Body fluid analysis system
First Claim
1. A method for collecting and analyzing body fluid comprising:
- (a) sensing the flow of a body fluid of a living being to a first chamber of a multi-chamber collection device;
(b) generating a control signal indicative of a predetermined parameter representative of fluid flow;
(c) employing said control signal to initiate the select operation of a control computer;
(d) operating said control computer thereafter in a manner to control collection of a user-selected amount of said body fluid;
(e) causing a second sample of body fluid to flow to a second chamber of the collection device;
(f) sensing the contents of at least one of the collected samples with a fluid sensor and generating signals; and
(g) computer-analyzing said signals to determine the chemical composition of said sample.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for sampling and testing the breath of human beings to detect maladies in the esophagus, stomach or gastrointestinal tract by the automatic analysis of the chemical contents of the sampled breath includes a container and a microprocessor-controlled valve for allowing a select portion of the breath to enter and be stored in the container upon exhaling through an inlet to the container so as to avoid storing air which is first exhaled. A normally open pressure switch or sensor activated by the pressure of the initial flow of the breath into an inlet tube from the mouth provides a start signal for controlling an electronic timer or microprocessor, which thereafter controls the sampling operation. The apparatus also includes passageways to several collection chambers, to permit multiple samples of the same or different body fluids to be collected and analyzed with a self-contained sensor or a remote analysis system.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method for collecting and analyzing body fluid comprising:
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(a) sensing the flow of a body fluid of a living being to a first chamber of a multi-chamber collection device; (b) generating a control signal indicative of a predetermined parameter representative of fluid flow; (c) employing said control signal to initiate the select operation of a control computer; (d) operating said control computer thereafter in a manner to control collection of a user-selected amount of said body fluid; (e) causing a second sample of body fluid to flow to a second chamber of the collection device; (f) sensing the contents of at least one of the collected samples with a fluid sensor and generating signals; and (g) computer-analyzing said signals to determine the chemical composition of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for collecting and analyzing body materials comprising:
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(a) sensing the flow of a body fluid of a living being to a first chamber of a multi-chamber collection device; (b) generating a control signal indicative of a predetermined parameter representative of fluid flow; (c) employing said control signal to initiate the select operation of a control computer; (d) operating said control computer thereafter in a manner to control collection of a select amount of said body fluid; (e) collecting an amount of solid material from a body duct in a second chamber of the collection device; (f) sensing the contents of at least one of the collected amounts with a sensor and generating signals; and (f) computer-analyzing said signals to determine the chemical composition of the contents.
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21. An apparatus for collecting a body fluid and analyzing its contents comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a fluid inlet at the exterior of said housing adapted to be disposed at an opening of a body cavity containing fluid; (c) a inlet passageway extending from said fluid inlet into said housing; (d) a reservoir supported by said housing and coupled to said inlet passageway; (e) an inlet valve in said inlet passageway; (f) a first actuator coupled to open and close said inlet valve; (g) an exhaust passageway extending from said reservoir to the exterior of said housing; (h) an outlet valve in said exhaust passageway; (i) a second actuator coupled to open and close said outlet valve; (j) a sensor positioned to detect and determine the chemical composition of body fluid in the reservoir; (k) an electronic computing device supported by said housing, coupled to the two actuators, and coupled to the sensor; and (l) an indicating device coupled to said electronic computing device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for collecting and analyzing body fluid comprising:
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(a) means for sensing the flow of a body fluid of a living being through a passageway system leading to a multi-chamber reservoir and generating a control signal indicative of a predetermined flow of said body fluid; (b) means for controlling the amount of said body fluid passing through a passageway leading to a first chamber; (c) means for controlling the passage of a select amount of a second quantity of body fluid through a passageway leading to a second chamber; (d) means for generating signals representative of the chemical composition of at least one of said body fluid amounts; and (e) means for classifying said chemical composition and reporting the determined classification. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method for collecting and analyzing body fluid comprising:
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(a) sensing the flow of a body fluid of a living being to a collection device; (b) generating a control signal indicative of a predetermined parameter representative of fluid flow; (c) employing said control signal to initiate the select operation of a control computer; (d) operating said control computer thereafter in a manner to control collection of a user-selected amount of said body fluid by causing the control computer to direct operation of an entry valve disposed at an inlet to said collection device and an exit valve disposed at an outlet from said collection device; (e) sensing the contents of said collected body fluid with a fluid sensor and generating signals; and (f) computer-analyzing said signals to determine the chemical composition of said body fluid. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An apparatus for collecting a body fluid comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a fluid inlet at the exterior of said housing adapted to be disposed at an opening of a body cavity containing fluid; (c) a inlet passageway extending from said fluid inlet into said housing; (d) an inlet valve in said inlet passageway; (e) a first actuator coupled to open and close said inlet valve; (f) an exhaust passageway extending from said inlet passageway to the exterior of said housing; (g) an outlet valve in said exhaust passageway; (h) a second actuator coupled to open and close said outlet valve; and (i) an electronic computing device supported by said housing and coupled to the two actuators. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An apparatus for collecting a body fluid comprising:
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(a) a catheter sized and shaped for insertion into a body duct of a human being; (b) a fluid inlet at the exterior of said catheter; (c) a inlet passageway extending from said fluid inlet into said catheter; (d) an inlet valve in said inlet passageway; (e) a first actuator coupled to open and close said inlet valve; (f) an exhaust passageway extending from said inlet passageway to the exterior of said catheter; (g) an outlet valve in said exhaust passageway; (h) a second actuator coupled to open and close said outlet valve; and (i) an electronic computing device supported by said catheter and coupled to the two actuators. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification