Breath sampling mask and system

Abstract

Embodiments herein include a breath sampling mask, systems, and related methods. In an embodiment, a breath sensing system is included. The breath sensing system can include a breath sampling mask. The breath sampling mask can include a mask housing configured to cover a portion of the face of a patient. The mask housing can define a breath receiving chamber. The breath sampling mask can include a chemical sensor element in fluid communication with the breath sampling mask, where the chemical sensor element can include a plurality of discrete binding detectors. The chemical sensor element can interface with a breath sample collected through the breath sampling mask. Other embodiments are also included herein.

1 . A breath sensing system comprising:
 a breath sampling mask comprising
 a mask housing configured to cover a portion of the face of a patient, the mask housing defining a breath receiving chamber; and 
 a volatile organic compound filter; 
   a chemical sensor element for sensing volatile organic compounds in fluid communication with the breath sampling mask, the chemical sensor element comprising a plurality of discrete binding detectors, wherein the chemical sensor element interfaces with a breath sample collected through the breath sampling mask.   
     
     
         2 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising circuitry for generating signals from the discrete binding detectors. 
     
     
         3 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , a breath sampling mask further comprising a nose clip for helping to secure the breath sampling mask to the face of a patient. 
     
     
         4 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor comprising one or more of a temperature sensor, a heart rate sensor, and a blood pressure sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor comprising one or more of an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient humidity sensor, an internal temperature sensor, and an internal humidity sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable breath sample container disposed within the mouth chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas outflow conduit in fluid communication with the breath receiving chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chemical sensor holder configured to allow removable mounting of a chemical sensor element. 
     
     
         9 . The breath sensing system of  claim 8 , wherein the chemical sensor holder is disposed within the breath receiving chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chemical sensor holder housing in fluid communication with the breath receiving chamber; wherein the chemical sensor element is disposed within the chemical sensor holder housing. 
     
     
         11 . The breath sensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter in fluid communication with the one-way airflow valve. 
     
     
         12 . A breath sampling mask comprising:
 a mask housing configured to cover a portion of the face of a patient, the mask housing defining a chamber;   the mask configured to remove volatile organic compounds from air drawn in through the mask housing.   
     
     
         13 . The breath sampling mask of  claim 12 , further comprising a sensor comprising one or more of a temperature sensor, a heart rate sensor, and a blood pressure sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The breath sampling mask of  claim 12 , further comprising a nose clip member for helping to secure the breath sampling mask to the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The breath sampling mask of  claim 14 , further comprising a sensor attached to the nose clip member. 
     
     
         16 . The breath sampling mask of  claim 12 , the mask housing further comprising a dividing wall isolating the chamber into a nasal chamber and a mouth chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The breath sampling mask of  claim 16 , further comprising a one-way airflow valve in fluid communication with the nasal chamber and an area outside of the mask housing, the one-way airflow valve only allowing a flow of air from the area outside of the mask housing into the nasal chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The breath sampling mask of  claim 16 , further comprising a chemical sensor holder configured to allow removable mounting of a chemical sensor element, wherein the chemical sensor holder is disposed within the mouth chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The breath sampling mask of  claim 12 , further comprising a sensor comprising one or more of an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient humidity sensor, an internal temperature sensor, and an internal humidity sensor. 
     
     
         20 . A method of determining the presence of one or more disease states of a patient comprising:
 putting a breath sampling mask on a patient;   alerting the patient to breathe in and out to generate a breath sample;   contacting the breath sample with a chemical sensor element, the chemical sensor element comprising a plurality of discrete binding detectors;   using a measurement circuit to generate signals from the discrete binding detectors; and   evaluating the signals by comparing them to previously obtained sets of signals or signal patterns.