Hydration Test Devices
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorXuedong Song
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a lateral flow assay device for determining the ionic strength of urine is described. The device includes a buffering zone having a polyelectrolyte disposed therein, and an indicator zone having a pH indicator non-diffusively immobilized therein, the indicator zone being separate from the buffering zone and positioned adjacent to and in fluid communication with the buffering zone. The device further includes casing material that covers at least a portion of the buffering zone and a portion of the indicator zone so as to prevent exposure of such covered portions to the outside environment.
Claims25
A method for quantitatively or semi-quantitatively determining the ionic strength of a test sample of urine, the method comprising:
- providing a lateral flow device comprising a fluidic medium, the fluidic medium defining a buffering zone and an indicator zone, the buffering zone including a polyelectrolyte disposed therein, the indicator zone including a pH indicator non-diffusively immobilized therein, the indicator zone being separate from the buffering zone and in fluid communication with the buffering zone, the polyelectrolyte capable of an ion-exchange with the urine so as to change the hydrogen ion concentration in the urine, the pH indicator capable of producing a signal corresponding to the hydrogen ion concentration in the urine;
- and
- contacting the test sample with a fluidic medium of the lateral flow device;
- determining the ionic strength of the urine based on the signal produced by the pH indicator.
A lateral flow assay device for determining the ionic strength of urine, the device comprising:
- a buffering zone, the buffering zone including a polyelectrolyte disposed therein;
- an indicator zone, the indicator zone including a pH indicator non-diffusively immobilized therein, the indicator zone being separate from the buffering zone and in fluid communication with the buffering zone.
An absorbent article capable of determining the ionic strength of urine comprising:
- a substantially liquid impermeable layer;
- a liquid permeable layer;
- an absorbent core positioned between the substantially liquid impermeable layer and the liquid permeable layer;
- and
- a lateral flow assay device integrated into the article and positioned such that the device is in fluid communication with the urine when provided by a wearer of the article, the device comprising:
- a buffering zone, the buffering zone including a polyelectrolyte disposed therein;
- an indicator zone, the indicator zone including a pH indicator non-diffusively immobilized therein, the indicator zone being separate from the buffering zone and positioned adjacent to and in fluid communication with the buffering zone;
- and
- casing material, the casing material covering at least a portion of the buffering zone and a portion of the indicator zone so as to prevent exposure of such covered portions to the outside environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.