APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION WITHIN A MAMMAL

• US 20100036278A1
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PH Diagnostics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PH Diagnostics, Inc.
• Inventors: Rieth, Harry T.
• Application Number:
  US12/536,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036278A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/551
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0012 Ovulation-period determination for animals A61D17/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0019 based on measurement of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0032 based on measurement of pH-value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4277 saliva secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4294 vaginal secretions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4337 of the vagina
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for determining a physiological condition within a mammal based on pH and/or temperature measurements. In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method of determining vaginal health and/or fertility status in a female mammal comprising: a) inserting a probe into a vagina of the female mammal, a distal portion of the probe comprising an ISFET for measuring pH and a temperature sensor for measuring temperature; b) measuring pH and temperature with the ISFET and the temperature sensor of the probe; c) transmitting signals indicative of the measured pII and temperature to a microprocessor; d) the microprocessor generating an output signal indicative of the fertility and/or vaginal health status in the female mammal based on the signals indicative of the measured pH and temperature; and e) communicating the output signal to a user.

Claims

1. A method of determining fertility and/or vaginal health status in a female mammal comprising:

a) inserting a probe into a vagina of the female mammal, a distal portion of the probe comprising an ISFET for measuring pH and a temperature sensor for measuring temperature, the probe comprising a memory device storing parametric data unique to the ISFET;

b) measuring pH and temperature with the ISFET and the temperature sensor of the probe;

c) transmitting signals indicative of the measured pH and temperature to a microprocessor;

d) the microprocessor generating an output signal indicative of the fertility and/or vaginal health status in the female mammal based on the signals indicative of the measured pH and temperature and the parametric data; and

e) displaying the output signal on a display device of the probe.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the parametric data includes first ISFET slope data determined at ambient temperature and second ISFET slope data determined at normal body temperature.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first and second ISFET slope data is based on at least three points of pH parametric data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

wherein step a) comprises inserting the probe into the vagina until the distal portion of the probe contacts an ectocervix area;

wherein step b) comprises measuring pH and temperature of the ectocervix area; and

storing the measured pH and temperature values in an internal memory device of the probe, and time stamping the stored pH and temperature values.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the time stamping includes date and time of day.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the output signal is indicative of the fertility status in the female mammal and is also based on the stored pH and temperature values.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the output signal is based on the stored pH and temperature values for at least one ovulation cycle of the female mammal.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the display device is a light source and the output signal causes the light source to illuminate when the output signal is indicative of ovulation within female mammal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the output signal does not illuminate the light source when the output signal is not indicative of ovulation within female mammal.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the output signal causes a first effect of the display device when the output signal is indicative of ovulation within the female mammal and causes a second effect in the display device when the output signal is not indicative of ovulation within the female mammal.

11. A method of determining fertility and/or vaginal health status in a female mammal comprising:

a) inserting a probe into a vagina of the female mammal, a distal portion of the probe comprising a pH sensor for measuring pH and a temperature sensor for measuring temperature, the probe comprising a first memory device storing parametric data unique to the pH sensor;

b) measuring pH and temperature with the pH sensor and the temperature sensor of the probe;

c) transmitting signals indicative of the measured pH and temperature to a logic controller;

d) the logic controller generating an output signal indicative of the fertility and/or vaginal health status in the female mammal based on the signals indicative of the measured pH and temperature and the parametric data; and

e) communicating the output signal to a user.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the pH sensor is an ISFET and the parametric data includes first ISFET slope data determined at ambient temperature and second ISFET slope data determined at normal body temperature.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

wherein step a) comprises inserting the probe into the vagina until the distal portion of the probe contacts an ectocervix area;

wherein step b) comprises measuring pH and temperature of the ectocervix area; and

storing the measured pH and temperature values in an internal memory device of the probe, and time stamping the stored pH and temperature values; and

wherein the output signal is indicative of the fertility status in the female mammal and is also based on the stored pH and temperature values.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the output signal causes a first effect when the output signal is indicative of ovulation within the female mammal and causes a second effect when the output signal is not indicative of ovulation within the female mammal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the output signal is communicated to the user by a display device and/or an audio output device.

16. A method of determining fertility and/or vaginal health status in a female mammal comprising:

a) inserting a probe into a vagina of the female mammal, a distal portion of the probe comprising an ISFET for measuring pH and a temperature sensor for measuring temperature;

b) measuring pH and temperature with the ISFET and the temperature sensor of the probe;

c) transmitting signals indicative of the measured pH and temperature to a microprocessor;

d) the microprocessor generating an output signal indicative of the fertility and/or vaginal health status in the female mammal based on the signals indicative of the measured pH and temperature; and

e) communicating the output signal to a user.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the probe comprises a first memory device storing parametric data unique to the pII sensor;

and wherein the output signal is also based on the parametric data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the parametric data includes first ISFET slope data determined at ambient temperature and second ISFET slope data determined at normal body temperature.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

wherein step a) comprises inserting the probe into the vagina until the distal portion of the probe contacts an ectocervix area;

wherein step b) comprises measuring pH and temperature of the ectocervix area; and

storing the measured pH and temperature values in an internal memory device of the probe, and time stamping the stored pH and temperature values; and

wherein the output signal is indicative of the fertility status in the female mammal and is also based on the stored pH and temperature values.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the output signal causes a first effect when the output signal is indicative of ovulation within the female mammal and causes a second effect when the output signal is not indicative of ovulation within the female mammal.