System for assessing lachrymal fluid content of a sample pad
First Claim
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1. A lachrymal fluid assessment device comprising:
- receiving means including a pair of electrodes for receiving a sample pad therebetween with the sample pad having an unknown quantity of lachrymal fluid present therein, and for presenting the sample pad for determination of the capacitance thereof, said unknown quantity being a representative sample of lachrymal fluid present in a person'"'"'s eye, said capacitance being representative of said unknown quantity; and
circuit means operably coupled with said receiving means for determining said capacitance, for producing a capacitance signal representative of said capacitance, and responsive thereof for producing an output correlated with said unknown quantity of lachrymal fluid present in the sample pad,said circuit means including processing circuit means responsive to said capacitance signal for producing said output;
said processing circuit means including memory means for storing data correlating said output with said capacitance signal and thereby with said unknown quantity and with the amount of lachrymal fluid present in the person'"'"'s eye.
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Abstract
A system rapidly and accurately assesses the lachrymal fluid content in a person'"'"'s eye which minimizes patient discomfort. The preferred system includes a fluid sampling device and an assessment device. The preferred sampling device includes a lachrymal fluid absorbent sample pad and a non-absorbent handle. The preferred assessment device includes a receiver for receiving a lachrymal fluid sample pad and includes a control circuit coupled with the receiver for determining the electrical capacitance of the pad which capacitance varies in accordance with variations in lachrymal fluid content, and for producing an output correlated with the lachrymal fluid quantity in the pad.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A lachrymal fluid assessment device comprising:
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receiving means including a pair of electrodes for receiving a sample pad therebetween with the sample pad having an unknown quantity of lachrymal fluid present therein, and for presenting the sample pad for determination of the capacitance thereof, said unknown quantity being a representative sample of lachrymal fluid present in a person'"'"'s eye, said capacitance being representative of said unknown quantity; and circuit means operably coupled with said receiving means for determining said capacitance, for producing a capacitance signal representative of said capacitance, and responsive thereof for producing an output correlated with said unknown quantity of lachrymal fluid present in the sample pad, said circuit means including processing circuit means responsive to said capacitance signal for producing said output; said processing circuit means including memory means for storing data correlating said output with said capacitance signal and thereby with said unknown quantity and with the amount of lachrymal fluid present in the person'"'"'s eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification