Non-invasive, straightforward, seamlessly integrated into daily life, and swift – online breath gas analysis presents numerous advantages, making it particularly intriguing for clinical applications. Its potential is far from fully tapped, attracting increasing attention from both the scientific community and entrepreneurs. The review titled ‚On-Line Analysis of Exhaled Breath‘ by Tobias Bruderer and Thomas Gaisl et al in 2019 provides a comprehensive insight into the benefits and possibilities of this promising non-invasive measurement method.
What is online breath analysis?
Online breath analysis involves real-time analysis of a person’s exhaled breath. In contrast to offline analysis, where samples are taken and examined later, the term ‚online‘ signifies that breath analysis occurs in real-time during exhalation.
Exhaled breath contains numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are gaseous molecules providing valuable information about respiratory and overall health. Technical devices like SIFT mass spectrometry, PTR-MS, electronic noses, and chemical sensors can capture and analyze VOCs in exhaled breath.
Handheld devices with sensors are already in development, aiming to significantly simplify disease diagnostics in the near future. In addition to medical diagnosis and monitoring, this technology can also be utilized for assessing indoor air quality and detecting environmental pollution.
Advantages of online breath analysis
Innovative and full of potential, online breath analysis can be applied in various fields due to its numerous advantages. Some key features include:
• Non-invasive
• Real-time results
• User-friendly
• Detects a wide range of substances
• Swift, direct outcomes
• Cost-effective options in development
• Discovery of new biomarkers
Users simply exhale – no samples are taken with needles – eliminating any discomfort during the analysis and increasing method acceptance. When combined with the straightforward application of certain systems, metabolic health, medication effectiveness, and disease progression can be regularly monitored without extended breaks.
Moreover, online breath analysis provides real-time data, allowing professionals to quickly access health information, leading to prompt diagnosis and treatment. Treatment plans can then be tailored more efficiently to individual patients.
A closer look: What are VOCs?
During exhalation, various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon-containing gaseous molecules, exit our lungs. They can be categorized into three types based on their origin:
• Endogenous VOCs: from the respiratory tract
• Systemic VOCs: crossing the blood-air barrier
• Exogenous VOCs: inhaled from the environment and exhaled unchanged
The medical focus is primarily on endogenous variants and those originating from the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, the end-expiratory phase of exhalation is examined because VOC concentration is highest during this phase.
Endogenous VOCs are continually emitted, but the establishment of a phase equilibrium on both sides of the blood-air barrier depends on various factors, such as fat solubility and volatility. This leads to unique diffusion patterns for different molecule classes during this process. Certain VOCs have been found to have concentrations in exhaled breath directly proportional to their concentration in blood or urine. Researchers can identify specific VOC patterns in exhaled breath for early disease detection.
Breath-based technologies: Measuring VOCs in breath
Various technologies, including SIFT, SESI, and PTR mass spectrometry, as well as optical spectroscopic methods, exist for breath analysis. Particularly interesting are chemical sensors or sensors arrays due to their lower sensitivity, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. Their small size allows easy integration into small, portable devices.
Currently, there are no handhelds fully approved for disease diagnostics. However, some companies (like VitaScale) are rapidly advancing the development of breath gas analysis using handhelds with specialized sensors.
Informative and Promising: The composition of exhaled breath
Several studies already show changes in the components of exhaled breath during sleep, physical exertion, and illness. Understanding the physiological composition of breath allows the identification and interpretation of deviations from the norm. With a wide range of metabolic products already detected in exhaled breath and the sensitivity and selectivity in distinguishing specific VOCs, online breath gas analysis offers a new perspective on metabolism and new possibilities for disease diagnostics.
A proper breath analysis with correct interpretation of measurement data provides the opportunity to diagnose infections and diseases – especially respiratory conditions like asthma and pneumonia, as well as diabetes – at an early stage. Additionally, this makes it easier to monitor chronic diseases, with treatment plans easily and quickly tailored to individual situations and conditions.
Swift Action with Real-time Data
With online breath analysis, healthcare professionals have the results of their patients at their fingertips. Precise real-time data allows for swift action, and the simple application of certain systems permits regular measurements at short intervals. Already, there are handhelds, like vitashape from VitaScale, that reliably and accurately measure certain metabolic or health data through the non-invasive method. Once enough validation studies with sufficient sample sizes have been successfully conducted, it is conceivable that tests using blood and urine samples may take a back seat to breath-based technologies.
Join the Prelaunch Campaign
Be the first to experience personalized health insights through breath analysis.
• Subscribe to get the latest updates
• Reserve now for 3€ to get a 25% early bird discount (€299 instead of €399)
👉 Join now
Author: Lisa Schräder
Translation: Bruna Rocha
Source:
Bruderer T., Gaisl T., Gaugg M.T. et al: On-Line Analysis of Exhaled Breath, Focus Review (2019), URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31594311/ (Stand: 16.01.2024).