# US 12,213,799 B2 · Sample collector for receiving a breath gas sample and gas sample testing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,799 B2 - Document ID: US12213799B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/363,611 - Filed: 2021-06-30 - Published: 2022-01-06 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-06 - Assignees: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA - Applicants: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA - Inventors: Jens Rekow; Sebastian Schröter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213799B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/097: Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices - A61B 5/4845: {Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products (A61B5/4848 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)} - A61B 10/0096: {Casings for storing test samples (A61B10/0038, A61B10/0045 take precedence; preservation of living parts of the human or animal body A01N1/10; containers for retaining a material to be analysed B01L3/50; containers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/16; swab-sampler being part of enzymology or microbiology container C12M1/30)} - G01N 33/4972: {Determining alcohol content (for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06)} - A61B 2010/0087: {Breath samples} - A61B 2560/04: Constructional details of apparatus - A61B 2560/0425: Ergonomically shaped housings (A61B2560/0418 takes precedence) - A61B 2560/0443: Modular apparatus - A61B 2560/0462: Apparatus with built-in sensors - 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 A sample collector is provided for receiving a breath gas sample and a gas sample testing device is provided with such a sample collector. The sample collector is configured for receiving from a person a breath gas sample to be investigated. The sample collector includes an inflow part (2) with an inflow opening (IO) and an outflow part (13) with an outflow opening (OO). The sample collector provides a flow duct guiding a gas sample from the inflow opening (IO) to the outflow opening (OO). The inflow part (2) is rigidly connected with the outflow part (13). The inflow part (2) and the outflow part (13) together form a housing which gas-tightly surrounds the flow duct. The inflow part (2) tapers in a direction towards the outflow opening (OO). The outflow part (13) tapers in a direction towards the inflow opening (IO). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sample collector for receiving a breath gas sample to be investigated, the sample collector comprising: an inflow part with an inflow opening; and an outflow part with an outflow opening, the outflow part comprising a separator element and a supporting element; a collector casing, wherein: the sample collector provides a flow duct guiding a gas sample from the inflow opening to the outflow opening; the inflow part and the outflow part together form a housing which gas-tightly surrounds the flow duct; the collector casing surrounds the housing such that a dead space is provided between the collector casing and the housing; the separator element bridges a distance between the housing and the collector casing and forms one wall of the dead space; the supporting element engages an inner side of the collector casing; the inflow part tapers in a direction towards the outflow opening; and the outflow part tapers in a direction towards the inflow opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A sample collector according to claim 1, wherein: one end of the inflow part is inserted in a direction of the outflow opening to form the housing; a maximal dimension of the inflow opening is at least 4 cm; and a maximal dimension of the outflow opening is at least at least 4 cm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A sample collector according to claim 1, wherein: the inflow part comprises a first inflow part end portion and a second inflow part end portion; the first inflow part end portion defines the inflow opening; the inflow part tapers from the first inflow part end portion to the second inflow part end portion in a direction towards the outflow opening; the second inflow part end portion is in contact with the outflow part; the second inflow part end portion comprises an inflow part transition aperture and tapers in a direction from the inflow opening towards the inflow part transition aperture; and the outflow part comprises an outflow part transition aperture and tapers in a direction from the outflow opening towards the outflow part transition aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A sample collector according to claim 3, wherein: a maximal dimension of the inflow part transition aperture is no more than 3 cm; and a maximal dimension of the outflow part transition aperture is no more than 3 cm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A sample collector according to claim 3, wherein: the outflow part comprises an outflow part protrusion surrounding the outflow part transition aperture; an engaging section of the second inflow part end portion engages into the outflow part transition aperture; and the outflow part protrusion encircles the engaging section of the second inflow part end portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A sample collector according to claim 3, wherein: the second inflow part end portion comprises an inflow part protrusion surrounding the inflow part transition aperture; an engaging section of the outflow part engages into the inflow part transition aperture; and the inflow part protrusion encircles the engaging section of the outflow part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A sample collector according to claim 1, further comprising a collector outlet with at least one outlet aperture, wherein the collector outlet guides a gas sample, which sample has passed the flow duct, towards the at least one outlet aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A sample collector according to claim 1, further comprising a collector outlet with at least one outlet aperture, wherein: the collector outlet guides a gas sample, which sample has passed the flow duct, towards the at least one outlet