Novel Isotopic Analyzer for Energy Expenditure Studies

描述（由申请人提供）：双标签水（DLW）法测量总能量消耗（TEE）已成为肥胖研究的重要工具。它使研究人员能够评估人类在健康和疾病中的能量需求，研究肥胖的病因，并验证评估饮食摄入量的工具。Picarro建议开发一种新型仪器，通过空腔衰荡光谱（CRDS）高精度测量水中的氧和氢同位素比率。目前，DLW分析在美国只有3到4个实验室进行，DLW研究人员必须将他们的样品送到其中一个实验室进行分析。与现有的质谱技术相比，该仪器将降低DLW研究的成本和难度，从而使许多研究人员能够在自己的实验室中进行DLW分析。他们将能够以更快速、更方便、更低的成本进行更多的研究。此外，不需要大量样品制备的现场准备仪器将大大扩展能量消耗方法的应用范围。该仪器也可由同位素富集水的生产商用于其产品的质量控制。双标签水（DLW）法测量总能量消耗（TEE）已成为肥胖研究的重要工具。该仪器将减少DLW研究的时间、成本和难度，从而使许多研究人员能够在自己的实验室中进行DLW分析。不需要大量样品制备的现场准备仪器将大大扩展能量消耗方法的应用范围。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The doubly labeled water (DLW) method of measuring total energy expenditure (TEE) has emerged as a vital tool in obesity research. It has enabled researchers to assess human energy requirements in health and in disease, to study the etiology of obesity, and to validate tools for the assessment of dietary intake. Picarro proposes to develop novel instruments that will measure oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios in water with high precision by cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS). Currently DLW analysis is performed by only 3 or 4 laboratories in the US, and DLW researchers must send their samples to one of these facilities for analysis. As compared with existing mass spectrometry techniques, the proposed instruments will reduce the cost and difficulty of DLW studies, thus enabling many researchers to perform DLW analysis in their own laboratories. They will be able to perform more research, more quickly, conveniently, and at lower cost. In addition, a field-ready instrument not requiring extensive sample preparation would greatly extend the application's reach of energy expenditure methodology. The instrument could also be used by manufacturers of isotopically enriched water for quality control of their product. The doubly labeled water (DLW) method of measuring total energy expenditure (TEE) has emerged as a vital tool in obesity research. The proposed instruments will reduce the time, cost, and difficulty of DLW studies, thus enabling many researchers to perform DLW analysis in their own laboratories. A field-ready instrument not requiring extensive sample preparation would greatly extend the application's reach of energy expenditure methodology.