Passive measurement of isotopes to monitor health
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the presence of a catabolic state in an essentially isotopically enriched animal, comprising the steps of:
- collecting a sample selected from the group consisting of breath, whole blood, blood immunoglobin, hemoglobin, urine, hair tissue, feathers, horns, hooves, nails, skin, shells and membranes from the animal;
measuring the relative amount of a first isotope to a second isotope in the sample;
the isotopes being the pair 13 C and 12 C, or being the pair 15 N and 14 N;
comparing said measured relative amount of the sample with a relative amount of said pair isotopes in a comparison specimen other than the sample; and
determining from the comparison step whether a catabolic state is present in the animal wherein the change in the isotope ratios either increasing or decreasing is indicative of a catabolic state.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for determining the presence of a catabolic state in an organism (or collection of organisms) by measuring changes in isotopic ratios in biological materials obtained from them. Preferably, 13 C/12 C ratios are monitored for isotopically unenriched animals, such as by testing changes in the ratio in blood or breath.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of determining the presence of a catabolic state in an essentially isotopically enriched animal, comprising the steps of:
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collecting a sample selected from the group consisting of breath, whole blood, blood immunoglobin, hemoglobin, urine, hair tissue, feathers, horns, hooves, nails, skin, shells and membranes from the animal; measuring the relative amount of a first isotope to a second isotope in the sample; the isotopes being the pair 13 C and 12 C, or being the pair 15 N and 14 N; comparing said measured relative amount of the sample with a relative amount of said pair isotopes in a comparison specimen other than the sample; and
determining from the comparison step whether a catabolic state is present in the animal wherein the change in the isotope ratios either increasing or decreasing is indicative of a catabolic state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of determining the presence of a metabolic state in an essentially isotopically unenriched population of at least a plurality of animals or microorganisms in an enclosure, comprising the steps of:
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collecting a sample of air from the enclosure; measuring the relative amount of a first isotope to a second isotope in the sample; the isotopes being the pair 13 C and 12 C, or being the pair 15 N and 14 N; comparing the measured relative amount with a warning level relative amount of said pair of isotopes; and determining from the comparison whether a catabolic state is present in the population. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification