Exhaled breath condensate biometric marker measurement apparatus and method
View Patent ↗The present invention includes an apparatus and a method for testing exhaled breath condensate for at least one biometric marker, including a substrate for collecting exhaled breath condensate, the substrate capable of being brought to a temperature below a dew point of vapor in exhaled breath, a collector for retaining the substrate and for receiving a biometric marker reagent. The invention may further include receiving exhaled breath in a collector, the collector comprising a substrate, the substrate being at a temperature below a dew point of vapor in exhaled breath, collecting the exhaled breath condensate on the substrate, and bringing a biometric marker reagent in contact with the substrate.
1. An apparatus that tests exhaled breath condensate for at least one biometric marker, the apparatus comprising:
a substrate that collects exhaled breath from a user to produce exhaled breath condensate after said substrate is brought to a temperature below a dew point of vapor in said exhaled breath; and
a collector that retains said substrate such that said substrate occupies an inner surface area less than a whole of said inner surface area of said collector, said exhaled breath condensate is at least formed at said substrate, said collector further receiving a biometric marker reagent strip such that said biometric marker reagent strip comes into contact with said exhaled breath condensate disposed on a surface of said substrate such that a result of said contact is indicated at an end of a first time period, and said collector further comprises:
a first opening that receives said exhaled breath from said user, wherein said first opening is a hole that is shaped to receive a person's mouth surrounding said first opening such that said person's mouth completely covers said first opening when said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate is receiving said exhaled breath;
a second opening that receives a material there through, said material containing said biometric marker reagent strip, wherein said second opening is one of a hole that extends through said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate and a hole that is concealed within the body of said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate, a circumference of said hole being of a geometry that is suitable for receiving said material of a particular size and shape, and wherein said second opening is positioned at an end portion of said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate, wherein said end portion is on an opposite side of said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate as said first opening; and
an actuator that brings said biometric marker reagent strip in contact with said substrate.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator presses said biometric marker reagent strip against a surface of said substrate.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said actuator slides said biometric marker reagent strip across a surface of said substrate.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein during said third time period an actuator is operated, said actuator bringing said biometric marker reagent strip in contact with said substrate.
5. An apparatus that tests exhaled breath condensate for at least one biometric marker, said apparatus comprising:
a means for collecting exhaled breath condensate, said means for collecting comprising:
a first opening for receiving exhaled breath from a user, wherein said first opening is a hole that is shaped to receive a person's mouth surrounding said first opening such that said person's mouth completely covers said first opening when said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate is receiving said exhaled breath; and
a retaining means for retaining a substrate by a collector, said substrate collecting said exhaled breath to produce said exhaled breath condensate after said substrate is brought to a temperature below a dew point of vapor in exhaled breath, said collector retaining said substrate such that said substrate occupies an inner surface area less than a whole of said inner surface area of said collector, said exhaled breath condensate is at least formed at said substrate;
a receiving means for receiving a biometric marker reagent strip such that said biometric marker reagent strip comes into contact with a surface of said substrate and said exhaled breath condensate disposed thereon, said receiving means comprising:
a second opening for receiving a material there through, said material containing said biometric marker reagent strip, wherein said second opening is one of a hole that extends through said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate and a hole that is concealed within the body of said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate, a circumference of said hole being of a geometry that is suitable for receiving said material of a particular size and shape, and wherein said second opening is positioned at an end portion of said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate, wherein said end portion is on an opposite side of said means for collecting exhaled breath condensate as said first opening; and
an actuator means for bringing said biometric marker reagent strip in contact with said substrate.