Apparatus for detecting and monitoring exhaled breath
An apparatus for measuring levels of specific biomarkers in exhaled breath. Specific compounds such as nitric oxide and isoprene can be monitored from a subject's breath. The resultant measurements can provide indications of the subject's medical condition, or response to an applied stress.
1 . A breath sensor apparatus configured to measure levels of nitric oxide and isoprene in exhaled breath from a subject comprising:
a receiver configured to receive an exhaled breath from the subject;
a breath processing unit connected to the receiver and configured to receive the exhaled breath, wherein the breath processing unit is operated within a temperature range of 25° C. to 400° C., wherein the breath processing unit comprises:
a γ-WO 3 surface which is configured to respond to nitric oxide to alter an electrical property of the γ-WO 3 surface, wherein the γ-WO 3 surface is undoped; and
a h-WO 3 surface which is configured to respond to isoprene to alter an electrical property of the h-WO 3 surface, wherein the h-WO 3 surface is undoped; and
a data processing unit configured to correlate the electrical property of the γ-WO 3 surface with a concentration of nitric oxide in the exhaled breath, and the electrical property of the h-WO 3 surface with a concentration of isoprene in the exhaled breath.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receiver and the breath processing unit are integrated into a single combined unit.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface of the γ-WO 3 and the surface of h-WO 3 are separately coupled to electrodes of platinum or gold.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the electrodes are coupled to an alumina substrate.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the breath processing unit is operated within a temperature range of 150 to 400° C.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the breath processing unit is operated within a temperature range of 200 to 350° C.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the breath processing unit is operated within a temperature range of 250 to 350° C.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the levels of nitric oxide and isoprene are monitored continuously.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the subject is a fighter pilot operating an aircraft.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to evaluate for high altitude pulmonary edema.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to evaluate for asthma.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to evaluate for an hypoxic episode.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to evaluate for insomnia.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mouthpiece.