EP0456739A4 - Breath sampler - Google Patents
Breath samplerInfo
- Publication number
- EP0456739A4 EP0456739A4 EP19900903084 EP90903084A EP0456739A4 EP 0456739 A4 EP0456739 A4 EP 0456739A4 EP 19900903084 EP19900903084 EP 19900903084 EP 90903084 A EP90903084 A EP 90903084A EP 0456739 A4 EP0456739 A4 EP 0456739A4
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- breath
- sorbent
- sample
- analyte
- guide tube
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/483—Physical analysis of biological material
- G01N33/497—Physical analysis of biological material of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/08—Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs
- A61B5/083—Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
- G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
- G01N1/2247—Sampling from a flowing stream of gas
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/28—Preparing specimens for investigation including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q
- G01N1/40—Concentrating samples
- G01N1/405—Concentrating samples by adsorption or absorption
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
- G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
- G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
- G01N1/2273—Atmospheric sampling
- G01N2001/2276—Personal monitors
Definitions
- the present invention relates to methods and devices for measuring and analyzing contents o__ ⁇ ⁇ gas samples, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for sampling volumetric quantities of human - exhaled breath, and then either performing on-site analyses for measuring volatile compounds present in the sampled volume of breath, or storing the sampled volume so that appropriate analyses can be performed at a later time.
- breath is the only biological fluid that may be obtained non-invasively and on demand, it is currently the matrix of choice for a number of applica ⁇ tions as for example in law enforcement and medical evaluation such as breathalyzers and patient breathing assist.
- concentration of the analyte of interest is in very high concentrations such as ethanol or carbon dioxide and can be analyzed with instrumentation that does not require separation of the analyte from other interferents.
- concentration of a gas component using an absorbent is generally not feasible and therefore measur- ing an analyte in large volumes of exhaled breath that are contributed over a long period of time is not practi ⁇ cal.
- two different breath samples can be taken, namely a "mixed” and an "end” or alveolar breath sample.
- a solvent in the deep lung or alveolar region of the lung is in intimate con ⁇ tact with solvent in the bloodstream. If a sample of solvent in the deep lung air is obtained that sample will be referred to as an alveolar or end-expired sample. As the solvent is exhaled, the sample becomes diluted with air in the upper respiratory track and is known as a mixed -expired sample.
- an alveolar sample is regarded as being indicative of bloodstream solvent con ⁇ centrations since that sample is in intimate contact with solvent in the blood stream.
- the manual technique for end-expired sampling requires the subject to hold his breath for about 20 seconds then to exhale, discarding the first 30-50% of the sample; and finally collecting the end-expired portion of the sample with the sampling device.
- the concentrations of solvents in an exhaled breath sample are normally very low. Therefore, it has been found necessary to have the analytes in the bag sufficiently concentrated on an appropriate sorbent prior to analysis. In addition, if the analytes are stored in the bag for extended periods, severe losses of analyte may occur by absorption of the analyte into the bag wall or permeation of the analyte through the bag wall. In using the gas sampling bag, it has become apparent that concentrations of the analytes on solid sorbent material is generally not feasible in the field. The only tech ⁇ nique for concentrating the contents of the bag is via indirect means. The sample must first be trapped in the bag.
- a solid sorbent sampler is then connected at one end to the bag and the other end to a pump. A known volume of air in the bag is then sampled.
- the gas sampling bag nor the glass sample tube has been found to facilitate either direct concentration of volatile analytes in the samples taken or storage of the taken samples for extended periods of time.
- U.S. Patent No. 4,046,014 to Boehringer et al discloses a charcoal tube sample device for sampling respiratory gases in alveolar air.
- Another sampling device which employs changes in pressure or flow rate in a main gas flow tube to initiate the sampling process as well as to terminate it, is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,2 ) 97,871.
- Still another gas sampling device disclosed in *U.S. Patent No.
- the sidestream port may be used for purposes other than sampling.
- the port may be connected to a pressure sensor that converts positive or negative pressure impulses into a signal that is registered by a counter.
- Yet another object of the invention is to pro ⁇ vide a breath sampling device capable of collecting main ⁇ stream samples or sidestream samples using sorbents.
- Suitable activated charcoal-based sorbents include any activated natural charcoal as well as synthetic char ⁇ coals.
- An example of a natural charcoal is coconut-based - 5 -
- charcoal examples include activated charcoal cloth, activated petroleum or ⁇ coal based charcoals, and other activated carbons which are commercially available such as Carbotrap®, Carbosieve®, and Carbopack®.
- Suitable inorganic sorbents include the molecular sieves (synthetic or natural zeolites), silica gel and diatomaceous earth sorbents.
- Suitable, synthetic resin sorbents include porous polymers such as Tenax®, XAD-2®, the Porapak® series polymers (e.g. Porapak S), and the Chromosorb® series polymers (e.g. Chromosorb 101) .
- Another possible collection technique for both mainstream and sidestream sampling is to use a reagent- coated sorbent where the reagent reacts with the exhaled analyte to form a stable derivative.
- a reagent- coated sorbent where the reagent reacts with the exhaled analyte to form a stable derivative.
- low- molecular weight aldehydes can be sorbed by contact with 2-(hydroxymethyl)piperidine-coated XAD-2.
- Tlie unstable aldehydes are converted to oxazolidine derivatives which are stable and can be stored for later analysis.
- Yet another object of the invention is to pro ⁇ vide-a breath sampling device capable of sidestream moni ⁇ toring of the breath concentrations using suitable detection means such as a mass-spectrometer o _breath- by-breath measurements of the relevant analvtes.
