EP2227142A2 - Exhaled breath condenser - Google Patents

Exhaled breath condenser

Info

Publication number
EP2227142A2
EP2227142A2 EP08851238A EP08851238A EP2227142A2 EP 2227142 A2 EP2227142 A2 EP 2227142A2 EP 08851238 A EP08851238 A EP 08851238A EP 08851238 A EP08851238 A EP 08851238A EP 2227142 A2 EP2227142 A2 EP 2227142A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
collection receptacle
exhaled breath
outer cylinder
condensate
cylinder
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Withdrawn
Application number
EP08851238A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Miert Erik Van
Kristof Schoonjans
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Philip Morris Products SA filed Critical Philip Morris Products SA
Priority to EP08851238A priority Critical patent/EP2227142A2/en
Publication of EP2227142A2 publication Critical patent/EP2227142A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • A61B5/097—Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate
  • Exhaled breath condensate ⁇ from a human or animal subject can provide important information regarding the state of health and metabolic efficiency of the lungs, respiratory tracts and other organs of the subject
  • the condensate may also be analysed to determine exhaled foreign substances
  • WO 95/31721 describes a process and device for collecting exhaled breath condensate
  • the exhaled breath passes into a collecting tube which is cooled to a temperature below 0 0 C
  • the liquid and soluble components condense out and freeze on the inner wall of the sample collecting tube
  • a collection receptacle for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate
  • the receptacle comprising an outer cylinder having a sealed end, an inner cylinder having an inlet at a first end for receiving exhaled breath and an outlet at a second end, the inner cylinder being housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, the outlet of the inner cylinder being located toward the sealed end of the outer cylinder, wherein, in use, exhaled breath passes through the inlet, along the inner cylinder, through the outlet and along the outer cylinder, and condensate forms at least on the inside of the outer cylinder
  • the inner and outer cylinders are adapted to be used concomitantly in a centrifuge to accumulate the condensate in the bottom of the outer cylinder
  • Cent ⁇ fuging the condensate deposited on the outer and inner cylinder concomitantly that is, at the same time or concurrently, advantageously increases the amount of exhaled breath condensate that may be collected by the receptacle and thus increases the effectiveness of the method and the apparatus used, particularly for small exhaled breath volumes
  • the structure of the collection receptacle, with inner and outer cylinders provides a large surface area on which exhaled breath condensate may form Because the inner cylinder is housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, a surface area longer than the length of the collection receptacle is provided
  • the condensate may additionally form on the inside of the inner cylinder
  • the condensate may additionally form on the outside of the inner cylinder
  • the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are of circular cross section
  • the cross section of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder may be any shape and need not be the same shape
  • the receptacle comprises a vent in the outer cylinder
  • the vent is located at the non-sealed end of the outer cylinder The vent provides an escape route for displaced air and any non-condensed breath
  • the collection receptacle further comprises an inlet pipe for connection to the inlet of the inner cylinder
  • the inlet pipe may be easily connected to other apparatus, including, but not limited to, a human or animal subject mouthpiece
  • the inner cylinder is removable from the outer cylinder This allows easy access to the sealed end of the outer cylinder
  • the inner cylinder is removed from the outer cylinder after cent ⁇ fugation to easily access the accumulated condensate in the outer cylinder This may also be useful for cleaning
  • the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are glass Glass is advantageous because it conveys heat well Therefore, the collection receptacle can be easily cooled to improve collection of the condensate In addition, glass can be easily cleaned Alternatively, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder could be aluminium or copper
  • the outer cylinder has the dimensions of a standard centrifuge tube This advantageously simplifies the centrifugation of the condensate
  • a method for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate comprising the steps of providing a collection receptacle comprising an outer cylinder having a sealed end and an inner cylinder having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, the inner cylinder being housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, with the outlet of the inner cylinder located toward the sealed end of the outer cylinder, passing exhaled breath through the inlet, along the inner cylinder, through the outlet and along the outer cylinder, and collecting condensate formed at least on the inside of the outer cylinder, wherein the step of collecting the condensate comprises centrifuging the collection receptacle
  • apparatus for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate
  • the apparatus comprising a collection receptacle for receiving exhaled breath, the collection receptacle comprising at least one outer wall, a cooling block for at least partially receiving the collection receptacle such that, when the collection receptacle is at least partially received within the cooling block, an outer surface of the at least one outer wall is in contact with the cooling block and an inner surface of the at least one outer wall is in contact with the exhaled breath Direct contact between the cooling block and the wall in contact with the exhaled breath provides efficient heat transfer, thus accelerating condensation
  • the apparatus further comprises a Peltier element having a cold face and a hot face, and a heat sink, wherein the cold face of the Peltier element is in contact with the cooling block, and the hot face of the Peltier element is in contact with the heat sink
  • the cooling block is aluminium
  • the cooling block could be stainless steel, brass, copper, nickel, titanium or any combination thereof
  • the collection receptacle comprises a receptacle according to the first aspect of the invention
  • a method for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate comprising the steps of providing a collection receptacle accommodated at least partially within a cooling block, such that an outer surface of a wall of the collection receptacle is in contact with the cooling block and an inner surface of the wall of the collection receptacle is in contact with the exhaled breath, passing exhaled breath into the collection receptacle, and collecting condensate formed at least on the inner surface of the wall of the collection receptacle
  • Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an assembled breath condenser according to one embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 2a is a vertical sectional view of the cooling block of Figure 1
  • Figure 2b is a plan view of the cooling block of Figure 1
  • Figure 3a is a side view of the Peltier element of Figure 1
  • Figure 3b is a plan view of the Peltier element of Figure 1
  • Figure 4a shows an embodiment of the collection receptacle, disassembled into its three component parts
  • Figure 4b shows the collection receptacle of Figure 4a, assembled for use
  • Figure 5 is a side view of one exemplary assembly of the breath condenser and collection receptacle set up for use with a subject mouthpiece
  • Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of one exemplary embodiment of apparatus in the form of breath condenser 100
  • the breath condenser 100 comprises housing 101 including front panel 103, cooling unit 105, temperature controller 107, power input 109 and power supply 1 1 1 1
  • the front panel 103 includes power switch 103a, timer 103b and temperature control input 103c
  • the power switch 103a is connected to the power supply 1 1 1 for switching the power on and off
  • the timer with alarm allows good control of the sample collection duration.
  • the temperature controller is connected to and controlled via the temperature control input 103c
  • the cooling unit 105 comprises cooling block 105a, Peltier element 105b, heat sink 105c and ventilator 105d, plus insulation 105e
  • the cooling block 105a will be described in further detail with reference to Figures 2a and 2b
  • the Peltier element 105b will be described in further detail with reference to Figures 3a and 3b
  • the power supply 1 11 is connected to the cooling unit 105 and the temperature controller 107
  • the temperature controller 107 is also connected to the cooling unit 105
  • the breath condenser 100 is arranged to work with a collection receptacle (not shown in Figure 1 )
  • the collection receptacle will be described in detail with reference to Figures 4a and 4b
  • the cooling unit 105 comprises cooling block 105a, Peltier element
  • FIGs 2a and 2b show the cooling block 105a in more detail
  • Figure 2a is a vertical sectional view of the cooling block
  • Figure 2b is a plan view of the cooling block
  • the cooling block 105a comprises a body 201 having two openings 203 and 205
  • the opening 203 is designed to receive a collection receptacle in which exhaled breath condensate may be collected
  • a collection receptacle is described below with reference to Figures 4a and 4b
  • the opening 205 is designed to receive a temperature probe
  • the cooling block is formed from aluminium
  • any suitable material with good heat transfer characteristics could be used including, but not limited to, stainless steel, brass, copper, nickel and titanium
  • Figures 3a and 3b show the Peltier element 105b in more detail
  • Figure 3a is a side view of the Peltier element
  • Figure 3b is a plan view of the Peltier element
  • a Peltier element is a solid state heat pump that utilises the Peltier effect During operation, DC current flows through the Peltier element, which causes heat to be transferred from one side of the element to the other Therefore, a temperature differential is set up between the two faces of the Peltier element
  • the Peltier element 105b in this embodiment comprises a cool face 301 and a hot face 303
  • the terms “cool” and “hot” are relative terms and refer to the relative temperatures of the two faces 301 , 303
  • the Peltier element is electrically connected to the temperature controller for current, and hence temperature, adjustment
