Cavity-enhanced optical frequency comb spectroscopy: application to human breath analysis.
Broad-bandwidth, high-spectral-resolution optical detection of human breath has identified multiple important biomarkers correlated with specific diseases and metabolic processes. This optical-frequency-comb-based breath analysis system comes with excellent performance in all criteria: high detection sensitivity, ability to identify and distinguish a large number of analytes, and simultaneous, real-time information processing. We demonstrate a minimum detectable absorption of 8 x 10(-10)cm(-1), a spectral resolution of 800 MHz, and 200 nm of spectral coverage from 1.5 to 1.7 microm where strong and unique molecular fingerprints exist for many biomarkers. We present a series of breath measurements including stable isotope ratios of CO(2), breath concentrations of CO, and the presence of trace concentrations of NH(3) in high concentrations of H(2)O.
JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0440, USA. thorpe@jilau1.Colorado.EDU
Michael J
MJ
Thorpe
David
D
Balslev-Clausen
Matthew S
MS
Kirchner
Jun
J
Ye
D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000641:Ammonia; D002248:Carbon Monoxide