Disposable probe for the determination of vaginal pH and other indices

• US 5,063,930 A
• Filed: 03/06/1990
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prospero Nucci
• Original Assignee: Prospero Nucci
• Inventors: Nucci, Prospero
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pfaffle, Krista M.
• Application Number:
  US07/489,089
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 128/632, 128/636, 128/738, 128/760, 128/767, 128/768, 128/771, 128/778, 606/119, 436/163, 116/206
• US Class Current: 600/366
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0012 Ovulation-period determination for animals A61D17/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00035 pH

Abstract

A disposable probe made of a transparent plastic material, for the determination of vaginal pH and other indices, including a small pipe with a closed head, a hole provided near the head and one or more pH indicators or other indicators disposed within the probe.

Claims

1. A disposable probe for use in vaginal clinical-diagnostical determinations which comprises

an elongated conduit member, said conduit member being made of a transparent plastic material and having at least one closed end portion, an external surface and an internal surface, said internal surface defining an enclosed space,

an oval hole, said oval hole being disposed in said conduit member near said closed end portion and extending between said external and internal surfaces for collecting biological fluids, and

at least one medial indicator for clinical-diagnostical determinations, each said medical indicator being disposed within said enclosed space.

2. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein one of said medical indicators is disposed at said closed end portion.

3. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein, when viewed in the horizontal plate, the oval hole tapers inward from said external surface to said internal surface;

4. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein each of said medical indicators is applied to said internal surface.

5. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein one of said medical indicators is a pH indicator for measuring pH values from 3.5 to 8.

6. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein the major diameter of the hole is between 8 to 12 mm and the external diameter of the probe is from 4 to 6 mm.

7. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein one of said medical indicators is a pH indicator.

8. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein one of said medical indicators is a vaginitis indicator.

9. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein one of said medical indicators is a toluidine blue test indicator.

10. The disposable probe of claim 1 wherein one of said medical indicators is a smell test indicator.