| abstract |
A sweat-collection device formed as a solid body having a shallowly concave, sweat-collecting surface at a face thereof defining a concavity with a rim lying wholly within a common plane for firm placement over an iontophoresis-stimulated area of a person's skin to collect sweat from the skin area and pass it through a bore at the center of the concavity. The concavity is so shallow that no dead space occurs between the collecting surface and the skin and flesh bulged into the concavity when the device is applied to a patient whose sweat is to be collected for testing. Optionally, the concavity may be modified without introducing dead space thereinto, to incorporate barrier means for preventing unusually soft skin and flesh of infants and some adults from bulging into and closing the bore. A length of flexible tubing is secured to the axial bore for receiving and storing the collected sweat, and a chamber may be provided in the body of the device opposite the sweat-collecting surface for receiving and holding the tubing in flat coiled condition. A strap is provided for securing the device to a patient whose sweat is to be tested. Provision is preferably made for retaining, in and for discharging from the tubing, sweat after it has been collected. |