- Yet another object of the invention is to obtain a multi-breath sample.
- the exhaled breaths are all passed through the same adsorbent bed so that the analyte from all the breaths are sorbed. This permits the measurement of very dilute concentrations of analyte which are sorbed from large volumes of breath over extended sampling periods.
- Still another object is to provide a breath sampling device having alternative configurations which permit the collection of sidestream or mainstream samples, which facilitate purification of inhaled air or use a predetermined breathing gas source such as pressur ⁇ ized air, and which enable collection of the samples without use of a facemask.
- Yet a further object is to provide a breath sampling device having almost no plastic components, other than a mouthpiece and an inlet check valve dia ⁇ phragm, with which the breath sample comes in contact.
- the sampler could be made from PTFE (Teflon®) or any plastic which has minimal capacity to absorb solvents.
- Still a further object of the invention is to provide a unified sampler which can be used for both mixed and alveolar breath sampling.
- Yet another embodiment of the invention is to test a subject in the presence of contaminated air by not filtering the inhaled air. By measuring the amount exhaled, one can determine the amount or percent absorbed by the subject and thereby determine the dose received.
- the invention is applicable to a number of situations where monitoring one's breath may be desirable in accordance with the invention. These include: a. Control of substance abuse by determination of the concentration of volatile solvents or other mater ⁇ ials that are present in the breath such as alcohol or toluene from inhalation of paint thinner vapors or glue sniffing. b. Measurement of volatile compounds such as oral antiseptics in support of advertising efficacy claims by cosmetic manufacturers. Similarly, volatile compounds in the breath that are present from smoking, such as nicotine, may be measured for smoking-cessation or for other research purposes. ' c. Measurement of trace levels of endogenous compounds in the breath that may be markers of a disease state such as breath acetone in diabetes.' d.
- the analyte concentration is expected to be very low because the sample may be collected hours after exposure or it may be present in only trace amounts.
- breath levels of such analytes are measured in the parts-per-billion to parts-per-million range.
- a breath sampling technique should permit concentration of the analyte.
- the device should be compact enough to allow shipment to the laboratory for analysis if on-site analysis is not performed.
- Figure 1 is a detailed schematic illustration of a first configuration of the sampling device of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a detailed schematic illustration of a second configuration of the sampling device of the present invention.
- FIG 3 is a detailed schematic illustration of a modification of the sampling device configuration shown in Figure 2;
- Figure 4 is an exploded view of the components of one embodiment of the sampling canister contemplated for use with any of the embodiments of the sampling devices shown in Figures 1, 2, or 3;
- Figure 5 is an exploded view of the components of a second embodiment of a sampling canister which can be used with any of the embodiments of the sampling devices shown in Figures 1, 2, or 3; - 9 -
- Figures 6 and 7 show a tool which can be used to load the check valves used with the sampling devices o the present invention
- Figures 8 and 9 show another similar . tool, Figure 9 being a schematic view showing use of such, *_ttool in use;
- Figure 10 is a schematic view of an i ⁇ roved sample canister for granular sorbents and/or combination of charcoal cloth and granular sorbents
- Figure 11 is a schematic view of another improved sample canister for granular sorbents
- Figure 12 is a schematic view of another alveolar sampler using granular sorbents.
- Figure 13 is a schematic view of a mainstream sample canister that is primarily intended for perma ⁇ nently containing the charcoal cloth or granular sor ⁇ bents.
- Figure 14 is an "L"-shaped configuration of the sampler, which further minimizes void volume.
- Figure 15 is a schematic view of a square main ⁇ stream sample canister.
- Figure 16 shows the construction of a removable square container for granular sorbents.
- Figure 17 shows the construction of a square container for use with removable charcoal cloth sorbents.
- Figure 18 shows a dose receiving sampler designed for the subject to use while exposed to the analyte gas. However, in order for the dose to,, be exti ated the inhalation canister is first removed. Otherwise, this sampler may be used for mixed-expired sampling as the samplers described in Figures 1 and 2.
- Figure 19 shows a sample canister with sorbent for alternate use in the system of Figure 4.
- the "T" config ⁇ uration shown in Figure 2 enables collection of both mixed-expired and end-expired samples using a single collection canister.
- the variation of Figure 3 is primarily intended for single breath end-expired sampling, although it can also be used for single breath mixed-expired sampling.
- the present invention contemplates that, subsequent to collection of the breath sample, analysis for the analytes contained in the collection canister will be made with conventional analysis equipment.
- the sampling device 100 involves a main body 110 having a tubular mouthpiece support portion 120 on which a bite wing mouthpiece, such as shown in Figure 2, may be mounted, an inhalation can- ister support portion 130 for attaching a charcoal inhalation canister 140, a sample canister attachment portion 150 for attachment of a sample canister 160, and a sidestream port 170 for collection of sidestream sam ⁇ ples.
- the port 170 is disposed substantially centrally of the main body and opens into the main body from one side thereof. Sidestream samples may be collected on sorbents contained in stainless steel or glass tubes attached to the port 170 via appropriate ferrules and fittings, or other similar mechanical connection means.
- the inhalation canister support portion 130 comprises a two part structure including a first tubular part 132 formed as an integral part of the main body and extending - 11 -
- the first tubular part 132 includes an annular end face disposed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first tubu ⁇ lar part 132.
- the inhalation canister support portion 130 also includes a second tubular part 133 having at one end an annular face matching the surface area and configura- tion of the end face of the first tubular part.
