Developing A Portable Breath Sampling System For Rapid, Point-Of-Care Disease Detection

Abstract

Disease-specific changes in cellular metabolism produce distinct volatile organic compound (VOC) patterns detectable in exhaled breath. A breath sampling system utilizing a silicon-based functionalized graphene array of varactor sensors can differentially detect these disease-specific VOC patterns or “breathprints®” within minutes. The system uses a standard anesthesia mask to direct exhaled breath across the sensor array, which simplifies sampling, minimizes condensation, and supports a point-of-care workflow. This paper summarizes the progression from initial laboratory research and benchtop prototypes to a live-animal proof of concept study. During the evolution of the design/prototyping/testing process, feasibility data from cell trays and dogs informed the generation of next generation systems with the confidence that design specifications were being met. These findings establish a foundation for future studies.