Breath-Based Lung Cancer Screening

The Challenge: Late Detection of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, largely due to late-stage diagnosis.

• Silent Progression: Lung cancer often shows no symptoms until advanced stages, when survival rates drop dramatically.
• Invasive Screening: Current methods like CT scans and biopsies are expensive, involve radiation exposure, or are invasive.
• Limited Access: Advanced diagnostic facilities are not available in many regions, especially in rural and resource-limited settings.
• High-Risk Populations: Smokers and those exposed to occupational hazards need regular screening, but compliance is low due to procedure complexity.

Early detection can increase 5-year survival rates from ~6% (Stage IV) to over 60% (Stage I). OBA-L™ aims to make screening accessible, affordable, and non-invasive.

Who Can Benefit from OBA-L™

Designed for high-risk populations and mass screening:

• Current and former smokers (20+ pack-years)
• Individuals with occupational exposure (asbestos, radon, chemicals)
• People with family history of lung cancer
• Patients with chronic respiratory conditions
• Mass screening programs in hospitals and clinics
• Community health camps and mobile screening units

Compact, portable design enables deployment anywhere — from tertiary hospitals to primary health centers.

How OBA-L™ Works

OBA-L™ captures and analyzes end-tidal breath — the last portion of exhaled air that comes directly from the deep lung alveoli where gas exchange occurs.

• End-Tidal Breath Sampling: Specialized mouthpiece captures deep lung air, minimizing contamination from upper airways.
• VOC Detection: VolTrac™ sensors detect parts-per-billion concentrations of cancer-associated VOCs like aldehydes, ketones, and hydrocarbons.
• AI Pattern Recognition: Machine learning algorithms analyze the VOC "fingerprint" against validated lung cancer biomarker patterns.
• Risk Stratification: Results classify individuals as low, moderate, or high-risk for further diagnostic workup.

Powered by VolTrac™ Technology

At the heart of OBA-L™ is Invent's patented VolTrac™ VOC sensor platform.

• Sub-PPB Sensitivity: Detects trace biomarkers at concentrations as low as 0.1 parts per billion.
• High Selectivity: Chemi-resistive nano-polymer sensors distinguish target compounds from interferents with >99% accuracy.
• Room-Temperature Operation: Safe, low-power operation suitable for clinical environments.
• Multi-Sensor Array: 8-16 specialized sensors create a comprehensive VOC profile for accurate pattern matching.

🚀 NVIDIA Inception Program Member — Accelerating AI-Powered Cancer Detection

The Science Behind Breath Biomarkers

Cancer cells have altered metabolism that produces unique volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds enter the bloodstream and are exhaled through the lungs.

• Altered Lipid Peroxidation: Cancer cells produce elevated levels of aldehydes like hexanal and heptanal through oxidative stress.
• Cytochrome P450 Changes: Metabolic enzyme alterations lead to specific alkane and methylalkane patterns.
• Tumor Necrosis: Necrotic tissue releases characteristic VOCs detectable in breath.
• Validated Biomarkers: Research has identified dozens of VOCs associated with lung cancer across multiple studies.

Clinical Validation

OBA-L™ is currently undergoing rigorous clinical validation in partnership with leading cancer centers.

• MCC Incubation: On-site incubation center established at Malabar Cancer Centre, Thalassery for clinical validation.
• Multi-Site Trials: Prototypes deployed across partner hospitals for validation studies.
• Biomarker Panel: Comprehensive VOC panel optimized for Indian population demographics.
• CDSCO Approval: Approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for clinical use in India — May 2026.
• ISO 13485:2016 Certified: Quality management system for medical-device design and manufacturing certified to the international ISO 13485:2016 standard — May 2026.

OBA-L™ is intended as a screening/triage tool. Positive results require confirmation through standard diagnostic procedures.