Analysis of gases

Abstract

Systems and techniques for the analysis of gases for medical purposes are described. In one aspect, a system includes a sample collector to collect a physical sample associated with an individual and present a gas sample for analysis, a gas analysis device to analyze the gas sample presented by the sample collector to determine a concentration of one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample, a data storage device that includes information reflecting a correlation between concentration of the one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample and a disease state, and a data analysis device to determine a medical condition of the individual based on the concentration of one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample and the information.

1 . A system comprising:
 a sample collector to collect a physical sample associated with an individual and present a gas sample for analysis;   a gas analysis device to analyze the gas sample presented by the sample collector to determine a concentration of one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample;   a data storage device that includes information reflecting a correlation between concentration of the one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample and a disease state; and   a data analysis device to identify a disease state of the individual based on the concentration of one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample and the information.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information comprises individualized information reflecting a correlation between concentration of the one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample and a medical condition of the individual. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the individualized information comprises a historical record of the concentration of the one or more non-aqueous gases. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the individualized information comprises other medical information describing the medical condition of the individual. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information comprises generalized information reflecting a correlation between concentration of the one or more non-aqueous gases in gas samples associated with a population of individuals and a medical condition of the population. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas analysis device comprises an optical spectrometer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the optical spectrometer comprises a photoacoustic spectrometer. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the photoacoustic spectrometer comprises:
 an infrared source to generate infrared electromagnetic radiation;   a measurement cell to present the gas sample for interaction with the infrared electromagnetic radiation;   a timing device to vary incidence of the infrared electromagnetic radiation on the gas sample presented by the measurement cell; and   an acoustic transducer to transduce consequences of time varying interaction between the incident infrared electromagnetic radiation and the gas sample presented by the measurement cell.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the infrared source comprises a diode. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample collector comprises a balloon concentrator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sample collector comprises an evaporator to generate the gas sample from a liquid sample associated with the individual. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second gas analysis device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second gas analysis device comprises a conductometric hydrogen sensor. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a sample collector to collect a sample associated with an individual and present a gas sample for analysis;   a photoacoustic spectrometer comprising:
 an infrared source to generate infrared electromagnetic radiation, 
 a measurement cell to present a gas sample for interaction with the infrared electromagnetic radiation, 
 a timing device to vary incidence of the infrared electromagnetic radiation on the gas sample presented by the measurement cell, and 
 an acoustic transducer to transduce consequences of time varying interaction between the incident infrared electromagnetic radiation and the gas sample presented by the measurement cell; 
   one or more data storage devices that include individualized information reflecting a correlation between concentration of the one or more non-aqueous gases in gas samples and a medical condition of the individual and generalized information reflecting a correlation between concentration of the one or more non-aqueous gases in gas samples associated with a population of individuals and a medical condition of the population; and   a data analysis device to identify a disease state of the individual based on the concentration of one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample, the individualized information, and the generalized information.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a conductometric hydrogen sensor to generate measurements of hydrogen concentration,
 wherein the data analysis device is to identify the disease state of the individual based on the concentration of one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample, the individualized information, the generalized information, and the hydrogen concentration measurements.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A system comprising:
 a gas analysis device to analyze a current gas sample originated from an animal to determine a concentration of one or more non-aqueous gases in the gas sample;   a data storage device that includes information reflecting a concentration of one or more non-aqueous gases in a previously acquired gas sample taken from the animal; and   a data analysis device to identify a disease state of the animal based on a comparison of the concentrations of the one or more non-aqueous gases in the previously acquired and current gas samples.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the gas analysis device comprises an optical spectrometer. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the optical spectrometer comprises a photoacoustic spectrometer, wherein the photoacoustic spectrometer comprises:
 an infrared source to generate infrared electromagnetic radiation;   a measurement cell to present the gas sample for interaction with the infrared electromagnetic radiation;   a timing device to vary incidence of the infrared electromagnetic radiation on the gas sample presented by the measurement cell; and   an acoustic transducer to transduce consequences of time varying interaction between the incident infrared electromagnetic radiation and the gas sample presented by the measurement cell.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled)