Breath Sampler with Liquid Capture Interface for Pathogen Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breath samplers are limited in their ability to effectively capture pathogens and biomarkers from a stream of breath, especially for patients with severely compromised lung function, and often require additional apparatus for sample collection and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A breath sampler designed to deliver a breath sample to a liquid capture interface while allowing patients to breathe normally, featuring a non-rebreather part and a sample delivery part that enables efficient capture and analysis of breath samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional breath samplers are used to collect breath samples, then sample collection is possible, but the capture yield and sensitivity are insufficient especially for patients with compromised lung function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the breath sampling function and the liquid capture interface into a single integrated device. The breath sampler includes a sample collection chamber that directly delivers breath samples to a liquid capture interface containing culture medium or reagents, eliminating the need for separate collection and analysis apparatus. This integration improves capture yield and sensitivity while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a liquid capture interface as an intermediary between breath sample collection and pathogen detection. The liquid medium (culture medium, buffer, or reagent) acts as a mediator that enhances the capture of pathogens and biomarkers from the breath sample, improving measurement precision through increased contact surface area and prolonged interaction time.
2Productivity
If breath sampling is performed with limited sampling time, then the procedure is quick, but the volume of breath analyzed is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous breath sampling by designing a system where patients can breathe normally through the device during sample collection. The one-way valves allow continuous exhalation into the sample collection chamber without requiring interruption or special breathing maneuvers, thereby increasing the total volume of breath analyzed while maintaining procedural efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If patients with compromised lung function use traditional sampling methods, then sample collection may be difficult, but the current methods still fail to provide adequate samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the breath sampling process into distinct functional zones within the device: an inhalation pathway with air inlet and one-way valve, an exhalation pathway leading to the sample collection chamber, and a liquid capture interface. This segmentation allows patients to breathe naturally through different pathways, reducing operational difficulty while ensuring reliable sample collection in the designated chamber.
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 breath sampler allows for longer sampling times and greater volume of breath to be analyzed, improving capture yield and sensitivity, and is particularly suitable for patients with reduced or limited lung function.
Implementation Method 1
The non-rebreather part comprises a sample inlet and a one-way outlet valve arranged to allow air to exit the non-rebreather part. The one-way outlet valve and the sample inlet defines a first portion of an internal breath flow pathway therebetween. The non-rebreather part further comprises an air inlet in fluid communication with the first portion of the internal breath flow pathway, the air inlet being closed by a one-way inlet valve arranged to allow air to enter the non-rebreather part.
Implementation Method 2
a sample delivery part configured to deliver the collected sample to a liquid capture interface
Implementation Method 3
WO 95/31721 describes a breath sample collection apparatus for condensing aerosol material from a breath sample on the walls of a cooled sample collection tube
Data Source
AI summary
A breath sampler for collecting a breath sample from a patient is disclosed. The breath sampler has a non-rebreather part including a sample inlet, a one-way outlet valve downstream of the sample inlet, and an air inlet. The one-way outlet valve and the sample inlet define a first portion of an internal breath flow pathway therebetween. The air inlet is arranged to be closed by a one-way inlet valve arranged to allow air to enter the non-rebreather part. The breath sampler also has a sample delivery part in fluid communication with the non-rebreather part at an upstream end via the one-way outlet valve. The sample delivery part defines a second portion of the internal breath flow pathway, and has an air diverter, a sample outlet, a return inlet and a sample collection chamber connector. The air diverter is arranged to divide the sample delivery part into an upstream portion upstream of the air diverter and a downstream portion downstream of the air diverter and is configured to divert the breath sample into a sample collection chamber including a liquid capture interface. The sample collection chamber is coupled to the sample collection chamber connector and includes a liquid capture interface.