A study of an electronic nose for detection of lung cancer based on a virtual SAW gas sensors array and imaging recognition method

Abstract

In this paper, we propose an electronic nose for non-invasive detection and diagnosis of lung cancer based on a kind of virtual array of surface acoustic wave (SAW) gas sensors and an imaging recognition method. It includes a gas path constructed from a two-bag system, solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and a capillary column to pre-concentrate and separate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in patients' exhaled air. A pair of SAW sensors, one coated with a thin polyisobutylene (PIB) film, is used to detect chemical compounds. Eleven VOCs that are validated as the markers of lung cancer according to a pathology study can be detected qualitatively and quantitatively by this electronic nose. Then, an improved artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm combined with an imaging method is proposed for the recognition of patients. In addition, the concept of a virtual sensors array based on SAW sensors using a capillary column separation technique and imaging is also proposed to simulate a large scale of sensor array response. Finally this e-nose is calibrated by these 11 VOCs separated in three concentrations and is used to diagnose lung cancer patients in Run Run Shaw hospital. The experimental results show that this kind of electronic nose is effective in the recognition of lung cancer patients.

Electronic Nose: Current Status and Future Trends

“…163,164 (6) Finally, several groups have undertaken efforts to detect lung cancer. [165][166][167][168][169][170] To conclude, the possibilities for the application of the electronic nose in the medical field are very diverse as the different examples have shown. There is a need for preventive medical checkups to diagnose disease early, to speed up the healing process, to increase the rate of complete recovery, and consequently to save money for the health care system.…”

Analysis of volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath for lung cancer diagnosis using a sensor system

“…To overcome the limitations of GC-MS analysis, various types of electronic nose have come into use for analyzing breath gas. In the previous studies, quartz microbalance (QMB) gas sensors [21], surface acoustic wave (SAW) gas sensors [22], colorimetric sensor array [23], polymer/carbon composite [24], conducting polymer gas sensors [25], ion mobility spectrometry [26], exhaled breath condensate (EBC) [27], and metal oxide gas sensors [28] were applied to lung cancer detection through breath gas. Among them, the metal oxide sensors are known to possess several advantages with high sensitivity, very fast response, and low cost [29].…”

Adsorption Properties of Typical Lung Cancer Breath Gases on Ni-SWCNTs through Density Functional Theory

“…For instance, various previous studies have reported about its application in common environmental gases detection, including theoretical and experimental studies [19][20][21][22], while, until now, there is no study on Ni-SWCNTs sensors used to detect lung cancer by breath gases. In this study, we propose a novel way to detect typical breath gases of lung cancer: benzene (C 6 H 6 ), styrene (C 8 H 8 ), isoprene (C 5 H 8 ), and 1-hexene (C 6 H 12 ) by theory computation [23,24]. The adsorption reactions for C 6 H 6 , C 8 H 8 , C 5 H 8 , and C 6 H 12 gases on carbon nanotubes are calculated based on density functional theory (DFT); the sensitivity of carbon nanotubes for these gases was analyzed.…”