Patent ID: 6635415
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G01N,Y02A,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for measuring the concentration of nitric oxide in exhaled human breath gas, comprising the steps of:providing a reagent that participates in a chemiluminescent reaction with nitric oxide, said reagent including carbonic anhydrase; inducing a flow of said reagent within a plurality of translucent capillary membrane fibers composed of material sufficiently thin and porous to allow gaseous nitric oxide molecules to diffuse into the translucent capillary membrane fiber or fibers and sufficiently hydrophobic to prevent the reagent from substantially diffusing out of the translucent capillary membrane fiber or fibers; passing the gas to be sampled over the surface of the translucent capillary membrane fiber or fibers; and measuring the amount of light generated by the chemiluminescent reaction between the reagent and the gas which has passed through the walls of the translucent capillary membrane fiber or fibers.