Apparatus for monitoring a level of a chemical species in a body fluid
First Claim
1. An apparatus for application to skin to monitor a level of a chemical species in a body fluid, the apparatus comprising:
- a fluid collection layer adapted for collecting the body fluid when the apparatus is applied to the skin, wherein the fluid collection layer is dry prior to being brought into contact with the body fluid;
a catalyst disposed in contact with the fluid collection layer so as to be in contact with the body fluid in the fluid collection layer, the catalyst facilitating a reaction of the chemical species; and
an indicator disposed in contact with the catalyst so as to be responsive to the reaction of the chemical species, wherein the indicator is selected to have a characteristic that changes in response to the reaction of the chemical species while the apparatus is applied to the skin, thereby indicating the level of the chemical species in the body fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring a level of a chemical species in a body fluid includes a fluid collection layer adapted for receiving the body fluid. The fluid collection layer is dry prior to being brought into contact with the body fluid. A catalyst is provided in, on, or near the fluid collection layer so as to be in contact with the body fluid in the fluid collection layer. The catalyst facilitates a reaction of the chemical species in the body fluid. An indicator, responsive to the reaction of the chemical species, is also provided in, on, or near the fluid collection layer. A characteristic of the indicator changes in response to the reaction of the chemical species, thereby indicating the level of the chemical species in the body fluid. This apparatus can be used, for example, to monitor the level of lactate in perspiration during activities, such as exercise or other athletic exertions.
57 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An apparatus for application to skin to monitor a level of a chemical species in a body fluid, the apparatus comprising:
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a fluid collection layer adapted for collecting the body fluid when the apparatus is applied to the skin, wherein the fluid collection layer is dry prior to being brought into contact with the body fluid;
a catalyst disposed in contact with the fluid collection layer so as to be in contact with the body fluid in the fluid collection layer, the catalyst facilitating a reaction of the chemical species; and
an indicator disposed in contact with the catalyst so as to be responsive to the reaction of the chemical species, wherein the indicator is selected to have a characteristic that changes in response to the reaction of the chemical species while the apparatus is applied to the skin, thereby indicating the level of the chemical species in the body fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for application to skin to monitor a level of lactate in perspiration, the apparatus comprising:
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a base layer adapted for placement on the skin of an animal, a reaction layer disposed on the base layer, the reaction layer comprising an enzyme for catalyzing a reaction of the lactate in the perspiration to form a product compound;
an indicator layer disposed on the reaction layer, the indicator layer comprising an indicator responsive to the product compound, wherein the indicator is selected to change color in the presence of the product compound while the apparatus is applied to the skin of the animal; and
a cover layer disposed over the indicator layer, the cover layer having a window for viewing the underlying indicator layer;
wherein the reaction layer and indicator layer are dry prior to being brought into contact with the perspiration. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for application to skin to monitor a level of a chemical species in a body fluid, the apparatus comprising:
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a fibrous substrate adapted for collecting the body fluid when the apparatus is applied to the skin;
a catalyst disposed in contact with the fibrous substrate so as to be in contact with the body fluid in the fibrous substrate, the catalyst facilitating a reaction of the chemical species in the body fluid; and
an indicator disposed in contact with the catalyst so as to be responsive to the reaction of the chemical species, wherein the indicator is selected to have a characteristic that changes in response to the reaction of the chemical species while the apparatus is applied to the skin, thereby indicating the level of the chemical species in the body fluid. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. An apparatus for application to skin to monitor a level of a chemical species in a body fluid, the apparatus comprising:
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a base layer adapted for placement on an animal, said base layer adapted to allow flow of body fluid through the base layer;
a fluid collection layer adapted for collecting the body fluid flowing through the base layer when the apparatus is applied to the skin, the fluid collection layer being positioned above the base layer;
a catalyst layer, the catalyst being selected to facilitate the reaction of the chemical species, the catalyst layer being positioned above the fluid collection layer; and
an indicator layer positioned above the catalyst layer, the indicator layer selected to have a characteristic that changes in response to a reaction of the chemical species while the apparatus is applied to the skin, thereby indicating the level of the chemical species in the body fluid;
wherein the body fluid from the fluid collection layer must pass through the catalyst layer to reach the indicator layer.- View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification