Method and apparatus for measuring properties of a target surface
First Claim
1. A method for measuring properties of a target surface comprising natural tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a probe, said probe having a pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with each other, providing a voltage generator, said voltage generator being capable of supplying an increasing voltage between said electrodes, providing a voltage meter, said voltage meter being capable of indicating the voltage between said electrodes, placing said electrodes in contact with the target surface, supplying a monotonically increasing voltage from said voltage generator to said electrodes until current between said electrodes reaches a predetermined value, and noting said voltage which occurs when said current reaches said predetermined value.
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Abstract
A method for measuring the barrier properties of naturally occurring tissue, such as the skin. The method comprises the steps of providing a probe having a pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with each other, a voltage generator capable of supplying an increasing voltage between said electrodes, and a voltage meter capable of indicating the voltage between said electrodes. The electrodes are placed in contact with the target surface. An increasing voltage from is supplied from the voltage generator to the electrodes until current between said electrodes reaches a predetermined value. The voltage, which occurs when the current reaches the predetermined value, is noted. In another embodiment the invention comprises a device for measuring the barrier properties of the skin. The device comprises a probe. The probe has a pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with each other. The electrodes are noninvasively contactable with the skin of a subject, or other target surface. The device also comprises a voltage generator, capable of supplying an increasing voltage between the electrodes, and a voltage meter capable of indicating the voltage between the electrodes. The voltage meter indicates the voltage between the electrodes when current between the electrodes reaches a predetermined value.
37 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for measuring properties of a target surface comprising natural tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a probe, said probe having a pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with each other, providing a voltage generator, said voltage generator being capable of supplying an increasing voltage between said electrodes, providing a voltage meter, said voltage meter being capable of indicating the voltage between said electrodes, placing said electrodes in contact with the target surface, supplying a monotonically increasing voltage from said voltage generator to said electrodes until current between said electrodes reaches a predetermined value, and noting said voltage which occurs when said current reaches said predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for measuring properties of a target surface comprising natural tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a probe, said probe having a pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with each other, providing a voltage generator, said voltage generator being capable of supplying an increasing voltage between said electrodes, providing a voltage meter, said voltage meter being capable of indicating the voltage between said electrodes, placing said electrodes in contact with the target surface, supplying an increasing voltage from said voltage generator to said electrodes until current between said electrodes reaches a predetermined value, and noting said voltage which occurs when said current reaches said predetermined value, said method further comprising the step of monitoring the current between said electrodes in real time.
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11. A device for measuring the barrier properties of a target surface comprising natural tissue, said device comprising:
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a probe, said probe having a pair of spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with each other, said electrodes being spaced apart a distance of 3 to 10 mm, said electrodes being contactable with the skin of a subject, a voltage generator, said voltage generator being capable of supplying an increasing voltage between said electrodes, a voltage meter, said voltage meter being capable of indicating the voltage between said electrodes, whereby said voltage meter indicates the voltage between said electrodes when current therebetween reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification