Invoy Holdings Inc.

Arizona State University

Invoy Technologies, LLC

Rhett L Martineau

Lubna M Ahmad

Brent C Satterfield

Deirdre Meldrum

Zachary B Smith

Salman A Ahmad

Shih-Hui Joseph Chao

Weimin Gao

Shufang Ci

Jeff Houkal

Lubna M Ahmed

Methods and devices are provided for analyzing acetone in breath. One such method comprises disposing a reactant in a reaction zone within the breath analysis device, wherein the reactant comprises a primary amine disposed on a surface, and wherein the reaction zone has an optical characteristic that is at a reference level. It also comprises pre-storing a liquid nitroprusside solution within the breath analysis device separately from the reactant. The method further comprises using the breath analysis device to cause the breath to contact the reactant in the reaction zone so that the acetone in the breath reacts with the reactant to form a reaction product and, after the reaction product has been formed, using the breath analysis device to cause the nitroprusside solution to contact and react with the reaction product and to facilitate a change in the optical characteristic of the reaction zone relative to the reference level. The method also comprises using the breath analysis device to detect the change in the optical characteristic to sense the acetone in the breath. Apparatuses that use these methods are also described.

Method and apparatus for analyzing acetone in breath

A system is provided that includes a portable measurement device for measuring acetone in a breath sample of a user. The measurement device comprises a housing, a user-direct breath input device for engaging in direct fluid communication with a respiratory tract of the user and receiving the breath sample from the respiratory tract, a flow path disposed within the housing, a nanoparticle-based sensor disposed in the housing in fluid communication with the flow path and at an intermediate location between the upstream end and the downstream end, and a flow control device disposed in the housing and in the flow path between the upstream end and the nanoparticle-based sensor that prevents flow of the breath sample in an upstream direction opposite the downstream direction.

Breath analysis system, device and method employing nanoparticle-based sensor

The invention provides methods for detecting specific nucleic acids using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction and providing a digital readout of the results. One method teaches separating target specificity from indicator detection in a two-stage multiple-threshold array (MTA). During the first stage amplicons incorporating both target sequence and an indicator sequence are synthesized. During the second stage of the reaction, the indicator sequence is targeted and amplified to produce visual results that may be digitalized. Another method teaches a competitive MTA, in which a reference sequence is used to compete against target sequence during amplification producing threshold responses, thus enabling digital readout. Using either method, quantitation is achieved without the need for continuous monitoring of the reaction and the end-point readout is amenable to visual inspection. Methods of the invention are especially useful in circumstances where there is lower or intermittent power supply.

Methods for digital readout quantification of nucleic acids

Methods for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms in nucleotide sequences using LAMP reactions are provided herein. Generally, two sets of LAMP primers, a wild-type primer that matches expected DNA sequences and an SNP primer that matches the expected SNP DNA are provided. One method includes providing the wild-type primer and the SNP primer in separate wells of a multi-well microfluidic array device, adding the sample nucleotide sequence into the wells seeded with the primers, and initiating LAMP reactions within the wells. The method includes observing the reaction differential between the primers and determining the status of the DNA with regard to that particular SNP. A second method includes providing the primers with tags in a mixture, adding the sample nucleotide sequence to the mixture, and initiating LAMP reactions. The method includes providing a different visual indication when the wild-type primer reacts with the sample nucleotide sequence versus when the SNP primer reacts with the sample nucleotide sequence, and determining the status of the DNA with regard to that particular SNP.

Method for detecting nucleotide polymorphisms

An apparatus and associated method are provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from a dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.

Breath analyte sensing apparatus that generates gas streams that flow over a nanoparticle-based sensor

The invention relates to microfluidic devices and array disks for 'one-pot' isolated chemical reactions. The array disks comprise a plurality of sectors in which each sector comprises one microfluidic device. The microfluidic devices comprise a fluid delivery channel and an array of wells wherein the fluid delivery channel delivery fluid into the wells in a serpentine arrangement. In some embodiments, the fluid delivery channel is directly above the array of wells. In other embodiments, the fluid delivery channel is offset from the array of wells so that side channels branching from the fluid delivery channel delivers fluid into the wells. The well of the microfluidic device comprises a gas-permeable membrane that forms the floor, well, or at least a portion of the floor or wall of the well. In preferred embodiments, the well is cylindrical.

Microfluidic device and array disk

According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for sensing an analyte, such as acetone, in breath. The apparatus includes a conditioning device that dehumidifies a breath sample, a sorbent material that extracts the analyte from the dehumidified breath sample, and a nanoparticle-based sensor. The apparatus produces first and second gas streams that flow over the nanoparticle-based sensor. The first gas stream is used to generate a baseline signal, and the second gas stream is used to carry the extracted analyte from the sorbent material to the nanoparticle-based sensor. Various additional designs of analyte sensing devices are also disclosed.

Breath analyte sensing apparatus that generates gas streams that #flow over a nanoparticle-based sensor

A method is provided for sensing ammonia in a breath sample. The method comprises conditioning the breath sample so that the conditioned breath sample has a relative humidity greater than a relative humidity corresponding to a first inflection point of a downwardly concave lowest ammonia iso-concentration curve. It also comprises contacting the conditioned breath sample with an interactant that interacts with the ammonia in the conditioned breath sample, wherein the interaction causes a change in an optical characteristic in relation to the amount of the ammonia in the breath sample. It further comprises using the change in the optical characteristic to sense the ammonia in the breath sample. Related apparatuses are also provided.

Method and apparatus for sensing ammonia in breath

A method of synthesizing a nucleic acid complementary to a target nucleic acid sequence in a template nucleic acid includes annealing a swarm primer to a target nucleic acid, the swarm primer overlapping an F1 site of the target nucleic acid and extends toward the F2 site of the target nucleic acid. An inner primer may also be annealed to the target nucleic acid to produce a complimentary nucleic acid having a single-strand loop onto which further primers may anneal. A plurality of amplicons may be reproduced, many of which may have further primers annealed thereto to generate more complementary nucleic acids.

Accelerated isothermal amplification of DNA

A method of determining the concentration of an analyte of interest in breath. The method includes obtaining a disposable cartridge comprising a reaction chamber, a liquid chamber, and a window to permit determination of a color intensity in the reaction chamber, directing a volume of breath into the cartridge, and initiating a sequence whereby liquid is released from the liquid container into the reaction chamber to cause a reaction which produces a change in the intensity of a color viewable through the window. The intensity of the color corresponds to the concentration of the analyte of interest. The reaction progresses through a kinetic phase and eventually reaches equilibrium. The sequence additionally includes measuring the intensity of the color at a point in the kinetic phase, to determine the concentration of the analyte of interest in breath.

Method and apparatus for rapid quantification of an analyte in breath

According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a fluid collecting device configured to receive a sample of breath; a conditioning device coupled to the fluid collecting device and configured to receive the sample of breath and condition the sample with respect to at least one of temperature, flow rate, pressure, humidity, and concentration; and a sensing device coupled to the conditioning device and configured to receive the conditioned sample, wherein the sensing device includes a nanoparticle-based sensor and further whereby the analyte interacts with the sensing device to cause a change that is sensed by the sensing device and wherein the change comprises information useful in characterizing the analyte. Preferably, the apparatus is hand-held and characterizing the analyte is useful for health monitoring.

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Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Rhett L Martineau