| abstract |
Conditions involving the production of volatiles, particularly disease states, are detected by passing a sample containing the volatiles through a single sensor. As this sensor, a semiconductor gas sensor or a surface acoustic wave device can be used. This sensor provides an output signal, for example, in the form of a trailing peak. A number of characteristics of the signal (eg, peak height and maximum positive slope) are measured to characterize the sample and further characterize the underlying conditions. We can distinguish, for example, (a) a state infected with proteus, (b) a state infected with E. coli, or (c) an uninfected state. |