Exhaled Breath Condensate Collection Device for Respiratory Pathogen Testing

NU 2020-112

INVENTORS

• Christina Zelano*
• Gregory Lane

SHORT DESCRIPTION

A portable, self-administered exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collection device that enables patients to collect breath samples at home for SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory pathogen detection, supporting direct, quantitative assessment of a person's infectiousness.

BACKGROUND

Determining how contagious a person is requires direct measurement of viral load in exhaled breath, since nasal or internal swab sites only indirectly reflect infectiousness. Existing exhaled breath collection devices are either bulky, lab-bound machines or portable units that are expensive, complex, and still require separate lab equipment for sample recovery, limiting their practicality for home use during quarantine or isolation.

ABSTRACT

The device for collecting exhaled breath condensate comprises a sample tube with a first end that receives exhaled breath and a second, narrower end through which the condensate exits, paired with a cooling sleeve that condenses the breath inside the tube. A mouthpiece or nose mask connects in a straight line to the first end to direct airflow without angular bends, and a one-way valve between the mouthpiece/mask and tube prevents backflow. A plunger forms an airtight seal when inserted, pushing the collected condensate out the narrow end into a vial, while an optional outer insulator protects the user from the cold sleeve. The design is intended to be inexpensive, portable, reusable, and simple enough for a lay user to self-administer outside a clinical setting.

APPLICATIONS

• At-home self-collection of breath samples for respiratory pathogen detection to determine infectiousness and/or assess viral load
• Point-of-care or clinical use for rapid, noninvasive sample collection from patients in emergency departments or immediate care settings

ADVANTAGES

• Straight-line airflow path from mouthpiece/mask to tube avoids angled pathways that compromise sample volume and quality
• Narrowed exit aperture creates resistance during exhalation, improving the quality and volume of collected condensate
• Fully portable, disposable, and reusable design using lightweight, low-cost off-the-shelf parts
• Enables immediate, on-site plunging of the sample into a vial, allowing instant denaturing or stabilization of the sample for safe handling and transport

PUBLICATIONS

• Lane et al. Quantity of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies exhaled per minute during natural breathing over the course of COVID-19 infection. eLife preprint (2024).

IP STATUS

• US2023/0366041A1 allowed