Method and apparatus for detecting substances using substance detection routines

Abstract

Methods and devices for sampling, processing and identifying use of a substance or substances of abuse are provided. Systems and kits for sampling, processing and identifying acute use of a substance of abuse is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a processing unit provided within the housing, the processing unit configured to:
 receive a first sample from an inlet vent; and 
 receive a second sample from an area that is proximate to the inlet vent; 
 wherein at least the first sample is a breath sample of a subject; 
 control performance of one or more substance detection routines on each of the first sample and the second sample to detect at least a first amount of a first substance; and 
 generate one or more output signals based at least in part on the first amount of the first substance. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more substance detection routines include a first substance detection routine and a second substance detection routine, the second substance detection routine being different than the first substance detection routine. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a type of the second sample is different type than a type of the first sample. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processing unit is configured to detect at least one of the type of the first sample or the type of the second sample. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the processing unit is configured to control performance of any one of multiple substance detection routines, and wherein the second detection routine is based at least in part on the type of the second sample. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first substance detection routine and the second substance detection routine are performed concurrently. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first substance detection routine and the second substance detection routine are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to control acquisition of at least the first sample. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is configured to control acquisition of the second sample concurrently with acquisition of the first sample. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an output unit coupled to the processing unit, the output unit being configured to provide an output based on the one or more output signals. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more substance detection routines include at least a first substance detection routine that is performed using at least one of mass spectrometry, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, high pressure mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, or two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first sample from an inlet vent; and   receiving a second sample from an area that is proximate to the inlet vent;   wherein at least the first sample is a breath sample of a subject;   controlling performance of one or more substance detection routines on each of the first sample and the second sample to detect at least a first amount of a first substance; and   generating one or more output signals based at least in part on the first amount of the first substance.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more substance detection routines include a first substance detection routine and a second substance detection routine, the second substance detection routine being different than the first substance detection routine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a type of the second sample is different type than a type of the first sample. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising detecting at least one of the type of the first sample or the type of the second sample. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein controlling performance of the one or more substance detection routines includes controlling performance of a second detection routine to process the type of the second sample. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first substance detection routine and the second substance detection routine are performed concurrently. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first substance detection routine and the second substance detection routine are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the first sample and receiving the second sample includes concurrently controlling acquisition of the first sample and the second sample. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing an output on an output unit based on the one or more output signals.