- the first and second tubular parts are secured to one another, with their annular end faces disposed in opposi ⁇ tion to one another, via a clamp means.
- an annular gland or seal 134 is disposed and maintained between and spaces the end faces from one another.
- Various materials are effective for use as the seal; however, the preferred material is polytetrafluor- ethylene-covered silicone rubber.
- the second tubular part includes an annular edge positioned forwardly of the clamped, sealed end faces, and the forwardmost end 136 of the second tubular part is provided with a threaded inner or outer surface 142 for making threaded engagement with a complementarily threaded outer or inner surface 142 on the charcoal inhalation canister 140, thereby insuring that t ⁇ echner can ⁇ ister 140 is securely attached to the second tubular part.
- An inlet check valve 180 having a twofold func ⁇ tion, is disposed on the annular ledge 135.
- the major functions of the inlet check valve 180 are: (1) to open under negative pressure (inhalation) thus permitting the user to inhale from the ambient through the inhalation canister 140; (2) to close under pressure and thereby prevent exhaled air from escaping from the main bqdy of the sampler back through the inhalation canister 140; and (3) to direct the exhaled sample through the sample bed in section 160 of the sampler.
- the sample canister support portion 150 includes a first canister housing part 151, a second can ⁇ ister retaining part 152 and a third housing part 153 for engagement of a volume measuring device (not shown, but to be discussed later)own
- the first housing part 151 com- prised a tubular member, formed integrally with the main body and having a longitudinal axis disposed at approx ⁇ imately 120° from the longitudinal axis of both the inhalation canister support portion 132 and the mouth ⁇ piece support portion 120, and an annular sleeve 155 attached at the forward end of the tubular member.
- Sleeve 155 is provided with a forward facing annular land 154 for retaining a first polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or "Teflon”) gasket Tl and a forwardly extending annular cuff 156 bearing a set of internal threads.
- PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
- Tl polytetrafluoroethylene
- cuff 156 Secured by threads within cuff 156 is the externally threaded, rearwardly facing, annular extension 157 of the canister retaining part 152.
- a second PTFE gasket T2 is supported on the forward facing land 150 of retaining part 152, and the sample canister is held securely between the PTFE gaskets Tl, T2 within sleeve 155 when the retaining part 152 is threaded tightly in a rearward direction and within the sleeve 155.
- the housing part 153 secured within the forward end of retaining part 152 by a welded connection, comprises an annular sleeve member having a forwardly facing annular seat 159 at its rearward end. Disposed on, and secured to, the annular seat 159 is an outlet check valve 190 having a construction which is the same as that of inlet check valve 180.
- outlet check valve 190 The major functions of the outlet check valve 190 are as follows: (1) to close under negative pressure (inhalation) and prevent environmental contaminants from entering the sampler body; (2) to open under positive pressure (exhalation) and thereby permit the sample stream to pass through the sample bed in section 150 of the sampler; and (3) to direct the exhaled sample through
- Each check valve 180, 190 comprises a one-way diaphragm-type valve with an integral cross-hatch support. Welded to the center of the support is a retainer bud for the valve diaphragm.
- the cross-hatch support is of the type known as a "low flow resistance" cross-hatch, is made of stainless steel, and is silver- soldered to a land at the respective inlet or outlet location. The purpose of the cross-hatch support is to provide a retention foundation for the respective diaphragm valve during inhalation or exhalation.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a second breath sampler device 200 exhibiting the "T" configuration described above which facilitates obtaining mixed-expired breath samples.
- This second device includes a tubular main body 210 to which a stainless steel compression fitting 212 is secured (via welding) at an opening substantially cen ⁇ tered in the tubular main body 210.
- the fitting 212 is provided to facilitate the collection of sidestream sam- pies, and it is to be understood that the diameter of the fitting may be chosen as a function of the particular application or task to be accomplished.
- One side of the tubular main body 210 (hereinafter referred to as "the "inlet” side) supports, via a first threaded connection means 214, an inhalation canister 230.
- An inlet check valve 215 is located downstream of the threaded connec ⁇ tion means 214. Directly opposite the inlet side of the main body is the "outlet" side where the sampling can ⁇ ister 240 is located and supported on the main body via a second threaded connection 216. An outlet check valve 217 is positioned downstream of the second threaded con ⁇ nection.
- the inlet canister, the mouthpiece support and the sample canister are shown attached to the sampler main body 210 by threaded connections. However, these connections could also be accomplished by use of alternative fittings e.g. tapered sleeve- or O-ring type slip fittings.
- both the inlet and outlet check valve bodies are fabricated from stainless steel discs.
- a plurality of openings are provided in the discs to form an array which facilitates air flow through the discs.
- Retainer buds are welded directly to the center of the discs to assist in securing the silicone rubber diaphragms against dislodgement.
- a tapered con- nection 218 which connects directly to a respirometer 250 used to measure and record the volumes of exhaled breath. This connection has been made to facilitate connection to the respirometer; but other volumetric devices may be used by connecting them with suitable fittings and connections to the tapered connection 218.
- a tubular mouth ⁇ piece support portion 220 is coupled to the main body 210 of the sampler device.
- a bitewing mouthpiece 260 includes an elongated sleeve portion 262 adapted to be mounted over the tubular mouthpiece support portion 220, and a mouth engaging portion 264.
- the mouthpiece support portion 220 may also be directly connected to the sampling canister 240, as seen in Figure 3. This modification of the Figure 2 configuration facilitates single-breath "end-expired” collection of samples. It should therefore be clear that both the "mixed-expired" sampling device shown in Figure
- the inlet and outlet check valves employed are substantially identical with those used in the sampling device of Figure 1.
- the sampling canister 240 used in the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3 is preferably substantially the same as that described above for use with the embodiment of Figure 1.
- the design may be L-shaped as shown in Figure 14. This embodiment minimizes sampler void .volume and permits the sample canister to be directly in the path, of the exhaled sample so that there are not angles which produce back pressure and turbulene which under ' certain circumstances may be undesirable.
- the Y-configured sampler shown in Figure 1 is particularly constructed for continuous mixed-expired breath sampling. This * was the prototype sampler. It is the most expensive ⁇ ar ⁇ d least flexible of the illustrated embodiments.
- the inhalation canister 140 is attached to the main body of the sampler 110 via a Tri-clover clamp 134. This clamp permits the inhalation canister assembly to be removed from the main sampler body in order for the inlet check valve (180) to be replaced.
- the Y design, as configured in Figure 1 also requires that the sample canister (stack) be removed and stored immediately after sampling. This introduces the possibility of passive sampling of contaminants in the industrial environment by the charcoal cloth sorbent and may limit the reliability of the sample.
- the sampler shown in Figure 2 was created.
- the threaded inhalation can ⁇ ister support (214 of Figure 2) is welded to the main body of the T, eliminating the need for a Tri-clover clamp and substantially reducing fabrication- costs.
- a conventional stainless steel pipe "T" may be used as the main body of the sampler.
- this construction places the removable sampling cup in a canister that may be removed from the main body of the sampler and shipped off for analysis.
- This canister may also be directly attached to the respirometer via the tapered fitting (218 of Figure 2) .
- the sampler permits continuous mixed-expired breath sampling (main ⁇ stream or sidestream) just as does the sampler in Figure
- the inhalation canister support 214 cannot be separated from the main sampler body to permit loading of the inlet check valve.
- the outlet check valve 217 is in a deep, inaccessible chamber of the sample canister. Therefore, a means of loading the inlet check valve into the sampler body and the outlet check valve into the sample canister is desirable. That is the purpose of the loading tool shown in Figures 6 and 7. The use of this tool actually dictates the "T" configuration of the sampler in Figure
- the Y, the L and the T configura ⁇ tions permit mixed-expired sampling.
- the particular Y design as shown in Figure 1 permits only mixed-expired sampling because it is not shown with a removable sample canister and mouthpiece as is the T-shaped design of Figure 2.
- there is nothing intrinsic in the design of a Y-shaped sampler that would permit only mixed-expired sampling e.g. the Y-shaped sampler of Figure 1 can be easily adapted as noted above for obtaining single breath end-expired or mixed-expired samples.
- FIG 4 illustrates the structural elements contained within one embodiment of the sampling canister used in the present invention.
- PTFE gaskets 402 and 402' are positioned at the top and bottom of the stack of elements. The gaskets provide a secure seal around the canister after it has been loaded into the sampler device.
- the sampling "stack" further includes a cylin ⁇ drical torous weight or retainer 404, a first stainless steel retainer screen 406, charcoal cloth sorbent bed 408, and a second stainless steel retainer screen 410.
- the weight or retainer 404 retains sorbent bed 408 in the canister by compressing the first retainer screen 406 against bed 408.
- a second retainer screen 410 having a fine mesh is placed atop the array of openings 413 in the canister 412.
- the openings 413 preferably are provided in symmetrical array to form a grating.
- the sampler canister 412 into which the stack of elements fits is designed to accommodate a large plur- ality of wafers of charcoal cloth of which the sorbent bed 408 is comprised (one embodiment contemplates element (11) wafers), including if necessary or desired, stain-
- An anti-rotation lug 414 is provided (e.g., via spot welding) on the interior of the annular wall of the canister.
- the lug 414 engages with the cutout 405 pro ⁇ vided in the exterior annular surface of the torous weight 404 for preventing the weight from rotating the retainer screen 406 as the canister is being loaded into the sampler housing. In this way, the sorbent bed is protected against being torn and the formation of fines during loading of the canister is prevented.
- a second embodiment of the sampler canister which is illustrated in Figure 5, is contemplated for use with the embodiments of sampling devices shown in Figures 1, 2 or 3.
- the canister comprises an assembly of elements including a torous shaped weight or retainer 504, a first retainer screen 506, a first sorbent bed 508, a second retainer screen 510, a second sorbent bed 516 and a third retainer screen 518.
- This assembly of elements is disposed within a stainless steel canister cup 512 having a bottom per ⁇ forated with an array 513 of openings.
- An anti- rotational lug 514 is provided on the annular surface of the cup for engagement in the anti-rotational cutout 505 provided on the annular outer surface of the torous retainer 504.
- sampler can ⁇ ister As with the first embodiment of sampler can ⁇ ister illustrated in Figure 4 and described above, two gaskets 502, 502' are positioned atop and below the sampler canister to provide a secure seal around the canister once it has been loaded into the sampler device.
- granular sorbents may be held in the cup 512 by the first, second and third retainer screens (506, 510 and 518, respectively), or by the use of discs of very fine mesh stainless steel which are centered on, and soldered or welded to, a thin metal ring.
- the discs could be press-fit to and about the thin metal ring.
- the outer diameter of the ring would be about equal to the inner diameter of the cup.
- Sorbents may be separated into front and back sections, and may be retained in place using the discs or the screens.
- the stainless steel canister cup may be eliminated from the canister housing or support member, and alternatively perforated discs of stainless steel may be welded to the inside of the canister housing or support member to form an equivalent cup base or bottom, and thereafter the sorbent beds and screens can be assembled- to fo ⁇ _3n the sampler canister.
