Cannabis drug detection device

Abstract

A system for collecting cannabis and the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol from a sample of exhaled breath is disclosed. Single or multiple exhaled breaths are conditioned by removing contaminants, and regulating flow rate and/or pressure to collect a sample of tetrahydrocannabinol for timely local or remote analysis. The cannabis detection system comprises a containment trap for removing interfering materials from the breath of the subject and a collection component for sampling components of breath introduced into the system through the containment trap for analysis to determine a presence of THC in the breath.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A  cannabis  detection system for detecting THC in the breath of a subject, comprising:
 a containment trap for removing interfering materials from the breath of the subject; and   a collection component for sampling components of breath introduced into the system through the containment trap for analysis to determine a presence of THC in the breath.   
     
     
         2 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a non-rebreather valve that allows the subject to inhale and exhale while introducing breath into the system. 
     
     
         3 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the breath introduced into the system. 
     
     
         4 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a flow measurement device for measuring a volumetric amount of breath introduced into the system by the subject. 
     
     
         5 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a mouthpiece for facilitating introduction of breath into the system by the subject. 
     
     
         6 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a sampling port for allowing access to the components sampled by the collection component. 
     
     
         7 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the collection component further comprises a filter for trapping components of the breath sampled by the collection component. 
     
     
         8 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the containment trap comprises a flap valve covering holes to allow fluids to be removed from the breath introduced into the system. 
     
     
         9 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 3 , in which the pressure regulator comprises a balloon that inflates to regulate the pressure of breath introduced into the system. 
     
     
         10 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the components of the breath sampled by the collection component are analyzed using at least one of liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, ion resonance chamber, magnetic resonance chamber, light spectroscopy, color detection, and filter. 
     
     
         11 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an appearance change material that changes appearance when in contact with THC. 
     
     
         12 . A method of detecting  cannabis  used by analyzing breath of a subject, comprising the steps of:
 removing contaminant material from the breath;   collecting a sample of at least one component of the breath of the subject after the contaminant material has been removed therefrom; and   analyzing the sample for the presence of THC.   
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of allowing the subject to inhale and exhale while introducing breath into the system. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of regulating the pressure of the breath introduced into the system. 
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of measuring a volumetric amount of breath introduced into the system by the subject. 
     
     
         16 . A  cannabis  detection system for detecting THC in the breath of a subject, comprising:
 a mouthpiece for facilitating introduction of breath into the system by the subject;   a non-rebreather valve that allows the subject to inhale and exhale while introducing breath into the system;   a containment trap for removing interfering materials from the breath of the subject introduced into the system;   a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the breath introduced into the system   a flow measurement device for measuring a volumetric amount of breath introduced into the system by the subject;   a collection component for sampling components of breath introduced into the system through the containment trap; and   a sampling port for allowing access to the components sampled by the collection component to facilitate analysis of the components sampled by the collection component to determine a presence of THC in the breath.   
     
     
         17 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 16 , in which the collection component further comprises a filter for trapping components of the breath sampled by the collection component. 
     
     
         18 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 16 , in which the containment trap comprises a flap valve covering holes to allow fluids to be removed from the breath introduced into the system. 
     
     
         19 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 16 , in which the pressure regulator comprises a balloon that inflates to regulate the pressure of breath introduced into the system. 
     
     
         20 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 16 , in which the components of the breath sampled by the collection component are analyzed using at least one of liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, ion resonance chamber, magnetic resonance chamber, light spectroscopy, colorimetry, and filter. 
     
     
         21 . A  cannabis  detection system as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising an appearance change material that changes appearance when in contact with THC.