Method for sampling and measuring the content of a low-molecular weight compound in a complex fluid medium
First Claim
1. A method of sampling and measuring the content of a low molecular weight compound in a complex fluid medium to be sampled, comprising the steps of:
- providing a complex fluid medium to be sampled;
arranging semi-permeable means in said complex fluid medium to be sampled so as to define one or more passageways in said complex fluid medium for the passage of dialysis fluid therethrough, said semi-permeable means being permeable to the low molecular weight compound in said complex fluid medium whose content is to be measured;
conducting dialysis fluid through said passageways defined by said semi-permeable means in said complex fluid medium, said semi-permeable means being sized so that only a fractional portion of the volume of said complex fluid medium surrounding said semi-permeable means is dialyzed by said dialysis fluid being conducted through said passageways whereby a portion of the low molecular weight compound in said complex fluid medium diffuses into said passageways containing said dialysis fluid to thereby produce a dialysate in said passageways;
maintaining the pressure of said dialysis fluid within said passageways higher than the pressure of said complex fluid medium to substantially reduce ultrafiltration from said complex fluid medium to said dialysis fluid; and
measuring a property of said produced dialysate which is related to the content of the low molecular weight compound in said dialysate to determine the content of the low molecular weight compound in said complex fluid medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for sampling and measuring the content of a low-molecular weight compound, such as glucose, cholesterol, or urea, in a complex fluid medium to be sampled, such as blood. A dialyzer is placed in contact with the complex fluid medium so that it passes through the dialyzer. One or more semipermeable membranes are disposed within the complex fluid medium to form one or more passageways for the passage of dialysis fluid, with the passageways being substantially smaller in volume than the volume of the surrounding complex fluid medium. A fractional portion of the complex fluid medium is acted on by the dialysis fluid and dialyzed so that only a fractional portion of the low-molecular weight compound diffuses into the passageways containing the dialysis fluid to produce a dialysate in the passageways. The dialysate is then measured to determine the content of the low-molecular weight compound in the complex fluid medium.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of sampling and measuring the content of a low molecular weight compound in a complex fluid medium to be sampled, comprising the steps of:
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providing a complex fluid medium to be sampled; arranging semi-permeable means in said complex fluid medium to be sampled so as to define one or more passageways in said complex fluid medium for the passage of dialysis fluid therethrough, said semi-permeable means being permeable to the low molecular weight compound in said complex fluid medium whose content is to be measured; conducting dialysis fluid through said passageways defined by said semi-permeable means in said complex fluid medium, said semi-permeable means being sized so that only a fractional portion of the volume of said complex fluid medium surrounding said semi-permeable means is dialyzed by said dialysis fluid being conducted through said passageways whereby a portion of the low molecular weight compound in said complex fluid medium diffuses into said passageways containing said dialysis fluid to thereby produce a dialysate in said passageways; maintaining the pressure of said dialysis fluid within said passageways higher than the pressure of said complex fluid medium to substantially reduce ultrafiltration from said complex fluid medium to said dialysis fluid; and measuring a property of said produced dialysate which is related to the content of the low molecular weight compound in said dialysate to determine the content of the low molecular weight compound in said complex fluid medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification