Method and apparatus for detecting amine producing organisms in the vagina
First Claim
1. In the method of detecting pathogenic bacteria in the vagina, the steps that includea) providing an elongated assembly including an elongated carrier and a flexible outer container supported on the carrier,b) providing a vaginal moisture absorbing swab at one end of the assembly to communicate with the interior of said outer container,c) providing a frangible inner container protectively located within the outer container, and providing a flowable aqueous alkaline fluid reactant within the inner container,d) exerting pressure on the outer container sufficient to rupture the inner container, thereby releasing said reactant into the interior of the outer container to enable reactant fluid flow to said swab, for reaction with bacteria containing vaginal moisture absorbed into the swab,e) whereby a gaseous product of said reaction may be detected, by characteristic odor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In the method of detecting pathogenic bacteria in the vagina, the steps that include providing an elongated assembly including an elongated carrier and a flexible outer container supported on the carrier; providing a vaginal moisture absorbing or porous material swab at one end of the assembly to communicate with the interior of the outer container; providing a frangible inner container protectively located within the outer container, and providing a flowable aqueous alkaline fluid reactant within the inner container, bending or exerting pressure on the outer container sufficient to rupture the inner container; thereby releasing reactant into the interior of the outer container to enable reactant fluid flow to the swab or porous material, for reaction with bacteria containing vaginal moisture absorbed into the swab or porous material, whereby a gaseous product of the reaction may be detected, by characteristic odor. The outer container may be defined in whole or in part by the porous material which may be woven.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. In the method of detecting pathogenic bacteria in the vagina, the steps that include
a) providing an elongated assembly including an elongated carrier and a flexible outer container supported on the carrier, b) providing a vaginal moisture absorbing swab at one end of the assembly to communicate with the interior of said outer container, c) providing a frangible inner container protectively located within the outer container, and providing a flowable aqueous alkaline fluid reactant within the inner container, d) exerting pressure on the outer container sufficient to rupture the inner container, thereby releasing said reactant into the interior of the outer container to enable reactant fluid flow to said swab, for reaction with bacteria containing vaginal moisture absorbed into the swab, e) whereby a gaseous product of said reaction may be detected, by characteristic odor.
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14. In apparatus for detecting pathogenic bacteria in the vagina, the combination that includes:
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a) an elongated assembly including an elongated carrier and a flexible outer container supported on the carrier, b) a vaginal moisture absorbing swab at one end of the assembly to communicate with the interior of said outer container, c) a frangible inner container protectively located within the outer container, and a flowable aqueous alkaline fluid reactant within the inner container, d) whereby pressure exerted on the outer container sufficient to rupture the inner container thereby releases said reactant into the interior of the outer container to enable reactant fluid flow to said swab, for reaction with bacteria containing vaginal moisture absorbed into the swab, e) and whereby a gaseous product of said reaction may be detected, by characteristic odor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In the method of detecting pathogenic bacteria in the vagina, the steps that include
a) providing an elongated assembly including an elongated carrier and a flexible outer container supported on the carrier, b) said outer container having porous means associated therewith, to communicate with the interior of the outer container, c) providing a frangible inner container protectively located within the outer container, and providing a flowable aqueous alkaline fluid reactant within the inner container, d) exerting pressure on the outer container sufficient to rupture the inner container, thereby releasing said reactant into the interior of the outer container to enable reactant fluid absorption into the interior of the outer container to enable reactant fluid flow to said porous means with bacteria containing vaginal moisture absorbed into the porous means, e) whereby a gaseous product of said reaction may be detected, by characteristic odor.
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32. In the method of detecting a substance in vaginal moisture, the steps that include
a) providing an elongated assembly including an elongated carrier and a flexible outer container supported on the carrier, b) providing porous means to communicate with the interior of the outer container, c) providing a frangible inner container protectively located within the outer container, and providing a flowable fluid reactant within the inner container, d) said porous means adapted to absorb vaginal moisture containing substance to be detected, e) exerting pressure on the outer container sufficient to rupture the inner container, thereby releasing said reactant into the interior of the outer container to enable reactant fluid access to said porous means to react with said substance enabling detection of said substance.
Specification