exhaled breath transport device. [Diagram 3] Figure 3(A) is an explanatory oblique view showing the structure of the casing of the exhaled breath conveying device, Figure 3(B) is an explanatory plan view showing the structure of the casing, and Figure 3(C) is a explanatory side view showing the internal structure of the exhaled breath conveying device. [Figure 4] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an exhaled breath introduction member of an exhaled breath transport device is attached to a subject; FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic view of air flow when a subject is not breathing. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic view of an air flow when a subject inhales. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams showing the flow of air and exhaled breath when a subject exhales, respectively. Fig. 7A shows the state immediately after exhalation, and Fig. 7B shows the transport state of exhaled breath mist. [Figure 8]1 shows the relationship between the amount of suction and the detected volume of exhaled breath mist when clean air is not introduced into the exhaled breath conveying device. [Figure 9] 1 shows the relationship between the amount of suction and the detected volume of exhaled breath mist when clean air is introduced into the exhaled breath conveying device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The breath mist collecting system of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1-3.

[0019] The breath mist collection system S is a device that uses an adsorbent to adsorb and collect breath mist containing non-volatile and hardly volatile substances released from blood etc. through the alveoli and airways in order to measure breath components. As shown in Fig. 1, the breath mist collection system S includes an exhaled breath conveying device 1 that introduces the breath of a subject, a collecting device 2 that collects the breath mist by circulating the exhaled breath introduced into the exhaled breath conveying device 1 through an adsorbent, a clean air supplying device 3 that supplies clean air to the exhaled breath conveying device 1, and a quantifying device 4 that quantifies the amount of exhaled breath mist in the exhaled breath introduced into the exhaled breath conveying device 1.

[0020] The exhaled breath transport device 1 comprises a housing 10 inside which the exhaled breath is transported, an exhaled breath introduction member 11 worn by the subject to introduce the subject's exhaled breath, an air introduction section 12 which supplies clean air by a clean air supply device 3 toward the exhaled breath introduction member 11, and an exhaled breath transport section 13 which transports the exhaled breath introduced into the exhaled breath introduction member 11 to the collection device 2 by the clean air introduced into the air introduction section 12.

[0021] The exhaled air introduction member 11 is connected to one end 10a of the housing 10 in communication with the inside, and includes an exhaled air introduction section 11a that collects exhaled air without leaking, such as a mask that covers the subject's mouth or a mouthpiece that the subject holds in his / her mouth and exhales, and an adjustment valve 11b that adjusts the internal pressure of the housing 10 so that the subject can breathe repeatedly while wearing the exhaled air introduction section 11a. Note that in Fig. 3(A), the one end 10a is omitted to make it easier to understand the internal structure.

[0022] A tubular member 10c extends from the other end 10b of the housing 10 toward the exhaled gas introduction member 11. The tubular member 10c opens facing the exhaled gas introduction member 11 and divides the inside of the housing 10 into an air introduction section 12 and an exhaled gas transport section 13. The inside of the tubular member 10c corresponds to the exhaled gas transport section 13, and the part of the inside of the housing 10 other than the exhaled gas transport section 13 corresponds to the air introduction section 12.

[0023] The air introduction section 12 is provided at the other end 10b of the housing 10 with a connection section 12a to be connected to the clean air supply device 3.

[0024] The exhaled breath transport section 13 is provided at the other end 10b of the housing 10 with a sending section 13a for sending the transported exhaled breath to the collection device 2 and a connection section 13b for connecting to the quantitative measurement device 4.

[0025] The capacity of the housing 10 is preferably set to a general quiet ventilation volume of 500 cc or more.

[0026] The collection device 2 includes an adsorption unit 20 that holds an adsorbent K for adsorbing the breath mist, and a suction device 21 that performs suction to cause the breath to flow through the adsorption unit 20.

[0027] The adsorption unit 20 includes a tubular cartridge 20a filled with an adsorbent K. One end of the cartridge 20a is connected to the breath transport section 13, and the other end is connected to the suction device 21, and the cartridge 20a is configured to be ventilated to the inside.

[0028] Exhalation mist is considered to be a reverse micelle with a hydrophobic surface. Various adsorbents can be used as the adsorbent K as long as they can adequately capture such exhalation mist. For example, a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) can be used.

[0029] The suction device 21 is, for example, a suction pump connected to the suction unit 20 , and causes the exhaled air to flow through the suction unit 20 by sucking in the back side of the suction unit 20 .

[0030] The clean air supply device 3 may be a device of known configuration. For example, a thermostatic bath 30, which is a heating means for heating air from the subject side, a flowmeter 31, an air filter 32 such as a HEPA filter, silica gel 33, which is a drying means for drying air, activated carbon 34, and an air compressor 35 are arranged in this order and connected to the air inlet 12. With this configuration, dust-free and clean air that is kept at a constant temperature by controlling the flow rate can be supplied to the air inlet 12. In addition, by heating the clean air with the thermostatic bath 30, it is possible to prevent a decrease in collection efficiency due to condensation of the exhaled breath mist.

[0031] The quantitative measurement device 4 is a device for quantifying the amount of breath mist in the breath introduced into the breath transport device 1, and for example, a particle counter, which is an optical measurement means, can be suitably used. With this, the volume can be calculated by measuring the particle size distribution of the breath mist within a certain period of time.

[0032] Here, in order to efficiently transport the exhaled breath mist and introduce it into the collection device 2, the inner surface of the exhaled breath introduction member 11 is preferably hydrophobic so that the exhaled breath mist is not easily adsorbed thereon.

[0033] (Method of collecting breath mist) Next, the method for collecting exhaled breath mist will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7. In each figure, the exhaled breath transport device 1 is shown in a simplified form in order to make it easier to understand the internal structure of the air flow and the flow of exhaled breath.

[0034] First, each device is started without connecting the adsorption unit 20. Next, after blocking the breath conveying device 1 so that air does not enter the housing 10 from the outside, clean air is supplied from the air inlet 12 of the housing 10 by the clean air supply device 3. The clean air is allowed to flow for a predetermined time in consideration of the flow rate, the volume of the housing 10, and the flow speed in the air inlet 12 and the breath conveying section 13, and the inside of the housing 10 is replaced with clean air. Then, the adsorption unit 20 is connected. In this embodiment, taking into consideration that the resting ventilation volume of a typical adult male is 0.5 L, the supply volume of clean air was set to 10 L / min, which exceeds the breathing volume per minute.

[0035] The exhaled breath mist is collected in the following manner.

[0036] First, as shown in Fig. 4, the subject is asked to wear the breath introduction member 11 and to breathe quietly for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). This replaces the air in the subject's lungs with clean air. Note that the measurement environment is preferably kept at a constant temperature.

[0037] The air flow when the subject is not breathing is shown in Fig. 5. Clean air supplied from the air inlet 12 of the housing 10 by the clean air supply device 3 becomes an airflow that flows from the air inlet 12 through the exhaled breath introduction member 11 toward the exhaled breath transport section 13.

[0038] The airflow when the subject inhales is shown in Fig. 6. The subject can inhale clean air within the exhaled air introduction member 11 while maintaining the airflow shown in Fig. 5.

[0039] Next, the subject exhales the breath containing the breath mist toward the opening of the tubular member 10c through the breath introduction member 11. Fig. 7(A) shows the state immediately after the exhaust. At this time, the breath mist M is exhaled in front of the subject's mouth. Then, as shown in Fig. 7(B), the exhaled breath containing the breath mist M is carried by the airflow from the opening of the tubular member 10c to the breath transport section 13.

[0040] Here, since the inside of the housing 10 is filled with clean air, there is no risk of the breath mist M being contaminated by foreign matter during transportation.

[0041] In addition, since clean air that has been dried and heated is used as the conveying air, aggregation of the exhaled breath mist M can be prevented.

[0042] When clean air is supplied in excess of the capacity of the housing 10 and exceeds a predetermined internal pressure, it is discharged to the outside from the breath introduction member 11 through the adjustment valve 11b. Even if the subject's mouth is not in close contact with the breath introduction member 11, air leaks out from the gap between the subject and the breath introduction member 11, forming an air curtain that keeps the device isolated from the outside.

[0043] The expired air containing the expired air mist M transported by clean air through the expired air transport section 13 is transported to the collector 2 connected to the downstream side of the expired air transport section 13.

[0044] In the collection device 2, the suction device 21 sucks in the downstream side of the adsorption unit 20, and at a predetermined end, the exhaled breath is caused to flow through the adsorption unit 20. This allows the adsorption unit 20 to adsorb and collect the exhaled breath mist M.

[0045] Here, the clean air supplied by the clean air supply device 3 is temperature-regulated by the thermostatic chamber 30, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in collection efficiency due to condensation of the exhaled breath mist. In addition, by carrying the exhaled breath on the air current and transporting it quickly, it is possible to reduce loss in the transport path.

[0046] Exhalation mist is considered to be a reverse micelle with a hydrophobic surface. Various adsorbents can be used as the adsorbent K as long as they can adequately capture such exhalation mist. For example, a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) can be used.

[0047] The quantitative measurement device 4 measures the amount of exhaled breath mist in the exhaled breath transported through the exhaled breath transport section 13. For example, when a particle counter is used as the quantitative measurement device 4, it is operated at a predetermined time interval (e.g., one minute interval) to measure the particle size distribution and convert it into a volume, and each conversion result is integrated to measure the amount.

[0048] After a predetermined time has elapsed, collection and quantification of the breath mist is terminated. The time can be set in consideration of the analyte in the breath mist. When monitoring the drug concentration of a certain substance in the blood, it is preferable to set the time according to the drug concentration in the blood, for example, 4 to 7 minutes for urea and 10 minutes for fexofenadine.

[0049] Then, the adsorption unit 20 is recovered and subjected to analysis.

[0050] (Breath mist analysis method) The adsorption unit 20 that has collected the breath mist is removed from the breath transport device 1 and is subjected to analysis. As the analyzer, an analyzer suited to the measurement target, such as a fluorescence emission analyzer, an absorptiometry analyzer, or a liquid chromatography / mass analyzer, can be used.

[0051] (Effects of the embodiment) According to the breath mist collecting system S of the present invention, the air breathed by the subject is clean air supplied by the clean air supply device 3, and the breath can be transported and collected using this air, so that it is possible to prevent the air from containing impurities such as dust. The breath mist can be quantified by the quantification device 4 while transporting the breath, allowing for highly accurate quantification. The breath mist is collected while being sucked by the suction device 2, so that the breath mist can be sufficiently collided with the adsorbent, and the adsorption efficiency of the breath mist can be increased. This allows for efficient collection of the breath mist. EXAMPLES

[0052] The amount of detected exhalation mist was compared when clean air was introduced into the exhalation breath transport device and when it was not.

[0053] The amount of air supplied from the clean air supply device was 10 L / min, and the amount of air suctioned by the suction device was 1, 3, and 5 L / min. The thermostatic bath was controlled at 60°C, and the air was heated.

[0054] The measurement of breath mist was carried out as follows. First, the opening of the breath introduction member was sealed and clean air was circulated inside the housing, replacing the inside of the housing with clean air. Next, the subject was asked to wear the breath introduction member and repeat quiet breathing. This replaces the subject's lungs with clean air.

[0055] If clean air is not introduced into the breath delivery device, the above steps are omitted.

[0056] Next, the collection of breath mist was started using the collection device, and 30 seconds later, the measurement of the breath mist volume was started using a quantitative measurement device (particle counter). The breath mist particle size distribution was measured until the end of collection, and the collected breath mist volume was calculated from the average value per time (minute).

[0057] Figure 8 shows the relationship between the amount of suction and the detected volume of exhaled mist for two subjects when clean air was not introduced into the exhaled breath transport device.

[0058] The volume of exhaled mist detected in both subjects 1 and 2 was 5×10 -6 mm 3 In subject 2, the volume of exhaled mist increased significantly as the amount of inhaled air increased.

[0059] Figure 9 shows the relationship between the amount of suction and the detected volume of exhaled mist when clean air is introduced into the exhaled breath transport device.

[0060] The volume of exhaled mist detected in both subjects 1 and 2 was 5×10 -6 mm 3 In addition, the phenomenon of the volume of exhaled mist increasing with the increase in the amount of inhalation, which was observed in subject 2 when clean air was not introduced into the exhaled breath transport device, was not observed, and the detected amount of exhaled mist was almost constant, independent of the amount of inhalation.

[0061] When clean air was not introduced into the breath transport device, there were many impurities in the environment, and the quantification device was unable to distinguish between the breath mist and impurities, leading to a large volume of the breath mist. In particular, in the case of subject 2, the detection value increased because more impurities in the environment were inhaled as the inhalation volume increased.

[0062] On the other hand, when clean air was introduced into the breath transport device, the influence of impurities in the environment could be eliminated, and only the breath mist could be quantified by the quantitative measurement device. Compared to when clean air was not introduced, the detected volume of breath mist for both subjects 1 and 2 was 5 × 10 -6 mm 3 The values ​​were low, below 0.01.

[0063] From the above, it has been confirmed that the breath mist collection system of the present invention can prevent the air breathed by the subject from containing impurities such as dust, and can perform highly accurate quantification of the breath mist.

[0064] (Note: Exhaled breath mist) The peripheral structure of the lung is that the terminal bronchioles branch into respiratory bronchioles, which then branch into alveolar ducts and alveolar sacs. The surfaces of the alveoli are covered with alveolar lining fluid, which is composed of pulmonary surfactant produced by type II pneumocytes, intracellular fluid of alveolar macrophages, and interstitial tissue fluid.

[0065] The small airways, including the bronchioles, close with expiration and open with inspiration, and when the airways open, the airway-lining fluid, which contains alveolar lining fluid and bronchial secretions, breaks into droplets, and expiratory mist is formed by the turbulence created by expiration and inspiration. This expiratory mist is a mist of part of the airway-lining fluid that is released into the airways and then released to the outside by expiration.

[0066] Pulmonary surfactant is a mixture of lipids and proteins, the main component of which is the phosphate lipid dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, and acts as a surface active agent to prevent air from collapsing from the alveoli. Four types of surfactant-related proteins (SPs) are known to constitute pulmonary surfactant. SP-A and SP-D are glycoproteins, while SP-B and SP-C are lipophilic proteins.

[0067] Alveolar sacs are a mass of small alveoli, where gas exchange between the outside air and blood takes place. Alveolar lining fluid thinly covers the inner surface of the alveoli and is in contact with the blood via the interstitial membrane. Non-volatile and difficult-to-volatile substances contained in blood and lung tissue, such as harmful compounds contained in therapeutic drugs and foods that are taken into the body, physiologically active substances such as hormones, and substances that provide energy for the body such as glucose and lipids, move from the blood into the alveolar lining fluid.

[0068] The alveolar lining fluid containing non-volatile and poorly volatile drugs becomes bronchial lining fluid together with secretory components from the bronchial glands, and is released into the breath as exhalation mist. By collecting this exhalation mist with an adsorbent and measuring the above-mentioned compounds and substances contained therein, their pharmacokinetics in the body can be understood. This allows the concentration of the above-mentioned compounds and substances in the blood and tissues to be monitored for therapeutic drug monitoring, applications in disease diagnosis and treatment, and understanding of the intake of harmful substances in the body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1... Breath transport device 10…Housing 10a…one end 10b...other end 10c...Tubular member 11... Exhalation introduction member 11a…Expiratory air introduction section 11b…regulating valve 12...Air intake section 12a…Connection 13... Exhaled air transport section 13a…Sending unit 13b…Connection 2…Collection device 20…Suction unit 21...Suction device 20a... Cartridge 3…Clean air supply device 30…Thermostatic oven 31...Flow meter 32…Air filter 33…Silica gel 34...Activated carbon 35…Air compressor 4…Quantitative device M: Breath mist S... Breath mist collection system

Claims

1. An exhalation mist collection system for collecting exhalation mist containing non-volatile and refractory substances emitted through the alveoli and airways, comprising: A breath transport device that introduces the breath of the subject and serves as a transport path for the breath; A collection device that collects breath mist by contacting the breath transported by the breath transport device with an adsorbent; A clean air supply device that supplies clean air for transporting the exhaled breath to the exhaled breath transport device; A quantitative measurement device for measuring the quantity of breath mist in the breath transported by the breath transport device; Equipped with The breath transport device comprises: an exhaled breath introduction member that is worn by a subject and that introduces the exhaled breath of the subject; A housing connected in communication with the exhaled air introduction member and through which the exhaled air is transported, The housing includes an air introduction section connected to the clean air supply device and through which clean air is supplied; and an exhaled breath conveying section that conveys the exhaled breath introduced into the exhaled breath introduction member by the clean air supplied to the air introduction section and guides the exhaled breath to the quantitative measurement device. The collection device is an adsorption unit having one end connected to the air introduction portion and holding an adsorbent for adsorbing the exhalation mist; a suction means connected to the other end of the adsorption unit and performing suction to circulate the exhaled air through the adsorption unit; The exhaled air introduction member is connected to one end of the housing, the inside of the housing is divided into the air introduction section and the breath transport section by a tubular member that extends from the other end of the housing toward the breath introduction member and opens opposite to the breath introduction member, The air introduction section is connected to the clean air supply device at the other end of the housing, The breath transport unit is connected to the quantitative measurement device and the collection device downstream of the airflow, An airflow is generated from the clean air supply device through the breath conveying device toward the collecting device, The amount of the breath mist in the breath introduced into the breath transport device is quantified by the quantification device; An exhalation mist collecting system, characterized in that the exhalation air introduced into the exhalation air transport device is circulated through the adsorption unit and brought into contact with the adsorbent, thereby collecting the exhalation mist.

2. The exhalation mist collection system of claim 1, characterized in that the exhalation intake member comprises an exhalation intake section formed in the shape of a mask that covers the subject's nose and mouth to separate them from the outside, and an adjustment valve that adjusts the internal pressure of the housing.

3. 3. The exhalation mist collecting system according to claim 1, wherein the clean air supply device is provided with a heating means for heating the clean air.

4. 4. The breath mist collecting system according to claim 1, wherein the quantitative measurement device measures the breath mist based on a particle size and a particle number determined by an optical technique.

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