Menstrual fluid analysis
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorSeth Adrian Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A disposable menstrual fluid fractionation apparatus for use in situ during menstruation is disclosed. The apparatus may include a filter configured to remove a particulate component of menstrual fluid from a liquid component of the menstrual fluid. A receptacle may be coupled to the filter. The filter, receptacle, and an analyte sensor may be integrated into a disposable feminine hygiene product. The integrated analyte sensor may be configured to detect a target analyte in the liquid component and indicate the presence/concentration of the target analyte.
Claims27
A disposable menstrual fluid fractionation apparatus comprising:
- a porous matrix including an upstream surface with a first plurality of pores and a downstream surface with a second plurality of pores, the first and the second plurality of pores being permeable to a liquid component of a flow of menstrual fluid and the second plurality of pores being impermeable to a mammalian erythrocyte, and the average diameter of the second plurality of pores being less than the average diameter of the first plurality of pores, the first plurality of pores having an average diameter in the range of 5 μm to 50 μm and the second plurality of pores having an average diameter in the range of 0.001 μm to 5 μm;
- a receptacle coupled to the downstream surface of the porous matrix, the receptacle configured to receive a portion of the liquid component after passage of the flow of menstrual fluid through the porous matrix;
- a first detection reagent coupled to the porous matrix or the receptacle, the first detection reagent configured to interact with one or more second detection reagents of an analyte sensor to detect a target analyte in the liquid component;
- and
- a positioning element coupled to the porous matrix, the positioning element configured to retain the porous matrix in proximity to a flow of menstrual fluid, wherein the disposable menstrual fluid fractionation apparatus is configured to be coupled to a feminine hygiene product.
A non-invasive menstrual fluid analyte monitoring system comprising:
- an absorbent layer;
- a porous matrix coupled to the absorbent layer and including an upstream surface with a first plurality of pores and a downstream surface with a second plurality of pores, the first plurality of pores having an average diameter in the range of 5 μm to 50 μm and the second plurality of pores having an average diameter in the range of 0.001 μm to 5 μm, wherein the porous matrix is permeable to a liquid component of menstrual fluid and the second plurality of pores is impermeable to a mammalian erythrocytes;
- an analyte sensor operatively coupled to the porous matrix and including a detection matrix with an upstream end and a downstream end;
- and
- a first and a second detection reagent independently disposed between the upstream surface of the porous matrix and the downstream end of the detection matrix, the first detection reagent configured to interact with the second detection reagent to detect a target analyte in the liquid component of the menstrual fluid.
A method for manufacturing a menstrual fluid assay, the method comprising:
- providing a porous medium having an upstream surface and a downstream surface, wherein the average diameter of the pores of the upstream surface is in the range of 5 μm to 50 μm, and wherein the average diameter of the pores of the downstream surface is in the range of 0.001 μm to 5 μm, the porous medium being permeable to a liquid component of menstrual fluid and selectively impermeable to one or more particles in the menstrual fluid;
- coupling a first detection reagent to the porous medium;
- and
- coupling an analyte sensor to the porous medium, the analyte sensor including a detection matrix and one or more second detection reagents, wherein the analyte sensor is configured to detect an analyte in the liquid component, and
- wherein the menstrual fluid assay is configured to provide a path of liquid flow from the downstream surface of the porous medium through the detection matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.