PERSONAL HYGIENE WIPE WITH INTEGRAL URINE GLUCOSE DETECTION FEATURE

Abstract

A personal hygiene wipe with an integral urine glucose detection feature. The wipe includes a substrate that is adapted for impregnation with a composition having one or more drying, cleaning, odor control, or antibacterial properties. The wipe also is saturated with a chemical composition for detecting glucose in urine. When glucose is detected, the wipe turns to a different color.

Claims

1. A hygiene wipe, said wipe comprising: a substrate adapted for impregnation with a composition having one or more drying, cleaning, odor control, or antibacterial properties; and a chemical composition for detecting glucose in urine, wherein said substrate is impregnated with said composition.

2. The hygiene wipe of claim 1, wherein said substrate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, wood pulp and viscose.

3. The hygiene wipe of claim 1, wherein when said wipe is subjected to glucose in urine, at least a portion of said wipe changes to a different color.

4. The hygiene wipe of claim 3, wherein said change in color persist after said wipe is no longer subjected to glucose.

5. The hygiene wipe of claim 1, wherein said composition is comprised of the ingredients of catalase enzyme, iodide salt, starch and benzoic acid.

6. The hygiene wipe of claim 5, wherein the proportion of said catalase enzyme in said composition by mole weight is 1.875*10{circumflex over ( )}−10 mol/wt.

7. The hygiene wipe of claim 6, wherein the proportion of said iodide salt in said composition by mole weight is 1.563*10{circumflex over ( )}−11 mol/wt.

8. The hygiene wipe of claim 7, wherein the proportion of said starch in said composition by mole weight is ˜7.401*10{circumflex over ( )}−7 mol/wt.

9. The hygiene wipe of claim 8, wherein the proportion of said benzoic acid in said composition by mole weight is 4.094*10{circumflex over ( )}−5 mol/wt.

10. The hygiene wipe of claim 1, wherein said composition is comprised of the ingredients of glucose oxidase enzyme and anthocyanin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The novel features of the present invention are set out with particularity in the appended claims, but the invention will be understood more fully and clearly from the following detailed description of the invention as set forth in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 block diagram of how the humane body digests food into glucose and how glucose enters body cells;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of a personal hygiene wipe with integral urine glucose detection feature in accordance with the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken alone line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a diagram of one example of a chemical composition used in the present invention; and

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a container for the personal hygiene wipe with integral urine glucose detection feature in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0038] An example embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the personal hygiene wipe 200 of the present invention. The wipe includes a substrate 201. The substrate is the material which gives the wipe a physical structure and is used to hold urine glucose detection ingredients as will be discussed below. Substrate 201 has a top surface 202 and a bottom surface 203 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of substrate 201 taken along line 3-3 as shown in FIG. 2. Thickness 204 of substrate 201 is determined by the material used to form substrate 201 as well as its desired strength and rigidity. By way of example only, such thickness can range from 0.0254 to 0.254 millimeters.

[0041] Substrate 201 can be formed of a number of materials that are known in the art, including cotton, polyester, wood pulp and viscose. Cotton is soft to the touch and has liquid-absorbing and retaining properties. Polyester is made of plastic fiber and is known to have good strength. Wood pulp provides a wipe with a high surface area and a flat ribbon-like morphology which gives it high absorbency properties. Viscos is a type of rayon fabric made from wood pulp and has good absorbency, high strength and good softness. Other materials that are known in the art may be used as well.

[0042] As show in FIG. 2, substrate 201 is depicted as being generally rectangular in construction. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Substrate 201 may be formed in other shapes that are consistent with the objectives of the invention. Substrate 201 may be of a size that makes it convenient for packing a plurality of wipes in a user-friendly commercial wipes container for easy carrying and dispensing. Such a container is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0043] By way of example only, subtract 201 may have size of 4 inches by 8 inches.

[0044] In order to complete construction of wipe 200, substrate 201 is saturated in a liquid comprising the active ingredients: [0045] Glucose oxidase enzyme; [0046] Catalase enzyme; [0047] Iodide salt; and [0048] Starch.
Alternatively, the following ingredients can be used: [0049] Glucose Oxidase enzyme; and [0050] An Anthocyanin.

