Real-time breath analysis
As breath analysis gains prominence in the medical field, multiple techniques based off of different technologies have started to emerge. These methods can be categorized into two segments: real-time and non-real-time. Non-real-time methods, as the term implies, do not offer immediate results. Instead, breath samples are collected in special containers that conserve VOC levels, which are transported to the lab for analysis. In contrast, real-time methods provide immediate results by analysing breath samples through the same device used for the sample collection. This eliminates the need for breath sample storage and lab analyses, significantly reducing the time required to obtain results. Real-time methods drastically enhance patient experience and streamline healthcare processes.
Traditional knowledge suggests a trade-off between efficiency and precision, with real-time methods often criticized for their lack of precision compared to non-real-time methods. However, at exhalon.io, we've leveraged technological breakthroughs to bridge this gap and position real-time breath analysis at the forefront of healthcare.
Why real-time breath analysis?
Personalized medicine is intricately linked to the broader concept of 'patient-cantered care,' which underscores the imperative for healthcare systems to tailor treatments to individual patient needs. To effectuate this shift from disease-centric to patient-centric care, research endeavours have yielded 'omics' signatures, offering a deeply personalized insight into patients' conditions. However, despite advancements, the development of omics or cellular biomarkers often falls short due to complexity, hindering their widespread application for personalized patient treatment.
A significant hurdle in advancing precision medicine lies in the scarcity of easily accessible, non-invasive biomarkers that meet the criteria of being high-performance, rapid, user-friendly, reproducible, cost-effective, and scalable.
Nevertheless, the field of medical metabolomics, notably volatolomics, presents a promising solution. Volatolomics delves into the analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath, enabling real-time detection of VOCs eliminated via the pulmonary route at the patient's bedside. This innovative approach holds considerable potential for developing non-invasive diagnostic methods, effectively addressing the aforementioned challenges in precision medicine.