US3509872A - Body fluid test stick - Google Patents

Description

May 5, 1970 A. TRUHAN BODY FLUID TEST STICK Filed Nov. 30, 1967 ANDREW TRUHAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,509,872 BODY FLUID TEST STICK Andrew Truhan, Florence Ave. & Broadway, Somerset, NJ. 07735 Filed Nov. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 686,967 Int. Cl. A61b 10/00 US. Cl. 128-2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A small inert absorbent reagent holder is impregnated with a chemical, for example, a mixture of equal parts of sulfanilic acid-dimethyl-a.-naphthylamine to act as an indicator reagent. The absorbent element is mounted on one end of an inert plastic stick and is covered with a perforated plastic shield to prevent contact of the reagent with the skin. The assembly of elements described is encased in an envelope of moisture and light-proof plastic, preferably filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen, the reagent thus being protected from oxidation and damage from light so that the shelf life of the device is prolonged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention relates to the medical diagnostic art. Various means have been developed for determining abnormal conditions of the body fluid such as for example infections in the urinary tract. This is the purpose of the present invention and provides simple means for simply indicating the presence of, for example, infection in urine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An absorbent pad of silicone or polysiloxane resins, spun fiber or other similar generally inert material is mounted on one end of a generally inert plastic stick to be held in the hand during the use of the device. Because the chemicals employed as the test or indicator reagent are often skin irritants, a clear perforated, preferably cylindrical, plastic shield is slipped over the reagent holder and is held thereon by frictional engagement therewith. The perforated shield permits the passage of urine or other body fluids into the reagent holder to be absorbed thereby and react with the reagent. If, for example, an infection of a certain type is present, the reagent will then change in color and the color change will be visible through the clear plastic shield.

Preferably the device is shipped and stored encased in an envelope, preferably of brown-colored plastic, to render it substantially opaque, and the envelope is filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen, which has no effect on the reagent absorbed on the reagent holder. The reagent is thus protected from the deteriorating effects of light, and the exclusion of oxygen and moisture within the envelope by filling it with nitrogen protects the reagent against oxidation and the like. Thus the shelf life of the enveloped device is greatly prolonged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled device ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing the shield removed therefrom;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the device encased in a substantially opaque plastic envelope, a portion of the envelope being broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the numeral 10 designates an absorbent reagent holder of inert material, such as a silicone foam or fiber, spun glass fiber, or the like. Such reagent holder is mounted on the end of an inert plastic stick 12, the free end of the stick serving as a handle. The reagent holder is impregnated with a suitable test reagent such as, for example, a reagent comprising equal parts of sulfanilic acid-dimethyl-a-naphthylamine which is sensitive to certain urinary infections so as to turn red on contact therewith.

The reagent holder is substantially circular in crosssection throughout its length and is covered by a preferably cylindrical shield 14 formed of a clear inert plastic maintained in position on the holder 10 by friction. The shield 14 is provided with a number of perforations 16 (FIG. 3) for the flow of urine through the shield into contact with the reagent holder 10.

After the article has been completed and assembled in the manner stated, it is placed in an envelope 18 of dark brown or other opaque inert plastic. The device is inserted into the envelope through the normally open end 20 of the envelope. Nitrogen or any other inert gas is then caused to flow into the envelope to displace oxygen therefrom to fill the space 22 within the envelope. The normally open end of the envelope is then sealed. The article is then ready for shipment and storage. The opaque envelope protects the reagent against deterioration by light and the inert gas within the envelope prevents oxidation of the reagent. Thus the enveloped item has a sub stantial shelf life.

To use the device, the end 20 of the envelope. may be cut off, whereupon the stick, reagent holder and shield 14 may be withdrawn from the envelope. Urine may be brought into contact with the device by any suitable manner. However, the device is particularly suited for direct application and the user is protected from possible skin irritation by the perforated plastic shield 14. If certain types of infection are present in the urine, the reagent will immediately turn red, thus instantly indicating the presence of the infection. As hereinbefore mentioned, shield 14 is preferably employed to prevent accidental contact of the reagent with the person of the user and at the same time the perforations 16 permit the ready entrance of urine into the body of the reagent holder, and the shield 14, being of clear transparent plastic, renders the reagent clearly visible so that the presence of infection may be determined. After such use the user may reinsert the device within the plastic envelope and deliver the re-enveloped device to his physician.

It will be apparent that the present device provides a quick and economical means for determining the presence of infections or diseases in body fluids or organs producing such fluids to guide the physician in the treatment of the patient.

I claim:

1. A diagnostic test device comprising an assembly including an inert absorbent test reagent holder impregnated with a reagent indicator, an inert plastic stick mounting said absorbent material at one end, the opposite end of said stick serving as a handle, and a transparent shield covering said inert absorbent reagent holder, said shield being provided with a multiplicity of small openings therethrough to permit rapid flow of the fluid to be tested to the reagent holder while preventing contact between the skin of the user and the reagent holder.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said reagent holder is substantially circular in cross-section, said shield being cylindrical and fitting over and engaging said reagent holder to be supported in position thereon by friction.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the assembly is housed in a sealed envelope of substantially opaque material to protect the reagent in said holder from deterioration by the action of light.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the assembly is housed in an envelope filled with an inert gas to protect the reagent in said holder from oxidation.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the assembly is housed in an envelope filled with an inert gas to protect the reagent in said holder from oxidation, said envelope being formed of substantially opaque material to protect the reagent in said holder from deterioration by the action of light.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 58,186 9/1866 Bourquard 128-260 639,864 12/1899 Von Raitz 128-270 Jacobius 23-253 Robinson 128-285 Sapit et'al 128-2 Melges 128-2 Rieckmann et a1 23-253 Pell 128-2 I Powell 206-632 Evans et al. 23-253 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany. Great Britain. Great Britain.

US. Cl. X.R.

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