EP0364216B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Screening and monitoring instrument
Assignee: Gyrus Medical Ltd
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Filing: 1989-10-10
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Granted: 1996-01-17
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Expires: 2009-10-10
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for indicating a predisposition to kidney stone disease in humans, and also dehydration, and for monitoring the efficacy of hydration therapy, comprises a conductivity probe including a tip (11) which can be inserted into urine so that a drop thereof adheres to the tip, and display means for indicating the result as a derived function of conductivity (electrolyte concentration) in terms of urine specific gravity or osmolality. Preferably the probe electrodes (12, 13) are small and are spaced closely together so that the streamlines between the electrode tips are such that maximum current flows substantially within the adherent drop of urine.
Inventors
- 👤 Nigel Mark Goble
- 👤 Colin Charles Owen Goble
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/20; A61B5/201; A61B5/145; A61B5/14507; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
Apparatus for indicating a predisposition to kidney stone disease or dehydration and including electrodes to apply an alternating current to a urine sample to determine the conductivity thereof and means to display said conductivity, characterised in that the apparatus comprises probe means having a tip portion (11) in which the electrodes (12, 13) are included, the probe means being suitable for insertion into urine so that a sample thereof attaches to the tip portion in contact with the electrodes whereby the alternating current may be applied to the sample via the electrodes, and means for correlating the determined conductivity to the concentration of electrolytes in the urine sample, the display means indicating the predisposition as a derived function of the electrolyte concentration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
9 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1, including a temperature-compensation facility.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the electrodes (12, 13) are spaced less than 2mm apart and are 0.5mm or less in width.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that the probe has a diameter between 5 and 10 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the current has a minimum excitation frequency of 100KHz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the display means is powered by a miniature 12v cell and includes a regulator with low drop-out and low quiescent current.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the display means comprises a bargraph display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the elements of the display are related to the normal range of urinary electrical conductivity subdivided to indicate whether the specific gravity of the urine sample is above or below the upper limit of metastability.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for indicating a predisposition to kidney stone disease, dehydration, or other pathophysiological process which relates to hydration levels in humans, or for detecting or monitoring the treatment of dehydration, or for monitoring the efficacy of hydration therapy in humans, the method including the steps of applying an alternating current to a sample of urine by means of electrodes, determining the conductivity of the sample, and displaying the conductivity, characterised in that the method further comprises the steps of: - causing the sample of urine to attach to probe means (11) including the electrodes (12, 13), for the application of the alternating current to the urine sample, - correlating the conductivity of the sample to the concentration of electrolytes therein; and - indicating the predisposition or other condition being detected or monitored as a derived function of the electrolyte concentration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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