- the sampler devices sh .oywrn in
- Figures 1 and 2 function in the same manner ' as a respirator mask.
- the subject (user), wearing a ⁇ nose clamp and biting a bitewing mouthpiece, is instructed to breathe by mouth only.
- negative pressure created inside the main body of the sampler closes the outlet or exhalation check valve and
- exhaled volumes may be recorded using a Wright respiro- meter or other volumetric device.
- the sample volume is recorded by multiplying the duration of sampling by the sampling flowrate, and then by a correction factor that accounts for the percent of time the subject spends exhaling. Laboratory studies have shown that such a correction factor is approximately 0.65. Other techniques to esti ⁇ mate sidestream sample concentration may also be used. Tests with volunteers have shown that sidestream carbon dioxide concentrations are approximately 71% of ain- stream concentrations. Therefore, the sidestream sample concentration may be estimated by determining h ⁇ mass sampled, dividing that mass by the volume sampled (i.e. actual sidestream flowrate x time), and then dividing that concentration by 0.71 to correct approximately to mainstream concentrations.
- Either the mainstream, or the sidestream, mode of sampling permits large volumes of mixed-exhaled breath to be sampled without prior collection in and concentra ⁇ tion from a gas-sample bag. In this way sufficient quantities of the absorbed compounds are permitted to be collected for analysis.
- the check valves disclosed in each of the embodiments of the sampler device i.e., the embodiments shown in Figures 1-3, can either be removable or non ⁇ removable. Non-removable valves could be secured, as by a press-fit or by welding, to their respective supporting structures. Removable check valves might be desirable where frequent cleaning of the valves is required, or where the contemplated cleaning process for the valves would not be practically carried out with the valves secured within their respective sampling devices.
- outlet check valve has been shown in each of the embodiments to be placed in a specific loca ⁇ tion, it is possible to have the outlet check valve dis ⁇ posed in still other locations.
- Figures 6 and 7 disclose a valve mounting tool, the use of which is for loading check valve diaphragms of the kind which can be removed from the sampler devices of the present invention.
- Figure 6 illustrates the tool in a position in which a check valve has been inserted in preparation for mounting in a sampler device
- Figure 7 illustrates the tool in a position in which the check valve has been mounted.
- the tool 600 com ⁇ prises an elongated guide tube 610 having a first push rod insertion end 612 and a second check valve supporting end 614.
- the length of the guide tube 610 is signifi- cantly greater than its diameter, and supports n its interior an elongated push rod 640.
- An elongated cutout or slot 620 extends, from a location adjacent " the second end 614 of the guide tube, along a short length of the guide tube in a direction towards the first end 612 thereof.
- a narrow strap of thin gauge metal 611 (prefer ⁇ ably, stainless steel) is welded to one end of the push rod 640 which is inserted into and housed within the guide tube 610.
- one free end of the strap Prior to insertion of the rod 640 into the guide tube 610, one free end of the strap is welded to the center of the circular peripheral edge surface of the one end of the push rod to lie adjacent to the longi ⁇ tudinal extent of the push rod.
- the other end of the strap further protrudes diametrically through the cutout and is welded to the inner annular surface of an outer sleeve member 650, which is disposed over and rides along the exterior of the guide tube 610.
- the check valve to be loaded is then pushed over the guide tube 610 and is retained in any suitable manner, e.g. the check valve can be made of a resilient or elastic material which deforms or makes a friction fit with the guide tube.
- the second end 614 of guide tube 610 is inserted into the inlet or outlet check valve mounting structure (in each of the sampler embodiments disclosed above) such that the guide tube is disposed over the retainer bud.
- the pushrod 640 is then pushed back through the guide tube 610 so that the outer sleeve mem ⁇ ber 650 engages the check valve and pushes it from the guide tube onto the retainer stem.
- Removal of the check valve may be effected by using long term tweezers, or some equivalent tool.
- the exhaled volume of the mainstream sample is determined using an accurate volume measurement device, as for exam ⁇ ple a Wright respirometer. Volume measurements made are independent of the use of an inaccurate and imprecise technique e.g. collection of exhaled water on a high pressure-drop adsorbent, such as molecular sieves, where the amount of exhaled water collected must be assumed to be directly proportional to the volume exhaled.
- an inaccurate and imprecise technique e.g. collection of exhaled water on a high pressure-drop adsorbent, such as molecular sieves, where the amount of exhaled water collected must be assumed to be directly proportional to the volume exhaled.
- sampler devices permit side ⁇ stream, as well as _mainstream, sampling.
- Sidestream sampling is important, and a capability for conducting this mode of sampling has been designed into the sampler devices of the present invention, for several reasons:
- One or more sorbents may be used to trap selective analytes at a variety of flowrates.
- the sidestream port enables the sampler to be connected to an appropriate continuous monitor for breath-by-breath measurements.
- the,,side ⁇ stream port facilitates frequent and continuous analysis of breath samples which are uncontaminated by the analytes in the work environment.
- Pressure- or flow-sensors may be connected to the sidestream port to measure the number of fereaths and or the pressure/flow profile of each breath. -. ⁇ -$.
- a valve-loading tool as shown in Figure 8 similar' in function to that shown in Figures 6 and 7.
- two hollow cylinders (A) and (B) are used as guide tubes and are connected at a hinged joint (C).
- the two guide tubes (A) and (B) may be rotated relative to one another by approx ⁇ imately 120° in order to assure the proper angle of orientation of the tool relative to the retainer l?ud when the tool is inserted in the sampler body.
