초록 ▼

Breath test methods and apparatus for increasing accuracy and reducing the time taken to achieve diagnostically useful results. In order to determine when an increase in isotopic ratio of the exhaled breath is clinically significant, methods are described for the use of a variable and multiple thres

Breath test methods and apparatus for increasing accuracy and reducing the time taken to achieve diagnostically useful results. In order to determine when an increase in isotopic ratio of the exhaled breath is clinically significant, methods are described for the use of a variable and multiple threshold level; for reducing the time taken to determine an accurate baseline level; and for avoiding the effects of oral activity when making measurements. To increase measurement accuracy, methods are described, using the results of the breath tests themselves, of continuous and automatic self-calibration to correct for drifts in the gas spectrometer absorption curves. A method for increasing the spectral stability of cold cathode discharge infra-red light sources for use in breath test instrumentation is described. Calibration checking devices and methods of mandating their use at regular time intervals are described, to ensure maintenance of the accuracy of breath tests.

대표청구항 ▼

Breath test methods and apparatus for increasing accuracy and reducing the time taken to achieve diagnostically useful results. In order to determine when an increase in isotopic ratio of the exhaled breath is clinically significant, methods are described for the use of a variable and multiple thres

Breath test methods and apparatus for increasing accuracy and reducing the time taken to achieve diagnostically useful results. In order to determine when an increase in isotopic ratio of the exhaled breath is clinically significant, methods are described for the use of a variable and multiple threshold level; for reducing the time taken to determine an accurate baseline level; and for avoiding the effects of oral activity when making measurements. To increase measurement accuracy, methods are described, using the results of the breath tests themselves, of continuous and automatic self-calibration to correct for drifts in the gas spectrometer absorption curves. A method for increasing the spectral stability of cold cathode discharge infra-red light sources for use in breath test instrumentation is described. Calibration checking devices and methods of mandating their use at regular time intervals are described, to ensure maintenance of the accuracy of breath tests. ted to substantially traverse the width of said at least one spool so as to dispose said conditioned material thereon in a substantially helical lay pattern. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said positioning device is further adapted to alternate in substantially sinusoidal fashion between the two ends of said at least one receiving spool so as to form a back-and-forth helical lay pattern with said material. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tensioning apparatus adapted to maintain said material within a range of tension during curling. 7. An apparatus for winding spooled materials, comprising: at least one supply spool adapted to supply a quantity of unconditioned material; at least one conditioning device, said at least one device adapted to receive said unconditioned material and alter at least one physical property of said material in order to produce conditioned material; at least one receiving spool being adapted to store said conditioned material thereon and having a radius substantially similar to an average radius of curl of said conditioned material; and a positioning device, adapted to position said at least one conditioning device with respect to respective ones of said at least one receiving spool, such that said conditioned material is disposed on said at least one receiving spool in a predetermined pattern; wherein said at least one receiving spool is heated to a temperature above ambient in order to assist in maintaining the curl of said conditioned material. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said positioning device is adapted to substantially traverse the width of said at least one spool so as to dispose said conditioned material thereon in a substantially helical lay pattern. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said positioning device is further adapted to alternate in substantially sinusoidal fashion between the two ends of said at least one receiving spool so as to form a back-and-forth helical lay pattern with said material. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a tensioning apparatus adapted to maintain said unconditioned material within a range of tension during curling. 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said heating is accomplished using a resistive heating element disposed at least partly within said at least one receiving spool. 12. An apparatus for winding spooled materials, comprising: a plurality of supply spools each adapted to supply a quantity of unconditioned material; a plurality of curling devices, said devices each being adapted to receive said unconditioned material from respective ones of said supply spools and alter at least one physical property of said material in order to produce curled material; a plurality of receiving spools, said receiving spools each being adapted to store said conditioned material received from its respective curled device thereon; and at least one positioning device adapted to simultaneously position each of said plurality of curling devices with respect to respective ones of said receiving spools, such that said curling material is disposed on said receiving spools in a predetermined pattern. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said plurality of conditioning devices are disposed within said positioning device in substantially vertical disposition. 14. An apparatus for winding spooled materials, comprising: at least one supply means for supplying a quantity of uncurled material; at least one curling means having a curling blade with curling edge, said at least one curling means adapted to receive said uncurled material and produce curled material having a curl radius; at least one receiving means having a radius substantially similar to said curl radius and being adapted to store said curled material thereon; and a positioning means, adapted to position said at least one curling means with respect to respective ones of said at least one receiving means, such that said curled material is disposed on said at least one receiving means in a predetermined pattern; wherein said predetermined pattern and said radius of said receiving means cooperate to substantially maintain said curl radius. 15. An apparatus for winding spooled materials, comprising: at least one supply means for supplying a quantity of unconditioned material; at least one curling means adapted to receive said unconditioned material and alter at least one physical property of said material in order to produce curled material; at least one receiving means for storing said curled material thereon, said at least one receiving means having a radius substantially similar to an average radius of curl of said curled material; and a positioning means, adapted to position said at least one curling means with respect to respective ones of said at least one receiving means, such that said curled material is disposed on said at least one receiving means in a predetermined pattern; wherein said at least one receiving means is heated to a temperature above ambient in order to assist in maintaining the curl of said curling material. 16. An apparatus for winding spooled materials, comprising: a plurality of supply means each for supplying a quantity of unconditioned material; a plurality of conditioning means, said curling means each being adapted to receive said unconditioned material from respective ones of said supply, means and alter at least one physical property of said material in order to produce curled material; a plurality of receiving means, said receiving means each being adapted to store said curled material received from its respective conditioning means thereon; and at least one positioning means for simultaneously positioning each of said plurality of curling means with respect to respective ones of said receiving means, such that said curled material is disposed on said receiving means in a predetermined pattern.