IP Library Granted Patent US 9,945,878
Granted Patent B1
US 9,945,878 · App. 15/650,518 · Granted Apr 17, 2018

Compositions and solutions for target substance detection and measurement

Inventors: Michael J. Gordon (Goleta, CA); Louis Chin Jones (Santa Barbara, CA)
Assignee: HOUND LABS, INC.
G01N33/948A61B5/082A61B5/087A61B5/097G01N21/6428G01N33/582G01N2021/6439
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,945,878
App. No.
15/650,518
Granted
Apr 17, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

Various embodiments for a hand-held device to determine a level of one or more cannabinoid compounds in exhaled human breath are provided; some embodiments may also determine a level of alcohol in the exhaled breath. The device may perform any of the following steps: capture, concentrate, separate, identify, and quantify the level of cannabinoids in the exhaled human breath. The device may use solvent extraction and liquid chromatography to concentrate and separate cannabinoids from breath contaminants, followed by selective chemical modification of the cannabinoids with a fluorescent indicator for quantification. The measurement methodology may also include real time calibration of the device and detection protocol using known cannabinoid standards, which are simultaneously analyzed along with an unknown, to quantify the level of cannabinoids captured from the breath sample. The capture and separation components, along with cannabinoid analysis standards, may be configured as part of a single-use, field-replaceable testing cartridge.

Claims (31)

1. A solution of a composition of formula:

F—N+≡NX − .S

wherein:

F is a xanthene fluorophore;

N+≡N is a diazo functional group;

X − is a negatively charged ion balancing the charge on the diazo functional group; and

S is a diazo functional group stabilizer;

dissolved in a solvent selected for N + ≡N stabilization.

2. The solution of claim 1 , wherein the fluorophore is a rhodamine.

3. The solution of claim 2 , wherein the fluorophore is Rhodamine 123.

4. The solution of claim 1 , wherein F—N+≡N is selected to bind to a cannabinoid.

5. The solution of claim 4 , wherein the solution further comprises a cannabinoid.

6. The solution of claim 5 , wherein the cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol.

7. The solution of claim 6 , wherein the F—N+≡N binds to para and/or ortho positions of a phenol ring of tetrahydrocannabinol forming an N═N azo bond.

8. The solution of claim 7 , wherein the F—N+≡N binds only to the para position of the phenol ring of tetrahydrocannabinol forming an N═N azo bond.

9. The solution of claim 7 , wherein the F—N+≡N binds only to the ortho position of the phenol ring of tetrahydrocannabinol forming an N═N azo bond.

10. The solution of claim 1 , wherein X − is Cl − .

11. The solution of claim 10 , wherein S is ZnCl 2 .

12. The solution of claim 2 , wherein X − is Cl − .

13. The solution of claim 12 , wherein S is ZnCl 2 .

14. The solution of claim 3 , wherein X − is Cl − .

15. The solution of claim 14 , wherein S is ZnCl 2 .

16. The solution of claim 8 , wherein X − is Cl − .

17. The solution of claim 16 , wherein S is ZnCl 2 .

18. A composition of formula:

F—N+≡NCl − .ZnCl 2

wherein:

F is a xanthene fluorophore; and

N+≡N is a diazo functional group.

19. The composition of claim 18 wherein the fluorophore is a rhodamine.

20. The composition of claim 19 , wherein the rhodamine is Rhodamine 123.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2025
From: HL (ABC), LLC
To: HOUND LABS II, LLC
Reel/Frame 073786/0415 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: HOUND LABS, INC.
To: HL (ABC), LLC
Reel/Frame 073715/0174 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2025
From: HOUND LABS II, LLC
To: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION, AS LENDER AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073058/0240 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2024
From: HOUND LABS, INC.
To: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067578/0300 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2020
From: GORDON, MICHAEL J.; JONES, LOUIS CHIN
To: HOUND LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053129/0195 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14997405 · Jan 15, 2016
Provisional Application 62277854 · Jan 12, 2016
Provisional Application 62107331 · Jan 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62104813 · Jan 18, 2015