Method for measuring blood urea level by reverse iontophoresis

• US 20050273045A1
• Filed: 04/08/2003
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metin Denlin, Rusen Dundaroz, Sibel Ilbasmis, Tuncer Degim, Zelihagul Degim
• Original Assignee: Metin Denlin, Rusen Dundaroz, Sibel Ilbasmis, Tuncer Degim, Zelihagul Degim
• Inventors: Denlin, Metin, Degim, Zelihagul, Dundaroz, Rusen, Ilbasmis, Sibel, Degim, Tuncer
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis

Abstract

A method for measuring and determining urea level in human blood by reverse iontophoresis comprising the following steps of; placing an anode electrode on skin, placing a container comprising a solution and a cathode electrode on skin applying electric current to the anode electrode and the cathode electrode so that an electrical circuit is established there between. whereby urea molecules migrate from blood into the container.

Claims

1. - A device related to new application of reverse iontophoresis using a constant direct current power supplier and optimal conditions to determine or predict solely the human blood urea level from pre-determined contact area comprises;

an anode (6) placed on skin surface in the forearm (7), a container containing isotonic saline solution and a cathode (4) inserted into said container, said power supplier (1) being connected to the anode electrode (6) and the cathode electrode (4) for establishing an electric circuit between the anode electrode (6) and the cathode electrode (4) so that urea molecules migrate much larger and faster than the passive diffusion from blood into the container characterized in that the amount of urea level is determined by the changes of pH of the urease containing solution so as to predict the blood urea level.

2. - The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a gel comprising a collection medium is used instead of the solution.

3. - The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a software controlled micro-computer is provided for determining the urea level in blood.

4. - The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the anode electrode (6), the container (3) comprising the solution (5) and a cathode electrode (4), the power supplier (1) are embodied into an arm watch-like device.

5. - The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the watch further comprises a membrane which protects from any leakage of the solution and provides the transfer of urea through.

6. - The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the watch further comprises a hemodialysis membrane which protects from any leakage of the solution and provides the transfer of urea through.

7. - The device according to claim 1, further comprising the following step of;

determining the change in the electrical properties of the skin for determining the urea level.

8. - The device according to claim 1, further comprising the following step of;

determining the change in the electrical properties of the solution of the container for determining the urea level.

9. - A device related to new application of reverse iontophoresis using a constant direct current power supplier and optimal conditions to determine or predict solely the human blood urea level from pre-determined contact area characterized in that;

it is designed like an arm watch and characterized by comprising a (+) electrode, a solution being in touch with the skin surface and containing NaCl and urease, a dialysis membrane for protecting the solution from any leaking and for providing the transfer of urea therethrough, an (−

) electrode at the other side of the skin, a pH measurement means for measuring the changes of pH of the urease containing solution, batteries, connected to said electrodes for providing direct current thereto so that urea molecules migrate much larger and faster than the passive diffusion from blood into the container and a software controlled micro-computer for determining the urea level in blood in accordance with said measured pH change.

10. - The device according to claim 9, characterized in that a gel comprising a collection medium is used instead of the solution.

11. - The device according to claim 9, characterized in that said (−

) electrode can be mounted at the strap of said watch structure.

12. - The device according to claim 9, characterized in that said micro-computer determines the urea level in accordance with the change in the electrical properties of the skin.

13. - The device according to claim 9, characterized in that said micro-computer determines the urea level in accordance with the change in the electrical properties of the solution of the container.