Abstract

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^-10cm^-1, a spectral resolution of 800 MHz, and 200 nm of spectral coverage from 1.5 to 1.7 μm where strong and unique molecular fingerprints exist for many biomarkers. We present a series of breath measurements including stable isotope ratios of CO₂, breath concentrations of CO, and the presence of trace concentrations of NH₃ in high concentrations of H₂O.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

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History
Original Manuscript: December 17, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: January 23, 2008
Revised Manuscript: January 18, 2008
Published: February 5, 2008

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Author Affiliations

Michael J. Thorpe, David Balslev-Clausen, Matthew S. Kirchner, Jun Ye

JILA; University of Colorado

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