Breath Humidity Measurement Device with Integrated Condenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for measuring breath humidity fail to incorporate this parameter, leading to inaccurate diagnosis and monitoring of lung diseases like COPD, as breath humidity is often unknown and uncontrolled, affecting the measurement of other analytes and reducing clinical accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a tubular body with a condenser plate, partition wall, one-way valve, and relative humidity sensor, along with optional sensors for CO2, air-flow, and hydrogen peroxide, designed to measure and record breath humidity accurately, ensuring it is used in conjunction with other breath parameters for enhanced clinical decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If breath humidity measurement is not incorporated into the device, then the device structure remains simple, but clinical accuracy and diagnostic reliability deteriorate due to unknown and uncontrolled breath humidity affecting analyte measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple measurement functions (breath humidity measurement via relative humidity sensor, analyte measurement, and condensation) into a single integrated device. The relative humidity sensor is incorporated within the tubular body structure, allowing simultaneous measurement of breath humidity and other parameters without requiring separate devices, thereby improving clinical accuracy while maintaining reasonable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple functions: measuring breath humidity, collecting exhaled breath condensate, and analyzing various breath analytes. This multi-functionality allows the device to provide comprehensive respiratory diagnostics in a single platform, improving measurement precision across multiple parameters while avoiding the need for multiple separate devices
2Measurement precision
If breath humidity is not measured and controlled, then the device operation is simple, but the measurement of other analytes becomes inaccurate due to humidity variability
Solution Approach 1:
The relative humidity sensor provides real-time feedback on breath humidity levels, allowing the system to monitor and account for humidity variability. This feedback mechanism enables accurate analyte measurements by compensating for humidity effects, while the automated sensing reduces the operational burden on users compared to manual humidity control methods
3Measurement precision
If a relative humidity sensor is added to measure breath humidity, then breath humidity measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The relative humidity sensor is positioned at a specific location within the tubular body where it can directly sense breath humidity without requiring complex external mounting or additional processing components. This localized placement simplifies manufacturing by integrating the sensor into the existing device structure rather than requiring separate assembly steps
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 device enables precise measurement of breath humidity, allowing for improved differentiation between healthy individuals and those with lung diseases, such as COPD and Asthma, and enhances clinical accuracy by normalizing analyte concentrations relative to humidity, facilitating better patient classification and monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser plate, fluidly connected to the second end of the tubular body to receive exhaled breath
Implementation Method 2
a relative humidity sensor fluidly linked to the second chamber
Data Source
AI summary
The device as disclosed herein is to measure breath humidity, the device comprises an inlet fluidly connected at a first end of a tubular body, said tubular body defining an inner tube volume. The device further comprises a condenser plate, fluidly connected to the second end of the tubular body to receive exhaled breath. A partition wall intermediate the first and second ends divides the inner tube volume into first and second chambers, the second chamber providing fluid access to the condenser plate. The wall has a one-way valve therethrough allowing breath from the first to the second chamber. The device further comprises one or more apertures in the tubular body wall of the first chamber, the or each aperture fluidly linking a sensor to the first chamber, and a relative humidity sensor fluidly linked to the second chamber.