Infrared Spectroscopy for Breath Analysis: Precision in Every Exhale

Human breath consists mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, CO2 and water vapor, which make up the bulk of the exhaled volume. However, apart from these substances, there are over 3000 other substances present, some of which are in trace amounts of single parts-per-billion. Selected gases from this group are important biomarkers such as methane, acetone, ammonia a nitric oxide - substances, whose abnormal concentrations may indicate underlying health conditions such as asthma, cancer, liver dysfunction and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Developments in Mid-IR lasers and detectors have addressed challenges in skin penetration and sensor optimization and make it possible to develop laser spectroscopy systems which can detect these biomarkers and therefore enhance preventive healthcare possibilities. This talk will describe the most common measurement techniques and indicate good practices when it comes to the choice of the proper IR detector.

About the presenter
Jedrzej Mijas has been working at VIGO Photonics as an Application Engineer since 2020, specializing in spectroscopy and gas sensing applications. During his studies at the University of Warsaw, where he earned a Master of Science degree, he gained broad theoretical knowledge and practical experience in IR optics. His expertise gained in academia was confirmed by his construction of a TDLAS system for trace ethane detection in human breath for his master's thesis.