US 12,442,799 B1
Personalized integrated mobile exhalation decoder
Masoud Agah, Blacksburg, VA (US); Nipun Thamatam, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Mustahsin Chowdhury, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed by Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Filed on May 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/740,134.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/185,427, filed on May 7, 2021.
Int. Cl. G01N 33/497 (2006.01); G01N 30/14 (2006.01); G01N 30/30 (2006.01); G01N 30/32 (2006.01); G01N 30/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 30/14 (2013.01) [G01N 30/30 (2013.01); G01N 30/32 (2013.01); G01N 33/497 (2013.01); G01N 2030/025 (2013.01); G01N 33/4975 (2024.05)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A portable apparatus for analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath of a subject, comprising:
a microelectromechanical (MEMS) preconcentrator, comprising:
a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface defining at least one inlet and at least one outlet,
a plurality of channels in fluid communication with the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet, the plurality of channels lined with a stationary phase,
at least one heating element,
at least one temperature sensor,
a substrate having a front surface and a back surface, wherein the back surface of the substrate corresponds to the top surface of the MEMS preconcentrator,
a plurality of pillars that extend outwardly from the front surface of the substrate, the plurality of pillars defining the plurality of channels, and
a sealing structure positioned over the plurality of pillars, the sealing structure having a pillar side surface and an outer surface, the outer surface corresponding to the bottom surface of the MEMS preconcentrator, wherein the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet extend at least between the front surface and the back surface of the substrate, and wherein longitudinal axes of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet are substantially normal to the front surface of the substrate;
a preconcentrator cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet, the cartridge inlet in fluid communication with the at least one inlet and the cartridge outlet in fluid communication with the at least one outlet,
a heat sink positioned proximate the bottom surface of the MEMS preconcentrator, and
a first set of interconnects that are electrically coupled with the at least one heating element and the at least one temperature sensor;
a receptacle for removably housing the preconcentrator cartridge;
an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the cartridge inlet when the preconcentrator cartridge is in an inserted position within the receptacle;
an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the cartridge outlet when the preconcentrator cartridge is in an inserted position within the receptacle;
a second set of interconnects making electrical contact with the first set of interconnects when the preconcentrator cartridge is in an inserted position within the receptacle; and
a mouthpiece selectively in fluid communication with the cartridge inlet.