Device for determination of tear constituents

• US 5,352,411 A
• Filed: 08/13/1993
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Soumaya M. Khuri
• Original Assignee: Raja N. Khuri
• Inventors: Khuri, Raja N.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US08/106,282
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 128/760, 128/771, 422/56, 422/58, 422/61
• US Class Current: 422/403
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/77 by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/528 Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper

Abstract

A device for determination of a tear constituent, including an absorbent tear strip wick and an electrochemical strip connected to one end of the wick. The electrochemical strip is impregnated with an indicator chemistry. The device may be used to detect organic and ionic constituents in tears by placement of the free end of the tear strip wick in the corner of the eye, and after tear absorption by the device, determining changes in the chemistry of the device associated with the particular constituent.

Claims

1. A device for determination of a tear constituent selected from the group consisting of glucose, urea, potassium, and calcium comprising:

(a) an absorbent tear strip extending between a distal end for placement in a lateral bulbar conjunctiva of an eye of a person, and a proximal end, said tear strip having a length and width to enable the tear strip distal end to be placed in a lateral bulbar conjunctiva and to enable tear material absorbed by the tear strip distal end to migrate to the tear strip proximal end; and

(b) an electrochemical strip extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said electrochemical strip being impregnated with sensor and indicator chemistry which in the presence of the selected constituent acts as a specific sensor of the selected constituent in tear material, said chemistry being located in an electrochemical sensing area between the distal end and the proximal end of the electrochemical strip;

said electrochemical strip distal end being bonded to the tear strip proximal end in a manner enabling tear material reaching said tear strip proximal end to migrate from the tear strip proximal end to the electrochemical sensing area, thereby enabling said selected tear constituent to be detected in the electrochemical sensing area by use of a reader when the presence of the selected constituent is indicated by said chemistry.