Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for confirming the presence of the ex vivo products of conception in a sample obtained from a therapeutic abortion or suspected spontaneous abortion comprising determining the presence of a significant amount of fetal fibronectin in the sample in comparison to a negative control, the presence of a significant amount of fetal fibronectin indicating the presence of the products of conception in the sample.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for confirming the presence of the ex vivo products of conception in a sample obtained from a therapeutic abortion or suspected spontaneous abortion comprising determining the presence of a significant amount of fetal fibronectin in the sample in comparison to a negative control, the presence of a significant amount of fetal fibronectin indicating the presence of the products of conception in the sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sample is removed from the uterine cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sample includes vaginal discharge during a suspected spontaneous abortion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of a) contacting the sample with an anti-(fetal restricted antigen) antibody for a time sufficient to permit antigen-antibody binding to occur; and b) determining the presence of said binding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 4 comprising the steps of a) contacting the sample with an insoluble support to which anti-(fetal fibronectin) antibody is adhered for a time sufficient to permit antigen-antibody binding to occur, and removing the sample from the support; b) contacting the insoluble support with an anti-fibronectin antibody for a time sufficient to permit antigen-antibody binding to occur, and removing unbound anti-fibronectin antibody from the support; and c) determining the presence of anti-fibronectin antibody on the insoluble support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the anti-(fetal restricted antigen class) antibody has a physically detectable label.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the presence of anti-fibronectin antibody is determined by a) contacting the insoluble support with a labeled antibody which binds preferentially with the anti-fibronectin antibody and removing unbound labeled antibody from the support; and b) determining the presence of the label on the insoluble support.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of a) contacting the sample with an insoluble support to which anti-fibronectin antibody is adhered for a time sufficient to permit antigen-antibody binding to occur, and removing the sample from the support; b) contacting the insoluble support with an anti-(fetal fibronectin) antibody for a time sufficient to permit antigen-antibody binding to occur, and removing unbound anti-(fetal fibronectin) antibody from the support; and c) determining the presence of anti-(fetal fibronectin) antibody on the insoluble support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the anti-(fetal restricted antigen) antibody has a physically detectable label.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the presence of anti-(fetal fibronectin) antibody is determined by a) contacting the insoluble support with a labeled antibody which binds preferentially with the anti-(fetal fibronectin) antibody, and removing unbound labeled antibody from the support; and b) determining the presence of the label on the insoluble support.