# US 10,502,723 B2 · Breath sensor apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,502,723 B2
- Document ID: US10502723B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/519,355
- Filed: 2015-10-16
- Published: 2017-08-10
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-16
- Assignees: Nitto Denko Corporation
- Applicants: Nitto Denko Corporation
- Inventors: Jie Cai; Qianxi Lai; Ekambaram Sambandan; Evan Miller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502723B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/0016: {by regulating a physical variable, e.g. pressure or temperature}
- A61B 5/0803: {Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor}
- A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/087: Measuring breath flow
- A61B 5/097: Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
- G01N 33/0047: {Organic compounds}
- G01N 33/497: of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
- G01N 33/0036: {specially adapted to detect a particular component (physical analysis of gaseous biological material G01N33/497)}
- G01N 33/4975: {other than oxygen, carbon dioxide or alcohol, e.g. organic vapours}
- 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

A breath sensor apparatus for detecting the presence of a compound in an exhaled gas sample, the apparatus comprising a chamber for retaining a gas sample, the chamber defining a gas inlet and a gas outlet, a sensor inside the chamber for analyzing the gas sample, an airflow disrupting element disposed proximate to the sensor to affect the airflow near the device, and an airflow reducing element disposed over the gas outlet to increase the retention time of the gas sample within the chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A breath testing apparatus comprising: a chamber configured to retain a gas sample, a gas inlet in fluid communication with the chamber, and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; a sensor disposed within the chamber, and in fluid communication with the gas inlet and the gas outlet; and an airflow disrupting element disposed within the chamber and sufficiently close to the sensor to change the velocity of air flowing over a surface of the sensor, wherein the airflow disrupting element occupies 95% or less of the cross-sectional area of the chamber and is in fluid communication with the gas inlet, the gas outlet, and the sensor, wherein the sensor comprises boron-doped tungsten oxide.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the boron-doped tungsten oxide comprises ε-phase WO3.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the boron-doped tungsten oxide is loaded with platinum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is sensitive to the presence of a volatile organic compound.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the volatile organic compound is acetone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrode in electrical communication with the sensor, and the apparatus is configured to detect a volatile organic compound by a change in resistance of the sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airflow disrupting element comprises a mesh screen.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the open area of the mesh screen is between 5% and 95%.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the further comprising an airflow reducing element coupled to the gas outlet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the airflow reducing element comprises a mesh screen.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the open area of the airflow reducing element mesh screen is between 15% and 50%.