Apparatus and method for the collection of analytes on a dermal patch
First Claim
1. A method of collecting and detecting an analyte contained in the perspiration of a subject mammal while minimizing back-diffusion of the analyte into the subject mammal, said analyte having a plurality of ionization states, wherein said analyte exists in an ionized form thereof in at least one such ionization state and in a nonionized form in another such ionization state, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. placing a dermal patch on the outer surface of the skin of said mammal, said patch comprising an absorbent material capable of containing perspiration of said mammal;
b. passing perspiration through the skin of said mammal into said absorbent material, thereby passing said analyte into the patch, if said analyte is present in said perspiration;
c. controlling the ionization state of said analyte in said patch so that the ratio of the amount of said analyte in said patch in the ionized form to the amount of said analyte in the nonionized form is greater than 1000; and
thereafterd. detecting said analyte in said patch.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is an improved method and apparatus for collecting analytes on a dermal patch, where the patch controls the ionization state of the analyte. This can be accomplished by delivering electricity to the patch or by a buffer or other means for controlling the pH of fluids entering the patch. Analytes in perspiration can be concentrated on the patch without the occurrence of significant back-diffusion of the analytes.
355 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of collecting and detecting an analyte contained in the perspiration of a subject mammal while minimizing back-diffusion of the analyte into the subject mammal, said analyte having a plurality of ionization states, wherein said analyte exists in an ionized form thereof in at least one such ionization state and in a nonionized form in another such ionization state, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. placing a dermal patch on the outer surface of the skin of said mammal, said patch comprising an absorbent material capable of containing perspiration of said mammal; b. passing perspiration through the skin of said mammal into said absorbent material, thereby passing said analyte into the patch, if said analyte is present in said perspiration; c. controlling the ionization state of said analyte in said patch so that the ratio of the amount of said analyte in said patch in the ionized form to the amount of said analyte in the nonionized form is greater than 1000; and
thereafterd. detecting said analyte in said patch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A dermal patch to be worn on the skin of a subject mammal for detecting an analyte in said subject'"'"'s perspiration, said analyte having a plurality of ionization states, including at least one ionization state wherein said analyte is in an ionized form and at least one ionization state wherein said analyte is in a nonionized form, said patch comprising:
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an absorbent material, said absorbent material having a first and second side, said first side of said absorbent material being adapted to be in fluid communication with the outer surface of the skin of said subject for collecting perspiration which passes through said skin and into said patch; and means for controlling the ionization state of said analyte such that the ratio of said analyte in the ionized form to the nonionized form thereof within said patch is greater than 1000. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A dermal patch to be worn on the skin of a subject mammal for detecting an analyte in said subject'"'"'s perspiration, said patch comprising:
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an absorbent material adapted to be in fluid communication with the outer surface of the skin of said subject for collecting perspiration which passes through said skin and into said patch; and a buffer in said absorbent material, wherein said buffer is capable of maintaining a pH within a selected range, said range being calculated to cause said analyte to ionize and thereby concentrate in said patch. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of collecting and detecting an analyte contained in the interstitial fluid of a subject mammal while minimizing the back-diffusion of said analyte into said subject mammal, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. placing a dermal patch on the outer surface of the skin of said mammal, said patch comprising an absorbent material capable of containing perspiration of said mammal; b. passing perspiration through the skin of said subject mammal into said absorbent material, thereby passing said analyte into the patch, if said analyte is present in said perspiration of said subject mammal; c. controlling the ratio of the amount of said analyte obtained in said patch to the amount of said analyte in the interstitial fluid of said subject mammal so that said ratio is greater than 10; and
thereafterd. detecting said analyte in said patch. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A dermal patch to be worn on the skin of a subject mammal for detecting an analyte in said subject'"'"'s interstitial fluid, said patch comprising:
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an absorbent material, said absorbent material having a first and second side, said first side of said absorbent material being adapted to be in fluid communication with the outer surface of the skin of said subject for collecting perspiration which passes through said skin and into said patch; and means for obtaining a ratio of the amount of said analyte in said patch to the amount of said analyte in said interstitial fluid of said subject of greater than 10. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification