Allergy testing method and apparatus
First Claim
1. An allergy testing apparatus for testing a patient for a plurality of allergies at substantially the same time, comprising:
- carrier means for carrying receiving (i) a plurality of sources of an allergen, and (ii) a plurality of spaced apart movable pricking means which are movable from an inactive position out of contact with the skin of a patient to an active position for pricking the skin of a patient, each of said pricking means being arranged for applying allergen from an associated allergen source to the pricked skin when moved from said inactive position to said active position; and
actuating means movably coupled to said carrier means when said pricking means is in both said active and inactive positions for substantially simultaneously moving each of said pricking means carried by said carrier means from said inactive position to said active position thereof, at least a portion of said actuating means being movable relative to at least a portion of said carrier means to thereby apply an allergen from respective associated allergen sources to the skin of the patient via said pricking means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An allergy testing method and apparatus for testing a patient for a plurality of allergies at substantially the same time, comprises a carrier for receiving a plurality of allergen applying devices, each allergen applying device including a source of an allergen and a movable pricking needle which is movable from an inactive position out of contact with the skin of a patient to an active position for pricking the skin of a patient and applying its associated allergen to the pricked skin when moved from the inactive position to the active position. The carrier holds and supports the plurality of allergen applying devices with a given spacing between each of the pricking needles, and an actuator is coupled to the carrier for moving the pricking needles from their inactive positions to their active positions to prick or pierce the skin of a patient and to thereby apply a respective allergen to the skin of the patient via the pricking needles.
157 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An allergy testing apparatus for testing a patient for a plurality of allergies at substantially the same time, comprising:
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carrier means for carrying receiving (i) a plurality of sources of an allergen, and (ii) a plurality of spaced apart movable pricking means which are movable from an inactive position out of contact with the skin of a patient to an active position for pricking the skin of a patient, each of said pricking means being arranged for applying allergen from an associated allergen source to the pricked skin when moved from said inactive position to said active position; and actuating means movably coupled to said carrier means when said pricking means is in both said active and inactive positions for substantially simultaneously moving each of said pricking means carried by said carrier means from said inactive position to said active position thereof, at least a portion of said actuating means being movable relative to at least a portion of said carrier means to thereby apply an allergen from respective associated allergen sources to the skin of the patient via said pricking means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of testing a patient for a plurality of allergies at substantially the same time, comprising:
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providing a plurality of allergen sources and a plurality of spaced apart movable pricking means for pricking the skin of a patient when said pricking means are moved from an inactive position out of contact with the skin of the patient, to an active position in contact with the skin of the patient, each of said pricking means being associated with a respective one of said allergen sources; said allergen sources and pricking means being mounted and supported on a carrier means, an actuating means being movably coupled to said carrier means for relative movement therebetween; placing at least a portion of said carrier means on the skin of a patient and placing said pricking means adjacent to the skin of the patient in said inactive position out of contact with said skin; and moving said actuating means relative to at least a portion of said carrier means for substantially simultaneously moving each of said pricking means from said inactive position to said active position thereof to prick the skin of the patient and for applying an allergen from respective allergen sources to the skin of the patient via said associated pricking means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification