Using exhaled breath condensate, aerosols and gases for detecting biomarkers
View Patent ↗An apparatus for detecting a biomarker includes a particulate capturing structure for receiving and capturing exhaled breath aerosol (EBA) particulate from airway linings of a user, the particulate capturing structure having an aerosol particulate testing system for receiving the captured particulate and detecting a first biomarker, wherein the aerosol particulate testing system includes a dissolvable EBA sample collector film for capturing EBA particulate. The apparatus may include a droplet harvesting structure for converting breath vapor to a fluid droplet for forming a fluid sample and a testing system having a biomarker testing zone for receiving the fluid sample and detecting a biomarker.
1. Apparatus for diagnostic testing, comprising:
A. a face mask;
B. a particulate collector disposed in a vicinity of a surface of the face mask, the particulate collector comprising a surface that (i) is any of water-soluble and adhesive, and (ii) is in fluid coupling with a reagent for a first biomarker;
C. a condensate collector disposed in the vicinity of the surface of the face mask, the condensate collector comprising a hydrophobic field disposed adjacent to one or more hydrophilic channels;
D. a transducer in fluid coupling with the one or more hydrophilic channels, the transducer including a bioreceptor for a second biomarker and generating an electrical signal in a presence of that second biomarker in a fluid.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bioreceptor is matched to the second biomarker for lock and key selectivity screening.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transducer transforms an output of the bioreceptor into the electrical signal.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reagent is bound to a water-insoluble region of the particulate collector.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the reagent is bound to nanoparticles.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reagent reacts with the first biomarker with a change in at least one of an optical signal and an electrical signal.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
A. the condensate collector comprises a metallic sheet; and
B. the hydrophobic field and the one or more hydrophilic channels are formed on the metallic sheet.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
A. the face mask comprises a concavity adapted to receive at least one of a nose and a mouth; and
B. the surface in the vicinity of which the condensate collector and the particulate collector are disposed is a surface of the concavity.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic field has disposed thereon beads of breath moisture droplets.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one or more hydrophilic channels have disposed therein a fluid sample comprising said beads of breath moisture droplets.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the condensate collector comprises a substrate having the hydrophobic field and the one or more hydrophilic channels formed thereon.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the substrate comprises sheet aluminum.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydrophilic channels are disposed within the hydrophobic field.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least the hydrophobic field is disposed on a thermal mass.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a fluidic lateral flow assay disposed adjacent to one or more of the hydrophilic channels, the fluidic lateral flow assay including: a sample pad, a conjugate release pad, a flow membrane, and adsorbent pad.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , comprising a fluid dam disposed between fluidic lateral flow assay and one or more of the hydrophilic channels.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , comprising a fluid dam disposed between the sample pad and the conjugate release pad.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the particulate collector is capable of collecting particles of cough expellant.
19. Apparatus for diagnostic testing, comprising:
A. a face mask;
B. a particulate collector disposed in a vicinity of a surface of the face mask, the particulate collector comprising a surface that (i) is any of water-soluble and adhesive, and (ii) is capable of collecting particles comprising a first biomarker;
C. a condensate collector disposed in the vicinity of the surface of the face mask, the condensate collector comprising a hydrophobic field disposed adjacent to one or more fluid channels;
D. a transducer in fluid coupling with the one or more fluid channels, the transducer including a bioreceptor for a second biomarker and generating an electrical signal in a presence of that second biomarker in a fluid.