JPH10227725A - Expiration analysis device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To analyze even a low concentration component such as pethane slightly contained in the expiration with a gas detector by applying the constitution that an expiration sample condensed and arrested in a collection tube is desorbed via a cooling and heating part, and stored in a reservation part on a carrier gas. SOLUTION: An expiration A in an expiration collection bag connected to a port 5 flows in a route from ports 5 and 4 to ports 2 and 1 via a collection tube 14 on the operation of a pump 22, and is adsorbed with the collection tube 14 kept approximately at 5 deg.C at a cooling and heating part 16. Subsequently, carrier gas C is made to flow from a flow regulator 341 to a reservation part 18 via a port X, the collection tube 14 and ports 4 and 6 on the operation of a flow passage selection part 32, while keeping the collection tube 14 approximately at 200 deg.C at the cooling and heating part 16. Furthermore, an expiration sample (a) desorbed from the collection tube 14 is condensed and flows together with the carrier gas C for storage in the reservation part 18. This expiration sample (a) is drawn into a sampler body 202 through a detection tube 201. In this case, a detection agent contained in a detection tube 201 reacts with measurement gas contained in the sample (a), thereby enabling gas concentration to be detected from a discolored layer appearing in the agent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a breath analysis apparatus for analyzing components contained in breath in the medical field, health industry, drunk driving control, drug investigation, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in, for example, JP-A-6-58919, a breath analyzer for collecting and analyzing the breath of a subject has been developed. Breath analyzers are, for example, breath analysis for clinical tests in the medical field and monitoring of patient condition, measurement of work environment and indoor environment in the industrial field, drunk driving control and drug control in the police field, and firefighting field. It is used in a wide range of fields such as fire cause investigation and health care in the health industry field.

[0003] This breath analyzer uses gas chromatography. The breath analyzer is attached to the main body of the breath analyzer and has an outer peripheral portion covered with a heater. Two carrier gas flow paths respectively connected via a four-way electromagnetic valve, an air cylinder connected to the four-way electromagnetic valve, and a sample measuring section provided in a part of each carrier gas flow path. I have.

[0004] On the downstream side of each sample measuring section, a breathing introduction pump (suction pump) connected via a three-way electromagnetic valve and an exhaust pipe is provided. In addition, two separate columns and the like are connected to the three-way electromagnetic valves described above in parallel and independently of each other.

[0005] In the case of collecting and analyzing exhaled breath from a subject, when the subject exhales into the exhalation collection tube, the exhaled breath is discharged into the exhalation collection tube by the exhalation introduction pump. While being discharged to the outside of the device, a part of the breath fills each sample measuring section as a breath sample. Next, when carrier gas is sent from an air cylinder to each sample measuring section, after the breath sample filled in each measuring section is sent to each separation column, each breath sample is separated by a difference in the retention time of each component gas. Separated. Thereafter, the breath analysis is performed by a predetermined calculation process.

[0006]

For example, in the case of diabetes, arteriosclerosis, etc., the concentration of pentane in the breath is increased by lipid peroxidation, but the concentration is at most pg / mL. However, in a conventional breath analyzer, for example, since the limit of a component that can be analyzed is on the order of ng / mL, pg of pentane or the like is used.
There is a problem that low-concentration components on the order of / mL cannot be analyzed.

In order to solve this problem, the present inventor has
A new breath analyzer that concentrates and analyzes breath samples has been devised. This breath analyzer concentrates the breath in the breath collection bag as a breath sample in a collection tube (hereinafter, referred to as “concentration collection”), and subsequently performs heating and desorption on the collection tube. A breath sample is analyzed using gas chromatography (hereinafter, referred to as “concentration analysis”).

