Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to novel methods and apparatus for noninvasively collecting substances through mucosal tissues. The concentration of a substance in blood is monitored noninvasively by correlation with the amount of the substance which permeates a mucosal membrane into a substance receiving medium over a specified time period. The substance receiving medium may include an substance permeation enhancer capable of increasing the substance permeability across the mucosal membrane. The substance receiving medium is positioned against the mucosal membrane. After sufficient time delay, the substance receiving medium is removed and analyzed for the concentration of a substance to be measured using known analytical techniques. The apparatus within the scope of the present invention includes means for supporting the substance receiving medium. The means for supporting the receiving medium provides an added benefit of isolating the substance receiving medium from contamination sources. Such means for supporting the substance receiving medium may include a housing defining a receiving chamber therein which holds the substance receiving medium and an opening to the receiving chamber. The apparatus also preferably includes means for temporarily positioning the substance receiving medium against the mucosal membrane. The present invention also naturally utilizes the mucosa as filter membrane to exclude compounds in plasma that would interfere with any analysis or make any analysis more difficult. Analysis of substances in receiving medium may be significantly easier than in plasma. An artificial membrane may be used to further exclude other undesirable compounds.

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First Claim