# US 2021/0239679 A1 · Sampling of breath gas > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0239679 A1 - Document ID: US20210239679A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/777,424 - Filed: 2020-01-30 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Akihiro Horibe; Kuniaki Sueoka; Toru Aihara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210239679A1 ## CPC - G01N 33/497: of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath - 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 - H01J 49/0422: {for gaseous samples (interfaces to gas chromatographs G01N30/7206)} - H01J 49/26: Mass spectrometers or separator tubes - 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) - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) ## Abstract A method for sampling breath gas, includes collecting a first breath sample in a first bag. The first breath sample is an initial part of expired gas expired after inspiration. Additionally, the method includes collecting a second breath sample in a second bag. The second breath sample is a latter part of the expired gas. The method includes subtracting first mass spectral data obtained by mass spectroscopy of the first breath sample collected in the first bag from second mass spectral data obtained by mass spectroscopy of the second breath sample collected in the second bag. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for sampling breath gas, the method comprising: collecting a first breath sample in a first bag, the first breath sample being an initial part of expired gas expired after inspiration; collecting a second breath sample in a second bag, the second breath sample being a latter part of the expired gas; and subtracting first mass spectral data from second mass spectral data, the first mass spectral data being obtained by mass spectroscopy of the first breath sample collected in the first bag, the second mass spectral data being obtained by mass spectroscopy of the second breath sample collected in the second bag. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first breath sample is a predetermined volume of the expired gas expired immediately after the inspiration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the second breath sample is another predetermined volume of the expired gas expired at a predetermined interval after expiration of the first breath sample. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first breath sample includes gas which has come out of anatomical dead space without reaching lungs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the second breath sample includes gas which has come out of the lungs after reaching the lungs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first mass spectral data and the second mass spectral data are normalized based on mass spectral data of argon. ### Claim 7 An apparatus for sampling breath gas, the apparatus comprising: a first bag; a second bag; and a controller for controlling a first breath sample to flow in the first bag and controlling a second breath sample to flow in the second bag so that first mass spectral data is subtracted from second mass spectral data, the first breath sample being an initial part of expired gas expired after inspiration, the second breath sample being a latter part of the expired gas, the first mass spectral data being obtained by mass spectroscopy of the first breath sample in the first bag, the second mass spectral data being obtained by mass spectroscopy of the second breath sample in the second bag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first breath sample is a predetermined volume of the expired gas expired immediately after the inspiration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second breath sample is another predetermined volume of the expired gas expired at a predetermined interval after expiration of the first breath sample. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first breath sample includes gas which has come out of anatomical dead space without reaching lungs. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second breath sample includes gas which has come out of the lungs after reaching the lungs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first mass spectral data and the second mass spectral data are normalized based on mass spectral data of argon. ### Claim 13 A system for analyzing breath gas, the system comprising: a bag unit which includes a first bag and a second bag, the first bag being a bag in which a first breath sample is collected, the first breath sample being an initial part of expired gas expired after inspiration, the second bag being a bag in which a second breath sample is collected, the second breath sample being a latter part of the expired gas; a mass spectrometer which obtains first mass spectral data and second mass spectral data, the first mass spectral data being obtained by mass spectroscopy of the first breath sample collected in the first bag, the second mass spectral data being obtained by mass spectroscopy of the second breath sample collected in the second bag; and a data processor which subtracts the first mass spectral data from the second mass spectral data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first breath sample is a predetermined volume of the expired gas expired immediately after the inspiration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the second breath sample is another predetermined volume of the expired gas expired at a predetermined interval after expiration of the first breath sample. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first breath sample includes gas which has come out of anatomical dead space without reaching lungs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the second breath sample includes gas which has come out of the lungs after reaching the lungs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first mass spectral data and the second mass spectral data are normalized based on mass spectral data of argon. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a transfer device for transferring the first breath sample and the second breath sample from the bag unit into the mass spectrometer, the transfer device comprising: a needle; a reservoir connected to the mass spectrometer; an upper valve provided between the needle and the reservoir; and a lower valve provided between the reservoir and the mass spectrometer, wherein the transfer device performs a method comprising: puncturing the first bag with the needle; opening and then closing the upper valve to transfer the first breath sample from the first bag into the reservoir; opening and then closing the lower valve to transfer the first breath sample from the reservoir into the mass spectrometer; puncturing the second bag with the needle; opening and then closing the upper valve to transfer the second breath sample from the second bag into the reservoir; opening and then closing the lower valve to transfer the second breath sample from the reservoir into the mass spectrometer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising a transfer device for transferring the first breath sample and the second breath sample from the bag unit into the mass spectrometer, the transfer device comprising: a first needle; a second needle; a reservoir connected to the mass spectrometer; a first upper valve provided between the first needle and the reservoir; a second upper valve provided between the second needle and the reservoir; and a lower valve provided between the reservoir and the mass spectrometer, wherein the transfer device performs a method comprising: puncturing the first bag with the first needle and the second bag with the second needle; opening and then closing the first upper valve to transfer the first breath sample from the first bag into the reservoir; opening and then closing the lower valve to transfer the first breath sample from the reservoir into the mass spectrometer; opening and then closing the second upper valve to transfer the second breath sample from the second bag into the reservoir; opening and then closing the lower valve to transfer the second breath sample from the reservoir into the mass spectrometer.