Apparatus and method for evoking and capturing a sweat sample
First Claim
1. An apparatus and method for evoking, capturing, and optionally measuring one or more parameters within a sweat sample, the apparatus comprising,a) at least one skin capsule comprising i) a capsule chamber adapted to be removably positioned in sealed contact with the skin, in order to contain sweat evoked from the underlying skin, ii) one or more sensors operably connected to the capsule chamber and adapted to measure corresponding parameters within the capsule chamber itself, iii) gas inlet and outlet conduits adapted to controllably deliver desiccated gas and recover gas from the capsule chamber, respectively, and iv) an electrical contact adapted to receive electrical energy from a controller in order to deliver the energy to a corresponding iontophoretic active electrode contact, b) at least one iontophoretic chemical chamber comprising i) a biocompatible polymeric material forming a chamber adapted to be removably retained upon the skin of a patient, ii) a stimulating agent stably retained within the chemical chamber in a manner that permits the agent to be make iontophoretic contact with the skin, and iii) an iontophoretic active electrode contact, adapted to make contact with the electrical contact of the skin capsule, in order to form an active electrode for the delivery of stimulating agent from the chemical chamber and to the skin, each chemical chamber being adapted to be affixed to a skin capsule in a manner that permits the resultant capsule/chemical chamber assembly to be operated in order to be positioned upon and evoke a sweat response from the skin, by iontophoretic delivery of the stimulating agent, and adapted, in turn, to contain a known volume of the sweat evoked, in the form of moisture within the capsule chamber, and c) a controller adapted to control and coordinate the operation of the apparatus, including the iontophoretic chemical chamber and sensors.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and related method for evoking, capturing, and optionally measuring one or more parameters within a sweat sample on the surface of the skin. The apparatus includes the use of an iontophoresis chemical chamber adapted to evoke a sweat sample, the chemical chamber being matably attached to a skin capsule adapted to contain the evoked sample. The skin capsule, in turn, is provided with one or more sensors to permit the on site determination of a corresponding number of parameters within the sample.
38 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus and method for evoking, capturing, and optionally measuring one or more parameters within a sweat sample, the apparatus comprising,
a) at least one skin capsule comprising i) a capsule chamber adapted to be removably positioned in sealed contact with the skin, in order to contain sweat evoked from the underlying skin, ii) one or more sensors operably connected to the capsule chamber and adapted to measure corresponding parameters within the capsule chamber itself, iii) gas inlet and outlet conduits adapted to controllably deliver desiccated gas and recover gas from the capsule chamber, respectively, and iv) an electrical contact adapted to receive electrical energy from a controller in order to deliver the energy to a corresponding iontophoretic active electrode contact, b) at least one iontophoretic chemical chamber comprising i) a biocompatible polymeric material forming a chamber adapted to be removably retained upon the skin of a patient, ii) a stimulating agent stably retained within the chemical chamber in a manner that permits the agent to be make iontophoretic contact with the skin, and iii) an iontophoretic active electrode contact, adapted to make contact with the electrical contact of the skin capsule, in order to form an active electrode for the delivery of stimulating agent from the chemical chamber and to the skin, each chemical chamber being adapted to be affixed to a skin capsule in a manner that permits the resultant capsule/chemical chamber assembly to be operated in order to be positioned upon and evoke a sweat response from the skin, by iontophoretic delivery of the stimulating agent, and adapted, in turn, to contain a known volume of the sweat evoked, in the form of moisture within the capsule chamber, and c) a controller adapted to control and coordinate the operation of the apparatus, including the iontophoretic chemical chamber and sensors.
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7. An apparatus for capturing and measuring one or more parameters within a sweat sample, the apparatus comprising,
a) at least one skin capsule comprising i) a capsule chamber adapted to be removably positioned in sealed contact with the skin, in order to contain sweat evoked from the underlying skin, ii) one or more sensors operably connected to the capsule chamber and adapted to measure corresponding parameters within the capsule chamber itself; - and
iii) gas inlet and outlet conduits adapted to controllably deliver desiccated gas and recover gas from the capsule chamber, respectively, and b) a controller adapted to control and coordinate the operation of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification