Capnia, Incorporated

Andros Analyzers Incorporated

Edward A McClatchie

Elvir Causevic

Lee R Carlson

Joe Martinosky

Ralph Walden

Kevin G Williams

An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The COlevel of air drawn into the system () is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the COlevel in the air drawn into the system (), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves () are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system () immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the COlevel. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the COlevels are continually monitored to ensure that the captured volume of air corresponds to the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. Once the captured volume of air is positively identified as the end-tidal portion of an exhalation, the captured volume is routed through a gas analyzer () for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels.

Breath end-tidal gas monitor

A non-dispersive infrared gas analyzer is disclosed that accurately measures the concentration levels of a plurality of gases within a gas mixture. The analyzer includes first and second sample cells and is utilized advantageously for the measurement of NO.sub.x and hydrocarbon gas present in the exhaust of an automobile engine. The gas mixture of the exhaust is chilled before entering the first sample cell to remove a substantial amount of the water vapor from that sample cell to facilitate measurement of the NO.sub.x gas. The second sample cell receives the gas mixtue in an unchilled state to allow for accurate measurement of the hydrocarbon gas. The analyzer includes processors which are utilized to further correct the NO.sub.x measurement and which also interact with each other to provide an output data stream that is representative of the concentration levels of the gases that are being analyzed.

Dual sample cell gas analyzer

Growing community of inventors

Orinda, CA, United States of America

Edward A McClatchie