DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SENSING HYDRATION STATE OF A MAMMALIAN SUBJECT
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing a state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of a mammalian subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a liquid collection element comprising a hydrophilic, porous medium or fibrous medium arranged for placement in fluid communication with oral mucosa of a mammalian subject;
a plurality of electrical contacts arranged to detect saturation of portions of the liquid collection element;
a microprocessor arranged to receive signals indicative of closure of a plurality of electrical circuits including the plurality of electrical contacts, and to identify a state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject based at least in part on signals received from the plurality of electrical circuits; and
a signaling element in communication with the microprocessor and arranged to generate an output signal indicative of state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Timed sensing of collection of saliva in a liquid collection element of predetermined volumetric capacity may be used to determine salivary secretion rate, as may be indicative of state of euhydration or dehydration. Sensing of salivary flow rate may be further augmented by sensing concentration of at least one analyte in saliva (e.g., with an immunochromatographic assay performed in a lateral flow device) in order to determine a state of euhydration or dehydration. Production of saliva may be stimulated, and collected saliva may be analyzed to generate an analyte detection signal that indicative of presence and/or correlative of concentration of at least one analyte in the collected saliva to sense a state of euhydration or dehydration.
6 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing a state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of a mammalian subject, the apparatus comprising:
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a liquid collection element comprising a hydrophilic, porous medium or fibrous medium arranged for placement in fluid communication with oral mucosa of a mammalian subject; a plurality of electrical contacts arranged to detect saturation of portions of the liquid collection element; a microprocessor arranged to receive signals indicative of closure of a plurality of electrical circuits including the plurality of electrical contacts, and to identify a state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject based at least in part on signals received from the plurality of electrical circuits; and a signaling element in communication with the microprocessor and arranged to generate an output signal indicative of state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for sensing a state of euhydration or dehydration of a mammalian subject, the method comprising:
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placing at least a portion of a liquid collection element comprising a hydrophilic porous medium or fibrous medium in contact with oral mucosa of the mammalian subject; detecting presence of saliva at first, second, and third positions along or adjacent to the liquid collection element with respect to time while the at least a portion of the liquid collection element is in contact with oral mucosa of the mammalian subject to close a plurality of electrical circuits; and generating an output signal indicative of state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject based at least in part on the sensing of closure of the plurality of electrical circuits with respect to a period of time.
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19. An apparatus for sensing a state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of a mammalian subject, the apparatus comprising:
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a liquid collection element arranged for placement in fluid communication with oral mucosa of a mammalian subject; a substrate arranged to support or engage the liquid collection element, with the substrate having arranged thereon a plurality of electrical contacts including (a) electrical contacts arranged to close a first electrical circuit upon exposure to saliva when the liquid collection element is placed in fluid communication with oral mucosa of the mammalian subject, and (b) electrical contacts arranged to close at least a second electrical circuit upon exposure to saliva transported though at least a portion of the liquid collection element; a microprocessor arranged to receive signals indicative of closure of the first electrical circuit and closure of the at least a second electrical circuit, and to identify a state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject based at least in part on signals received from the first electrical circuit and the at least a second electrical circuit; and a signaling element in communication with the microprocessor and arranged to generate an output signal indicative of state of euhydration, state of dehydration, or salivary secretion rate of the mammalian subject. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification