Sub-Lethal Chemical Weapons Exposure Detection in Humans

"Los Gatos Research proposes to develop a breath analyzer based on Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy to measure the ratio of the isotopic abundances of 13C to 12C. The analyzer will serve as a portable medical diagnostic instrument that willreport measurements of the 13C/12C ratio in breath with sufficient sensitivity and precision to determine exposure to chemical and biological agents. For Phase I, we will develop an instrument to record precise measurements of isotopic CO2 in exhaledbreath for diagnosis of exposure to chemical agents in real time. During Phase II, we will develop and deliver a prototype instrument to a faculty researcher at a leading university who will incorporate it into their ongoing research on the role ofisotopic carbon ratio as an early marker for infection or toxic insult. To date, progress in this area of research has been hampered by the difficulty in performing the measurements using mass spectroscopy. The proposed instrument would facilitate theconfirmation and expansion of this research, permit consent-based human trials, and accelerate the exploration of other markers too difficult to pursue with existing technology. The proposed instrument may be applied for nonintrusive detection of variousmedical conditions including infection, and Helicobacter pylori. This technology may also be extended for measurements of selected volatile organic compounds in breath for detection of various ty