Breath sample device including flow regulation device for volatile and semi-volatile sampling

A system for sampling at least semi-volatile material onto adsorbent material contained in a tube, said system comprising:

• a) a flow regulation device for sampling at least semi-volatile material onto adsorbent material contained in a tube, said flow regulation device comprising:
• a housing having a plurality of openings therein;
• a gas inlet extending into a first opening in said housing for admitting gas into said housing, said inlet being for establishing a connection with an adsorbent material-containing tube;
• an outlet for releasing gas outside said housing through a second opening in said housing, said outlet being in fluid communication with one of said gas inlet or with a secondary inlet, and being usable for establishing fluid communication with a vacuum source;
• a three-way valve comprising three branches comprising:
• a first branch in fluid communication with said inlet;
• a second branch in fluid communication with said outlet;
• and
• a third branch for drawing air through a secondary inlet from the ambient surroundings;
• a real time flow meter located in said housing, said flow meter being in fluid communication with the three-way valve;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with said flow meter, wherein when a vacuum source is connected to the outlet, the controller is configured to:
• (1) actuate the three-way valve to put the vacuum source in-line with the gas inlet;
• (2) continuously monitor the flow of gas through the inlet and calculate the time necessary to sample a pre-set volume of gas;
• and (3) after the pre-set volume of gas passes through the gas inlet, actuate the three-way valve to put the vacuum source in-line with the secondary inlet;
• b) a tube containing adsorbent material, said tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is joined to the gas inlet of said flow regulation device;
• and
• c) a vacuum source in fluid communication with said outlet.

A method of sampling volatile and semi-volatile materials onto adsorbent material, said method comprising:

• a. providing a flow regulation device comprising:
• a housing;
• a gas inlet extending into an opening in said housing for admitting gas into said housing;
• a real time flow meter located in said housing, said flow meter being in fluid communication with said inlet;
• a controller in electronic communication with said flow meter;
• an outlet for releasing gas outside said housing, said outlet being in fluid communication with said inlet;
• and
• a three-way valve comprising three branches comprising:
• a first branch in fluid communication with said inlet;
• a second branch in fluid communication with said outlet;
• and a third branch for drawing air through a secondary inlet from the ambient surroundings;
• b. providing a tube containing adsorbent material, said tube having a first end and a second end;
• c. obtaining a container containing gas with at least semi-volatile material therein;
• d. placing a vacuum source in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow regulation device;
• e. connecting the second end of the tube containing adsorbent material to the gas inlet of said flow regulation device;
• f. connecting the container containing gas to the first end of the tube containing adsorbent material;
• g. actuating the three-way valve to put the vacuum source in-line with the gas inlet;
• h. continuously monitoring, by said controller, the flow of gas through the gas inlet and with said controller calculating the time necessary to sample a pre-set volume of gas;
• and
• i. after the pre-set volume of gas passes through the inlet, actuating, with said controller, the three-way valve to put the vacuum source in-line with the secondary inlet.