Breath analysis system capable of controlling flow of an exhaled breath sample into an insertable cartridge

Abstract

A breath capture device for determining the concentration of acetone in a breath sample from a user. In some embodiments, the device includes a controller programmed to use stored data to control flow of a breath sample into an analysis chamber as the user exhales into a port. In other embodiments, the device includes a switch responsive to an action by the user that is operable between a first orientation in which breath entering the port preferentially travels through a second flow path and a second orientation in which breath entering the port preferentially travels through a first flow path. In still other embodiments, the device includes a flow regulator both responsive to user action and operable from a first position in which breath entering a port preferentially travels through a second flow path to a second position in which breath entering the port preferentially travels through a first flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouthpiece device for controlling a flow of breath into an insertable cartridge, the mouthpiece device comprising:
 a cartridge insertion port configured to receive the insertable cartridge;   a breath input port configured to enable a user to exhale into the mouthpiece device;   a first flow path that, when the cartridge is inserted into the mouthpiece device, extends into the cartridge such that breath passing along the first flow path flows into the cartridge;   a second flow path that, when the cartridge is inserted into the mouthpiece device, bypasses the cartridge, allowing breath entering through the breath input port to exit from the mouthpiece device without passing into the insertable cartridge; and   a valve that controls a flow of breath between the first and second flow paths, the valve capable of being switched during exhalation of a breath sample into the mouthpiece to cause a selected portion of the breath sample to pass into the cartridge.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 1 , further comprising a movable member that is moveable by a user to control a state of the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 2 , further comprising a processor coupled to a signal generator, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the signal generator to, during an exhalation event, output a user-perceptible signal indicating to the user when to move the movable member. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is programmed to use a timer to control a timing with which the signal generator generates the signal relative to initiation of exhalation. 
     
     
         5 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is coupled to a sensor that senses a breath characteristic, and is programmed to use an output of the sensor to control a timing with which the signal generator generates the signal. 
     
     
         6 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece device comprises a processor programmed to control a state of the valve. 
     
     
         7 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is programmed to use a timer to control a timing with which the state of the valve is changed relative to initiation of exhalation. 
     
     
         8 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is coupled to a sensor that senses a breath characteristic, and is programmed to use an output of the sensor to control a timing with which the state of the valve is switched. 
     
     
         9 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge insertion port extends through a body of the mouthpiece device such that the insertable cartridge can be inserted from one side of the mouthpiece device and removed from an opposite side of the mouthpiece device. 
     
     
         10 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 1 , further comprising the insertable cartridge. 
     
     
         11 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 10 , wherein the insertable cartridge comprises a chemical interactant. 
     
     
         12 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 10 , wherein the insertable cartridge comprises a plurality of test chambers for testing a plurality of breath samples, and is movable between multiple insertion positions, each of which corresponds to a different respective test chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The mouthpiece device of  claim 1 , in combination with a base unit configured to receive and analyze the insertable cartridge after the cartridge is removed from the mouthpiece device, the base unit comprising a processor that generates a ketone measurement reflective of a breath ketone concentration. 
     
     
         14 . The mouthpiece device and base unit of  claim 13 , wherein the base unit is configured to generate the ketone measurement based on a measurement of a color change within the insertable cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The mouthpiece device and base unit of  claim 14 , wherein the base unit is configured to dispense a developer solution from a container into the disposable cartridge. 
     
     
         16 . A breath analysis system, comprising:
 a mouthpiece device having a cartridge insertion port and a breath input port, the cartridge insertion port configured to receive a cartridge, the mouthpiece device having first and second flow paths, and being configured to control a flow of breath along the first and second flow paths during user exhalation into the breath input port such that a portion of a breath sample is expelled from the mouthpiece device without passing through the cartridge and another portion of the breath sample is passed into the cartridge; and   a base unit having a cartridge insertion port configured to receive the cartridge, the base unit comprising a processor programmed to generate a breath ketone measurement based on an analysis of the cartridge.   
     
     
         17 . The breath analysis system of  claim 16 , wherein the mouthpiece device comprises a movable member that is movable by a user during exhalation to control a flow of breath along the first and second flow paths. 
     
     
         18 . The breath analysis system of  claim 16 , wherein the mouthpiece device comprises a valve that is switchable to control a flow of breath along the first and second flow paths. 
     
     
         19 . The breath analysis system of  claim 18 , wherein the valve is switchable to a position that causes breath entering the mouthpiece device to be routed into the cartridge. 
     
     
         20 . The breath analysis system of  claim 18 , wherein the mouthpiece device further comprises a processor configured to control the valve. 
     
     
         21 . The breath analysis system of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is programmed to use an output of a sensor to control a timing with which a state of the valve is changed. 
     
     
         22 . The breath analysis system of  claim 18 , wherein the valve is manually switchable by a user. 
     
     
         23 . The breath analysis system of  claim 16 , wherein the cartridge insertion port extends through a body of the mouthpiece device such that the insertable cartridge can be inserted into one side of the mouthpiece device and removed from an opposite side of the mouthpiece device. 
     
     
         24 . The breath analysis system of  claim 16 , further comprising the insertable cartridge. 
     
     
         25 . The breath analysis system of  claim 24 , wherein the insertable cartridge comprises a chemical interactant. 
     
     
         26 . The breath analysis system of  claim 24 , wherein the insertable cartridge comprises a plurality of test chambers for testing a plurality of breath samples, and is movable between multiple insertion positions, each of which corresponds to a different respective test chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The breath analysis system of  claim 16 , wherein the base unit is configured to generate the ketone measurement based on a measurement of a color change within the insertable cartridge. 
     
     
         28 . The breath analysis system of  claim 27 , wherein the base unit is configured to dispense a developer solution from a developer container into the disposable cartridge.