  • the heat sink and ventilator are standard components, used to extract heat from the hot face of the Peltier element This is done by circulating ambient air through the heat sink
  • the ventilator is exposed outside the housing (see Figures 1 and 5)
  • the ventilator draws in ambient air
  • the heat sink is also exposed outside the housing (see Figure 5)
  • the exposed portion of the heat sink allows heat to escape into the surroundings
  • the cooling block 105a is surrounded by insulation 105e This is to increase the efficiency of the cooling unit
  • cooling unit 105 is connected to temperature controller 107
  • the temperature controller 107 is controlled via temperature control input 103c on front panel 103
  • the temperature controller may be a standard component
  • the temperature controller is a Series 6100 temperature controller, designed by West Temperature
  • the power supply 11 1 which is connected to both the cooling unit 105 and the temperature controller 107, may be a standard component
  • the power supply is a TOL 150-12 Series power supply, designed by Traco Power
  • a collection receptacle is positioned in the opening 203 of cooling block 105a
  • the outer surface of the collection receptacle is in contact with the inner surface of opening 203
  • the inlet of the collection receptacle is connected to a source of exhaled breath, for example a mouthpiece
  • a temperature probe is positioned in the opening 205
  • the diameter of opening 205 substantially matches the diameter of the temperature probe, so that a close fit is formed between the temperature probe and the opening
  • the temperature probe is connected to the temperature controller
  • the entire cooling block 105a is insulated by the insulation 105e
  • the cool face of the Peltier element 105b is in contact with the cooling block 105a
  • the hot face of the Peltier element 105b is in contact with the heat sink 105c
  • the heat sink 105c is connected to the ventilator 105d
  • the Peltier element is electrically connected to the temperature controller
  • the temperature controller controls the flow of current through the Peltier element and the operation of the heat sink and ventilator, to control the temperature differential between the two faces 301 , 303 of the Peltier element
  • the temperature is monitored via the temperature probe
  • a user can set the required temperature of the cooling block, using temperature control panel 103c It has been found that a temperature differential of up to 65 0 C can be established between the two faces of the Peltier element
  • the collection receptacle is cooled because it is in contact with the cooling block
  • the cooling block is, in turn, in contact with the cold face of the Peltier element
  • Figures 4a and 4b show one exemplary embodiment of a collection receptacle for use with the breath condenser shown in Figure 1
  • the collection receptacle is arranged to receive exhaled breath and collect exhaled breath condensate
  • the collection receptacle comprises three component parts
  • Figure 4a shows the three component parts of the collection receptacle separately
  • Figure 4b shows the three component parts of the collection receptacle, assembled ready for use
  • the collection receptacle comprises an outer cylinder in the form of collector tube 401 , an inner cylinder in the form of guide tube 403 and an inlet pipe in the form of inlet tube 405
  • all three component parts are made from glass This is advantageous because glass will cool quickly when it comes into contact with the low- temperature cooling block In addition, glass is easily cleaned
  • any suitable material could be used, including, but not limited to aluminium and copper
  • the inlet tube 405 is used to connect the guide tube 403 to other apparatus including, but not limited to, a mouthpiece for a human or animal subject
  • a close fit is formed between the outer surface of the inlet tube 405 and the inner surface of the guide tube 403
  • the guide tube 403 has two functions Firstly, it acts to guide the exhaled breath received via the inlet tube 405, to the bottom of the collector tube 401 Secondly, it provides additional surface area on which condensate can collect Thus, although condensate will primarily collect on the inner surface of the collector tube 401 , condensate will also collect on one or both of the inner surface and outer surface of the guide tube 403 In this embodiment, when the guide tube is placed within the collector tube, as shown in Figure 4b, a close fit is formed between the outer surface of the guide tube and the inner surface of the collector tube
  • the collector tube 401 is used to collect the exhaled breath condensate
  • the collector tube 401 includes a vent in the form of outlets 401a These serve as outlets for any non-condensed breath and provide an escape route for displaced air
  • the vent could be formed in a variety of ways
  • the guide tube and collector tube may cooperate to provide a vent at their connection point, rather than cooperating to form a close fit
  • the entire collection receptacle (collector tube, guide tube and inlet tube) is positioned within the cooling block
  • the opening 203 in the cooling block is therefore of an appropriate size and shape for the collection receptacle It is important that the collection receptacle fits closely within the opening so that the collector tube outer surface is in contact with the opening inner surface
  • the inlet tube 405 is connected to a source of exhaled breath, for example a patient mouthpiece
  • the collection receptacle, in particular the collector tube cools because it is in contact with the cooling block Exhaled breath follows
  • Figure 5 is a side view of one exemplary assembly of the breath condenser and collection receptacle set up for use with a human subject mouthpiece
  • the collection receptacle 400 is positioned in the cooling block (not shown), within the breath condenser 100
  • Teflon tubing 501 is connected to the inlet tube of the collection receptacle 400 At the other end of the Teflon tubing 501 , a mouthpiece 503 is connected The mouthpiece 503 and Teflon tubing 501 are secured to the condenser with clamp 505 Thus, the subject can exhale into the mouthpiece and the exhaled breath passes through the Teflon tubing into the collection receptacle for collection of exhaled breath condensate
  • the breath condenser and collection receptacle may also be set up to collect animal subject exhaled breath In that case, the principle of collection is the same, but the attachment to the inlet tube may be different

Abstract

There is provided a breath condenser and a collection receptacle for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate. The collection receptacle comprises an outer cylinder having a sealed end and an inner cylinder having an inlet at a first end for receiving exhaled breath and an outlet at a second end. The inner cylinder is housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, the outlet of the inner cylinder being located toward the sealed end of the outer cylinder. In use, exhaled breath passes through the inlet, along the inner cylinder, through the outlet and along the outer cylinder, and condensate forms at least on the inside of the outer cylinder. The inner and outer cylinders are adapted to be used concomitantly in a centrifuge to accumulate the condensate in the bottom of the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder may be removable from the outer cylinder. The breath condenser comprises a cooling block for at least partially receiving the collection receptacle. When the collection receptacle is at least partially received within the cooling block, an outer surface of an outer wall of the receptacle is in contact with the cooling block and an inner surface of the outer wall is in contact with the exhaled breath.

Description

Exhaled Breath Condenser
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate Exhaled breath condensate ^ from a human or animal subject can provide important information regarding the state of health and metabolic efficiency of the lungs, respiratory tracts and other organs of the subject The condensate may also be analysed to determine exhaled foreign substances
WO 95/31721 describes a process and device for collecting exhaled breath condensate The exhaled breath passes into a collecting tube which is cooled to a temperature below 00C The liquid and soluble components condense out and freeze on the inner wall of the sample collecting tube
A need exists for an improved apparatus that allows for quick and easy collection of exhaled breath condensate A need also exists for an improved apparatus which is robust, easily transportable and which can be easily cleaned
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a collection receptacle for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate, the receptacle comprising an outer cylinder having a sealed end, an inner cylinder having an inlet at a first end for receiving exhaled breath and an outlet at a second end, the inner cylinder being housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, the outlet of the inner cylinder being located toward the sealed end of the outer cylinder, wherein, in use, exhaled breath passes through the inlet, along the inner cylinder, through the outlet and along the outer cylinder, and condensate forms at least on the inside of the outer cylinder According to the invention, the inner and outer cylinders are adapted to be used concomitantly in a centrifuge to accumulate the condensate in the bottom of the outer cylinder
Centπfuging the condensate deposited on the outer and inner cylinder concomitantly that is, at the same time or concurrently, advantageously increases the amount of exhaled breath condensate that may be collected by the receptacle and thus increases the effectiveness of the method and the apparatus used, particularly for small exhaled breath volumes The structure of the collection receptacle, with inner and outer cylinders, provides a large surface area on which exhaled breath condensate may form Because the inner cylinder is housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, a surface area longer than the length of the collection receptacle is provided
The condensate may additionally form on the inside of the inner cylinder The condensate may additionally form on the outside of the inner cylinder
Preferably, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are of circular cross section However, this need not be the case The cross section of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder may be any shape and need not be the same shape
Preferably, the receptacle comprises a vent in the outer cylinder Preferably, the vent is located at the non-sealed end of the outer cylinder The vent provides an escape route for displaced air and any non-condensed breath
Preferably, the collection receptacle further comprises an inlet pipe for connection to the inlet of the inner cylinder The inlet pipe may be easily connected to other apparatus, including, but not limited to, a human or animal subject mouthpiece
Preferably, the inner cylinder is removable from the outer cylinder This allows easy access to the sealed end of the outer cylinder Preferably, the inner cylinder is removed from the outer cylinder after centπfugation to easily access the accumulated condensate in the outer cylinder This may also be useful for cleaning
Preferably, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are glass Glass is advantageous because it conveys heat well Therefore, the collection receptacle can be easily cooled to improve collection of the condensate In addition, glass can be easily cleaned Alternatively, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder could be aluminium or copper
Preferably, the outer cylinder has the dimensions of a standard centrifuge tube This advantageously simplifies the centrifugation of the condensate
According to a second aspect of the invention there is also provided a method for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate, the method comprising the steps of providing a collection receptacle comprising an outer cylinder having a sealed end and an inner cylinder having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, the inner cylinder being housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, with the outlet of the inner cylinder located toward the sealed end of the outer cylinder, passing exhaled breath through the inlet, along the inner cylinder, through the outlet and along the outer cylinder, and collecting condensate formed at least on the inside of the outer cylinder, wherein the step of collecting the condensate comprises centrifuging the collection receptacle
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is also provided apparatus for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate, the apparatus comprising a collection receptacle for receiving exhaled breath, the collection receptacle comprising at least one outer wall, a cooling block for at least partially receiving the collection receptacle such that, when the collection receptacle is at least partially received within the cooling block, an outer surface of the at least one outer wall is in contact with the cooling block and an inner surface of the at least one outer wall is in contact with the exhaled breath Direct contact between the cooling block and the wall in contact with the exhaled breath provides efficient heat transfer, thus accelerating condensation Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a Peltier element having a cold face and a hot face, and a heat sink, wherein the cold face of the Peltier element is in contact with the cooling block, and the hot face of the Peltier element is in contact with the heat sink
Preferably, the cooling block is aluminium Alternatively, the cooling block could be stainless steel, brass, copper, nickel, titanium or any combination thereof
In one preferred embodiment, the collection receptacle comprises a receptacle according to the first aspect of the invention
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate, the method comprising the steps of providing a collection receptacle accommodated at least partially within a cooling block, such that an outer surface of a wall of the collection receptacle is in contact with the cooling block and an inner surface of the wall of the collection receptacle is in contact with the exhaled breath, passing exhaled breath into the collection receptacle, and collecting condensate formed at least on the inner surface of the wall of the collection receptacle Features described in relation to one aspect of the invention may also be applicable to another aspect of the invention
The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an assembled breath condenser according to one embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2a is a vertical sectional view of the cooling block of Figure 1 , Figure 2b is a plan view of the cooling block of Figure 1 , Figure 3a is a side view of the Peltier element of Figure 1 , Figure 3b is a plan view of the Peltier element of Figure 1 , Figure 4a shows an embodiment of the collection receptacle, disassembled into its three component parts,
Figure 4b shows the collection receptacle of Figure 4a, assembled for use, and Figure 5 is a side view of one exemplary assembly of the breath condenser and collection receptacle set up for use with a subject mouthpiece Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of one exemplary embodiment of apparatus in the form of breath condenser 100 In this embodiment, the breath condenser 100 comprises housing 101 including front panel 103, cooling unit 105, temperature controller 107, power input 109 and power supply 1 1 1 The front panel 103 includes power switch 103a, timer 103b and temperature control input 103c The power switch 103a is connected to the power supply 1 1 1 for switching the power on and off The timer with alarm allows good control of the sample collection duration. The temperature controller is connected to and controlled via the temperature control input 103c In this embodiment, the cooling unit 105 comprises cooling block 105a, Peltier element 105b, heat sink 105c and ventilator 105d, plus insulation 105e The cooling block 105a will be described in further detail with reference to Figures 2a and 2b The Peltier element 105b will be described in further detail with reference to Figures 3a and 3b The power supply 1 11 is connected to the cooling unit 105 and the temperature controller 107 The temperature controller 107 is also connected to the cooling unit 105
The breath condenser 100 is arranged to work with a collection receptacle (not shown in Figure 1 ) The collection receptacle will be described in detail with reference to Figures 4a and 4b As discussed above, the cooling unit 105 comprises cooling block 105a, Peltier element
105b, heat sink 105c, ventilator 105d and insulation 105e
Figures 2a and 2b show the cooling block 105a in more detail Figure 2a is a vertical sectional view of the cooling block Figure 2b is a plan view of the cooling block The cooling block 105a comprises a body 201 having two openings 203 and 205 The opening 203 is designed to receive a collection receptacle in which exhaled breath condensate may be collected One preferred embodiment of such a collection receptacle is described below with reference to Figures 4a and 4b The opening 205 is designed to receive a temperature probe In this exemplary embodiment, the cooling block is formed from aluminium However, any suitable material with good heat transfer characteristics could be used including, but not limited to, stainless steel, brass, copper, nickel and titanium
Figures 3a and 3b show the Peltier element 105b in more detail Figure 3a is a side view of the Peltier element Figure 3b is a plan view of the Peltier element As is well known in the art, a Peltier element is a solid state heat pump that utilises the Peltier effect During operation, DC current flows through the Peltier element, which causes heat to be transferred from one side of the element to the other Therefore, a temperature differential is set up between the two faces of the Peltier element Referring to Figure 3a, the Peltier element 105b in this embodiment comprises a cool face 301 and a hot face 303 As will be appreciated, the terms "cool" and "hot" are relative terms and refer to the relative temperatures of the two faces 301 , 303 The Peltier element is electrically connected to the temperature controller for current, and hence temperature, adjustment
The heat sink and ventilator are standard components, used to extract heat from the hot face of the Peltier element This is done by circulating ambient air through the heat sink The ventilator is exposed outside the housing (see Figures 1 and 5) The ventilator draws in ambient air The heat sink is also exposed outside the housing (see Figure 5) The exposed portion of the heat sink allows heat to escape into the surroundings
As shown in Figure 1 , the cooling block 105a is surrounded by insulation 105e This is to increase the efficiency of the cooling unit
As shown in Figure 1 , cooling unit 105 is connected to temperature controller 107 The temperature controller 107 is controlled via temperature control input 103c on front panel 103
The temperature controller may be a standard component In this exemplary embodiment, the temperature controller is a Series 6100 temperature controller, designed by West Temperature
Control Solutions
The power supply 11 1 , which is connected to both the cooling unit 105 and the temperature controller 107, may be a standard component In this exemplary embodiment, the power supply is a TOL 150-12 Series power supply, designed by Traco Power During operation, a collection receptacle is positioned in the opening 203 of cooling block 105a The outer surface of the collection receptacle is in contact with the inner surface of opening 203 The inlet of the collection receptacle is connected to a source of exhaled breath, for example a mouthpiece A temperature probe is positioned in the opening 205 Preferably, the diameter of opening 205 substantially matches the diameter of the temperature probe, so that a close fit is formed between the temperature probe and the opening The temperature probe is connected to the temperature controller The entire cooling block 105a is insulated by the insulation 105e
The cool face of the Peltier element 105b is in contact with the cooling block 105a The hot face of the Peltier element 105b is in contact with the heat sink 105c The heat sink 105c is connected to the ventilator 105d The Peltier element is electrically connected to the temperature controller
The temperature controller controls the flow of current through the Peltier element and the operation of the heat sink and ventilator, to control the temperature differential between the two faces 301 , 303 of the Peltier element The temperature is monitored via the temperature probe A user can set the required temperature of the cooling block, using temperature control panel 103c It has been found that a temperature differential of up to 650C can be established between the two faces of the Peltier element
Thus, the collection receptacle is cooled because it is in contact with the cooling block
The cooling block is, in turn, in contact with the cold face of the Peltier element When exhaled breath is captured in the collection receptacle, condensate forms on the inner, cold surface of the collection receptacle The exhaled breath condensate may then be analysed
Figures 4a and 4b show one exemplary embodiment of a collection receptacle for use with the breath condenser shown in Figure 1 The collection receptacle is arranged to receive exhaled breath and collect exhaled breath condensate In this embodiment, the collection receptacle comprises three component parts Figure 4a shows the three component parts of the collection receptacle separately Figure 4b shows the three component parts of the collection receptacle, assembled ready for use
The collection receptacle comprises an outer cylinder in the form of collector tube 401 , an inner cylinder in the form of guide tube 403 and an inlet pipe in the form of inlet tube 405 In this exemplary embodiment, all three component parts are made from glass This is advantageous because glass will cool quickly when it comes into contact with the low- temperature cooling block In addition, glass is easily cleaned However, any suitable material could be used, including, but not limited to aluminium and copper
The inlet tube 405 is used to connect the guide tube 403 to other apparatus including, but not limited to, a mouthpiece for a human or animal subject In this embodiment, when the inlet tube is placed within the guide tube, as shown in Figure 4b, a close fit is formed between the outer surface of the inlet tube 405 and the inner surface of the guide tube 403
The guide tube 403 has two functions Firstly, it acts to guide the exhaled breath received via the inlet tube 405, to the bottom of the collector tube 401 Secondly, it provides additional surface area on which condensate can collect Thus, although condensate will primarily collect on the inner surface of the collector tube 401 , condensate will also collect on one or both of the inner surface and outer surface of the guide tube 403 In this embodiment, when the guide tube is placed within the collector tube, as shown in Figure 4b, a close fit is formed between the outer surface of the guide tube and the inner surface of the collector tube
The collector tube 401 is used to collect the exhaled breath condensate In this embodiment, the collector tube 401 includes a vent in the form of outlets 401a These serve as outlets for any non-condensed breath and provide an escape route for displaced air However, the vent could be formed in a variety of ways For example, the guide tube and collector tube may cooperate to provide a vent at their connection point, rather than cooperating to form a close fit During use, the entire collection receptacle (collector tube, guide tube and inlet tube) is positioned within the cooling block The opening 203 in the cooling block (see Figures 2a and 2b) is therefore of an appropriate size and shape for the collection receptacle It is important that the collection receptacle fits closely within the opening so that the collector tube outer surface is in contact with the opening inner surface The inlet tube 405 is connected to a source of exhaled breath, for example a patient mouthpiece The collection receptacle, in particular the collector tube, cools because it is in contact with the cooling block Exhaled breath follows the path shown by the arrows in Figure 4b It passes through the inlet tube, down through the guide tube and up through the collector tube The exhaled breath condenses on the inner surface of the collector tube The exhaled breath may also condense on one or both of the inner surface and the outer surface of the guide tube Any non-condensed breath exits through outlets 401a The structure of the collection receptacle, as shown in Figures 4a and 4b, is advantageous for a number of reasons Firstly, a large surface area is provided on which the condensate can form Secondly, once the inlet tube has been removed, the collector tube and guide tube together can be used in a centrifuge After centrifuging, the condensate accumulates in the bottom of the collector tube Once the guide tube has been removed, the condensate can easily be collected with, for example, a pipette
In Figures 4a and 4b, the three components of the collection receptacle are separable However, this is not necessarily the case and one or more of the components may be joined together
The cooperation between the collection receptacle and the cooling block is advantageous since the direct contact between the cooling block and the collection receptacle provides an efficient heat transfer This is assisted if the collection receptacle is formed of glass This is also assisted if the cooling block is formed of aluminium
Figure 5 is a side view of one exemplary assembly of the breath condenser and collection receptacle set up for use with a human subject mouthpiece In Figure 5, the collection receptacle 400 is positioned in the cooling block (not shown), within the breath condenser 100
Teflon tubing 501 is connected to the inlet tube of the collection receptacle 400 At the other end of the Teflon tubing 501 , a mouthpiece 503 is connected The mouthpiece 503 and Teflon tubing 501 are secured to the condenser with clamp 505 Thus, the subject can exhale into the mouthpiece and the exhaled breath passes through the Teflon tubing into the collection receptacle for collection of exhaled breath condensate
The breath condenser and collection receptacle may also be set up to collect animal subject exhaled breath In that case, the principle of collection is the same, but the attachment to the inlet tube may be different

Claims

1 A collection receptacle for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate, the receptacle comprising an outer cylinder having a sealed end, an inner cylinder having an inlet at a first end for receiving exhaled breath and an outlet at a second end, the inner cylinder being housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, the outlet of the inner cylinder being located toward the sealed end of the outer cylinder, wherein, in use, exhaled breath passes through the inlet, along the inner cylinder, through the outlet and along the outer cylinder, and condensate forms at least on the inside of the outer cylinder, and wherein the inner and outer cylinder are adapted to be used concomitantly in a centrifuge to accumulate the condensate in the bottom of the outer cylinder
2 A collection receptacle according to claim 1 , wherein the inner cylinder is removable from the outer cylinder
3 A collection receptacle according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an inlet pipe for connection to the inlet of the inner cylinder
4 A collection receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are glass
5 A collection receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer cylinder has dimensions of a standard centrifuge tube
6 A method for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate, the method comprising the steps of providing a collection receptacle comprising an outer cylinder having a sealed end and an inner cylinder having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, the inner cylinder being housed at least partially within the outer cylinder, with the outlet of the inner cylinder located toward the sealed end of the outer cylinder, passing exhaled breath through the inlet, along the inner cylinder, through the outlet and along the outer cylinder, and collecting condensate formed at least on the inside of the outer cylinder, wherein the step of collecting the condensate comprises centrifuging the collection receptacle
7 Apparatus for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate, the apparatus comprising a collection receptacle according to any of claims 1 to 5 for receiving exhaled breath, the collection receptacle comprising at least one outer wall, a cooling block for at least partially receiving the collection receptacle such that, when the collection receptacle is at least partially received within the cooling block, an outer surface of the at least one outer wall is in contact with the cooling block and an inner surface of the at least one outer wall is in contact with the exhaled breath
8 Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a Peltier element having a cold face and a hot face, and a heat sink, wherein the cold face of the Peltier element is in contact with the cooling block, and the hot face of the Peltier element is in contact with the heat sink
9 A method for receiving exhaled breath and collecting exhaled breath condensate, the method comprising the steps of providing a collection receptacle accommodated at least partially within a cooling block, such that an outer surface of a wall of the collection receptacle is in contact with the cooling block and an inner surface of the wall of the collection receptacle is in contact with the exhaled breath, passing exhaled breath into the collection receptacle, and collecting condensate formed at least on the inner surface of the wall of the collection receptacle, wherein the step of collecting the condensate comprises centrifuging the collection receptacle
EP08851238A 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 Exhaled breath condenser Withdrawn EP2227142A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08851238A EP2227142A2 (en) 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 Exhaled breath condenser

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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EP07254527 2007-11-21
PCT/IB2008/003528 WO2009066176A2 (en) 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 Exhaled breath condenser
EP08851238A EP2227142A2 (en) 2007-11-21 2008-11-21 Exhaled breath condenser

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EP2227142A2 true EP2227142A2 (en) 2010-09-15

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103168233B (en) * 2010-12-01 2014-12-31 浙江大学 Integrated analysis device for simultaneously detecting exhaled breath condensates (EBCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human exhaled breath
GB2548122B (en) * 2016-03-08 2018-09-12 Univ Of Northumbria At Newcastle Exhaled breath condensate collection device and a kit of parts therefor
GB201818584D0 (en) 2018-11-14 2018-12-26 Exhalation Tech Limited A device to measure breath humidity

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JPH04256828A (en) * 1991-02-12 1992-09-11 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd Sampling device
JPH07103974A (en) * 1993-09-30 1995-04-21 Suzuki Motor Corp Device for concentrating and sampling component of exhalation
SE9400253L (en) * 1994-01-27 1995-07-28 Siemens Elema Ab Device intended to reduce the relative humidity of a flowing gas
JPH0972830A (en) * 1995-09-07 1997-03-18 Suzuki Motor Corp Exhalation concentrating and capturing apparatus
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WO2009066176A3 (en) 2009-12-10
WO2009066176A2 (en) 2009-05-28
JP2011504235A (en) 2011-02-03
JP5372949B2 (en) 2013-12-18

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