Design of a Human Breath Extraction and Storage Device

The goal of this project is to design a device which will automatically extract and store the exhaled breath from a human subject. In addition to designing the device, a prototype will also be built and tested on volunteer subjects. This device will allow IONIMED Analytik GmbH to inexpensively gather samples of human breath, to store and transport the samples in an inert container and subsequently to analyze the samples using PTR-MS (Proton- Transfer-Reaction-Mass- Spectroscopy) and other gas analysis methods. The sample acceptance and storage device will be controlled using sensors to extract the relevant portion of the exhaled air, ie. that coming directly from the alveolar sacks in the lungs. It has been postulated that the large variety of organic molecules in human breath may be used to identify certain diseases or even applied to monitor the progress of drug therapies. The advantages for Ionimed Analytik of developing and employing this extraction and storage device are three fold. First, since PTR- MS requires trained personnel to run the tests, the planned extraction and storage device will allow non-specialists to gather samples for later study. Secondly, the stored samples can also be analyzed with other screening techniques that complement PTR-MS, which cannot be directly employed in a clinical setting. Finally, there exists a dramatic cost savings of employing the device instead of PTR-MS, due to the cheaper components as well as the reduced manpower needed to gather the breath samples.