- the hinge (C) must be relatively "stiff” and a positive "stop” attached to the guide tube (B) (see Figure 9) , in order to prevent the two guide tubes from being bent at an angle greater than 120° or other pre ⁇ ferred angle relative to one another.
- the stop is a small metal stud welded to the body of tube (B), just above the hinge.
- the push rod (D) is a cylinder housed in a long (A) section of the guide tube.
- An outer sleeve (E) slides over the other (B) section guide tube and is welded to a short metal tang (F) .
- a slot (G) has been cut into guide tube (B) .
- the tang slips through the slot (G) inside of tube (B) .
- a relatively stiff cable (H) connects the pushrod (D) to the tang (G) . At one end, the cable is welded or press-fit to the push rod (D) . At the other end, the cable is welded or pressfit to the tang (F) .
- the tool operates in the same way as the tool described in Figures 5 and 6. That is, the outer sleeve (E) is pulled back over the guide tube by pulling the push rod (D) back to the loading position.
- the check valve is then slipped onto tube (B) .
- Section (B) of the tool is then inserted into the body of the sampler and forced up against the inner wall of the sampler body to bend the tool at the hinge (C) to approximately 120° or other preferred angle.
- the (B) section guide tube is then forced over the retainer bud.
- the pushrod (D) is pushed, forcing the cable (H) through guide tubes (A) and ' (B), causing the outer sleeve (E) to slide along outside of guide tube B, thus pushing the check valve onto the check valve support.
- inner cable guides as shown in Figure 8 may also be used.
- FIG. 10 One embodiment of a sample canister for granu ⁇ lar sorbents and for combinations of granular sorbents and charcoal cloth is shown in Figure 10.
- the sorbent beds are retained in separate canisters of the type 517 shown in Figure 5.
- this embodiment may also be used to retain several/ e.g. primary, secondary and even tertiary, beds of charcoal cloth sorbent.
- the retainer cup it is preferred that the retainer cup not be as deep as that used for charcoal cloth sampling in pre ⁇ viously discussed embodiments.
- the canisters are stacked atop one another as shown in Figure 10.
- the granular sorbents may be used with a canister such as that shown in Figure 11, this canister has also been fabricated from two stainless steel cups, an upper (A) and a lower (B) .
- the outside diameter of the upper cup is approximately equal in the inside diameter of the lower cup.
- a retainer ring (D) ' has been press fit into the upper cup as shown. The entire upper assembly is then inverted and press-fit into the lower cup. Once press-fit together the two cups, A and B, are permanently affixed to one another.
- the granular sor- bents may be added or removed from the canister from a port (E) that is drilled into the side of the assembled canister, the hole may be threaded.
- This port is plugged with a threaded metal plug or a small plug of silanized glass wool or a teflon plug once the canister has been filled with sorbent.
- Dimensions are as shown on Figure 11.
- Figure 12 another embodiment is shown in Figure 12 for another alveolar sampler which also employs granular sorbents.
- This device is primarily intended for sampling extremely low concentrations of solvents in alveolar breath. Samples of alveolar air collected with the device are primarily intended to be analyzed by thermal desorption.
- Thermal desorbers are commercially available and used extensively in environ ⁇ mental monitoring.
- stainless steel or glass tubes generally ranging in diameter from 0.25" to 0.625" are loaded with a sorbent.
- the manual breath sampling technique is used with this device.
- the subject exhales the end portion of the breath sample into the sorbent bed.
- the contaminants present in the air are trapped on the sorbent.
- the tube is capped and returned to the laboratory for analysis.
- the tube is inserted into the thermal desorber where it is heated under a stream of inert gas such as nitrogen. This flushes the trapped solvent(s) from the sorbent into a gas chromatograph where it is analyzed.
- thermal desorption significantly enhances sensitivity relative to solvent desorption and permits the analysis of much lower quantities of analyte than would be possible for analysis by solvent desorp- tion.
- the sampler of Figure 12 described below is adapted for use with a 0.625" O.D. x 0.579" I.D. x 7.0" long stainless steel thermal desorption tube, ,i.e. the type that is used with a Tekmar® thermal desorber.
- the solvents present in the breath are sampled on beds of a porous polymer such as Tenax®; however, many other sor- bents including charcoal cloth may be used for, this pur ⁇ pose.
- This device is primarily intended to be _ e.d,where the concentration of sample in alveolar breath is very low. Again, both front and back absorbing sections are used.
- the device is configured similarly to the- granular sample canister shown in Figure 10.
- the 0.62J5-" OD thermal desorber tube is welded as shown to a 0.866 ⁇ (22- mm) tapered adaptor (A) , to form the main body.-pj: the sampler.
- the tapered adaptor permits ready attachment of the sampler to a Wright respirometer.
- the sorbent is retained in primary and backup stainless steel cartridges (B and B' respectively) that are approximately 0.579" OD.
- the bottom of each cartridge is a grating to which fine mesh stainless steel screen has been spot welded on the inside.
- At the top of each cartridge are separate heavy stainless steel retainer grating (C and C for the primary and backup sections respectively) .
- Fine-mesh stainless steel screen is spot-welded to the .bottom of each grating. These gratins slip inside tihe sample cartridges and retain the sorbent bed in place. Alterna- tively, plugs of silanized glass wool may be used in place of these gratings.
- the sampler is loaded as follows: first, the backup cartridge (B') is slipped into the sampler body. The backup cartridge rests on a land (D) at the bottom of the cylinder housing. A Teflon gasket (E') is inserted above the backup cartridge. The primary so bent cartridge (B) is then inserted. Another Teflon,* gasket (E) is placed behind the front cartridge. Once inserted, the cartridges are held in place in the sampler body by a retainer tube (approximately 0.579" OD) (F) that com ⁇ presses against the upper stainless steel retainer grat ⁇ ing as shown. There are holes in the retainer tube (at I) and in the main body of the sampler (at H) .
- the holes on the retainer tube and on the main sampler body are aligned and a small threaded retainer key (H) is inserted through the hole in the outer sampler body and into the matching hole on the inner retainer tube.
- H retainer key
- the sampler is returned to the laboratory for analysis.
- the sampler is disassembled by first removing the threaded retainer key.
- the entire assembly including the retainer cylin ⁇ der, the primary backup sample cartridges and the Teflon gaskets are then removed by pushing the sample cartridges out of the sampler with a convenient tool (e.g., a solid rod) from the open end of the sampler body welded to the adaptor (A) .
- a convenient tool e.g., a solid rod
- each of the cartridges are then separately inserted into a 0.579" ID thermal desorber tube to which a land such as D of Figure 11 has been welded.
- the cartridges would be inserted such that they rested atop the land.
- Each cartridge is then separately analyzed by placing the assembly inside a thermal desorber oven unit for analysis.
- thermal desorption as the most desirable desorption procedure
- other techniques for recovering the solvent from the sorbent e.g. solvent desorption or extraction with supercritical fluids, may also be used as applicable.
- the con ⁇ tainer of Figure 13 can be made so it cannot be dis ⁇ assembled.
- the canister of Figure 15 can essentially replace canister 240 in Figure 2. It is preferred that this cannot be constructed of inert materials which do not sorb volatiles such as stainless steel, anodized aluminum, or PTFE (Teflon®) .
- the body of the sample canister does not have to be divided into threaded male and female components as does the canister of Figures 1, 2 and 3. Rather than separating the two halves of the
- a retainer shim has also been included in the sampler arrangement. For ease of viewing, this retainer shim is shown outside the body of the sampler. Alterna ⁇ tively, the shim may be permanently held in place at the outlet end of the body of the sampler using the retainer bolts shown. Its purpose is to seal the individual sample containers against one another during use.
- the sorbent containers are loosely inserted into the can ⁇ ister. The two retainer bolts on the backside of the canister body are then tightened against the shim forcing it against the sorbent containers.
- This arrangement should also facilitate the recovery of the sorbent con ⁇ tainer from the canister, as the user would not need to forcibly remove tight fitting sample containers from the canister, but simply release the retainer shim and jremove the sample containers. In addition, it allows ready use of oversized or ulti-depth sample containers.
- the cover is mounted to the sampler body with screws; a gasket is used to seal the cover with the body.
- the cover may be mounted to the sampler body by sliding it in a track mounted to the top of that body or sealed in place with a clamp.
- a reason for this arrangement is to permit ready use of granular sorbents.
- the granular sorbent is compressed in place with the weights shown to prevent channeling through the sorbent bed during sampling.
- the sorbent container may also be used with charcoal such as charcoal cloth in three-wafer sections. In addition, this permits the use of double- size sorbent containers for granular sorbents weighted as necessary with oversize weights.
- the arrangement has a further advantage of reducing waste of the charcoal cloth sorbent and of the fine mesh retainer screen. Cutting circular wafers of charcoal cloth or fine mesh screen from a rectangular roll of sheet stock does not allow all of that stock to be used whereas the use of square or rectangular wafers will.
- the container channel support of Figure 16 may be fabricated separately from stainless steel- or aluminum-channel stock.
- the front and back fine mesh stainless steel screens are approximately 40-mm square, giving approximately the same exposed surface area as that of the currently proposed 45 mm diameter wafers of charcoal cloth. These screens are inserted into the protruding arms of the channel support.
- the inner shim assembly is then forced as shown into the channel support to retain the screen in place.
- the outer channel support may be spot-welded or bolted to the inner retainer shim.
- the container channel support of Figure 17 is fabricated as described above for granular sorbents; however, it may not be as deep as the channel support since the charcoal wafers are very thin.
- the front fine- mesh stainless steel screen is inserted into the channel support.
- three 40 mm square wafers of the charcoal cloth are laid over the front fine mesh screen in the channel support, followed by a large mesh backup screen.
- a thin square inner shim assembly is then inserted over the large-mesh back screen to retain the sorbent assembly in place.
- a two-leafed spring-loaded thin inner shim assembly may be used for this purpose; the two legs are compressed then inserted and allowed to expand to seal the bed in place.
- One possible sampling configuration would involve three sample containers of the type described by Figure 17 where the sample canister would cpntai ⁇ .,front, middle and back sorbent sections of charcoal cloth e wafers or wafers of other sorbent material.
- This arrangement finds use for high-vapor pressure analytes that giigrate from one sorbent section to the next during storage because it permits the individual sorbent sections ⁇ o be separated from one another immediately after sampling.
- spacers such as tijin r 40 mm square sheets of stainless steel to be inserted ( between the three sorbent sections to minimize such migration.
- Another obvious configuration is assembled as above except that the entire sorbent bed is placed in a triple- depth channel support.
- the front fine mesh retainer screen is inserted, followed by the front char- coal cloth sorbent bed, a large mesh spacer screen, the middle charcoal cloth bed, another large-mesh spacer screen, and finally the backup charcoal cloth bed followed by the back large mesh screen, followed by the retainer clip.
- Another variation on the sampler configuration is one which permits estimation of the total amount of analyte received by the subject. This is shown by Figure 18 which lacks a filter to remove the analyte J ⁇ rom the ambient air and is specifically designed to be used in an area of contaminated air. The contaminated air is inhaled through an inhalation check valve and exhaled through a canister of sorbent.
- At least one and preferably two check valves, one on each side of the canister are added.
- the conduit leading from the mouthpiece may also optionally have an access port for sampling the air or replacing the inlet check valve(s).
- the dose a subject receives can be calculated by measuring the total volume inhaled multiplied by the analyte concentration and the percent absorbed by the subject.
- the percentage absorbed can easily be calcu ⁇ lated from the amount measured in the canister. From the does absorbed per breath one can then determine the total dose absorbed by the subject and act accordingly.
- Air concentrations of various analytes are fair measures of one's exposure to gasses and volatile chemicals but they do not indicate the actual amount received.
- Figure 19 shows a single sorbent retainer ring that may replace part 404.
- the retainer may fit into the sample canister 412. At the bottom, it engages the rear retainer screen 406 and at the top it engages the Teflon washer 402 in Figure 4. Along with the torous, the retainer ring may have a cutout to engage an anti- rotational lug in the sample canister.
- the system may use any particular sorbent or combination of sorbents.
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- Obesity (AREA)
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- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Physiology (AREA)
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- Pulmonology (AREA)
- Urology & Nephrology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
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Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US30528689A | 1989-02-02 | 1989-02-02 | |
US305286 | 1989-02-02 | ||
US46357490A | 1990-01-11 | 1990-01-11 | |
US463574 | 1990-01-11 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0456739A1 EP0456739A1 (en) | 1991-11-21 |
EP0456739A4 true EP0456739A4 (en) | 1992-07-08 |
Family
ID=26974516
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19900903084 Withdrawn EP0456739A4 (en) | 1989-02-02 | 1990-02-02 | Breath sampler |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0456739A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH04501314A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2045595A1 (en) |
IL (1) | IL93247A0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1990009572A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5465728A (en) * | 1994-01-11 | 1995-11-14 | Phillips; Michael | Breath collection |
SE9801532D0 (en) | 1998-04-30 | 1998-04-30 | Aerocrine Ab | Device for the collection of exhaled air samples |
JP5816186B2 (en) * | 2009-10-28 | 2015-11-18 | ミードウエストベコ・コーポレーション | Method and system for reducing emissions from an evaporative emissions control system |
KR101123771B1 (en) * | 2010-07-29 | 2012-03-16 | 주식회사 디에이텍 | Apparatus for measuring a blood alcohol concentration |
BE1020244A3 (en) | 2011-05-26 | 2013-07-02 | Medi Soft S A | APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS OF NITRIC OXIDE |
CN106537122A (en) * | 2014-06-27 | 2017-03-22 | 脉冲健康有限责任公司 | Method and device for carbonyl detection and quantitation |
JP6737468B2 (en) * | 2015-10-19 | 2020-08-12 | 国立大学法人徳島大学 | Pretreatment device |
CN116296629B (en) * | 2023-05-18 | 2023-07-25 | 山西恒睿融创环保科技有限公司 | Gas sampling device |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2484217A (en) * | 1949-10-11 | Gas flow apparatus | ||
US3509771A (en) * | 1964-03-04 | 1970-05-05 | Aerojet General Co | Breath sampling apparatus |
US3676073A (en) * | 1970-05-06 | 1972-07-11 | Manley J Luckey | Alveolar breath volumetric analysis for alcohol |
GB1312545A (en) * | 1971-07-14 | 1973-04-04 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co | Apparatus for measuring the content of alcohol |
US3858573A (en) * | 1973-07-09 | 1975-01-07 | Said Ryan By Said Williams | Alveolar gas trap and method of use |
US3910261A (en) * | 1974-06-11 | 1975-10-07 | Bourns Inc | End-tidal gas analysis apparatus for respirators |
US4130487A (en) * | 1976-04-05 | 1978-12-19 | Process Scientific Innovations Ltd. | Filters for liquids or gases |
US4080170A (en) * | 1976-09-20 | 1978-03-21 | Borkenstein Robert F | Alcohol retainer cartridge and method for using same |
US4346584A (en) * | 1980-10-20 | 1982-08-31 | Boehringer John R | Gas analyzer |
IT1214827B (en) * | 1984-02-29 | 1990-01-18 | Torresin Giuseppe | LOW COST RELIABLE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF THE HEART AND BREATHING FUNCTION AT REST AND UNDER EFFORT. |
US4710206A (en) * | 1986-07-07 | 1987-12-01 | Allen Ronald C | Atmosphere controlling process for food storage |
-
1990
- 1990-02-01 IL IL93247A patent/IL93247A0/en unknown
- 1990-02-02 CA CA002045595A patent/CA2045595A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-02-02 WO PCT/US1990/000584 patent/WO1990009572A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1990-02-02 EP EP19900903084 patent/EP0456739A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1990-02-02 JP JP2503277A patent/JPH04501314A/en active Pending
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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No further relevant documents have been disclosed. * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU5094090A (en) | 1990-09-05 |
JPH04501314A (en) | 1992-03-05 |
EP0456739A1 (en) | 1991-11-21 |
CA2045595A1 (en) | 1990-08-03 |
WO1990009572A1 (en) | 1990-08-23 |
AU631854B2 (en) | 1992-12-10 |
IL93247A0 (en) | 1990-11-29 |
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