Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of an analyte in a subject mammal's perspiration, comprising: a water permeable support layer having a first and a second side; at least one first and at least one second reagent immobilized in the support layer; and adhesive tape, said adhesive tape having an upper and lower surface, said lower surface of said adhesive tape facing said second side of said support layer, said lower surface of said adhesive tape further comprising an adhesive substance and being adapted to secure the first side of the support layer in fluid communication with the subject mammal's skin, said adhesive tape comprising a plurality of stress razors disposed thereon so that the tape cannot readily be removed as a unitary whole, wherein water is permitted to escape through the support layer to the outside of the concentration patch, wherein the first reagent comprises a specific binding partner for the analyte to be determined, and wherein the second reagent comprises a specific binding partner for a reference substituent in the perspiration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of an analyte in a subject mammal's perspiration, comprising: a water permeable support layer having a first and a second side; at least one first and at least one second reagent immobilized in the support layer; and adhesive tape, said adhesive tape having an upper and lower surface, said lower surface of said adhesive tape facing said second side of said support layer, said lower surface of said adhesive tape further comprising an adhesive substance and being adapted to secure the first side of the support layer in fluid communication with the subject mammal's skin, said adhesive tape comprising a plurality of stress razors disposed thereon so that the tape cannot readily be removed as a unitary whole, wherein water is permitted to escape through the support layer to the outside of the concentration patch, wherein the first reagent comprises a specific binding partner for the analyte to be determined, and wherein the second reagent comprises a specific binding partner for a reference substituent in the perspiration.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of detecting false negative results in an assay of a body fluid from a subject, which false negative results are the result of noncompliance with a testing procedure of said assay by the subject, comprising the steps of: securing a test patch to a subject with adhesive tape, said adhesive tape having a plurality of stress razors disposed thereon, said test patch being secured such that it is placed in communication with a source of body fluid; allowing the test patch to remain in place for a sufficient test period to allow the presence of analyte to be determined; and thereafter examining the test patch to determine whether the test patch is torn, a torn test patch indicating that the test patch may not have been continuously secured to the subject.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of detecting false negative results in an assay of a body fluid from a subject, which false negative results are the result of noncompliance with a testing procedure of said assay by the subject, comprising the steps of: securing a test patch to a subject with adhesive tape, said adhesive tape having a plurality of stress razors disposed thereon, said test patch being secured such that it is placed in communication with a source of body fluid; allowing the test patch to remain in place for a sufficient test period to allow the presence of analyte to be determined; and thereafter examining the test patch to determine whether the test patch is torn, a torn test patch indicating that the test patch may not have been continuously secured to the subject.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
146 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of an analyte in a subject mammal's perspiration, in which false negative results produced through the subject's removal of the patch and replacement with another patch can be detected, said patch comprising: a water permeable support layer having a first side and a second side, said first side being capable of being placed in fluid communication with a subject's skin; means for removably securing the first side of the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; and an identifying marker incorporated into the patch which is unique to the patch and which is difficult for the subject to reproduce, the marker thereby identifying the patch as the patch which was initially applied to the subject, wherein the absence of the unique identifying marker in the patch after the patch is removed is indicative of false results.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of an analyte in a subject mammal's perspiration, in which false negative results produced through the subject's removal of the patch and replacement with another patch can be detected, said patch comprising: a water permeable support layer having a first side and a second side, said first side being capable of being placed in fluid communication with a subject's skin; means for removably securing the first side of the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; and an identifying marker incorporated into the patch which is unique to the patch and which is difficult for the subject to reproduce, the marker thereby identifying the patch as the patch which was initially applied to the subject, wherein the absence of the unique identifying marker in the patch after the patch is removed is indicative of false results.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The dermal concentration patch of claim 3, wherein the identifying marker is a bar code disposed in a position hidden from view of the subject.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The dermal concentration patch of claim 4, wherein the identifying marker is disposed between the support layer and the means for removably securing the patch, thereby disposing the marker in a position hidden from view of the subject.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, said patch being wearable by the subject for a test period of time, comprising: a water permeable support layer in which said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof can be concentrated; means for removably securing the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin, wherein said means is water permeable; and a false test result detector within said patch, said false test result detector providing an indication at the end of said test period of time if said patch has been tampered with, wherein water is permitted to escape through said support layer to the outside of said concentration patch, thereby allowing said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof to be concentrated in said support layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, said patch being wearable by the subject for a test period of time, comprising: a water permeable support layer in which said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof can be concentrated; means for removably securing the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin, wherein said means is water permeable; and a false test result detector within said patch, said false test result detector providing an indication at the end of said test period of time if said patch has been tampered with, wherein water is permitted to escape through said support layer to the outside of said concentration patch, thereby allowing said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof to be concentrated in said support layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A dermal concentration patch according to claim 6, wherein the false test result detector comprises a reagent which is a specific binding partner for a reference substituent in perspiration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A dermal concentration patch according to claim 7, wherein the reagent is immobilized in the support layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A dermal concentration patch according to claim 6, wherein the false test result detector comprises a soluble marker within the patch, the presence of said marker being detectable after completion of the test period, wherein a substantial loss in the quantity of soluble marker present in the patch is indicative of a false negative result.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
140 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, said patch being wearable by the subject for a test period of time, comprising: a water permeable support layer in which said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof can be concentrated; means for removably securing the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; and a false test result detector within said patch, said false test result detector providing an indication at the end of said test period of time if said patch has been tampered with, wherein the means for removably securing comprises an adhesive layer and wherein the false test result detector comprises a plurality of stress razors disposed on the adhesive layer so that the adhesive layer cannot readily be removed as a unitary whole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, said patch being wearable by the subject for a test period of time, comprising: a water permeable support layer in which said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof can be concentrated; means for removably securing the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; and a false test result detector within said patch, said false test result detector providing an indication at the end of said test period of time if said patch has been tampered with, wherein the means for removably securing comprises an adhesive layer and wherein the false test result detector comprises a plurality of stress razors disposed on the adhesive layer so that the adhesive layer cannot readily be removed as a unitary whole.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, said patch being wearable by the subject for a test period of time, comprising: a water permeable support layer in which said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof can be concentrated; means for removably securing the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; and a false test result detector within said patch, said false test result detector providing an indication at the end of said test period of time if said patch has been tampered with, wherein the false test result detector comprises an identifying marker unique to said patch which is difficult for the subject to reproduce, the marker thereby identifying the patch as the patch which was initially applied to the subject, wherein the absence of the unique identifying marker in the patch after the patch is removed is indicative of false negative results.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
159 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, said patch being wearable by the subject for a test period of time, comprising: a water permeable support layer in which said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof can be concentrated; means for removably securing the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; and a false test result detector within said patch, said false test result detector providing an indication at the end of said test period of time if said patch has been tampered with, wherein the false test result detector comprises an identifying marker unique to said patch which is difficult for the subject to reproduce, the marker thereby identifying the patch as the patch which was initially applied to the subject, wherein the absence of the unique identifying marker in the patch after the patch is removed is indicative of false negative results.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dermal concentration patch according to claim 11, wherein the identifying marker is a bar code disposed in a position hidden from view of the subject when the patch is worn by the subject.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A dermal concentration patch according to claim 12, wherein the identifying marker is disposed between the support layer and the means for removably securing the support layer, thereby disposing the marker in a position hidden from the view of the subject when the patch is worn by the subject.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration with a dermal concentration patch, comprising: removably securing a dermal concentration patch comprising a water permeable support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; accumulating perspiration from said subject in said support layer for a test period of time; permitting water to escape through the support layer to the outside of said patch, thereby concentrating the drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in the support layer; and detecting false test results, if present.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration with a dermal concentration patch, comprising: removably securing a dermal concentration patch comprising a water permeable support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; accumulating perspiration from said subject in said support layer for a test period of time; permitting water to escape through the support layer to the outside of said patch, thereby concentrating the drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in the support layer; and detecting false test results, if present.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting step comprises detecting whether the patch has been worn by the subject for substantially all of the test period.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the detecting step comprises binding a reference substituent in perspiration with a reagent in said support layer which is a specific binding partner of said substituent.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, comprising: removably securing a water permeable support layer in fluid communication with the subject'skin; accumulating perspiration from said subject in said support layer for a test period of time; permitting water to escape through the support layer, thereby concentrating the drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in the support layer; and detecting false test results if present; wherein the securing step comprises securing said support layer to the subject using adhesive material comprising a plurality of stress razors disposed on said material such that the material cannot be readily removed as a unitary whole.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, comprising: removably securing a water permeable support layer in fluid communication with the subject'skin; accumulating perspiration from said subject in said support layer for a test period of time; permitting water to escape through the support layer, thereby concentrating the drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in the support layer; and detecting false test results if present; wherein the securing step comprises securing said support layer to the subject using adhesive material comprising a plurality of stress razors disposed on said material such that the material cannot be readily removed as a unitary whole.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting step comprises detecting whether the adhesive material has been torn.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, comprising: removably securing a water permeable support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; accumulating perspiration from said subject in said support layer for a test period of time; permitting water to escape through the support layer, thereby concentrating the drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in the support layer; and detecting false test results if present; wherein the securing step comprises securing the support layer in combination with a concentration patch, and wherein the detecting step comprises including in said concentration patch an identifying marker unique to said patch which is difficult for the subject to reproduce and detecting whether the unique identifying marker identifying the patch secured to the subject is absent in the patch which is removed from the patient at the end of the test period.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, comprising: removably securing a water permeable support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; accumulating perspiration from said subject in said support layer for a test period of time; permitting water to escape through the support layer, thereby concentrating the drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in the support layer; and detecting false test results if present; wherein the securing step comprises securing the support layer in combination with a concentration patch, and wherein the detecting step comprises including in said concentration patch an identifying marker unique to said patch which is difficult for the subject to reproduce and detecting whether the unique identifying marker identifying the patch secured to the subject is absent in the patch which is removed from the patient at the end of the test period.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said identifying marker comprises a bar code disposed in a position hidden from view of the subject when the patch is worn by the subject, said detecting step further comprising detecting the presence or absence of said bar code.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of detecting false negative results in an assay of a body fluid from a subject, which false negative results are the result of noncompliance with a testing procedure of said assay by the subject, comprising the steps of: securing a test patch to a subject with adhesive tape, said test patch being secured such that it is placed in communication with a source of body fluid, said test patch having incorporated therein an identifying marker unique to said patch which is difficult for the subject to reproduce, the marker thereby identifying the patch as the patch which was initially applied to the subject; allowing the test patch to remain in place for a sufficient test period to allow the presence of analyte to be determined; and thereafter examining the test patch to detect whether the unique identifying marker identifying the patch secured to the subject is absent in the patch which is removed from the patient at the end of the test period, wherein the absence of the unique identifying marker in the patch when the patch is examined is indicative of false negative results.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of detecting false negative results in an assay of a body fluid from a subject, which false negative results are the result of noncompliance with a testing procedure of said assay by the subject, comprising the steps of: securing a test patch to a subject with adhesive tape, said test patch being secured such that it is placed in communication with a source of body fluid, said test patch having incorporated therein an identifying marker unique to said patch which is difficult for the subject to reproduce, the marker thereby identifying the patch as the patch which was initially applied to the subject; allowing the test patch to remain in place for a sufficient test period to allow the presence of analyte to be determined; and thereafter examining the test patch to detect whether the unique identifying marker identifying the patch secured to the subject is absent in the patch which is removed from the patient at the end of the test period, wherein the absence of the unique identifying marker in the patch when the patch is examined is indicative of false negative results.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said identifying marker comprises a bar code disposed in a position hidden from view of the subject when the patch is worn by the subject.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
202 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, said patch being wearable by the subject for a test period of time, comprising: a water permeable support layer in which said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof can be concentrated, said support layer having a first and second side; adhesive tape for removably securing the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin, said adhesive tape having an upper and lower surface, said lower surface of said adhesive tape facing said second side of said support layer, said lower surface of said adhesive tape further comprising an adhesive substance and being adapted to secure the first side of the support layer in fluid communication with the subject mammal's skin; and a false test result detector within said patch, said false test result detector providing an indication at the end of said test period of time if said patch has been tampered with, wherein the false test result detector comprises a chemical marker not readily absorbed by said subject mammal's skin, and wherein a decrease in the amount of said marker in said patch is indicative of false negative results.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
202 words
A dermal concentration patch for determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, said patch being wearable by the subject for a test period of time, comprising: a water permeable support layer in which said drug of abuse or metabolite thereof can be concentrated, said support layer having a first and second side; adhesive tape for removably securing the support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin, said adhesive tape having an upper and lower surface, said lower surface of said adhesive tape facing said second side of said support layer, said lower surface of said adhesive tape further comprising an adhesive substance and being adapted to secure the first side of the support layer in fluid communication with the subject mammal's skin; and a false test result detector within said patch, said false test result detector providing an indication at the end of said test period of time if said patch has been tampered with, wherein the false test result detector comprises a chemical marker not readily absorbed by said subject mammal's skin, and wherein a decrease in the amount of said marker in said patch is indicative of false negative results.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, comprising: removably securing a water permeable support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; accumulating perspiration from said subject in said support layer for a test period of time; and detecting false test results, if present; wherein the securing step comprises securing the support layer in combination with a concentration patch, wherein the detecting step comprises detecting in said concentration patch a chemical marker not readily absorbed by said subject mammal's skin, and wherein a decrease in the amount of said marker which is detected in said patch is indicative of false negative results.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of determining the presence of a drug of abuse or metabolite thereof in a subject mammal's perspiration, comprising: removably securing a water permeable support layer in fluid communication with the subject's skin; accumulating perspiration from said subject in said support layer for a test period of time; and detecting false test results, if present; wherein the securing step comprises securing the support layer in combination with a concentration patch, wherein the detecting step comprises detecting in said concentration patch a chemical marker not readily absorbed by said subject mammal's skin, and wherein a decrease in the amount of said marker which is detected in said patch is indicative of false negative results.