Patent ID: 8313440

Claim:
A breath collection apparatus for sampling air from a patient, comprising: a face mask for covering said patient's mouth and nose; a valve assembly in fluid communication with said face mask, said valve assembly comprising a housing having an inlet in fluid communication with said face mask, an outlet conduit, and a valve body forming an enclosure between said inlet and outlet conduit, said valve body being defined by an annular shoulder connected to said inlet by a flared wall, an annular flange surrounding said outlet conduit and engaged to the annular shoulder, a plurality of distinct holes disposed radially around said outlet conduit, and a flexible valve seated in said housing, said flexible valve comprising a unitary elastomeric member having a central duckbill portion extending into said outlet conduit to a one-way exhalation passage, and an umbrella diaphragm portion attached to and surrounding said central duckbill portion, said flexible valve being seated inside said valve body with said umbrella diaphragm resting against said flange and covering said plurality of distinct holes disposed radially around said outlet conduit to define a one-way inhalation passage; a collection container attachment assembly in fluid communication with said outlet conduit; a collection container attached to said collection container attachment assembly and in fluid communication with the outlet conduit of said valve assembly for storing a patient's exhaled breath.