Spectrometer

Breathe BioMedical Spectrometer Technology

Our spectrometer uses Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) to measure the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath samples which are collected using our breath sampler device (SohnoXB®). Breathe BioMedical’s spectrometer works by introducing the breath sample into an optical cavity that is then probed with a sequence of laser pulses. The resonant optical cavity dramatically increases sensitivity to trace amounts of VOCs by lengthening the interaction time of the sample with the laser pulse by a thousand-fold or more. One key advantage to CRDS is that it is a time-based measurement which eliminates the need for extensive calibration. This in turn greatly improves scalability and reliability. We believe that Breathe BioMedical is the only company in the world that uses CRDS technology for human breath analysis which provides exceptional sensitivity not available elsewhere.

Breathe BioMedical’s spectrometer is designed to be both fast and powerful, permitting sample analysis down to parts-per-trillion levels. The results of this highly sensitive measurement are then analyzed using machine learning to identify the presence of disease biomarkers.

To understand CRDS, consider the sound of a bell. The initial chime produces a loud ring whose volume gradually fades over time. This ringing-down effect is the dominant principle behind CRDS. Laser light is introduced to the ring-down chamber and trapped between two mirrors. The light continuously reflects between the mirrors, with some escaping during each bounce. A chamber will “ring-down” the light in a precisely determined amount of time. When a sample is introduced to the chamber, this ring-down time becomes faster due to additional light being absorbed. This time-based approach affords CRDS a level of sensitivity beyond what is available to conventional infrared techniques.