In gas chromatography, a column for separating components, a detector for detecting the separated components, a data processor for performing arithmetic processing on detected data, and the like are required. The detector is a flame ionization detector, a thermal conductivity detector, or the like. The data processor consists of a microcomputer and its peripheral devices, and performs qualitative analysis based on the volume (retention volume) of carrier gas or the time (retention time) from the injection of the breath sample until the separation zone of each component comes out. Quantitative analysis is performed from the peak area or peak height.

[0009] However, this new breath analyzer also has the following problems.

[0010] Separately from the concentration analyzer, a concentration collection device for concentrating breath in the collection tube is required. Therefore, at least two devices are required, resulting in an increase in size and cost as a whole. In addition, when the collection tube is moved, it takes time to attach and detach the collection tube.

[0011] In the concentration analysis, one collection tube is required for each sample. Therefore, a large number of collection tubes are required. In addition, since the state of filling of the adsorbent is slightly different for each collection tube, noise caused by the state of filling lowers the analysis accuracy. Further, in order to reuse the used collecting tube, a step of flowing a carrier gas while heating the collecting tube (hereinafter, referred to as “removing the collecting tube”) in order to remove the residue of the adsorbent.
It is called "conditioning." )Is required. Conditioning a large number of collection tubes takes a great deal of time, including removing and attaching the collection tubes.

[0012] The use of gas chromatography leads to an increase in size and cost of the apparatus. The reason is,
This is because columns, thermostats, detectors, data processors and the like occupy a large space and are expensive.

[0013] Since gas chromatography is used, the operation becomes longer. The reason for this is that the startup time of the thermostat and the detector is long, and that the measurement principle uses the difference in the retention time.

[0014] Using gas chromatography complicates the operation. Reason (1): It is necessary to manage the column and the detector so that the temperature of the thermostat, the flow rate of the carrier gas, and the like are constant. Reason (2): The column needs to be replaced due to deterioration, and it is necessary to select a different type for each analysis object, and to set a different temperature and carrier gas flow rate for each type. Reason (3): The detector needs to be cleaned frequently due to the measurement principle of converting an extremely small amount of component into an electric signal.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a breath analyzer which can solve various problems of a breath analyzer which performs concentration collection and concentration analysis.

[0016]

A breath analyzer according to the present invention comprises a breath collection container into which breath is blown, a collection tube for absorbing the breath as a breath sample, and cooling of the collection tube. A cooling / heating unit that adsorbs the breath sample and desorbs the breath sample by heating, a storage unit that stores the breath sample desorbed by the cooling / heating unit, and a breath sample that is stored in the storage unit. A gas detector that withdraws a certain amount and detects a component contained in the breath sample, a suction pump, and a first breath suction flow passage that sucks the breath in the breath collection container with the pump through the collection tube. A second breath suction flow path for sucking the breath sample in the storage section by the pump, a first carrier gas flow path for passing the carrier gas through the collection tube and filling the storage section, and a carrier. A second carrier gas flow path through which gas passes through the collection tube and further through the storage section; and a first and second breath suction flow path and a first and second carrier gas flow path. And a flow path switching unit that can select at least one of the above.

[1. Concentration of expiration] The first exhalation suction flow path is selected by the flow path switching unit, and the pump is operated while cooling the collection tube by the cooling / heating unit. At this time, the exhalation flows in the order of exhalation collection bag → collection tube → pump → discharge.
Thereby, the breath is adsorbed on the collection tube as a breath sample.

[2. Heat Desorption of Concentrated Exhaled Breath Sample] Subsequently, the first carrier gas channel is selected by the channel switching unit while the collection tube is heated by the cooling / heating unit. At this time, the carrier gas flows from the collection pipe 14 to the storage section. The breath sample detached from the collection tube also flows together with the carrier gas and is stored in the storage unit.

[3. Analysis by Gas Detector] Subsequently, a certain amount of the breath sample stored in the storage unit is withdrawn using the gas detector, and the components contained in the breath sample are detected. The concentration of the breath sample with respect to the carrier gas is much higher than when the non-concentrated breath component is flowed together with the carrier gas. In other words, the gas detector can sufficiently analyze even low-concentration components that are only slightly contained in breath.

[4. Evacuation of breath sample in reservoir] Subsequently, the second breath suction channel is selected by the channel switching unit, and the pump is operated. At this time, the breath sample flows from the storage section to the pump to the discharge. Thereby, the breath sample remaining in the storage section is discharged.

[5. Conditioning of Collection Tube] Subsequently, while the collection tube is heated by the cooling / heating unit, the carrier gas is flowed by selecting the second carrier gas flow channel by the flow switching unit. The carrier gas flows in the order of a collecting pipe → a storage section → discharge. Thereby, the residue of the collection tube is removed.

[6. Purging in the storage section] Subsequently, the second exhalation suction flow path is selected by the flow path switching section, and the pump is operated, thereby obtaining the aforementioned [4. Evacuation of the breath sample in the storage section]. Subsequently, the first carrier gas flow path is selected by the flow path switching unit. At this time, the carrier gas flows from the collection pipe to the storage section. By repeating these operations a plurality of times, the preparation for analyzing a new breath is completed.

It should be noted that the second expiration suction channel and the second carrier gas channel may be omitted for simplification. However, in this case, it is necessary to exhaust the breath sample in the storage unit, condition the collection tube, purge the storage unit, etc. by some means.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 4 are configuration diagrams showing a first embodiment of a breath analysis apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a state switched to the first carrier gas flow path, FIG. 3 shows a state switched to the second expiration suction flow path, and FIG. 4 shows a state switched to the second carrier gas flow path. I have. 1 to 4, a thick solid line indicates a pipe, and a broken line indicates a flow of an electric signal. Hereinafter, description will be made based on these drawings.

The breath analyzer 10 according to the present embodiment has a breath A
, A breath collection bag 12 as a breath collection container into which air is blown, a collection tube 14 for adsorbing breath A as a breath sample a (not shown), and a breath sample a being adsorbed by cooling the collection tube 14. A cooling / heating unit 16 for desorbing the breath sample a by heating, a storage unit 18 for storing the breath sample a desorbed by the cooling / heating unit 16, and a breath sample a stored in the storage unit 18 are fixed. A gas detector 20 that detects a component contained in the breath sample a by extracting the amount.
A pump 22 for suction, a first breath suction channel 24 (FIG. 1) for sucking the breath A in the breath collection bag 12 by the pump 22 through the collection tube 14, and a breath sample a in the storage unit 18. A second exhalation suction flow path 26 (FIG. 3) for sucking air by the pump 22, and a first carrier gas flow path 28 (FIG. 2) for filling the storage portion 18 with the carrier gas C passing through the collection tube 14. And a second carrier gas flow path 30 through which the carrier gas C passes through the collection tube 14 and further passes through the storage section 18.
(FIG. 4) and a flow path switching unit that allows selection of at least one of the first and second expiratory suction flow paths 24 and 26 and the first and second carrier gas flow paths 28 and 30. 32.

The breath collection bag 12 is a resin container for storing the breath A discharged by the subject, and is commercially available as trade names “Tedra bag” and “Saran bag”. The storage unit 18 is a stainless steel container having a capacity of about 100 to 500 mL, and has an inner surface subjected to an inactivation treatment such as electrolytic polishing or polytetrafluoroethylene processing. In addition, a detection tube connection portion 181 is provided on the outer periphery of the storage portion 18 so as to protrude therefrom. The detection tube connection portion 181 has a built-in valve or plug that opens only when the detection tube 201 of the gas detector 20 is inserted.

