# US 10,502,665 B2 · Aerosol collection system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,665 B2 - Document ID: US10502665B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/490,591 - Filed: 2017-04-18 - Published: 2017-10-19 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-18 - Assignees: University of Maryland, College Park; Aerosol Dynamics Inc. - Applicants: University of Maryland, College Park; Aerosol Dynamics, Inc. - Inventors: Donald K. Milton; Somayeh Youssefi; Susanne V. Hering; Gregory S. Lewis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502665B2 ## CPC - G01N 1/2208: {with impactors} - A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)} - A61B 5/097: Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices - G01N 1/42: Low-temperature sample treatment, e.g. cryofixation - G01N 33/497: of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath - G01N 33/4975: {other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours} - G01N 2001/2223: {aerosol sampling devices} - G01N 2001/2244: {Exhaled gas, e.g. alcohol detecting} - G01N 2001/2282: {with cooling means} - G01N 2015/0026: {in gas, e.g. fog} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present invention relates to systems and methods for collecting and analyzing bioaerosols, including exhaled breath aerosol from a subject. The collection system comprises an inlet portion configured to receive a gaseous fluid containing water vapor and aerosol particles. A primary passage for gaseous fluid flow is in fluid communication with the inlet portion and configured to channel the gaseous fluid flow therethrough. An outlet portion is in fluid communication with the primary passage. A sample collection region is provided, which is configured to receive from the outlet portion aerosol particles from the gaseous fluid, wherein the aerosol particles are impacted onto a layer of ice. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol collection system comprising: an inlet portion configured to receive a gaseous fluid containing water vapor and aerosol particles; a primary passage in fluid communication with said inlet portion and configured to channel a flow of said gaseous fluid therethrough; at least one laminar flow chilled passage in fluid communication with said primary passage, and configured to cool said gaseous fluid flow to a temperature sufficient to condense at least about 90% of said water vapor onto an interior surface of said laminar flow chilled passage; an outlet portion in fluid communication with said primary passage; and a flow-dividing baffle operably associated with said laminar flow chilled passage and configured to duct condensed water vapor on said interior surface of said laminar flow chilled passage away from said primary passage and said outlet portion; a sample collection region configured to receive from said outlet portion said aerosol particles, said sample collection region comprising a cooler device capable of maintaining a layer of ice at a desired temperature, wherein said aerosol particles are impacted onto said layer of ice in said sample collection region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a remaining portion of said water vapor condenses onto said aerosol particles and thereby increases aerodynamic diameter of said aerosol particles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a size selection impactor in fluid communication with said primary passage and upstream from said laminar flow chilled passage, said size selection impactor configured to separate and remove said aerosol particles having a diameter greater than a preselected size away from said primary passage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, further comprising a secondary passage in fluid communication with said first size selection impactor, wherein said aerosol particles having a diameter greater than said preselected size flow into said secondary passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, further comprising at least a second laminar flow chilled passage operably associated with said secondary passage and configured to cool said gaseous fluid flow in said secondary passage to a temperature sufficient to condense a portion of said water vapor onto an interior surface of said second laminar flow chilled passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further comprising a second flow-dividing baffle operably associated with said second laminar flow chilled passage and configured to duct condensed water vapor on said interior surface of said second laminar flow chilled passage away from said secondary passage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further comprising at least one concentrator virtual impactor in fluid communication with said secondary passage and downstream from said second laminar flow chilled passage, said concentrator virtual impactor configured to divide said gaseous fluid flow into a major flow and a minor flow, wherein said aerosol particles are concentrated in said minor flow and a portion of said water vapor is directed into said major flow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein said aerosol particles are concentrated at least about 10-fold in said minor flow. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein said secondary passage is in fluid communication with a second outlet portion, said second outlet portion downstream from said second laminar flow chilled passage, further comprising a second sample collection region configured to receive from said second outlet portion said aerosol particles, wherein said aerosol particles are impacted onto a layer of ice in said second sample collection region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one concentrator virtual impactor in fluid communication with said primary passage and downstream from said laminar flow chilled passage, said concentrator virtual impactor configured to divide said gaseous fluid flow into a major flow and a minor flow, wherein said aerosol particles are concentrated in said minor flow and a portion of said water vapor is directed into said major flow. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, which comprises a plurality of said concentrator virtual impactors in series and in fluid communication with said primary passage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein said aerosol particles are concentrated at least about 10-fold in said minor flow. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a heating device upstream from said laminar flow chilled passage and configured to maintain said gaseous fluid flow in said primary passage at a temperature of about 37° C. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said outlet portion comprises an acceleration nozzle configured to increase velocity of said aerosol particles for impaction onto said layer of ice. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a droplet counting system operably associated with said primary passage and configured to determine number and size distribution of said aerosol particles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said layer of ice has a volume of between about 2.5 μL to about 1500 μL. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said cooler device is configured to maintain said layer of ice at a temperature of between about −1° C. and about −20° C. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure equalization device upstream from said laminar flow chilled passage, said pressure equalization device comprising a filter system and a supply channel in fluid communication with said primary passage and configured to supply a filtered, pressure-equalized air stream into said primary passage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein said pressure equalization device comprises a 1-way valve configured to maintain a unidirectional flow of said pressure-equalized air stream. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising a 3-way valve in fluid communication with said primary passage and upstream from said pressure equalization device, said 3-way valve configured to channel extraneous material in said gaseous fluid flow out of said primary passage. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising a humidifier operably associated with said primary passage. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic flow sensor device downstream from said inlet portion and configured to measure and monitor velocity and volume of said gaseous fluid flow in said primary passage. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a supply channel in fluid communication with said inlet portion and configured to inject humid, filtered air into said inlet portion, wherein said supply channel comprises a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, further comprising a 1-way valve in fluid communication with said supply channel and configured to maintain a unidirectional flow of said gaseous fluid flow therethrough. ### Claim 25 A method of collecting and analyzing aerosol particles from a gaseous fluid, comprising the steps of: providing a primary passage comprising an inlet portion and an outlet portion, and a laminar flow chilled passage in fluid communication with said primary passage and intermediate said inlet portion and said outlet portion; directing a flow of gaseous fluid from said inlet portion and through said laminar flow chilled passage toward said outlet portion, said flow of gaseous fluid comprising water vapor and aerosol particles; cooling said gaseous fluid flow in said laminar flow chilled passage to a temperature sufficient to condense at least about 90% of said water vapor onto an interior surface of said laminar flow chilled passage; ducting said condensed water vapor on said interior surface of said laminar flow chilled passage away from said primary passage and said outlet portion; and directing said aerosol particles from said laminar flow chilled passage through said outlet portion; and impacting said aerosol particles from said outlet portion onto a layer of ice, thereby forming a frozen sample comprising said aerosol particles. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, comprising the further steps of: melting said frozen sample; and detecting one or more biomarkers in said melted sample. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein said biomarkers are associated with a respiratory disease, disorder or infection. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, comprising the further step of directing said aerosol particles and said remaining portion of said water vapor from said laminar flow chilled passage through a concentrator virtual impactor prior to said step of directing said aerosol particles through said outlet portion, wherein a minor flow from said concentrator virtual impactor containing said aerosol particles is directed through said outlet portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein said layer of ice is maintained at a temperature of between about −1° C. and about −20° C. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein said frozen sample has a volume of between about 2.5 μL to about 1500 μL.