Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Sensitivity of skin to allergens or radiation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-03
2001-11-27
Lacyk, John P. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Sensitivity of skin to allergens or radiation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322520
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Background of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to human allergy testing apparatus, and, more particularly, to such apparatus enabling multiple simultaneous skin puncturing testing.
2. Description of Related Art
Diagnostic testing to determine which one or more substances a patient may have a particular sensitivity to, typically requires subcutaneously injecting a plurality of different biological agents at different test points on the patient. Subsequent examination of the various test sites will reveal to which substances, if any, the patient has a sensitivity or allergy.
A widely available device for making a test injection is an elongated needle-like member having several spaced apart points. In use, the pointed end is first dipped into a biological substance or extract, and then the pointed end punctures the skin to locate the test biological into necessary reactive relation to the patient. On a sensitivity reaction occurring at the test site, the allergenic substance is accordingly identified. Exemplary of such needle-like test devices are the picks disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,794.
Since a patient may be sensitive to one or several different substances from among a large number of possibilities, identification of the particular allergens may require a large number of individual tests being made. To shorten testing time and reduce inconvenience to the patient, devices are available having a hand-held body with a plurality of integral needle-like structures extending from a common surface. In use, after loading the needle-like structures with test allergenic materials, all of the structures are pressed against a patient's skin simultaneously puncturing it to form a plurality of different tests. Such multiple test structures are relatively expensive and must be discarded after use. Representative of such devices are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,289,670 (Krug); 2,522,309 (Simon); 3,556,080 (Hein); 4,871,452 (Baker); and 5,944,671 (White).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object and aim of the present invention to provide a multiple allergen test apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use.
Another object is the provision of such apparatus which can be repeatedly provided with unused picks and used picks can be removed for disposal.
Yet another object as in the previous objects is the provision of a hand-held housing which can be selectively assembled with a plurality of picks and disassembled at the conclusion of test use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5551441 (1996-09-01), Pitesky
patent: 5673705 (1997-10-01), Pitesky
Lacyk John P.
Netter George J.
Szmal Brian
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