US4010738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of predicting and detecting ovulation
Assignee: University of Pennsylvania
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Filing: 1975-04-02
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Granted: 1977-03-08
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Expires: 1995-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of monitoring the concentration of a given volatile organic compound, or of urea, or both, which compound(s) is commonly found in vaginal secretions is described as providing a reliable diagnostic indication of ovulation, and more particularly is described as providing a simple home-test method of predicting the onset of the fertile period, thereby increasing the reliability of the "rhythm method" of birth control.
Inventors
- 👤 George Preti
- 👤 George Richardson Huggins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/0012; A61D; A61D17/00; A61D17/002; A61B2010/0003; A61B2010/0006; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/906; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/17; Y10T436/171538
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of diagnosing the onset of the fertile period or ovulation in female mammals comprising the steps of: a. monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of one of said mammals for urea, said variation corresponding to the onset of the fertile period or ovulation of said mammal; and b. providing an indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to the concentration of said urea in said vaginal secretions; whereby the response of said means is diagnostic of the onset of the fertile period or ovulation in said female mammal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of diagnosing the onset of the fertile period or ovulation in female mammals comprising the steps of: a. monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of one of said mammals for urea, said variation corresponding to the onset of the fertile period or ovulation of said mammal; and b. providing an indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to the concentration of said urea in said vaginal secretions; whereby the response of said means is diagnostic of the onset of the fertile period or ovulation in said female mammal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said indicator means comprises at least one chemically inert binder impregnated with chemical means for detecting the concentration of said urea.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention of claim 2, wherein the concentration of the urea is monitored by bringing each of a plurality of said binders into contact with the vaginal secretions of said female mammal at spaced apart intervals to determine variations in concentration of said organic compound in said secretions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of diagnosing the onset of the fertile period or ovulation in a given female mammal comprising the steps of: a. monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of said mammal for at least urea, said variation corresponding to the onset of the fertile period or ovulation of said mammal, by providing indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to the concentration of said urea in said vaginal secretions; and c. evaluatisng the correspondence of the variation in concentration of said urea to the time of ovulation as indicated by other ovulation indicators; whereby said evaluation is diagnostic of ovulation in said given mammal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of diagnosing the onset of the fertile period or ovulation in a given female mammal comprising the steps of: a. monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of said mammal for at least urea, said variation corresponding to the onset of the fertile period or ovulation of said mammal, by providing indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to the concentration of said urea in said vaginal secretions; and c. evaluatisng the correspondence of the variation in concentration of said urea to the time of ovulation as indicated by other ovulation indicators; whereby said evaluation is diagnostic of ovulation in said given mammal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 4, wherein said indicator means comprises at least one chemically inert binder impregnated with chemical means for detecting the concentration of said urea.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention of claim 5, wherein the concentration of the urea is monitored by bringing each of a plurality of said binders into contact with the vaginal secretions of said female mammal at spaced apart intervals to determine variations in concentration of said urea in said secretions.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of predicting the fertile period of female mammals comprising the steps of: a. monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of one of said mammals for at least urea by beginning said monitoring at the cessation of the menses, said variation corresponding to the onset of the fertile period or ovulation of said mammal; and b. providing an indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to the concentration of said compound in said vaginal secretions; whereby the response of said means predicts the onset of the fertile period or ovulation of said mammal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of predicting the fertile period of female mammals comprising the steps of: a. monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of one of said mammals for at least urea by beginning said monitoring at the cessation of the menses, said variation corresponding to the onset of the fertile period or ovulation of said mammal; and b. providing an indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to the concentration of said compound in said vaginal secretions; whereby the response of said means predicts the onset of the fertile period or ovulation of said mammal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 7, wherein a first response of said indicator means indicating an increase in said urea concentration predicts the onset of the fertile period of said female mammal by at least 2 days.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 8, wherein a second response of said indicator means indicating an increase in said urea concentration and occurring at least four days after said first response predicts ovulation by at least 2 days.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 9, wherein said indicator means comprises at least one chemically inert binder impregnated with chemical means for detecting the concentration of said urea.