aperture; and the collector casing mechanically connected with the collector outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A sample collector according to claim 1, wherein the collector casing comprises a collector casing inner surface defining a collector casing interior space of the collector casing, the outflow part comprising an outflow part outer surface, the outflow part outer surface being in contact with a portion of the collector casing inner surface, at least a portion of the outflow part being arranged in the collector casing interior space, the outflow part further comprising an outflow part space, the outflow part space not being in fluid communication with the dead space. ### Claim 10 A gas sample testing device comprising: a sample collector for receiving a breath gas sample to be investigated, the sample collector comprising: an inflow part with an inflow opening; and an outflow part with an outflow opening, the outflow part comprising a separator element and a supporting element; a collector casing, wherein the sample collector provides a flow duct guiding a gas sample from the inflow opening to the outflow opening, the inflow part and the outflow part together form a housing which gas-tightly surrounds the flow duct, wherein the collector casing surrounds the housing such that a dead space is provided between the collector casing and the housing, the separator element bridges a distance between the housing and the collector casing and forms one wall of the dead space, the supporting element engages an inner side of the collector casing, the inflow part tapers in a direction towards the outflow opening, and the outflow part tapers in a direction towards the inflow opening; and a base body, the base body comprising a gas sensor, wherein: the sample collector is mechanically connected with the base body; the outflow opening of the sample collector points towards the base body; the sample collector is configured to guide a received gas sample towards the base body; and the gas sensor is configured to detect at least one substance in a received gas sample. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A gas sample testing device according to claim 10, wherein: the sample collector further comprises a collector outlet with at least one first outlet aperture and at least one second outlet aperture; the collector outlet is configured to guide a gas sample that has passed the flow duct towards the at least one first outlet aperture and the at least one second outlet aperture; and the collector outlet is configured to distribute the gas sample to the first and second outlet apertures; the at least one first outlet aperture is configured to lead a gas sample to the gas sensor; and the at least one second outlet aperture is configured to lead a gas sample into an environment of the gas sample testing device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A gas sample testing device according to claim 10, wherein: the sample collector is configured to receive a gas breath sample from a person to be tested on alcohol or a further mind-altering substance; and the gas sensor is configured to detect alcohol or the further mind-altering substance in a received breath sample. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A gas sample testing device according to claim 10, wherein: the inflow part comprises a first inflow part end portion and a second inflow part end portion; the first inflow part end portion defines the inflow opening; the inflow part tapers from the first inflow part end portion to the second inflow part end portion in a direction towards the outflow opening; the second inflow part end portion is in contact with the outflow part; the second inflow part end portion comprises an inflow part transition aperture and tapers in a direction from the inflow opening towards the inflow part transition aperture; and the outflow part comprises an outflow part transition aperture and tapers in a direction from the outflow opening towards the outflow part transition aperture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A gas sample testing device according to claim 13, wherein: the outflow part comprises an outflow part protrusion surrounding the outflow part transition aperture; an engaging section of the second inflow part end portion engages into the outflow part transition aperture; and the outflow part protrusion encircles the engaging section of the second inflow part end portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A gas sample testing device according to claim 13, wherein: the second inflow part end portion comprises an inflow part protrusion surrounding the inflow part transition aperture; an engaging section of the outflow part engages into the inflow part transition aperture; and the inflow part protrusion encircles the engaging section of the outflow part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A gas sample testing device according to claim 10, wherein: the sample collector comprises a collector outlet with at least one outlet aperture; the collector outlet guides a gas sample, which sample has passed the flow duct, towards the at least one outlet aperture. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) A gas sample testing device according to claim 10, wherein: the sample collector comprises a collector outlet with at least one outlet aperture; the collector outlet guides a gas sample, which sample has passed the flow duct, towards the at least one outlet aperture; and the collector casing is mechanically connected with the collector outlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) A gas sample testing device according to claim 10, wherein the collector casing comprises a collector casing inner surface defining a collector casing interior space of the collector casing, the outflow part comprising an outflow part outer surface, the outflow part outer surface being in contact with a portion of the collector casing inner surface, at least a portion of the outflow part being arranged in the collector casing interior space, the outflow part further comprising an outflow part space, the outflow part space not being in fluid communication with the dead space.