THE METHOD OF DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS

• US 3,635,213 A
• Filed: 11/28/1969
• Issued: 01/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: James F. Lahay
• Inventors: LaHay, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Medbery, Aldrich F.
• Application Number:
  US04/880,810
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.1 324/30
• US Class Current: 600/346
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion

Abstract

A disposable combination collection and measuring electrode which may be strapped to a patient to collect sweat stimulated by iontophoresis and which may be connected to an analyzing instrument for analyzing the conductivity of the collected sweat in a manner so as to preclude evaporation and minimize the possibility of contamination. The collection and measuring electrode is formed of a funnel shaped plastic element and in the base thereof, there are located two electrodes of a precise length and spaced from each other a precise distance. The base is configured so that a sample as small as 19 microliters may be used for analysis.

Claims

1. The method of collecting and measuring a sample of sweat from a patient, comprising the steps of:

inducing sweat on an area of the patient'"'"''"'"'s skin, placing over the area a sweat collecting receptacle having a pair of spaced electrodes located therein, collecting the induced sweat in the receptacle, orienting the receptacle to cause the collected sweat to contact the pair of electrodes, and connecting the electrodes to a conductivity measuring device in order to analyze the sweat sample.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the step of orienting the receptacle includes the steps of removing the receptacle from the skin of the patient, and locating the removed receptacle so that the collected sweat drains into contact with the pair of electrodes.

3. The method of claim 2 including the additional step of covering the receptacle after removal from the skin of the patient to prevent evaporation of the collected sweat.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the step of placing the receptacle over the area includes the steps of applying an open end of a funnel-shaped structure forming the receptacle over the area where sweat has been induced and strapping the funnel-shaped structure to the patient to form a seal which precludes evaporation of the sweat being collected.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the step of collecting the induced sweat in the receptacle includes the steps of gathering the induced sweat over a selected area of the patient'"'"''"'"'s skin and decreasing the area in the vicinity of the pair of electrodes to minimize the sample required to make an analysis.