The gas detector 20 has a structure like a syringe, and includes a detection tube 201, a sampler main body 202, a handle 203 and the like. The detection tube 201 is a tube in which a detection agent that reacts with a measurement gas and develops a color is filled in a graduated hard glass tube. Both ends of the detection tube 201 are closed before use, but are opened when used. The sampler main body 202 has a cylindrical shape, and has a detection tube 201 attached to one end. Handle 20
A piston is provided at the tip of 3, and this piston is slidably inserted into the other end of the sampler main body 202. When the tip of the detection tube 201 is placed in the measurement gas and the handle 203 is pulled, the measurement gas is drawn through the detection tube 201 into the sampler main body 202. At this time, the detection tube 20
When the detection agent in 1 reacts with the measurement gas, a color change layer is formed on the detection agent. The scale of the hard glass located at the tip of the discoloration layer indicates the gas concentration. Such a gas detector 20 is sold, for example, by Gastec Co., Ltd. under the trade name of “direct reading gas detector”.

The flow switching unit 32 includes a main controller 321,
Four-way valve 322, three-way valve 323, 324, pressure sensor 32
5, 326, a flow control valve 327, an integrating flow meter 328, and the like. Four-way valve 322, three-way valve 323, ...,
The pressure sensors 325,..., The flow control valve 327, the integrating flow meter 328, the pump 22, and the heating / cooling unit 16 are electrically connected to the main controller 321. The main controller 321
Any structure may be used, such as a system including a manual switch, a system including a relay and a timer, and a system including a microcomputer and its program.

The four-way valve 322 and the three-way valves 323, 324
For example, a rotary valve which has a plurality of ports and is operated by an electric signal. Four-way valve 32
2 has ports X,... And connects ports (FIG. 1), connects port X (FIGS. 2 and 4), and connects ports (FIG. 3). Can be selected. The three-way valve 323 has a port and connects the port (FIG. 1, FIG.
3) and the case of connecting a port (FIGS. 2 and 4) can be selected. The three-way valve 324 has ports (1), (2), (3), (2), (3), and (4). You can choose.

The pressure sensors 325 and 326 use, for example, a piezoelectric effect that generates a voltage when pressure is applied to a piezoelectric element. Pressure sensor 325 detects the pressure in the pipe between collection pipe 14 and pump 22 and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the pressure value to main controller 321. Pressure sensor 326 detects the pressure in storage section 18 and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the pressure value to main controller 321.
The flow control valve 327 is, for example, a mass flow meter or the like, and keeps the flow rate of the exhaled air A passing through the collection tube 14 constant and outputs the flow value to the integrating flow meter 328. The integrating flow meter 328 integrates the flow value input from the flow control valve 327 and outputs the integrated value to the main controller 321.

A flow controller 341 is connected to the port X of the four-way valve 322 via a pipe. Flow regulator 34
1 is a gas cylinder 342 filled with a carrier gas C.
Are connected via a pressure regulating valve 343, a manual opening / closing valve 344, and the like. As the carrier gas C, an inert gas such as helium and nitrogen is generally used.

The three-way valve 323, the storage section 18, and the piping around it are housed in a thermostat (not shown) (or surrounded by a ribbon heater or the like), so that they are always heated to a constant temperature. .

FIG. 5 shows the cooling and refrigerating system in the breath analyzer 10.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a heating unit 16. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. However, in FIG. 5, the same portions as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

The collection tube 14 is filled with an adsorbent 141 for adsorbing the breath sample a. The type of the adsorbent 141 changes according to the breath component to be analyzed. Cooling / heating unit 16
Is a heat transfer material 161 for holding the collection tube 14 and a heat transfer material 16
Cooling / heating means 162 for cooling or heating the heat transfer material 1
61, a radiating fin 164 attached to the cooling and heating means 162, a thermocouple 165 embedded in the heat transfer material 161, and the collection tube 14 via the thermocouple 165 and the cooling and heating means 162. A temperature controller 166 for controlling the temperature of the tube, and a joint 167 for mounting the collection tube 14,
168. Heat transfer material 161 and radiation fin 1
Reference numeral 64 is made of aluminum. Cooling / heating means 162
Is a combination of, for example, a Peltier element for cooling and an electric heater for heating. The thermocouple 165 outputs a voltage corresponding to the temperature T of the heat transfer material 161, that is, the temperature of the collection tube 14, to the temperature controller 166. The temperature controller 166 includes, for example, a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output interface, a computer program for temperature control stored in a ROM or the like, and a DC voltage power supply. Operation of the temperature control unit 166, the temperature T is a predetermined value T _C of the collecting tube 14, which is outputted from the thermocouple 165
Thus, the power supply to the cooling and heating means 162 is controlled. An O-ring 169 is fitted into a portion of the joints 167, 168 in contact with the collection tube 14. Electrical signal indicative of the predetermined value T _C, the main control unit 321 temperature controller 166 from
Output to

Next, the operation of the breath analyzer 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The following operation is performed by the main controller 32.
The program can be automatically advanced by a sequence program stored in the main controller 1 or by manually operating the main controller 321 by an operator.

[1. Concentration of expiration)

First, the breath collection bag 12 from which the breath A has been collected is attached to the pipe connected to the port. Subsequently, the first exhalation suction flow channel 2 is
4 (FIG. 1), and the collection tube 1
The pump 22 is operated while keeping the temperature of 4 at 5 ° C., for example. At this time, the exhalation A is the exhalation collection bag 12 → port,
→ The collection pipe 14 → port, → pump 22 → flow control valve 327 → discharge. Thereby, the breath A is adsorbed on the collection tube 14 as the breath sample a. The flow rate of expiration A is kept constant (for example, 150 mL / min) by the flow control valve 322, and when the integrated flow rate of expiration A reaches a predetermined value (for example, 10 L), the pump 22 stops. Or breath collection bag 1
When 2 becomes empty, the pump 22 stops.

The pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 325 is
When the breath A is left in the breath collection bag 12, the pressure is about -30 kPa, and when the breath collection bag 12 is empty, the pressure is about -33 kPa. Therefore, based on these differences, it can be detected that the breath collection bag 12 is empty.

[2. Heat desorption of concentrated breath sample)

Then, the collection tube 1 is cooled by the cooling / heating unit 16.
The first carrier gas flow path 28 (FIG. 2) is selected by the flow path switching unit 32 while maintaining the temperature of, for example, 200 ° C.
At this time, the carrier gas C flows from the flow controller 341 → port X, → collection pipe 14 → port, → reservoir 18. The breath sample a desorbed from the collection tube 14 also flows together with the carrier gas C and is stored in the storage unit 18 maintained at about 60 ° C. Each component contained in the breath sample a is concentrated so that it can be detected by the gas detector 20.

A description will be given using a numerical example. Breath concentration is 1.
Concentrate 6ng / mL (500ppb) pentane in 10L (10000x concentration)
Then, 1.6 × 10000 = 16,000 ng of pentane is adsorbed on the adsorbent 141. Subsequently, the pentane is stored in the storage unit 18 by heating and desorbing for 5 minutes while flowing the carrier gas C at a flow rate of 20 mL / min. At this time, the pentane concentration in the storage unit 18 is 16000 ng / 100 mL (50 ppm). On the other hand, the gas detector 2 manufactured by Gastech Co., Ltd.
According to 0, the measuring range of pentane is 30-1680 ppm (catalog value). Therefore, pentane, which could not be measured before concentration, can be measured by concentration.

[3. Analysis by gas detector)

When the detection tube 201 is inserted into the detection tube connecting portion 181 of the storage portion 18 and the handle 203 is pulled, the storage portion 1
The breath sample a in the sampler 8 passes through the detection tube 201 and the sampler body 2
It is pulled out in 02. At this time, the detection agent in the detection tube 201 reacts with the measurement gas contained in the breath sample a, so that a color change layer is generated in the detection agent. The gas concentration can be known from the scale of the hard glass located at the tip of the discoloration layer.

[4. Exhaust of the breath sample in the storage section)

Subsequently, the second exhalation suction channel 26 (FIG. 3) is selected by the channel switching unit 32, and the pump 22 is operated. At this time, the breath sample a is stored in the storage unit 18 → port, → port, → pump 22 → flow control valve 327.
→ Drain and flow. When the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 326 falls below a certain value, the pump 22 stops. Thereby, the breath sample a remaining in the storage unit 18 is discharged.

[5. Conditioning of collection tube)

Then, the collection tube 1 is cooled by the cooling / heating unit 16.
The carrier gas C is caused to flow by selecting the second carrier gas flow path 30 (FIG. 4) by the flow path switching unit 32 while maintaining the temperature at 250 ° C., for example. The carrier gas C is supplied to the flow controller 3
41 → port X, → collection tube 14 → port, → reservoir 18 → port, → discharge. Thereby, the residue of the collection tube 14 is removed.

[6. Purging in the storage section)

Subsequently, the second exhalation suction flow path 26 (FIG. 3) is selected by the flow path switching section 32 and the pump 22 is operated, whereby [4. Evacuation of the breath sample in the storage section]. Subsequently, the flow path switching unit 32
Selects the first carrier gas flow path 28 (FIG. 2). At this time, the carrier gas C is supplied to the flow controller 341 →
Port X, → collection tube 14 → port, → storage unit 18
And flows. By repeating these operations multiple times,
The preparation for analysis of a new exhalation A is completed.

FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of the operation procedure of the conventional breath analyzer and the breath analyzer of the present invention.
[1] shows the case of the conventional breath analyzer, and FIG.
Is a case of the breath analyzer of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made based on this drawing.

A conventional breath analyzer comprises a concentration collecting device, a concentration analyzer (including a data processor), and a conditioning device. The breath analyzer of the present invention simplifies these three types of devices and realizes them as a single unit.

According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate 12 minutes of desorption of the collection tube as compared with the prior art, so that the time can be reduced by 12 minutes and the analysis can be performed by 1 minute
It can be shortened by 59min because it ends with a total of 71min.

FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of the configuration of a conventional breath analyzer and the breath analyzer of the present invention.
7 shows the case of the conventional breath analyzer, and FIG. 7 [2] shows the case of the breath analyzer of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made based on this drawing.

In the present invention, since the conditioning of the collection tube can be easily performed for each use, the analysis for a large number of persons can be performed with one collection tube. In addition, since the concentration collection device, concentration analysis device, data processing device and conditioning device are simplified and realized as a single unit, columns, detectors, data processors, etc. can be eliminated,
Since the pipes, solenoid valves, pumps, sensors, and the like used in these devices can be shared, the number of parts is greatly reduced as a whole.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a part of a second embodiment of the breath analyzer according to the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made based on this drawing.

The breath analyzer according to the present embodiment uses a breath collection device storage container 60 that can be washed with each breath collection, as the breath collection container into which the breath A is blown. This is the same configuration as the first embodiment. Therefore, illustration and description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment are omitted.

In the breath collection device storage container 60, a breath discharge pump 62, a breath discharge solenoid valve 64, an analysis solenoid valve 66, a breath introduction solenoid valve 68, a purge gas introduction solenoid valve 70, Pressure sensor 72, exhalation discharge sensor 74,
An exhalation discharge pipe 76, a purge gas cylinder 78, a sub-controller 80, a heater (not shown), and the like are additionally provided, and constitute an exhalation collection device 82 as a whole. The sub controller 80 is, for example, a microcomputer, and information obtained from the pressure sensor 72 and the exhalation discharge sensor 74 and the main controller 321.
, The operation of the solenoid valves 64-70 and the pump 62 is controlled in accordance with a built-in sequence program.

Next, the operation of the breath collection device 82 will be described.

[1. Cleaning process)

Before newly collecting the breath A, the breath collection device storage container 60 is washed. First, the solenoid valves 66, 68,
By closing 70, opening the electromagnetic valve 64, and turning on the pump 62, the residual expiration of the expiration collection device storage container 60 is exhausted. The pressure value from the pressure sensor 72 is negative pressure (66.5 kPa)
When it reaches the level, the solenoid valve 64 is closed and the pump 62 is turned off. Subsequently, the expiration sampling device storage container 60 is heated to about 60 ° C. and the solenoid valve 70 is opened, thereby purging the inside of the expiration sampling device storage container 60 with a purge gas. When the pressure value from the pressure sensor 72 becomes approximately positive pressure (100.1 kPa), the solenoid valve 70 is closed. Subsequently, the solenoid valve 64 is opened,
By turning on the pump 62, the residual purge gas in the breath collection device storage container 60 is exhausted. The above operation of introducing the purge gas into the breath collection device storage container 60 and repeating the operation of exhausting the purge gas is repeated several times to complete preparation for breath collection. In this state, the pressure value of the breath collection device storage container 60 is about negative pressure (66.5 kPa), and the temperature is about 40 ° C.

[2. Breath collection process)

When the subject M inhales the expiration A from the exhalation discharge pipe 76, the exhalation discharge sensor 74 detects this, and the solenoid valve 68 is opened. Thereby, the exhalation A is stored in the exhalation sampling device storage container 60. If the volume of exhaled air A exceeds 500 mL, multiple insufflations are required. In this case, when the subject M breathes, the exhalation discharge sensor 74 detects this, and the electromagnetic valve 6
8 is closed. Thereby, the breath collection device storage container 60
This prevents leakage of exhaled air A and mixing of outside air.

[3. Analysis process)

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the same procedure is performed if the breath collection bag 14 is replaced with a breath collection device storage container 60. According to the present embodiment, the breath collection device 60 can be used any number of times, unlike the disposable breath collection bag 14, because it is possible to wash each time the breath is collected.

The above-described first and second embodiments are, of course, merely examples, and do not limit the present invention. For example, the four-way valve 322, the three-way valves 323, 324
Instead of a rotary valve, the flow path may be switched by a simple electromagnetic valve switching. Four-way valve 322,
The connection between each port of the three-way valves 323 and 324 and each pipe is
Any combination may be used as long as the above-described functions of the first and second exhalation suction channels 24 and 26 and the first and second carrier gas channels 28 and 30 can be realized.

[0066]

According to the breath analyzer of the present invention, the breath sample concentrated and collected in the collection tube is desorbed by the cooling / heating unit, and the breath sample is stored in the storage unit by the carrier gas. Since the gas is stored, even a low-concentration component such as pentane which is slightly contained in the breath can be sufficiently analyzed by the gas detector. Moreover, an exhalation suction flow path for pumping the exhaled air in the exhalation collection container through the collection tube, a carrier gas flow path for passing the carrier gas through the collection tube and filling the storage section, With the provision of a flow path switching unit that allows at least one to be selected from the above, concentration collection and concentration analysis can be performed by one unit. Therefore, downsizing and cost reduction of the whole apparatus can be achieved, and all steps of concentration collection and concentration analysis can be automatically executed only by switching each flow path, so that operability and convenience are improved. Can be improved.

In addition to the above, the following effects are obtained.

(A) Since the concentration collecting step and the concentration analyzing step are performed by the same apparatus, it is not necessary to attach and detach the collecting tube, so that the operation time can be shortened.

(B) Conditioning of the collection tube can be easily performed for each use, so that analysis can be performed by a single collection tube for a large number of people. Therefore, the cost required for the collection tube can be reduced, and noise due to the filling state of the adsorbent does not occur, so that the analysis accuracy can be improved.

(C) By using a gas detector instead of gas chromatography, a column, a thermostat, a detector, a data processor and the like can be eliminated. Therefore, size reduction and price reduction of the device can be achieved. In addition, portability can be improved by downsizing the device. Further, since the gas detector is easy to handle and the detection tube is disposable, the work can be shortened and the work can be simplified, so that the workability can be improved.

According to the breath analyzer of the present invention, further, a breath suction flow path for sucking the breath sample in the storage section by the pump, and a carrier for passing the carrier gas through the collection tube and further passing through the storage section. The provision of the gas flow path makes it possible to easily and automatically perform evacuation of the breath sample in the storage unit, conditioning of the collection tube, and purging of the storage unit, thereby further improving operability and convenience. Can be improved.

According to the breath analyzer of the third aspect, the breath collection container can be used any number of times by using the breath collection device storage container which can be washed for each breath collection. Therefore, the workability can be improved because the work of attaching and detaching the breath collection container, which is difficult to automate, can be eliminated,
The cost required for the breath collection container can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a breath analysis apparatus according to the present invention, showing a state in which the apparatus is switched to a first breath suction flow path.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the breath analyzer according to the present invention, showing a state in which the apparatus is switched to a first carrier gas flow path.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the breath analysis apparatus according to the present invention, and shows a state in which the breath analyzer is switched to a second breath suction channel.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the breath analyzer according to the present invention, and shows a state in which a second carrier gas flow path is switched.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a cooling / heating unit in the breath analyzer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a chart showing an example of a work procedure between the conventional breath analyzer and the breath analyzer of the present invention. FIG. 6 [1] shows the case of the conventional breath analyzer, and FIG. This is the case of the breath analyzer of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a chart showing an example of the configuration of a conventional breath analyzer and the breath analyzer of the present invention. FIG. 7 [1] shows the case of a conventional breath analyzer, and FIG. It is the case of the breath analyzer of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a part of a second embodiment of the breath analyzer according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Breath analyzer 12 Breath collection bag (breath collection container) 14 Collection pipe 16 Cooling / heating part 20 Gas detector 22 Pump 24 First breath suction flow path 26 Second breath suction flow path 28 First carrier gas Flow path 30 Second carrier gas flow path 32 Flow path switching unit 60 Breath collection device storage container (breath collection container) A Breath a Breath sample C Carrier gas

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A breath collection container into which expiration is blown, a collection tube for adsorbing expiration as a breath sample, cooling the collection tube to adsorb the breath sample, and removing the breath sample by heating. A cooling / heating unit to be separated, a storage unit to store the breath sample desorbed by the cooling / heating unit, and a certain amount of the breath sample stored in the storage unit to be withdrawn to detect components contained in the breath sample. A gas detector, an aspiration pump, an exhalation suction flow path through which the exhalation in the exhalation collection container is aspirated by the pump through the collection tube, and a carrier gas that passes through the collection tube and the storage section. A breath analyzer comprising: a carrier gas flow path that fills the air; and a flow path switching unit that allows selection of at least one of the breath suction flow path and the carrier gas flow path. 2. A breath collection container into which breath is blown, a collection tube for absorbing breath as a breath sample, and cooling of the collection tube to absorb the breath sample and heating to remove the breath sample. A cooling / heating unit to be separated, a storage unit to store the breath sample desorbed by the cooling / heating unit, and a certain amount of the breath sample stored in the storage unit to be withdrawn to detect components contained in the breath sample. A gas detector, a pump for suction, a first breath suction flow path for sucking the breath in the breath collection container with the pump through the collection tube, and a breath sample in the reservoir with the pump. A second exhalation suction flow path, a first carrier gas flow path through which the carrier gas passes through the collection tube to fill the storage section, and a carrier gas flow through the collection tube to further store the carrier gas. Department And a second carrier gas flow path through which the first and second exhalation suction flow paths and the first and second carrier gas flow paths can be selected. A breath analyzer comprising: 3. The breath analysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the breath collection container is a breath collection device storage container that can be washed with each breath collection.