The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 06, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 14, 2006
Rameshbabu Boga, Alpharetta, GA (US);
Stephanie M. Martin, Woodstock, GA (US);
Molly K. Smith, Atlanta, GA (US);
Kevin Peter Mcgrath, Alpharetta, GA (US);
Rameshbabu Boga, Alpharetta, GA (US);
Stephanie M. Martin, Woodstock, GA (US);
Molly K. Smith, Atlanta, GA (US);
Kevin Peter McGrath, Alpharetta, GA (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
A method for rapidly detecting the presence of formaldehyde in a urine sample (e.g., urine or a urinary material associated therewith, such as headspace gas located associated with urine) is provided. The method includes contacting the urine sample with a substrate on which is disposed a colorant that is capable of undergoing a detectable color change in the presence of formaldehyde. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that oxidation of the colorant by formaldehyde induces either a shift of the absorption maxima towards the red end of the spectrum ('bathochromic shift') or towards the blue end of the spectrum ('hypsochromic shift'). The absorption shift provides a color difference that is detectable, either visually or through instrumentation, to indicate the presence of formaldehyde within the urine sample. For example, prior to contact with a urine sample, the colorant may be colorless or it may possess a certain color. However, after contacting the urine sample and reacting with formaldehyde, the colorant exhibits a color that is different than its initial color. The color change may thus be readily correlated to the presence of formaldehyde in the urine sample.