[0051] The proportions of each ingredient by mole weight are as follows: [0052] Glucose Oxidase−1.875*10{circumflex over ( )}−10 mol/wt [0053] Catalase−1.563*10{circumflex over ( )}−11 mol/wt [0054] Potassium Iodide−6.024*10{circumflex over ( )}−4 mol/wt [0055] Starch−˜7.401*10{circumflex over ( )}−7 mol/wt [0056] Benzoic Acid−4.094*10{circumflex over ( )}−5 mol/wt** ** Made up to a pH of 5 with 6.4886*10{circumflex over ( )}−6 mol/wt of NaOH

[0057] The above ingredients may also be express by activity level as follows: [0058] Glucose Oxidase−1.875*10{circumflex over ( )}−10 mol/wt activity−100 U/mg [0059] Catalase−1.563*10{circumflex over ( )}−11 mol/wt activity−˜30,000 U/mL [0060] Potassium Iodide−6.024*10{circumflex over ( )}−4 mol/wt [0061] Starch−˜7.401*10{circumflex over ( )}−7 mol/wt [0062] 5 Benzoic Acid−4.094*10{circumflex over ( )}−5 mol/wt** ** Made up to a pH of 5 with 6.4886*10{circumflex over ( )}−6 mol/wt of NaOH

[0063] When the wipe of the invention comes into contact with urine, glucose in the urine which is above a predetermined level reacts with oxygen and water and is catalyzed by glucose oxidase to give gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide then oxidizes iodide ions to iodine, catalyzed by catalase. The iodine then forms a matrix with starch to produce a blue-black color to indicate to the user the present of glucose in the urine.

[0064] FIG. 4 is the structural formula of the above indigents.

[0065] With reference to FIG. 4, the first step detects glucose in the urine. This is the reaction of D-glucose with oxygen and water via glucose oxidase to produce D-gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Glucose oxidase is an enzyme that is highly specific to glucose and will generally only catalyze this specific reaction:

(D-Glucose+2H.sub.2O+O.sub.2 Glucose Oxidase.fwdarw.D-Gluconic Acid+2H.sub.2O.sub.2)

[0066] The second step is where the indication of test results occurs. The hydrogen peroxide produced in step one is catalytically decomposed via the enzyme catalase into water and oxygen. The iodide ions likely donate electrons to this process, oxidizing to iodine solid. The iodine is then trapped inside the folds of the starch molecules producing the blue-black colour observed.

(2H.sub.2O.sub.2+2H.sup.++2e.sup.−->2H.sub.2O)

[0067] The presence of glucose in urine is called glycosuria or glucosuria. In a healthy person, glucose is not usually found in urine. However, glucose can still be present in urine and range between 0 to 0.8 mmol/l (0 to 15 mg/dL) and still be considered normal. The color change in the wipe of the present invention is designed to be triggered by a glucose level above 25 mg/dl.

[0068] Applicant has found that it takes only a few drops of urine for the inventive wipe to react and product a color change in the presence of glucose in the urine above the normal range.

[0069] As pointed out above, the substrate of the wipe of the present invention can be made of a material that is soft to the touch and has liquid-absorbing quantities. Thus, the wipe may be used by females to clean the vaginal area after urination and by males to clean the head of the penis as well. Accordingly, any glucose in the urine will cause the color of the wipe to change, thus indicating the presence of glucose.

[0070] The present invention provides a safe and convenient self-administered medical screening tool where the presence of glucose in urine is indicative of a possible medical condition. The services of a medical professional can then be sought for follow-up and further analysis of the condition.

[0071] The wipe of the invention may be used solely for the vaginal area or penis. In addition, it may also be used by males and females for cleaning the anus area after a bowel movement. When used in this way, the wipe of the invention provides both bathroom hygiene and self-administered medical screening using the same product.

[0072] While the foregoing specification teaches the principles of the present invention, with examples provided for the purpose of illustration, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art from reading this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.