IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,748,029
Granted Patent B2
US 12,748,029 · App. 18/683,399 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Systems and methods for real-time analysis of inhaled particles

Inventors: Kambez Hajipouran Benam (Mars, PA); Alexander Kaiser (Erie, CO); Bob Alvarenga (Denver, CO); Cassie Salem (Glendale, CO)
Assignee: PNEUMAX, LLC
G01N15/0211G01N1/22G01N2001/2223G01N2015/0046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,748,029
App. No.
18/683,399
Granted
Sep 29, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for analyzing fluid-borne particles includes a reservoir for storing a fluid with fluid-borne particles, a fluid intake module coupled to the reservoir by a fluidical conduit, the fluid intake module having a container with a changeable volume, wherein when the volume increases, the fluid intake module receives fluid, and when the volume decreases, the fluid intake module expels fluid, and a particulate matter (PM) sensor disposed in the fluidical conduit between the reservoir and the fluid intake module for detecting fluid-borne particles in the fluidical conduit.

Claims (41)

1 . A system for analyzing fluid-borne matters, the system comprising:

a first reservoir for storing a fluid with fluid-borne matters, wherein the fluid is air or gas;

inhalation exposure chamber fluidically coupled to the first reservoir, wherein the inhalation exposure chamber includes temperature, humidity, and gas level controls to emulate physiologically or clinically relevant exposure;

a pressure-regulated pump fluidically coupled to the first reservoir for creating a negative pressure in the first reservoir;

a fluid intake syringe coupled to the first reservoir by a fluidical conduit, the fluid intake syringe having a container with a changeable volume, wherein the fluid intake syringe is configured to emulate breathing, when the volume increases, the fluid intake syringe receive fluid when a volume of the fluid intake syringe increases, and when the volume decreases, the fluid intake syringe expel fluid when the volume of the fluid intake syringe decreases;

an airborne particle generator fluidically coupled to the first reservoir; and a sensor disposed in the fluidical conduit between the first reservoir and the fluid intake syringe for detecting fluid-borne matters in the fluidical conduit.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inhalation exposure chamber receives ambient air or gas.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inhalation exposure chamber includes a filter for filtering the ambient air or gas for analysis.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the airborne particle generator is an electronic cigarette or a tobacco-related product.

5 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a dilution robot for diluting a concentration of the fluid-borne matters in the first reservoir to a level detectable by the sensor.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the dilution robot includes a first and a second reciprocating pump both fluidically coupled to the first reservoir, when an internal volume of the first reciprocating pump increases by a predetermined amount, an internal volume of the second reciprocating pump decreases by approximately a same predetermined amount, and vice versa, wherein the predetermined amount of volume change determines a diluting factor.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the dilution robot includes a second reservoir fluidically coupled between the first reservoir and the first and second reciprocating pump.

8 . The system of claim 7 further comprising a valve disposed between the first and second reservoir.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the container of the fluid intake syringe includes a reciprocating pump for controllably changing the volume of the container.

10 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a first valve and a second valve, the first valve disposed in the fluidical conduit for controlling fluid flow in the fluidical conduit, and the second valve configured to control fluidical connection between the sensor and an ambience, wherein when the first valve is closed the second valve is open, and vice versa.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first and the second valve are regulation valves selected from the group consisting of ball, butterfly, diaphragm, globe, needle, pinch plug, electrically controlled and optically controlled valves.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a particulate matter (PM) analyzer.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to quantify oxygen levels or detect virus or allergens.

14 . A system for analyzing airborne particles in real-time, the system comprising:

an inhalation exposure chamber receiving ambient air or gas;

an airborne particle generator configured to generate airborne particles;

a reservoir fluidically connected to the inhalation exposure chamber during a first time period and fluidically connected to the airborne particle generator during a second time period not overlapping the first time period, the reservoir configured for storing the air mixed with the airborne particles;

a pressure-regulated pump fluidically coupled to the reservoir for creating a negative air pressure in the reservoir during the first and second time period;

a breath-emulating fluid intake syringe coupled to the reservoir by a fluidical conduit, the breath-emulating fluid intake syringe having a container with a changeable volume, wherein when the volume increases, the breath-emulating fluid intake syringe emulates an inhale, and when the volume decreases, the breath-emulating fluid intake syringe emulates an exhale;

a dilution robot fluidically connected to the reservoir for controllably diluting a concentration of the airborne particles in the reservoir; and

a particulate matter (PM) sensor disposed in the fluidical conduit between the reservoir and the breath-emulating fluid intake syringe for detecting airborne particles in the fluidical conduit.

15 . A method for analyzing fluid-borne particles, the method comprising:

filling a reservoir with clean fluid;

sucking fluid-borne particles into the reservoir to mix with the clean fluid;

increasing volume of a container when the container is fluidically connected to the reservoir by a fluidical conduit;

detecting fluid-borne particles by a particulate matter (PM) sensor disposed in the fluidical conduit during the volume increase;

decreasing volume of the container when the container is fluidically connected to an ambience by the fluidical conduit; and

detecting fluid-borne particles by the PM sensor during the volume decrease.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising supplying the clean fluid to the reservoir from an environmentally controlled chamber.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the fluid is air, and the environmentally controlled chamber includes an air or gas filter, a temperature controller, a humidity controller and a pathophysiological gas level controller.

18 . The method of claim 15 further comprising diluting a concentration of the fluid- borne particles in the reservoir before increasing volume of the container.

19 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:

increasing volume of the container when the container is fluidically connected to the ambience; and

detecting fluid-borne particles by the PM sensor during the volume increase.

20 . The method of claim 15 further comprising fluidically connecting an airborne particle generator to the reservoir when the reservoir is under a negative air pressure.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the airborne particle generator is an electronic cigarette or a tobacco-related product.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63235798 · Aug 22, 2021
Related Publication 20240369464A1 · Nov 7, 2024
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