The pathogens causing pneumonia are difficult to identify because a high quality specimen from the lower lung is difficult to obtain. A new specimen collection device is designed to collect aerosol specimens selectively from the lower lung generated during deep coughing. The PneumoniaCheck device utilizes a separation reservoir and Venturi valve to segregate contents from the upper and lower airways. The device also includes several specially designed features to exclude oral contaminants from the sample and a filter to collect the aerosolized pathogens. Verification testing of PneumoniaCheck demonstrates effective separation of upper airway gas from the lower airway gas and exclusion of both liquid and viscous oral material from the collection chamber. The filters can collect 99.9997% of virus and bacteria sized particles from the sampled lower lung aerosols. The selective collection of specimens from the lower airway may aid in the diagnosis of specific pathogens causing pneumonia.
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e-mail: tamera.scholz@me.gatech.edu
e-mail: prem@gatech.edu
e-mail: lja2@cdc.gov
e-mail: david.ku@me.gatech.edu
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December 2010
Research Papers
PneumoniaCheck: A Device for Sampling Lower Airway Aerosols
Tamera L. Scholz,
Tamera L. Scholz
G.W.W. School of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: tamera.scholz@me.gatech.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332
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Prem A. Midha,
Prem A. Midha
G.W.W. School of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: prem@gatech.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332
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Larry J. Anderson,
Larry J. Anderson
Division of Viral Diseases, NCIRD, CoCID,
e-mail: lja2@cdc.gov
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
, Atlanta, GA 30333
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David N. Ku
David N. Ku
G.W.W. School of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: david.ku@me.gatech.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology
, 315 Ferst Drive, Room 2307, Atlanta, GA 30332
Search for other works by this author on:
Tamera L. Scholz
G.W.W. School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332e-mail: tamera.scholz@me.gatech.edu
Prem A. Midha
G.W.W. School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, Atlanta, GA 30332e-mail: prem@gatech.edu
Larry J. Anderson
Division of Viral Diseases, NCIRD, CoCID,
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
, Atlanta, GA 30333e-mail: lja2@cdc.gov
David N. Ku
G.W.W. School of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology
, 315 Ferst Drive, Room 2307, Atlanta, GA 30332e-mail: david.ku@me.gatech.edu
J. Med. Devices. Dec 2010, 4(4): 041005 (6 pages)
Published Online: November 8, 2010
Article history
Received:
April 13, 2010
Revised:
July 15, 2010
Online:
November 8, 2010
Published:
November 8, 2010
Citation
Scholz, T. L., Midha, P. A., Anderson, L. J., and Ku, D. N. (November 8, 2010). "PneumoniaCheck: A Device for Sampling Lower Airway Aerosols." ASME. J. Med. Devices. December 2010; 4(4): 041005. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002760
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