Methods and devices for capturing volatile organic compounds

Abstract

The present invention includes an apparatus and method for aiding mood, emotion, or physiological state comprising: a substrate that is capable of capturing or absorbing one or more organic compounds from a subject having a first physiologic or emotional state at a first time; and an element that is capable of controlling the capture of the one or more organic compounds at a first time, or the release of the one or more organic compounds from the substrate at a second time, wherein exposure to an effective amount of the organic compounds changes the mood, emotion, or physiological state of the subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of isolating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that emanate through skin of a subject, comprising:
 placing a substrate in close proximity to the skin of the subject;   capturing VOCs emanating from the skin of the subject onto the substrate; and   isolating the captured VOCs from the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is an activated carbon strip, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, a cellulose, a polymer, a carbon impregnated fiber, a mesh, a filter, a solid-phase microextraction fiber, a dried leaf or lichen, or a cotton gauze. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is worn close to the body of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is placed in close proximity to the skin of the subject for a period of time ranging from 1 to 8 hours. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the VOCs are indicative of an emotional state, a physiological state, or a disease state. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the VOCs are sex pheromones, alarm pheromones, modulator pheromones, trail pheromones, or signature odors. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein isolating the captured VOCs comprises rinsing the substrate with a solvent to release the captured VOCs. 
     
     
         9 . A method of isolating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are captured on a substrate, comprising:
 providing a substrate having VOCs captured thereon; and   rinsing the substrate with an organic solvent to release captured VOCs, thereby isolating VOCs.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the organic solvent is dichloromethane. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate is an activated carbon strip, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, a cellulose, a polymer, a carbon impregnated fiber, a mesh, a filter, a solid-phase microextraction fiber, a dried leaf or lichen, or a cotton gauze. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the VOCs are indicative of an emotional state, a physiological state, or a disease state. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the VOCs are sex pheromones, alarm pheromones, modulator pheromones, trail pheromones, or signature odors. 
     
     
         14 . A method of diagnosing an emotional state, a physiological state, or a disease state of a subject, comprising:
 placing a substrate in close proximity to the subject, wherein the substrate is capable of capturing volatile organic compounds (VOCs);   capturing VOCs on the substrate, wherein the VOCs emanate from the subject;   rinsing the substrate with an organic solvent to release captured VOCs;   analyzing the released VOCs; and   comparing the released VOCs to VOCs known to be indicative of an emotional state, a physiological state, or a disease state, wherein the emotional state, physiological state, or disease state is determined when a released VOC generates a match with a known VOC that is identified as being indicative of the emotional state, physiological state, or disease state.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the released VOCs are analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the GC-MS generates a GC-MS spectrum that is compared with a GC-MS of a subject before a condition and is compared to a GC-MS of a subject after a condition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the GC-MS generates a GC-MS spectrum that is compared to a GC-MS from a healthy individual. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the emotional state or physiological state is fear, stress, depression, happiness, confidence, ovulation, lactation, working out, sports activity, sexual activity, a wedding, a christening, a party, a business trip, a vacation, rock climbing, sky diving, roller coaster, bungee jumping, or cliff jumping. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the disease state is diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, liver disease, Alzheimer's disease, or schizophrenia. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the substrate is an activated carbon strip, a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, a cellulose, a polymer, a carbon impregnated fiber, a mesh, a filter, a solid-phase microextraction fiber, a dried leaf or lichen, or a cotton gauze. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the VOCs emanate from breath or skin of a subject. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the substrate is placed in close proximity to skin of the subject for a period of time ranging from 1 to 8 hours. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the organic solvent is dichloromethane.