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention of claim 10, wherein the concentration of urea is monitored by bringing each of a plurality of said binders into contact with the vaginal secretions of said human female at spaced apart intervals to determine the occurrence of said first and second responses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention of claim 11, wherein said indicator means also qualitatively and quantitatively responds to the concentration of a volatile organic acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid and lactic acid in said vaginal secretions, and wherein a first response indicating an increase in said organic acid and occurring at least 6 days after said first urea response is indicative of ovulation.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of predicting the fertile period of a given female mammal comprising the steps of: a. monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of said female mammal for at least the urea found in said vaginal secretions, beginning after the cessation of menses, said variation corresponding to onset of the fertile period of said mammal, by b. providing indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to said concentration of urea; and c. evaluating the correspondence of said variation in concentration to the fertile period as indicated by other ovulation indicators; whereby said evaluation is diagnostic of ovulation for said given mammal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of predicting the fertile period of a given female mammal comprising the steps of: a. monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of said female mammal for at least the urea found in said vaginal secretions, beginning after the cessation of menses, said variation corresponding to onset of the fertile period of said mammal, by b. providing indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to said concentration of urea; and c. evaluating the correspondence of said variation in concentration to the fertile period as indicated by other ovulation indicators; whereby said evaluation is diagnostic of ovulation for said given mammal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 13, wherein said indicator means is a gas-chromatograph.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 14, wherein said indicator means is brought into contact with the vaginal secretions of said female mammal at spaced apart intervals to determine variations in concentration of said urea.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 15, wherein said spaced apart intervals occur at least every thirty-six hours.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of predicting the fertile period of a human female comprising the steps of: a. impregnating a plurality of binders with chemical means for detecting the concentration of urea thereby forming a plurality of impregnated binders; b. bringing each of said impregnated binders into contact with the vaginal secretions of said female at spaced apart intervals to determine the variations in concentration of urea present in said secretions; and c. observing the variations in concentration of urea in said secretions as indicated by said impregnated binder, a normal concentration of said urea appearing after the cessation of menses; a first increase in said urea concentration over said normal concentration predicting the onset of said fertile period by at least 2 days, and a second increase over said normal concentrations occurring at least 4 days after said first increase predicting ovulation by at least 2 days.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of predicting the fertile period of a human female comprising the steps of: a. impregnating a plurality of binders with chemical means for detecting the concentration of urea thereby forming a plurality of impregnated binders; b. bringing each of said impregnated binders into contact with the vaginal secretions of said female at spaced apart intervals to determine the variations in concentration of urea present in said secretions; and c. observing the variations in concentration of urea in said secretions as indicated by said impregnated binder, a normal concentration of said urea appearing after the cessation of menses; a first increase in said urea concentration over said normal concentration predicting the onset of said fertile period by at least 2 days, and a second increase over said normal concentrations occurring at least 4 days after said first increase predicting ovulation by at least 2 days.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 17, wherein said binders are feminine tampons.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 17, wherein said chemical means for detecting the concentration of urea respond with a color change reaction which gives a direct linear indication on said means of the concentration of said urea.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
155 words
A birth control method comprising the steps of: a. predicting the fertile period of a female mammal by monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of said mammal for urea by beginning said monitoring at the cessation of menses; b. providing an indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to the concentration of said urea in said vaginal secretions whereby a first response of said indicator means indicating an increase in said urea concentration predicts the onset of the fertile period of said female mammal by at least two days, and wherein a second response of said indicator means indicating an increase in said urea concentration and occurring at least four days after said first response predicts ovulation by at least two days, and c. causing said mammal to avoid exposure to fertilization beginning no more than two days after said first increase and ending at least seventy-two hours after said second increase.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
155 words
A birth control method comprising the steps of: a. predicting the fertile period of a female mammal by monitoring the variation in concentration of the vaginal secretions of said mammal for urea by beginning said monitoring at the cessation of menses; b. providing an indicator means for qualitatively and quantitatively responding to the concentration of said urea in said vaginal secretions whereby a first response of said indicator means indicating an increase in said urea concentration predicts the onset of the fertile period of said female mammal by at least two days, and wherein a second response of said indicator means indicating an increase in said urea concentration and occurring at least four days after said first response predicts ovulation by at least two days, and c. causing said mammal to avoid exposure to fertilization beginning no more than two days after said first increase and ending at least seventy-two hours after said second increase.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-07 | 1980-09-06 | 1981-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-07 | 1984-09-06 | 1985-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-07 | 1988-09-06 | 1989-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |