Transdermal vapor collection method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for the non-invasive continuous collection of substances which transdermally migrate to and vaporize at tee surface of the skin of a subject, comprising (a) providing a binding reservoir material juxtaposed at the surface of the skin of the subject, (b) continuously maintaining the binding reservoir material in a substantially airtight relation with the skin surface over an entire collection period, whereby substances which have migrated to and vaporized at the skin surface are collected in the binding reservoir material and are prevented from escaping into the environment or migrating back into the skin, (c) removing the binding reservoir material from the skin surface, and (d) immersing the binding reservoir of step (c) in a predetermined quantity of organic solvent, whereby the collected vapors are transferred from the binding reservoir material to the organic solvent.
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Abstract
A method for the non-invasive, continuous collection of substances which transdermally migrate to and vaporize at the surface of the skin of a subject comprises providing a binding reservoir material juxtaposed at the surface of the skin of a subject, and continuously maintaining the binding reservoir material in a substantially airtight relation with the skin surface over an entire collection period. The apparatus comprises a binding reservoir material and means for continuously maintaining the binding reservoir material juxtaposed at the skin surface of the subject in a substantially airtight relation wiht the skin surface.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A method for the non-invasive continuous collection of substances which transdermally migrate to and vaporize at tee surface of the skin of a subject, comprising (a) providing a binding reservoir material juxtaposed at the surface of the skin of the subject, (b) continuously maintaining the binding reservoir material in a substantially airtight relation with the skin surface over an entire collection period, whereby substances which have migrated to and vaporized at the skin surface are collected in the binding reservoir material and are prevented from escaping into the environment or migrating back into the skin, (c) removing the binding reservoir material from the skin surface, and (d) immersing the binding reservoir of step (c) in a predetermined quantity of organic solvent, whereby the collected vapors are transferred from the binding reservoir material to the organic solvent.
- 9. An apparatus for the non-invasive, continuous collection of substances which transdermally migrate to and vaporize at the surface of the skin of a subject, comprising (a) a fluid-free binding reservoir material, and (b) means for continuously maintaining the fluid-free binding reservoir material juxtaposed at the surface of the skin of the subject in a substantially airtight relation with the skin surface over an entire collection period, said airtight relation being sufficient to ensure that when substances migrate to and vaporize at the skin surface they are collected in the fluid-free binding reservoir material and are prevented from escaping into the environment or migrating back into the skin.
Specification