APPARATUS, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION WITHIN A MAMMAL
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring a physiological condition within a mammal comprising:
- a probe for insertion into a body lumen of the mammal, the probe comprising;
an elongated tubular housing having a first internal cavity;
a first circuit board located within the first internal cavity;
a pH sensor for measuring pH within the body lumen located at a distal portion of the elongated tubular housing, the pH sensor generating a pH signal indicative of the measured pH and operably coupled to the first circuit board;
a memory device storing parametric data unique to the pH sensor, the memory device located within the first internal cavity and operably coupled to the first circuit board; and
a first interface connector located at a proximal portion of the elongated tubular housing and operably coupled to the first circuit board;
a handle for manipulating the probe, the handle comprising;
a second housing having a second internal cavity;
a second circuit board located within the second internal cavity;
a microprocessor for processing the pH signal and generating an output signal based on the processing of the pH signal, the microprocessor located within the second internal cavity and operably coupled to the second circuit board;
a display device on the second housing for displaying the output signal generated by the microprocessor and operably coupled to the second circuit board; and
a second interface connector located at the second housing and operably coupled to the second circuit board;
the probe connected to the handle in a manner that allows the probe and the handle to be repetitively engaged and disengaged from each other; and
wherein when the probe is connected to the handle, the first and second interface connectors are in electrical connection so that the microprocessor can retrieve the parametric data from the memory device of the probe and receive the pH signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method and apparatus for determining a physiological condition within a mammal based on pH and/or temperature measurements. The invention is for determining vaginal health and/or fertility status in a female mammal based on pH and/or temperature measurements of vaginal and/or cervical fluids or tissue. The invention is suited for taking either in vivo or external measurements. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus comprising an elongated probe portion and a handle portion. In one embodiment, the circuitry of the apparatus is strategically split between the probe portion and the handle portion to facilitate a plug-and-play type of device. In another embodiment, an elongated probe is provided that has a hermetically sealed internal cavity that houses the circuitry while leaving the temperature sensor and the pH sensor exposed for direct contact with the desired biological fluid. In a further embodiment, an ISFET is used as the pH sensor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring a physiological condition within a mammal comprising:
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a probe for insertion into a body lumen of the mammal, the probe comprising; an elongated tubular housing having a first internal cavity; a first circuit board located within the first internal cavity; a pH sensor for measuring pH within the body lumen located at a distal portion of the elongated tubular housing, the pH sensor generating a pH signal indicative of the measured pH and operably coupled to the first circuit board; a memory device storing parametric data unique to the pH sensor, the memory device located within the first internal cavity and operably coupled to the first circuit board; and a first interface connector located at a proximal portion of the elongated tubular housing and operably coupled to the first circuit board; a handle for manipulating the probe, the handle comprising; a second housing having a second internal cavity; a second circuit board located within the second internal cavity; a microprocessor for processing the pH signal and generating an output signal based on the processing of the pH signal, the microprocessor located within the second internal cavity and operably coupled to the second circuit board; a display device on the second housing for displaying the output signal generated by the microprocessor and operably coupled to the second circuit board; and a second interface connector located at the second housing and operably coupled to the second circuit board; the probe connected to the handle in a manner that allows the probe and the handle to be repetitively engaged and disengaged from each other; and wherein when the probe is connected to the handle, the first and second interface connectors are in electrical connection so that the microprocessor can retrieve the parametric data from the memory device of the probe and receive the pH signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for measuring a physiological condition within a mammal comprising:
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an elongated housing extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the housing having an internal cavity; a transverse wall extending along the longitudinal axis that separates the internal cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first and second chambers isolated from one another and extending in an axially adjacent manner along the longitudinal axis; a par-cylindrical cutout in the elongated housing forming an open end of the first chamber and exposing a portion of the transverse wall; a pH sensor for measuring pH within a body lumen of the mammal and a temperature sensor for measuring temperature within the body lumen of the mammal, the pH sensor and the temperature sensor operably coupled to a first circuit board and located on the exposed portion of the transverse wall; a par-cylindrical cover having a well for collecting biological fluids, the well defined by an annular wall and a floor, and first and second openings forming first and second passageways through the floor of the well respectively; and the par-cylindrical cover secured to the elongated housing so that the pH sensor is exposed via the first opening and the temperature sensor is exposed via the second opening, the par-cylindrical cover covering the par-cylindrical cutout so as to hermetically seal the open end of the first chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for measuring a physiological condition within a mammal comprising:
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an elongated probe for insertion into a body lumen of the mammal, the probe comprising a first circuit board operably coupling an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) for measuring pH within the body lumen and generating a pH signal indicative of the measured pH, a temperature sensor for measuring temperature within the body lumen and generating a temperature signal indicative of the measured temperature, a diaphragm in contact with an electrolyte solution buffered at a known pH, a memory device storing ISFET slope data at both ambient temperature and normal body temperature for the ISFET, and a first interface connector, wherein the ISFET, temperature sensor and diaphragm are located at a distal portion of the probe and the first interface connector is located at a proximal portion of the probe; a handle for manipulating the probe, the handle comprising a second circuit board operably coupling a microprocessor for receiving the pH and temperature signals and generating an output signal based on the processing of the pH and temperature signals and the ISFET slope data, a display device for displaying the output signal generated by the microprocessor, and a second interface connector; the probe connected to the handle in a manner that allows the probe and the handle to be repetitively engaged and disengaged from each other; and wherein when the probe is connected to the handle, the first and second interface connectors are in electrical connection so that the microprocessor can retrieve the ISFET slope data from the memory device of the probe and receive the pH and temperature signals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification