# US 11,298,046 B2 · Breath sampling device and method

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- Number: US 11,298,046 B2
- Document ID: US11298046B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/493,366
- Filed: 2018-04-04
- Published: 2020-01-09
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-04-07
- Assignees: Owlstone Medical Limited
- Applicants: Owlstone Medical Limited
- Inventors: Max Allsworth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298046B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/097: Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
- A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles}
- G01N 33/497: of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
- A61B 5/11: Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)}
- A61B 5/6844: {Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)

## Abstract

Disclosed is apparatus for collecting a breath sample from a human subject, the apparatus comprising at least a mask portion which, in use, is positioned over the subject's mouth and nostrils so as to collect breath exhaled from the subject, the apparatus further comprising movement detection means for detecting movement of the mask portion, and an alarm signal generator, which alarm signal generator generates an alarm signal if the subject's head is outside a predetermined range of acceptable orientations during collection of a breath sample, but only after the subject's head has been outside the predetermined range of acceptable orientations for a defined or measurable period of time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for collecting a breath sample from a human subject, the apparatus comprising at least a mask portion which, in use, is configured to be positioned over the subjects mouth and nostrils so as to collect breath exhaled from the subject, the mask portion comprising sorbent tubes for capturing volatile substances contained in the subject's exhaled breath; the apparatus further comprising a movement detector for detecting movement of the mask portion, and an alarm signal generator, which alarm signal generator generates an alarm signal if the mask portion is outside a predetermined range of acceptable orientations during collection of the breath sample, but only after the mask portion has been outside the predetermined range of acceptable orientations for a defined or measurable period of time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement detector detects at least angular displacement of the mask portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movement detector detects angular displacement of the mask portion in at least two orthogonal axes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the movement detector detects angular displacement of the mask portion in three orthogonal axes.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises a MEMS device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises an accelerometer or a gyroscopic sensor device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement detector is mounted on a control board housed within the mask portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a digital electronic memory which stores the predetermined range of acceptable orientations for the mask portion during collection of the breath sample.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined range of acceptable orientations is stored as a range of acceptable values for orthogonal X, Y and Z axes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an audible and/or visual alarm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method of collecting a breath sample from a subject, the method comprising using a breath sampling apparatus in accordance with claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, comprising the steps of attaching the mask portion to the subject's face, and collecting breath exhaled by the subject.