Apparatus, method and system for determining a physiological condition within a mammal

An apparatus for measuring a physiological condition within a mammal comprising:

• an elongated housing extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the housing having an internal cavity;
• a transverse wall extending along the longitudinal axis that separates the internal cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first and second chambers isolated from one another and extending in an axially adjacent manner along the longitudinal axis;
• a par-cylindrical cutout in the elongated housing forming an open end of the first chamber and exposing a portion of the transverse wall;
• a pH sensor for measuring pH within a body lumen of the mammal and a temperature sensor for measuring temperature within the body lumen of the mammal, the pH sensor and the temperature sensor operably coupled to a first circuit board and located on the exposed portion of the transverse wall;
• a par-cylindrical cover having a well for collecting biological fluids, the well defined by an annular wall and a floor, and first and second openings forming first and second passageways through the floor of the well respectively;
• the par-cylindrical cover secured to the elongated housing so that the pH sensor is exposed via the first opening and the temperature sensor is exposed via the second opening, the par-cylindrical cover covering the par-cylindrical cutout so as to hermetically seal the open end of the first chamber;
• a memory device located within the first chamber and operably coupled to tile first circuit board, the memory device storing parametric data unique to the pH sensor;
• wherein the pH sensor is an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) and the parametric data includes first ISFET slope data determined at ambient temperature and second ISFET slope data determined at normal body temperature;
• a second housing comprising a socket, the elongated housing extending from the socket of the second housing, the second housing forming a handle to manipulate the elongated housing:
• wherein the second housing houses a microprocessor for receiving and processing signals generated by the pH sensor and the temperature sensor, the microprocessor generating an output signal based on the processing of the signals from the pH sensor and the temperature sensor, and a display device for displaying the output signal generated by the microprocessor, the microprocessor and the display device operably coupled to a second circuit board;
• a first interface connector located at a proximal portion of the elongated housing and operably coupled to the first circuit board;
• a second interface connector located at the second housing and operably coupled to the second circuit board;
• wherein when the elongated housing is connected to and extends from the socket of the second housing, the first and second interface connectors are in electrical connection so that the microprocessor retrieves the parametric data from the memory device and receives the signals generated by the pH sensor and tile temperature sensor;
• and
• wherein the output signal represents the measured physiological condition and comprises vaginal health, cervical health, and/or fertility status.

An apparatus for measuring a physiological condition within a mammal comprising:

• an elongated probe for insertion into a body lumen of the mammal, the probe comprising a first circuit board operably coupling an ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) for measuring pH within the body lumen and generating a pH signal indicative of the measured pH, a temperature sensor for measuring temperature within the body lumen and generating a temperature signal indicative of the measured temperature, a diaphragm in contact with an electrolyte solution buffered at a known pH, a memory device storing ISFET slope data at both ambient temperature and normal body temperature for the ISFET, and a first interface connector, wherein the ISFET, temperature sensor and diaphragm are located at a distal portion of the probe and the first interface connector is located at a proximal portion of the probe;
• a handle for manipulating the probe, the handle comprising a second circuit board operably coupling a microprocessor for receiving the pH and temperature signals and generating an output signal based on the processing of the pH and temperature signals and the ISFET slope data, a display device for displaying the output signal generated by the microprocessor, and a second interface connector;
• the probe connected to the handle in a manner that allows the probe and the handle to be repetitively engaged and disengaged from each other;
• wherein when the probe is connected to the handle, the first and second interface connectors are in electrical connection so that the microprocessor retrieves the ISFET slope data from the memory device of the probe and receives the pH and temperature signals;
• and
• wherein the output signal represents the measured physiological condition and comprises vaginal health, cervical health, and/or fertility status.