Breath Collection Chamber with Inert Surface for Volatile Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breath collection apparatuses fail to retain volatile components effectively due to chemical and physical interactions, leading to dilution and degradation, especially when there is a delay between collection and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A chamber with a functionalized internal surface that does not interact chemically or physically with volatile components, featuring a tapering design, one-way valves, and a sampling port, allowing for the collection and storage of end-tidal breath without reaction, enabling longer storage and accurate analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional breath bag is used for collection, then the breath can be collected, but the volatile components react with the bag material and are lost over time
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is constructed from chemically inert materials (glass, PTFE, or silanized materials) that do not react with volatile components in the breath sample. This creates an inert storage environment that preserves the chemical integrity of the breath sample during transport and storage, resolving the contradiction between reliable retention and extended storage duration.
2Measurement precision
If the entire exhaled breath is collected, then the sample volume is sufficient, but the non-exchanged breath dilutes the chemical information from lung gas exchange
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus extracts and isolates only the end-tidal breath portion (the last 15-20% of exhaled breath) that contains the chemical information from lung gas exchange. By excluding the initial non-exchanged breath, the device concentrates the chemical information without dilution, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and sample quantity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If there is a delay between collection and analysis, then transport to distant locations is possible, but volatile components are lost due to reaction and dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The chemically inert chamber environment prevents degradation of volatile components during transport delays, enabling reliable sample integrity even when analysis occurs days after collection at distant locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses a disposable collection device that can be easily transported and stored. The inert materials ensure that even with extended storage times, the volatile components remain intact until analysis, making the system adaptable to delayed analysis scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively preserves volatile components for extended periods, reducing background noise and ensuring accurate disease diagnosis by isolating the chemically reactive surface, allowing for precise capture and analysis of end-tidal breath.
Implementation Method 1
an internal surface defining a sample collection volume, that has been functionalised so that it does not interact chemically or physically with volatile components in the breath
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for collecting part of an exhaled breath. The apparatus comprises a chamber comprising an internal surface defining a sample collection volume that has been functionalised to not interact chemically or physically with volatile components in the breath, an inlet end and outlet end through which the breath respectively enters and exits the sample collection volume. The apparatus also includes two closures, one at each of the inlet end and the outlet end to control passage of the breath through the respective inlet end or outlet end, the closures being actuated to capture the part of the exhaled breath, and a sampling port accessible from outside the chamber and in communication with the sample collection volume. The chamber is further tapered in its diameter toward each of the inlet end and outlet end to maintain laminar flow through the chamber.