Method and apparatus for detection of fertility
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting the fertile and infertile phases in the human menstrual cycle comprising:
- daily collecting of cervico-vaginal fluid from the vagina over a period of days; and
determining the cyclic pattern of volumetric changes in said fluid over said period of days to indicate the phases in the cycle.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for detecting the fertile and infertile phases of the human female menstrual cycle based upon observation of cyclic volumetric and gravimetric changes in cervico-vaginal fluid.
47 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of detecting the fertile and infertile phases in the human menstrual cycle comprising:
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daily collecting of cervico-vaginal fluid from the vagina over a period of days; and determining the cyclic pattern of volumetric changes in said fluid over said period of days to indicate the phases in the cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of detecting the fertile and infertile phases in the human menstrual cycle comprising:
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daily collecting of cervico-vaginal fluid from the vagina over a period of days; and determining the cyclic pattern of gravimetric changes in said fluid over said period of days to indicate the phases in the cycle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of detecting the fertile and infertile phases in the human menstrual cycle employing a series of steps performed once per day for at least several days preceding and following ovulation, said steps comprising:
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collecting cervico-vaginal fluid which naturally accumulates in the vagina during a normal daily interval; measuring and recording the volume of said collection of cervico-vaginal fluid; and determining from said recording the cyclic pattern of volumetric changes during a menstrual cycle; whereby the onset of the fertile phase and impending ovulation is indicated by an increase in volume in contrast to the low average volume of the infertile early follicular phase following menses and the infertile luteal phase, and whereby time of optimum fertility is indicated by a significant peak in volume, in contrast to the low average volume of the infertile early follicular phase following menses and the infertile luteal phase. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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17. storing said cervico-vaginal fluid after said collecting and determining steps;
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chemically analyzing said stored fluid.
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20. A method of detecting the fertile and the infertile phases in the human menstrual cycle employing a series of steps performed once per day for at least several days preceding and following ovulation, said steps comprising:
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collecting cervico-vaginal fluid which naturally accumulates in the vagina during a normal daily interval; measuring and recording the weight of such collection of cervico-vaginal fluid; and determining from said recording the cyclic pattern of gravimetric changes during the menstrual cycle; whereby the onset of the fertile phase and impending ovulation is indicated by an increase in weight in contrast to the low average weight of the infertile early follicular phase following menses and the infertile luteal phase, and whereby the time of optimum fertility is indicated by a significant peak in volume in contrast to the low average weight of the infertile early follicular phase following menses and the infertile luteal phase.
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26. An apparatus for collection of total cervico-vaginal fluid from a vaginal cavity having a vaginal wall and a cervix located at its upper end, said apparatus being adaptable for self-use by a female subject and comprising:
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elongated, cylindrical tube means having a continuous longitudinal passage therethrough and an exterior surface, for insertion into a vaginal cavity; mouth means positioned at one end of said tube means for receiving cervico-vaginal fluid, said mouth means comprising means for preventing traumatization or perforation of the tissue of the vaginal wall or the cervix when said mouth means is in a predetermined orientation and means for easing said mouth means into the posterior fornix of said vaginal cavity; means on another end of said tube means, opposite said mouth means, for maintaining said mouth means in said predetermined orientation when said mouth means is inside said vaginal cavity; and means for creating a suction force inside said passage to aspirate said cervico-vaginal fluid into said passage of said tube means when said apparatus is in said vaginal cavity. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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37. An apparatus for collection of cervico-vaginal fluid from a vaginal cavity having a vaginal wall and a cervix located at its upper end, said apparatus being adaptable for self-use by a female subject and comprising:
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elongated, cylindrical tube means having a continuous longitudinal passage therethrough and an exterior surface for insertion into a vaginal cavity; mouth means positioned at one end of said tube means for receiving cervico-vaginal fluid; means for creating a suction force inside said passage to aspirate said cervico-vaginal fluid into said passage of said tube means when said apparatus is in said vaginal cavity; and means on said tube means for alleviating said suction force, upon aspiration of said fluid from the vaginal cavity, thereby preventing tissue damage or pain due to pressure created by said suction force.
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Specification